
Rafa Jódar: "Ver a mi padre en el banquillo siempre me da una confianza extra"
Rafa Jódar: La confianza extra que le da su padre en el banquillo

John Flood, a Tennessee native, has excelled in the NAHL playoffs with the Austin Bruins, helping them to a 2-0 lead in their semifinal series. Coach Steve Howard praises Flood's performance as a key contributor to the team's success.
Mentioned in this story
Apr. 24—AUSTIN — The first two games of the North American Hockey League playoffs have been, according to Austin Bruins head coach Steve Howard, a "perfect storm" for John Flood.
No pun intended.
After four seasons in the Nashville Jr. Predators program, Flood — who grew up just outside of Memphis, Tenn. — has found a home and has played his role to near perfection in Austin, which takes a 2-0 lead in a best-of-5 North American Hockey League Central Division semifinal series into today's Game 3 at Watertown, S.D. A Game 4, if needed, is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in Watertown. If the Shamrocks win both games on their home ice, a decisive Game 5 will be played at 7:05 p.m. Monday in Austin.
"He plays hard, plays the right way," Howard, the ninth-year Bruins head coach, said of Flood. "It's one of those scenarios where you need some unsung heroes in games like these."
Flood played in 34 of Austin's 59 regular-season games. He scored one goal — in his first game of the season, on Oct. 18 — and had three assists and 54 penalty minutes in those games.
Last weekend, in Games 1 and 2 of the division semifinals, Flood played on the right wing on the Bruins' third line — usually the team's shut-down defensive line — along with center JJ Franceschetti and right wing Connor Beckwith.
With the score tied 1-1 after one period in Game 1, Franceschetti set up Flood for a go-ahead goal just four minutes into the second. It was one day short of six months since Flood had last scored. The unlikely hero gave Austin a 2-1 lead and the Bruins didn't trail again in a 3-2 win.
Saturday, Flood struck again, and quickly, taking a pass from Franceschetti on a rush and firing a puck from the slot that beat Watertown goalie Mason Gudridge cleanly for a 1-0 Bruins lead fewer than four minutes into the game. Though the Shamrocks rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the third, Austin battled back and won just 77 seconds into OT.
"He maybe hasn't put up a whole lot of numbers, but in a series like this, he comes out and scores two nights in a row," Howard said of Flood. "I'm so happy for the kid. He just works his butt off and he's getting rewarded for it."
Howard said Flood, a 6-foot, 175-pound, 20-year-old forward, has been the ultimate teammate this season.
"He's been in and out of the lineup all year," Howard said, "but Flooder's a guy who ... man, he's dropped his gloves for his teammates, he hits, he's taken some hard hits ... I just couldn't be more proud of him."
The process took longer than the Bruins' ownership and front office had hoped, but the end result is one that Bruins leadership believes will be beneficial for the team and the city of Austin. Earlier this month, after months of discussions, the Bruins and the city agreed on a new five-year lease for the team to remain at Riverside Arena.
John Flood has played a crucial role for the Austin Bruins, contributing significantly to their 2-0 lead in the semifinal series.
The Austin Bruins lead their best-of-5 semifinal series 2-0 against the Watertown Shamrocks.
Game 3 of the Austin Bruins playoff series is scheduled for today in Watertown, South Dakota.
In the regular season, John Flood played 34 games, scored one goal, had three assists, and accumulated 54 penalty minutes.

Rafa Jódar: La confianza extra que le da su padre en el banquillo
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 3: Live Stream, Start Time & TV Info
Warrington secures a 23-6 victory over Wigan in Super League action.
Michigan adds transfer center Moustapha Thiam while losing Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. to the NBA Draft. Thiam averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds last season at Cincinnati.
Jets fans give high grades for their 2026 NFL Draft picks!
Virgil van Dijk stresses urgency as Liverpool faces Crystal Palace.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
In the past, the Bruins have traditionally signed three-year leases, but this one was a bit more complex than any the team and city had agreed to over the 15-plus years the franchise has been in Austin.
The new agreement takes effect on June 1 and runs into 2031.
"This agreement is an important step forward for our organization and our community," Bruins owner Brian Raduenz said in a statement on April 7, the day after the agreement was approved. "We are proud to continue our partnership with the City of Austin and are committed to positioning Riverside Arena for the future."
As part of the agreement, the Bruins will put an average of at least $22,000 per year — at least $110,000 over the five years — toward improvements at the 54-year-old Riverside Arena. In turn, the team will receive a 25% lease reduction, or approximately $75,000 over the life of the lease.
The Bruins and the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry department will work together once the season is done to determine which projects are most pressing.
Bruins head coach and GM Steve Howard credited Parks, Rec and Forestry director Jason Sehon, and City Administrator Craig Clark for working closely with the team to make the new agreement a reality.
"I think it was three, maybe four months, that we spent on it, just trying to make sure we did everything right — crossed all the t's and dotted all the i's," Howard said. "Jason and Craig ... they were great to work with. We're really excited for some improvements around the arena, trying to make things a little more fan friendly, too."
Watertown has not been an easy opponent for any team to face this season. The fourth-seeded Shamrocks were the only Central Division team to hold a winning record against Austin during the regular season (5-3-0) and they played the top-seeded Bruins to a pair of one-goal games in Games 1 and 2 of the division semifinals last weekend in Austin.
With tonight's Game 3, and if needed Saturday's Game 4, set for 7 p.m. starts at Prairie Lakes Ice Arena in Waterown, the Bruins are aware that they will have to be sharp from the get-go if they want to avoid a winner-takes-all Game 5 on Monday in Austin. That game would start at 7:05, if needed.
"They do a great job over there; they're first-class," Howard said. "The arena is nice, and they pack it. There's a reason Watertown was the (NAHL) Organization of the Year last year."
Austin hasn't played in Watertown in three and a half months, since the Shamrocks swept a two-game regular-season series by identical 3-2 scores on Jan. 9-10.
"We just have to go play our game," Howard said, "and our guys have to get up for this. The hardest one to get is usually the one that puts a team away, that ends their season, right? ... When teams are playing for their lives, they're not going to quit. They're going to play desperate hockey, but we have to go there with the intentions of coming back with a sweep."