Slow News Day Funny

Since we're all friends in the hockey world, I thought I would take this time to do a little research and try to make some people laugh all at the same time.

Over the summer, two things have been bothering me about two of the Aeros Game 7s from the playoffs in 2009.

First, how did that puck get through the net in Peoria (check around the 50 second mark)? And secondly, why did Milwaukee come to the rink so unprepared to play Game 7 in the next round?

I can't figure out the first one, but check out the video below. I think this proves what happened to the Admirals after blasting the Aeros (actually, that should say kicked the ever-living crap out of) last spring.

HOUSTON AEROS 2009-10 SCHEDULE

DATE/TIME/RESULT    OPPONENT

October

10/02     07:30         @ Manitoba     

10/03     07:30         @ Manitoba     

10/09     07:35         TEXAS        

10/10     07:35         TEXAS    

10/16     07:35         SAN ANTONIO    

10/17     07:35         TEXAS    

10/21     07:05         LAKE ERIE    

10/24     07:00         @ San Antonio        

10/25     03:00         @ San Antonio    

10/27     07:05         HAMILTON    

10/29     06:00         @ Grand Rapids         

10/30     06:00         @ Grand Rapids

November

11/01     05:00         @ Texas    

11/05     07:05         MANITOBA    

11/07     06:35         SAN ANTONIO    

11/13     06:30         @ Lake Erie    

11/14     01:00         @ Lake Erie    

11/15     04:05         CHICAGO    

11/18     07:05         PEORIA        

11/20     07:05         MILWAUKEE    

11/22     04:05         MILWAUKEE    

11/25     06:30         @ Hamilton    

11/27     06:30         @ Syracuse     

11/28     03:00         @ Toronto

December

12/03     11:00         SAN ANTONIO

12/04     07:00         @ San Antonio    

12/11     07:35         PEORIA    

12/13     04:05         ROCKFORD    

12/15     07:30         @ Texas Stars     

12/16     07:05         SAN ANTONIO

12/18     07:35         TEXAS    

12/20     04:05         GRAND RAPIDS     

12/26     07:35         SAN ANTONIO     

12/28     07:05         SYRACUSE    

12/30     07:00         @ Chicago     

12/31     07:05         @ Rockford    

January

01/01     07:00         @ Milwaukee    

01/03     04:05         ABBOTSFORD    

01/06     07:30         @ Texas    

01/08     07:35         ROCKFORD    

01/10     04:05         ROCKFORD     

01/13     07:05         @ Rockford    

01/15     07:05         @ Rockford    

01/16     07:35         TORONTO    

01/22     09:30         @ Abbotsford    

01/23     06:00         @ Abbotsford    

01/27     07:00         @ Chicago    

01/29     07:00         @ Milwaukee    

01/30     07:00         @ Peoria    

February

02/01     07:05         ABBOTSFORD    

02/03     07:05         PEORIA        

02/05     07:00         @ Milwaukee    

02/06     06:00         @ Grand Rapids     

02/12     07:35         GRAND RAPIDS    

02/13     07:35         GRAND RAPIDS    

02/14     04:05         CHICAGO    

02/19     07:00         @ Milwaukee    

02/20     07:00         @ Chicago    

02/21     03:00         @ Peoria     

02/25     07:05         MANITOBA    

02/26     07:30         @ Texas    

02/27     07:35         TEXAS    
    

March

03/03     07:00         @ San Antonio    

03/05     07:35         SAN ANTONIO     

03/06     07:00         @ Texas    

03/12     07:35         PEORIA    

03/13     07:00         @ Chicago    

03/14     05:00         @ Rockford    

03/20     07:35         MILWAUKEE    

03/21     04:05         MILWAUKEE        

03/26     07:35         LAKE ERIE    

03/27     07:00         @ Peoria    

03/28     02:00         @ Peoria    

03/31     07:05         CHICAGO

April

04/02     07:35         CHICAGO    

04/03     07:00         @ Texas    

04/06     07:05         ROCKFORD    

04/08     07:00         @ San Antonio     

04/10     07:35         TEXAS        

04/11     02:00         @ San Antonio

Nice Schedule blog by SA's Tony U

Tony U. is one of the hockey writers for the San Antonio Express-News.
He was the team's first P.A. Announcer and is still around the team working as a freelancer. He does a nice blog for the Express-News and did this post recently, breaking down the schedule for one of the Aeros' big rivals to the West.

If you ever thought the Aeros schedule was bad, SA fans have a tough go of it in February when the team is forced to spend the month on the road because of the rodeo that occupies the AT&T Center.

Consider this excerpt from Tony's blog:

"San Antonio's worst stretch will be 5 games in 7 nights after they return from their rodeo road trip, which will once again stretch 15 games in 10 different cities, but at least there will be back-to-backs this year in Manitoba and Peoria to help that endurance trip."

Counting up the number of three-in-three's is generally a good way to see if a team is getting screwed, schedule wise. And from the looks of it, it looks like all three Texas teams will have it much easier, mostly because all three of them are now within about 200 miles of each other.

I did a quick count this afternoon and the Rampage will have to endure eight of them, while the Aeros and Stars are right behind with seven "three-in-threes" apiece.

Sorry for the digress, but this is a good read from Tony, and I thought our readers would enjoy.

2009-2010 AHL Schedule

Here is the AHL schedule for this season. Note that the Aeros open the season in Manitoba on October 2 and 3, then they open the home schedule against Texas on October 9. I haven't really looked it over yet, but I'm sure everybody will find something to gripe about, so have it.

UPDATE: Well, I just noticed that for the first time in years, the Aeros will be on the road for Thanksgiving instead of playing San Antonio here at Toyota Center on Black Friday. I also note that the Aeros are at home for Christmas, but play three-in-three on the road at New Year's. Still, I don't see anything really outrageous.

Also, here is the Chronicle story on the schedule. A few good notes here ... also looks like a few more weekday games this year. (TWO cricket-filled Monday games on the slate too ... )

THN ranks Aeros jersey #13 in the AHL

While we're all waiting to pounce on the AHL schedule at 3:00 p.m. today, here's something to chew on.

I can tell you, my ranking wouldn't look much like that, though I'd still probably put the bomber at the middle of the pack. I've never been too fond of it. (Oh, simmer down. I do like the away darks.)

And I do like Milwaukee and San Antonio's sweaters, so they'd still be near the top for me. In fact, SA might be my favorite, as painful as that is to admit.

But Chicago's WAY too high. The only thing good about their sweater is the creepy green eyes on the wolf. And Springfield? Are you kidding me? Please.

What do you think?

Preseason Schedule could be announced next week

With the addition of the Texas Stars to the West division this year, it will be interesting to see if the Aeros are able to add them to their preseason slate.

Since the Rampage arrived in 2002-03, the Aeros have played them twice (home and away) for the preseason (save for the lockout year when they did a four-game, two weekend slate).

The regular season schedule will be released tomorrow at 3, and the Aeros preseason schedule will/could be released next week.

If the Aeros play their preseason games at San Antonio and Cedar Park the last weekend of September, would you make the drive over there to see them? Would you be upset if the team does not play at least one home preseason game this year?

Some people want to see their team in action as early as possible, while others could care less about seeing a meaningless tune-up. What are your thoughts?

Coyote Creditors Now Support Reinsdorf Bid

Last week, after the largest creditor of the Phoenix Coyotes backed Jim Balsillie's bid for the team as the only one that they would accept, I thought for sure the Coyotes would be no longer for Phoenix after this season. But today, that same creditor announced that it has reached a deal with Jerry Reinsdorf, so they are now willing to accept Reinsdorf should his bid be chosen by the judge -- I still don't understand this in that it still does not appear that Reinsdorf is parting with any cash, but if the creditor's happy, then the judge should be happy. (There's no word on how all of the creditors feel about this, but the Court cares more about the big guys than it does the little guys.)

Frankly, I now think this dooms Balsillie's bid. Sorry Canadians, but it's looking like a city that doesn't really seem to want the team is going to continue to have a team while a country that loves hockey continues to have an under-served market.

It still appears, however, that Reinsdorf has to work out a deal with Glendale over the use of the arena. And the auction for September 10 is open to any and all bidders, so it's still possible that another bidder could swoop in and making an even better bid which the judge would accept. I still think, from what I've read of Reinsdorf's bid, that the Coyotes are doomed to failure to Phoenix, but instead of ending it, the NHL is just going to stretch things out because of Bettman's hatred of Balsillie, and I'm surprised that Reinsdorf is willing to go along with this -- oh, wait, no I'm not as there appears to be a rather crooked political deal going on involving Reinsdorf.

Justin Pogge lands in Anaheim; headed for San Antonio?

Justin Pogge, the talented goalie who has spent most of his pro career with the Toronto Marlies, has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks.

The story makes a good point that Anaheim already has Giguere and Hiller in net. So Pogge, now seemingly just a depth guy, could be AHL bound. Well, we all know what happened to the Chops, and San Antonio is already known to be the landing spot for several Ducks prospects in 2009-10.

If this guys ends up at the AT&T Center with Josh Tordjman, look out. That will be a very formidable tandem in net for the Silver and Black.

(UPDATE!) -- A quick look at the stats reveal that Pogge has never lost in regulation to the Aeros dating to the start of the 06-07 season. His first three starts against the boys were better than that last three, and the only time the Aeros beat him was in the shootout (at Toyota Center) just last year.

In 2006-07, he was 2-0-0 and allowed 4 goals on 62 shots (.935)
In 2007-08, he was 2-0-0 and allowed 4 goals on 65 shots (.938)
In 2008-09, he was 1-0-1 and allowed 6 goals on 44 shots (.864)

His best game was a 33-save shutout at Toronto on Feb. 10, 2008
His worst game was last Oct. 26 at Toronto when he allowed four Aeros goals on 23 shots.

I hope everyone finds this information useful.

Uh, Mr. Bettman, About That Whole Southern Strategy Thing

Here's a little something that I'm sure has Jim Balsillie all excited this morning. Because, just in case that whole Phoenix Coyotes thing fall apart, there now definitely appears to be another Southern NHL team in need of rescuing. This time, the franchise is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

According to the St. Petersburgh Times, the NHL has issued an ultimatum to the Lightning ownership: "The NHL apparently has decided the Lightning's ownership situation is unsustainable and set up a process in which squabbling co-owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules can buy each other out." There is apparently a 60-day window in place for Barrie to buy Koules, and if he fails to so do, then Koules has 60-days to buy out Barrie. But along with buying the other out, Barrie or Koules must also prove that he can handle the substantial debt obligations to the previous owner, Palace Sports & Entertainment. Should neither be able to do that then it is possible the NHL will be charged with finding a new owner -- and we all know how good the NHL has done with finding a new owner for Phoenix.

So once again, Mr. Bettman, how is that whole strategy of moving away from Canada and into the South working out for the NHL?

Alumni Update: Steve Kelly

From Syracuse.com comes a little story on former Aeros Steve Kelly. Kelly's currently a free agent who is still recovering from surgery on his hip, which he injured last March when playing for the Crunch.

But don't worry about Kelly. Should he come up with no other career options (Europe?), he's got a back-up plan. He's going to become a police officer.

On a side note: Kelly was a good go-to guy in the locker room for quotes the year he was here. Which reminds me that in about a couple of months I'm going to have to start figuring out who the new go-to quote guys are.