Aeros Weekly

Published on April 22, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Week of April 16-22, 2002 AEROS PLAYOFF
RECORD: 3-2
Upcoming Games
Date Opponent Time Aeros' Record Against Broadcast Info Playoff Ticket
4-26 vs. Hershey 7:30 PM 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM G
4-27 vs. Hershey 7:30 PM 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM H
5-1 at Hershey 8:30 PM CDT 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM
5-3 at Hershey 8:30 PM CDT 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM
5-5 at Hershey* 6:00 PM CDT 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM
5-7 vs. Hershey* 7:00 PM 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM I
5-8 vs. Hershey* 7:00 PM 0-0 SportsRadio 610 AM J
* if necessary
All games are broadcast on the Aeros' website at www.aeros.com

Hockey Happenings

FROM THE GRIZZLIES TO THE BEARS: After defeating the Utah Grizzlies in the Western Conference Quarterfinals 3-2, the Aeros have advanced to the Conference Semifinals, where they will take on the Hershey Bears. The Aeros will have home ice throughout the best-of-seven series, which begins Friday, April 26 at the Compaq Center at 7:30 PM. This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams, who did not play each other during the Aeros' inaugural AHL season this year. The Bears began play in the 1938-39 season and in their 64-year history and have advanced to post season play in all but nine of those seasons. An eight-time Calder Cup winner, the Bears' last championship was in 1997, when they were led by then-head coach Bob Hartley.

QUARTERFINALS RECAP: There was never a dull moment in the Western Conference Quarterfinals match between the Aeros and Grizzlies, as it took them all five games of the series to decide who would advance to the Semifinal round. In the end, the Aeros prevailed, thanks in large part to strong goaltending by Jamie McLennan, who registered two shutouts in five starts. The Aeros outscored the Griz by a 12-7 margin, and allowed only one power play goal in 27 shorthanded situations. The Aeros and Grizzlies split Games One and Two at Houston, as the Aeros won Game One by a 4-0 count April 11, and the Grizzlies tied the series at 1-1 with a 3-2 overtime win two nights later. The Grizzlies then took a 2-1 series lead with a 2-1 regulation win April 16 at Utah, but the Aeros knotted the series at 2-2 with a 2-0 win April 18. The strong play for the Aeros continued into the decisive Game Five, where they eliminated the Grizzlies by the final score of 3-2 to advance to the Semifinals round. This was the second time that the Aeros and Grizzlies had met in the playoffs, after the Aeros bettered the Grizzlies 4-1 in the 2000 IHL Western Conference Semifinals.

NET WORTH: G Jamie McLennan gave the Aeros a solid foundation during their five-game Quarterfinals run against the Grizzlies, and will be looking to stay strong throughout the upcoming semifinals round against the Bears. Getting the start in all five games, McLennan registered a league-leading 1.37 GAA with a .947 SV% and two shutouts. The shooters in front of him kept the opposition busy in the five game set, outshooting the Grizzlies by a 171-133 margin.

AEROS' LEADERS: The trio of winger Brendan Yarema and centers Cory Larose and Mark Beaufait lead the Aeros in scoring after the five-game series with Utah with 2-2-4 each. Each had a game-winning goal during the Quarterfinals, as Beaufait tallied his second goal of the post season in Game Five to elevate the Aeros to a 3-2 series clinching win. Yarema was one of two Aeros to score in the 2-0 win in Game Four at Utah April 18, and Larose scored two of the four goals in the Aeros' 4-0 win in Game One at Houston April 11. D Kevin Bolibruck leads the team with 10 PIM, after registering 59 PIM in 60 games during the regular season.

DRESSED TO KILL: The Aeros' penalty killing unit was red hot against the Grizzlies, allowing only one power play goal in 27 shorthanded situations during the five-game Western Conference Quarterfinals series. Utah's John Purves broke the streak when he scored the Grizzlies' lone power play goal in Game Five. The Aeros had many shorhanded scoring chances, and it was C Cory Larose's shorthanded tally that proved to be the game winner in Game One of the series April 11 at Houston. The Aeros converted three of their 21 power play opportunities, as Yarema, RW Stephane Veilleux and C Shawn Carter each scored on the man advantage against the Grizzlies.

SHOW ME THE MONEY: Two Aeros are making their points count for more than just goals and assists this season, as C Mark Beaufait and D Travis Roche will be donating money to Houston-area charities based on their scoring prowess throughout the regular season and playoffs. For every goal Beaufait scores this season, Memorial Hermann will donate $100 to Houston Aeros Charities. With 14 goals during the regular season, and two goals thus far in the 2002 Calder Cup playoffs, HAC's contribution is up to $1600. This season, Roche has pledged to personally donate $100 a goal, $50 an assist and $5 a penalty minute to Kids Unlimited, a foundation that works with children with cancer and their families. During the regular season, Roche amassed 13 goals, 21 assists and 107 PIM with the Aeros, and two penalty minutes with Minnesota, for a total of $2895. While he was sidelined, Roche had agreed to sponsor fellow d-man Curtis Murphy, who netted an extra $90 with eight PIM and an assist, increasing the total to $2985. After five playoff games, Roche has added four PIM and an assist, for a current total of $3055 for Kids Unlimited.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 22, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central