Season Summaries

1997-1998

The Beginning-This was the inaugural season for Clements Ranger hockey. The team was a joint creation by the exhaustive efforts of Ann Schmidt, George Adams

and other hockey parents. The Rangers participated in the now defunct Fort Bend Hockey League.  The first head coach was Eric Solberg.  The Rangers posted a record of 3-4-2.  The team captains were Rich LeBlanc, Travis Adams, and Josh Sol.  The leading scorer was Josh Sol with 8 goals and 4 assists.  LeBlanc was chosen the MVP for the season for his stellar play in the cage.   George Adam’s the first team manager at the time, had the following quote inscribed on the MVP trophy,  “Rich SAVED our ass”.

 

1998-1999      Stats

The Foundation Season-This was the first year for Clements to be part of the Inter-Scholastic Hockey League.  It was a season of growing pains and development for future success.  The Rangers finished the 98-99 campaign 14-12, winning their first playoff game against their big rival Austin high school 4-1 before losing in the second round to Friendswood 1-2.  Andy Brown stated his first of two years as the head coach of the Rangers.  The captains were Josh Sol, Travis Adams, and Jason Haughy.  Matt McClellan and Josh Sol were voted co-MVP’s.  Josh Sol and Matt Smart were the leading scorers with 24 points each. 

 

1999-2000     Stats

The Tradition Begins-This was Andy Brown’s second season as the head coach of the Rangers.  The team finished 19-6-3, the first of three straight ISHL south division crowns, and a berth in the Texas state hockey tournament, and a chance to play for the Texas Cup.  The regular season started with 3 consecutive losses, but ended with a ten game winning streak, and the momentum to begin a playoff run that would land the Rangers on top of their division.  This team was not the most talented team in Clements history, but did have eleven seniors that provided the leadership to play through adversity.  This team also had a talented core of freshmen that stepped up in big games to lead the Rangers to victory.  Notable moments during the season included the spirited X-mas scrimmage against Austin Westlake (a team that the Rangers would have to face again in the state tourney).  This game was a turning point as it brought out the hard-nosed spirit that would be Clements trademark in future years.  The Grapevine game at state and the legendary Josh Sol incident was another turning point of the season.  Josh took out the Grapevine goalie, whom left the crease to play a puck, and in the insuing melee took on the entire Grapevine first line that was headed by the twin sons of former Dallas Star standout Craig Ludwig. (Coach Bratrud still has no recollection of condoning it)  This was a galvanizing moment for the Rangers that built the momentum to finish the tourney with a consolation championship, the best finish in Ranger history. The Episcopal game (the second game for the Rangers at the state tournament), was fought down to the wire with John Synder hitting a blue line slap shot to win the game 3-2 in the closing moments to prevent overtime.   Lastly, the re-match with Austin Westlake, that was a heavy hitting affair. Freshmen Ian Heinzen stepped up to connect on a top shelf wrist shot to win the game 2-1 and seal the consolation championship.  The Clements tradition of winning and hard nose hockey was born in the last half of this season.  Captains for this season were Josh Sol, Travis Adams, and Matt Motyka.  Josh Sol was voted team MVP.  Ian Heinzen and Matt Smart tied as point leaders with 32 each. Mike Klayman was awarded the ISHL academic achievement scholarship.

 

2000-2001     Stats

The Tradition Continues/ The Birth of the J.V. Team-This season brought out the best and worst of the Rangers.  The Best was a new head coach in Michael Heinzen, a return trip to the Texas state tournament, a second ISHL south division championship, and a new junior varsity league with Clements being one of the inaugural teams.  The Rangers finished the season 16-7-4, with a very young squad headed up by the scoring of senior Matt Smart, sophomore Ian Heinzen, sophomore Wolfe Volet (a new move in from Louisiana) sophomore Mike Luzzaraga, and junior Tyler Buckingham.  The Worst, was a rash of penalty minutes and a smash-mouth mentality that set ISHL and Texas records for penalty minutes by a team (344) in a season.  This was exemplified by the infamous Phillip Adams “axe murder” incident at the state tournament.  The Rangers played an aggressive in your face style this season that left opposing forwards scarred to attack with the puck, and defenders afraid to go into the corners.  Clements finished 7th at the Texas state tournament this season.  The captains were Matt Smart and Matt McClellan.  Matt Smart was voted MVP.  Matt also led the team in scoring with 42 points.  The first ISHL J.V. season was also organized. Clements finished 4-4-2, and created a feeder system to develop future Ranger stars on the varsity level.

 

2001-2002     Stats

“We don’t rebuild, We Reload”-This was Clements best year to date.  The Rangers finished 21-5-1 and repeated as ISHL south division champions, and made an unprecedented third appearance in the Texas state hockey playoffs. Led by head coach Michael Heinzen in his second season with the club, the Rangers set more team, league, and state records then any other Clements Hockey Team.  A year older and wiser, the youth that kept the Rangers going in 2000, and 2001, matured and turned the Rangers into an unstoppable force in Texas hockey.  Ian Heinzen set records in PIM (71) and plus minus (46).  Tyler Buckingham set single season marks for scoring shorthanded (4), power play goals (7), points (56), and Tim Childs set numerous goal tending records.  The team broke nearly every category of offensive and defensive records.  Memorable moments of the season were beating Clear Lake in the south division championship 3-1, but later fell to them in the ISHL seedings round in an overtime shootout 4-3.  A thrilling 3-5 loss in first round game against South Lake Carroll in the state playoffs.  The South Lake coach later recalled Clements was the most physically dominating team they played during a 72 game winning streak that included two straight state championships.  He declared the state championship was won by his team in that first round game, not in the next two rounds, because no one was going to give them a game like the Rangers just did.  The Rangers finished 7th in the state tournament. Captains for the Rangers were Tyler Buckingham, Ian Heinzen, and Matt Sharrock.  Ian Heinzen was chosen the team defensive MVP, and Tyler Buckingham was voted the team offensive MVP. Both were also given the same league awards by the ISHL.

 

 

2002-2003     Stats

“Old Tyme Hockey”-This was Michael Heinzen’s third and final season as Head Coach of the Clements Rangers. The Rangers finished the season 18-8-1 with another return trip to the Texas State Tournament, however this time not as the South Division champions. Clear Lake defeated the Rangers in the division playoffs.  The Rangers had to get in the hard way by winning a wild card birth through the ISHL seedings playoff round.  As in past years, this season was played in the traditional physical style that had been the hallmark of past Ranger teams.  Senior leadership provided by Ian Heinzen, Wolfe Volet, Adam Folsom, Mike Luzzaraga, Marvin Booker, Ryan MacCloed, Kevin Ziervogel, and Jason Ellison paved the way for another successful season.  Captains for the season were Heinzen, Booker, and Volet.  Karl Schroeder led all scoring for the Rangers with 53 points.  Ian Heinzen finished his career with 155 total points and 275 PIM making him the Clements and ISHL career leader in both categories.  Booker, Luzzaraga, and Volet also all ended their careers as Clements top ten scoring leaders.  Again the Rangers finished in 7th place in the Texas State standings.  Heinzen was also chosen ISHL defensive player of the year for the second time consecutively.

 

 

2003-2004    Stats

Mid-season Turnaround.  The Rangers faced a big challenge in replacing 10 graduated Seniors from last year’s team.  After a 3-5 start to the season, the Rangers caught fire in the second half and finished the season 18-8-1.  Eventual State runner-up Clear Lake ended the Ranger’s season in a 4-2 game in the Division finals.  This was George McClellan’s first season as Head Coach.  Alex Lam, Carl Schrøder, Sam Marnoy, and Jon McClellan were captains of the team and provided strong senior leadership along with goalie Tim Childs.  Jon and Sam finished their 4-year careers as 1st and 3rd all time in games played for the Rangers.  Sam also captured an ISHL scholarship at the end of the season and left Clements as 2nd all-time in assists and penalty minutes.  Carl Schrøder led the league in scoring with 54 points and was named team offensive MVP.  Although he played only 2 years with the team before graduating at the end of the 2003-04 season, Carl left Clements ranked in the top 3 of several career and single season scoring categories.  Tim Childs was chosen team defensive MVP and graduated as Clements’ career leader in shots defended, saves, and games played in the net.   

This was the last season for long-time manager George Adams.  George served as team manager from 1997-99 and 2000-04.  He continued to serve on the ISHL board through the 2004-05 season. 

 

2004-2005    Stats

Rebuilding.  After losing ten players last year, the Rangers lost another nine to start the 2004-05 season.  George McClellan returned to coach the Rangers, but was forced to leave the team in mid-season due to business conflicts that ultimately required his family to relocate.  George was succeeded as head coach by Travis Adams, a former player on the inaugural Ranger team.  The combination of inexperienced players and a mid-season coaching change was too much to overcome.  The Rangers finished 7-14-2.  Matt Robertson and Peter Adams completed 4-year Ranger careers and were co-captains of the team.  Matt moved into 2nd place all-time in career games played for the Rangers.  Sophomores Jamie Swales (team offensive MVP) and Henrik Schrøder led the team in scoring.  Goalie Anders Zelinski received the team defensive MVP award. 

Despite the disappointing record, there were several bright spots for the future.  Five of the Rangers top seven scorers were underclassmen.  Freshman Brandon Bagwell not only contributed to the Varsity team, but led the Prep league in scoring with 42 points.  The Rangers Prep team had its best season ever and finished 11-6-3.