1990s Originally announced as the
Fort Worth Bulls but forced to change their name after the
Birmingham Bulls objected, the team began play in the
Western Professional Hockey League as the
Fort Worth Brahmas (named after
Brahma bulls) while the CHL's
Fort Worth Fire were still in operation. The Fire eventually ceased operations. The Fort Worth Brahmas played their home games at the
Fort Worth Convention Center.
2000s Due to problems negotiating a lease with the Fort Worth Convention Center, the Brahmas announced on May 3, 2006, that they would suspend operations for the
2006–07 season. However, they returned for the
2007–08 season as the
Texas Brahmas and began play in the
NYTEX Sports Centre (formerly known as the Blue Line Ice Complex) in
North Richland Hills, Texas. NYTEX Sports is owned by former Brahmas minority owners, Sal and Frank Trazzera. Their first season in North Richland Hills proved to be very successful as they entered the postseason for the first time since the 2001–02 season. In the first round the Brahmas defeated the
Mississippi RiverKings, then went on to sweep the
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in four games with David Cacciola in goal. In the Northern Conference Finals, the Brahmas took the series to Game 7 before losing to the defending champions, the
Colorado Eagles. In
2008–09, the Brahmas won the Southeast Division and defeated the
Odessa Jackalopes in seven games to capture the Southern Conference Championship. The team then advanced to the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals to face the Colorado Eagles, whom they defeated in five games. The 2008–09 CHL Championship was the first by the Texas/Ft. Worth Brahmas franchise and the first for the Fort Worth area since the
Fort Worth Fire won the 1996–97 CHL Governor's Cup. The Brahmas lost in the playoffs of the
2009–10 season in a close 2–1 fifth game against the Odessa Jackalopes.
2010s at the
Allen Event Center on January 11, 2013. The
2010–2011 season for the Brahmas ended on a losing note in the first round of the playoffs against the Odessa Jackalopes in four games, three games to one. Very shortly prior to the start of the 2012–2013 preseason, the team was sold to a Fort Worth-based investment group and returned to the
Fort Worth Brahmas branding for the 2012–2013 season. The membership of investment group was still in flux when the season began and some of the big money contributors never officially came into the fold. The team struggled with financial issues throughout the season before the franchise went inactive for at least one season a second time. After the franchise folded, the
Texas Tornado of the
North American Hockey League relocated to the
Fort Worth suburb of
North Richland Hills and became the
Lone Star Brahmas and began play at the NYTEX Sports Centre beginning with the 2013–14 season. ==References==