THE SCORPIONS
HEART, CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY.
GET TO KNOW YOUR TEXAS SCORPIONS!
20 Players — Click a card to reveal bio
#22 Daniel Ernest
"Danny"
Daniel Ernest is the Owner and Founder of the Texas Scorpions, Owner of Lightning Rod Energy, and a goaltender for the Scorpions. A lifelong goalie, Daniel has competed at the junior and professional levels and has represented the Venezuelan National Team at the Amerigol LATAM Cup. Daniel’s impact on hockey extends far beyond the crease. He created and produced The Goalie Game, a one-of-a-kind hockey event built specifically around goaltenders, which reached a national television audience with broadcasts on ESPN2 and ESPN8: The Ocho. Off the ice, Daniel is focused on building and growing Lightning Rod Energy while developing the Texas Scorpions into a unique hockey organization centered around entertainment, community, partnerships, and growing the game. He is also the co-creator of Two Goalies, using original hockey content and social media to bring new audiences into the sport. Whether he’s between the pipes, producing major hockey events, growing Lightning Rod Energy, or building the Texas Scorpions, Daniel has made his career about doing things differently and pushing the game forward.
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#17 Ryan Gauthier
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#16 Teddy Purcell
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#4 Kyle Russel
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#9 Matt Hill
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#49 Andy Williams
"Andy"
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#2 Rutger Kesling
"Rutz"
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#8 Remy Kesling
"Rem"
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#12 Cameron Bird
"Birdy"
Cameron Bird has loved and played hockey since the age of 5, bringing a little Northeast flavor to the Scorpions. Growing up, he played throughout the greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey on very high school competitive teams. Cameron spent his final junior season playing in Ontario, Canada, before aging out of junior hockey. After moving to Texas shortly after juniors, Cameron never stopped skating but missed the high-level, competitive, physical style of hockey he grew up playing. He found exactly what he was looking for with the Scorpions, where he's proud to be a part of the family and keep the dream and love of the game alive.
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#14 Matthew Kruse
"Matt"
A product of the North Texas hockey community, Matthew Kruse joins the Texas Scorpions for the organization's inaugural season, continuing a hockey career that began right here in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Kruse developed his game playing for Grapevine/Colleyville Heritage, competing through the North Texas high-school hockey system. During his time with the program, he established himself as an offensive contributor and competed on the state tournament stage, including scoring in the Varsity Silver championship game. Years of experience in the Texas hockey community have shaped Kruse into a competitive and dependable forward who understands what it means to represent hockey in North Texas. Now, Kruse gets the opportunity to continue that journey as a member of the inaugural Texas Scorpions roster. Playing close to where his hockey career began, he brings experience, familiarity with the local hockey community, and a competitive edge to the Scorpions lineup. As the Scorpions begin their first chapter, Kruse has the opportunity to be part of building a new tradition in North Texas hockey from the ground up.
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#18 Ethan Smith
"Smitty"
ETHAN SMITH | KELLER, TEXAS A native of Grapevine, Texas, Ethan Smith brings more than 26 years of hockey experience to the Texas Scorpions. Throughout his playing career, Ethan has suited up for organizations including the Allen Americans and Rochester Ice Hawks, adding valuable experience to a hockey journey that has spanned more than two decades. Beyond his playing career, Ethan has spent the past three years coaching with Dallas Stars Elite, helping develop the next generation of hockey talent in North Texas. With experience as both a player and coach, Ethan brings a high hockey IQ, veteran leadership, and a deep understanding of the game to the Scorpions. His combination of playing experience and player-development knowledge makes him a valuable veteran presence both on the ice and inside the locker room.
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#10 Dusty Whitford
"Dusty"
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#15 Rob McClay
"Rob"
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#27 Shane Bonds
"Bonds"
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#91 Daniel Barraza
"BarZee"
Started playing hockey when my family moved from San Antonio to Grand Rapids Michigan when i was in third grade Been playing hockey ever since and thats pretty much a wrap
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#3 Dalton Caesar
"Caes"
Started skating around 3 and playing competitively at 5, never looked back it was all gas no breaks from there on. At the same time I played soccer at a high level as well but the love for hockey took over and I eventually had to choose between the two, hockey became an obsession of mine and it took over my life from camps to training, games and tournaments etc. never took a tear off besides the off season. Through the journey I’ve picked up a state championship and 3rd place at nationals along with many other accolades. I went on to play a few years of juniors and now here we are, TEXAS SCORPIONS BABY!
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#97 Ryan Nicks
"Nicksy"
Ryan Nicks was born and raised in Plano, Texas, where his passion for hockey began at just five years old. His introduction to the sport came through his mother’s former boyfriend, who regularly took him to Slap Shot Roller Hockey Rink and The Edge in Allen, Texas, to play roller hockey. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong dedication to the game. Switching to ice hockey around 7 years old Ryan started as a goalie on the ice. Around 9 years old Ryan would switch to player and never looked back. Ryan would make his way through playing A , and AA all the way to junior A with the Dallas Snipers in the WSHL.
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#35 Josh Messick
"Messy"
Josh Messick has spent 28 years between the pipes, and there isn’t much a shooter can throw at him that he hasn’t already seen. A semi-professional goaltender and contracted Warrior Hockey athlete, Josh brings a veteran’s calm to the Texas Scorpions crease, the kind of presence that settles a bench when the game gets loud. His game is built on preparation. Josh is a student of the position, and teammates know him as a goalie who shows up ready and competes on every puck. A lifelong member of the DFW hockey community, Josh is a Dallas Baptist University graduate with a degree in Computer Science, and he brings that same analytical mindset to his game. When he’s not in the net, Josh sells cars as a sales consultant at Grapevine Ford Lincoln, where the same competitiveness and attention to detail that go into stopping pucks carry over to taking care of customers. If you’re in the market, he’s the guy to call. Above all, Josh is a proud dad who still plays with the same love for the position he had on day one.
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#19 Arturo Garcia
"Arturo"
Arturo has won a world juniors for the IIIHF and has also played juniors for the brahmas and did College for DBU. It has been a fun ride and very excited to keep playing and looking forward to going to the next level!
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#26 Arnie Osuna
"Arnie"
A veteran forward with collegiate, professional, international, and elite roller hockey experience, Arnie Osuna brings an impressive hockey résumé home to Texas as a member of the Texas Scorpions. A native of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Osuna's career has taken him well beyond Texas. His ice hockey journey included time with the Florida Eels before advancing to the collegiate level with SUNY Canton in New York. Since then, Arnie has continued competing at a high level across multiple forms of the game, establishing himself in both ice and professional roller hockey. Osuna has also taken his career overseas, competing in France before returning home to Texas. His international experience, combined with years of high-level roller and ice hockey, gives him a unique background and a dynamic style built around speed, creativity, hockey IQ, and offensive ability. Back in Texas, Osuna became a standout for the Mansfield Barracudas, including a season in which he recorded 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points, placing him among the Mountain Hockey League's leading scorers. Now Arnie begins the next chapter of his career with the Texas Scorpions, bringing years of experience, leadership, skill, and a passion for growing the game in his home state. For Osuna, joining the Scorpions isn't simply another stop in his hockey career — it's an opportunity to help build something at home from the very beginning.
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