Home Opening Weekend

Well Aeros Fans, this weekends home opener was less than thrilling.  However they are still in calibration for this years predicted winning season.  The aeros had a hard weekend this week driving to Oklahoma with little sleep  between games.  They won Friday's game against Oklahoma in overtime with 14 seconds left. Then came home that night to get ready for that nights home opening game. They gave a huge fight back in the third period but still came out under Peoria with a one goal deficit.  They came out on sunday looking for revenge but they ended the game looking for a light in the hole they dug themselves into. Hackett had trouble keeping the puck out of the back of the net letting one goal in for about every three shots on goal.  Where as Allen (barons goalie) left no hole in net uncovered, stopping all shots on goal but two.  The aeros played their heart out tonight.  But This blogger feels that we might have seen the worst game of the year and now we can only go up from here.  Keep looking back throughout the week for your chance to win two aeros ticket to a Friday night game.  Thanks for showing your support at the aeros games fans the guys appreciate it.

Followers suggestions

This blog is in need of the fans questions.  I would like to Give you some information on what you would like to know.  So in the comment section below tell me somethings you would like to know about players, hockey, or the aeros themselves.  Is there anything you would like to know?

Booster club meeting with Mike Yeo

The booster Club meeting that went on yesterday at Texas Land and Cattle was very informative.   Mike Yeo explained his background as a Player and Coach.  He says that it is his goal to be a NHL coach one day and his goals for getting there include winning the Calder cup.  He plans on getting to the NHL coach position as soon as possible however he feels that that may be 5 years down the road with the Aeros.  He was explaining how his coaching abilities have helped the team to win the pre-season game.  He explains that unlike previous coaching staffs, he doesn't only coach one sections such as defence.  All three coaches drill and work all sections of the team.  This way what ever he or another assistant coach doesn't see another one will pick up on.  He seemed very out going and easy to talk to.  He would explain each question asked with great detail and answer each question with care.  He says he has been working on the power play teams and from the game in Austin the other night it seems to be working, as they are 100% for power play goals.  Yeo also explained that he feels the team needs to act like a "wolf pack" giving the impression on other teams of you mess with one player on the ice the other four will follow suit and back up the offended player.  He had a very optimistic approach to this years season saying "By the time we get to home opener we are going to be 2-0 working on 3-0"  Over all the meeting was very educational and a great start to the new hockey season.

AEROS BOOSTER CLUB MEETING TODAY!

Today there will me a booster club meeting at Texas Land and cattle in sugarland.  The guest speakers will be the coaches and will consist of all members and non members($5 fee).  This meeting will take place at 7 pm so get there early and have some fun with fellow booster club members and get to know your new 2010-2011 board members.  The booster club will be taking snacks for the team as well for the bus trips they may have such as, austin, san antonio, and this year Oklahoma.  If you would like to contribute items or money feel free to bring them to the meeting tonight.

Hockey Penalties Every Fan should know

In hockey there are quite a few rules and regulations that will get you a penalty if your not carful.  These are a few every one should know and some the Referees should know because they never call them right.

In hockey there is Five different Kinds of penalties, minor, double minor, major, misconduct, and game misconduct. These are listed in least severe to the most severe of penalties your players can get.  Now let me give you a few examples of each.

Minor Penalties - These penalties will draw a two minute penalty most of all of the time.  Some examples would be: Cross-checking, high-sticking, holding, holding the stick, elbowing, hooking, interference, roughing, slashing, delay of game, and tripping. These penalties expire when time runs out or a goal is scored by the opposite team.

• Cross- checking - This is when a player holds his stick in both hands crosswize to his body and hits the opposing player with it.
• High sticking - The touching of a player with the a Hockey stick above the shoulder.
• Holding -  Player holds the Jersey, skate, leg, arm of the other player to prevent him from playing in the game.
• holding the stick - Player holding the opposing players stick to keep them from playing in the game.
• elbowing - The intentional use of your elbow to hit a player.
• hooking - Using a stick as a hook to slow an opponent
• Interference - Impeding an opponent who does not have the puck, or impeding any player from the bench.
• Roughing - Pushing and shoving after the whistle has been blown or when a player checks an opponent with his hands in his opponents face
• Slashing - Swinging of a stick at an opponent, no contact is required for this call.
• Delay of game - intentionally sending the puck over the glass to avoid a situation.
• Tripping -  The use of a stick, glove, or skate to trip a player in order to prevent the player from playing in the game.

Double minors - These are called when a player is injured by a minor penalty such as slashing.  These penalties mean that the offender will be placed in the penalty box for two consecutive minors, or for four minutes.  These are not called often however when they are they place the offending team at a huge disadvantage.  These penalties expire when the time runs out or a goal is scored the first of the two minors will go away and the second will start.

Major penalty - These penalties draw a five minute penalty box sitting by the offenders.  These are usually called most every game in the form of a player fight.  These penalties only expire when the time runs out and not when the opposite team scores. Other infractions include: butt-ending, charging, spearing, and boarding. Getting three in one game will be an automatic Game Misconduct.

• Butt-ending - Jabbing an opponent with the end of the shaft of the stick. It carries an automatic major penalty and game misconduct.
• charging - taking more than three strides or jumping before hitting an opponent.
• spearing - A player "spears" the other player with the end of his Hockey Stick.
• Boarding - pushing an opponent violently into the boards while the player is facing the boards

Misconduct penalty - These penalties draw a ten minute off ice penalty.  These include throwing gear off the ice, not surrendering suspicious gear, verbal abuse of the official, throwing the puck where an official cant reach, or disrupting a penalty shot.  The player can be substituted on the ice  and these type of penalties are called "two and ten".

Here are also a few stoppage of play calls:

• Icing - occurs when a player shoots the puck across at least two red lines, the opposing team's goal line being the last, and the puck remains untouched
• offsides -  where the team in possession of the puck crosses the blue line of the opposing team before the puck crosses.
• to many men on the ice - more than the five allowed players are on the ice. This does not apply when a team pulls their goalie for an extra man or for a penalty call.
• puck out of play - the puck goes over the protective glass.

Aeros Extinguish the Stars.

Today's Game was The Houston Aeros Vs. Texas Stars and the game was intense.  The first period Robbie Earl and Warren Peters found the Back of the net for a two goal lead on the road.  The first goal on the road is the most important because it puts the defending team on edge.  These goals were assisted by Robbie Earl and Brandon Buck.  The second period started with a barrage of shots from the stars all blocked by Our Houston Goalie Matt Hackett with a stunning performance ending in 21 saves on the night for a shut out in the net, but the attack coming from Jamie Fraser and Maxim Noreau got the better of Brent Krahn, who had 17 saves and 5 goals past him. Putting the aeros up four to zero by the end of the second period.  The third period was a hard played period however the stars shooters could not find the back of the net and the defensemen Your Houston Aeros kept  the puck clear of the crease. However nearing the middle of the period Jon DiSalvatore sank a puck in the back of the net with a little help from the goalie pads.  Tonight the Aeros Capitalized on Two power Play Goals and are at 100% on kiling power plays. Over all the Team this year looks like it is meshing well and this season looks like a winning season for sure.  Everyone reserve your play off tickets now, for you will need them latter in the season.  Tonight's three stars of the game were:
1. Brandon buck
2. Matt Hackett with 21 saves on the night
3. Greg rallo with the Texas stars

This year should be an exciting year fans so strap yourselves in because this year the team takes the calder cup from the Bears for good.

What's the Difference in leagues?

I know that I personally have seen allot of Abbreviations in hockey that I did not know, so I did a little research to inform the followers on what each one means.  If you have one you would like to add post it in the comments below.

• OHL - The OHL stands for Ontario Hockey League.  One of three Canadian hockey leagues.
• CHL - Canadian Hockey league.  This is the overall name for Canadian hockey.
• NCAA- National Collegiate Athletic Association.  This keeps track of all college and University Teams.
• AHL - American Hockey League.  The American league the feeds into the NHL.
• NHL - National Hockey League.  The Professional American Hockey leagues.  The equivalent of the NFL of football
• WHL - Western Hockey League.  This is a Junior devision that usually feeds into the AHL.

• ISHL - The Interscholastic Hockey League.  This is a league that mainly deals in High school teams.
• USHL - United States Hockey League.  The top junior league hockey teams.

Like I said above I know there is more out there these are a few of the more commonly used Abbreviations in hockey.  See the next post for hockey basics all fans should know.