Arkansas coach Rick Desjardins says he hasn’t seen a better player in his 20 years behind the bench. That’s praise of the highest order and it’s backed up by Brad McMahon’s 23 goals, earned in large part against D2 competition, and his talent, developed at the AAA midget level.
McMahon will have a chance to display his considerable skills on a more important stage Friday and Saturday when No. 4-ranked Arkansas competes in the ACHA’s D3 South Regional Tournament in Pelham, Ala. At stake are two slots in the D3 National Tournament.
Prior to enrolling at Arkansas, a member of the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference, McMahon played for his hometown Indianapolis Ice , a AAA midget team affiliated with the Indiana Ice of the Tier I junior United States Hockey League, and for the Culver Military Academy, also in Indiana.
“He is the best player on our hockey team,” says Desjardins. “He plays at the highest skill level. The opposition knows that if they stop Brad, they’ve done something. He plays the power play, the penalty kill, double shifts when guys are injured and he plays on our No. 2 power play defense pairing. He’s every coach’s dream.”
Desjardins says McMahon, a 5-10, 170-lb. speedster, is a breakaway threat almost every time he takes the ice. “He’s got great hands and steals the puck a lot. I don’t think he has been stopped on a breakaway all season.”
While McMahon is inclined to deke the goalie on breakaways, in other situations he relies on a slap shot that is both accurage and powerful. Says Desjardins, “In the American Airlines Center against Alabama, late in the third period he took a hard cross-ice pass off his skate and right onto his stick. Without breaking stride he one-timed the puck top shelf from outside the circle.”
McMahon is equally proficient as a playmaker. Other teams see him score and try to lock him down. So he dishes off the puck with a deft passing touch. “He’s very aware. His hockey instincts are the best I’ve been around coaching 20 years,” says Desjardins.
Another in a series of posts about the South’s most prolific goal scorers.
this is all good and dandy, but there is no records of this player ever stepping on the ice in the USHL.
Whats the story jim?
I’m looking into this.
Jim
BE RAD!!!!!
Nice Article, Thank you Rick and Jim !
To clear up any confusion about Brad’s History.
Brad Played for the Indianapolis Ice AAA Hockey Nov. 03 / March 06, Culver Military Academy, Fall 02 / Nov.03.
06/07 Brad chose not to play and focused on education.
Fall of 07 he start school at University of Arkansas, After he arrived for school he discovered the University had a hockey program, Hadn’t skated for a 1 1/2 yrs, picked the skates up and has been playing every game he can since, men leagues, pickup games and of course with the razorbacks.
Mike McMahon
Mike,
Thanks for clearing up this matter. We’ll correct the post.
Jim Davis, HockeyYall.com
We are all so very proud of Brad. Hockey has always been in his blood.
YOU GO BRAD ! GOOD JOB .
Way to go Brad!!!!!!!! luv ya!
B-RAD ICAL