N. Richland Hills, TX - The Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey
League (CHL) increased their size for the 2008-09 season as they
announced the re-signing of forward Grant Jacobsen and defenseman Kevin
McLeod.
Jacobsen, 25, returns to the Brahmas for his fourth
professional season after a brief stint in Europe with the Manchester
Phoenix. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, the strong forward was able to
record 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games in the regular season. Jacobsen was a catalyst on special teams, scoring 8 of his 15 goals on the powerplay.
The
Neepawa, MAN native was a force to be reckoned with in the postseason
as he put up 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists). Fans will remember his play
in Game 3 against the Colorado Eagles in the Northern Conference Finals where he posted two goals in the 5-2 Texas victory.
Prior
to joining the Brahmas, Jacobsen spent two seasons in the East Coast
Hockey League (ECHL) with the Reading Royals, Columbia Inferno and
Johnstown Chiefs. Jacobsen was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the
ninth round (pick 270) in the 2001 National Hockey League (NHL) draft.
Texas
also added some size to their blueline with the re-signing of
defenseman Kevin McLeod. The Calgary, ALTA native demonstrated his
strength offensively last season for Texas as he led all Brahmas
defenseman with 12 goals.
McLeod proved to be an iron man last
season, never missing a game as he played in all 64 regular season
games and 14 postseason games. The 24-year-old defenseman finished with
a +2 in the playoffs, a team best.
Before
going pro last season, McLeod, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, spent time at
Cornell University of the NCAA and played Junior Hockey in the Alberta
Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
With the return of some large bodies
in Jacobsen and McLeod, Brahmas Head Coach Dan Wildfong is pleased with
the way the roster is turning out.
"These guys are great
competitors, so it's nice to have them back. Jacobsen was key on the
special teams and McLeod was a nice surprise last season with the way
he found himself on the score sheet. We fully expect these guys to
exceed all our expectations and have great years," Wildfong said.