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Friday, November 3, 2000

Brothers in arms
Corpus Christi, Austin siblings bring Family Fued to Memorial Coliseum ice
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

George Tuley/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi’s Dallas Anderson (left) slugs it out with his brother, Austin’s Ryan Anderson, during the IceRays’ loss to the Ice Bats on Wednesday night at Memorial Coliseum.

Growing up in Bowsman, Manitoba, Dallas Anderson remembers getting picked on by his older brother Ryan.
   Things haven't changed.
   Dallas, who plays left wing for the Corpus Christi IceRays, and Ryan - a defenseman with the Austin Ice Bats - played their own version of family feud Wednesday night with a sibling squabble late in the first period of Austin's 5-2 win at Memorial Coliseum.
   Ryan mugged his younger brother in retaliation to a hard check on a fellow Austin defensemen. It wasn't until right before the fists started flying that Dallas realized it was his own big brother that had just busted his lip.
   "That was my first shift out against him," said the 21-year-old Dallas, younger by four years. "I didn't even know he was on the ice. I hit one of their guys and got sideswiped. We dropped our gloves and when we both got up, I saw the 'A' on his jersey. I couldn't believe he jumped me. It's all in fun, although I would like to knock his teeth out."
   Ryan spent seven minutes in the penalty box after getting slapped with a fighting major and roughing minor, while Dallas sat out five minutes for fighting.
   Dallas will get another chance when the IceRays and Ice Bats meet in Austin next Friday. Four days later, Austin returns to Corpus Christi, where the brothers' father and uncle will be in attendance.
   "I don't know if dad would be a big fan of seeing us fight. Then again, I don't know if it would bother him that much," Dallas said. "My mom probably wouldn't approve. She might also just laugh as long as we don't hurt each other too bad."
   Aside from the small amount of blood dripping from Dallas' lip, Ryan said Wednesday's brawl was relatively subdued.
   "Neither one of us pounded each other bad," Ryan said, "but I did cut him in the month. He was bleeding all over my jersey."
   Both brothers said they had their share of altercations when they were younger, but never as members of opposing teams. Their difference in age kept them from playing in the same division in junior hockey leagues.
   Ryan said Dallas spent the summer trying to decide whether he wanted to be his brother's teammate or opponent. After choosing Corpus Christi over Austin, Wednesday's fight was inevitable, Ryan said.
   "I know the guys love it down there, but now he also has to deal with me," Ryan said. "We were jabbing at each other all summer. For all everyone talked about it, at home or here, you knew we had to do it."
   IceRays coach Taylor Hall was in disbelief when the brothers started taking shots at each other in front of the Corpus Christi bench.
   "I've never seen anything like that before," Hall said. "They must do a lot of that at home. I've got my own brother, and we've tangled over the years, but nothing like that."
   It's very likely Hall might see it happen again.
   "If he wants to go again, I'll definitely go," Dallas said. "We do get along fairly well, but on the ice, it's a different story. (Wednesday's fight) probably won't be the last time, that's for sure."



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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