AHL Texas Stars

Four More Days Until Game 1 of Calder Cup Finals

Published on May 30, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Overtime Thrillers:

Both Texas and Hershey pulled off multiple dramatic overtime wins to get to the Calder Cup Finals. Texas is 5-2 in overtime games this postseason, including three overtime wins in the Western Conference Finals. Seven of the Stars 18 playoff games have ended in extra time. The longest game Texas played in OT this spring was a double-overtime 4-3 loss at Chicago in Game 2 of the West Division Finals. Four of the seven games in the Western Conference Finals went into OT. Texas has come from behind to win in four of the nines games it trailed after two periods of play.

Hershey is 7-1 in overtime games this spring, including a dramatic 3-2 OT win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Four of the six games in the Eastern Conference Finals went to overtime, with Hershey winning three of those games. Although Hershey swept Albany in the East Division Finals, three of the four games went to OT. Nine of Hershey's 12 wins during the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs have come after the Bears trailed in the third period, including Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Eight of Hershey's 15 playoff games have gone to OT.

Hershey's Big Three:

Hershey features three of the best scorers in the AHL over the last two seasons. Center Keith Aucoin led the AHL in scoring for the 2009-10 regular season with 106 points and 71 assists in 72 games played this season. Aucoin also finished fifth overall in the league with 35 goals scored. In the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, Aucoin leads the AHL with 18 assists and is tied for fifth with 19 points in 15 playoff games. Last season, Aucoin finished second in the AHL in regular season scoring race, leading the league with 71 assists and totaling 96 points in 71 games played. Aucoin was one point behind teammate Alexandre Giroux.

Giroux led the AHL in goals scored in each of the past two seasons. In 2008-09, Giroux was first in the league in scoring with 97 points, including 60 goals in 69 games played. This regular season, Giroux was second in scoring in total points with 103 in 69 games. He led the AHL with 50 goals in 69 games played in 2009-10. He has kept up his scoring prowess in the playoffs, tallying 12 goals in 15 games in this year's postseason. Overall, he is fourth in the Calder Cup scoring race with 21 points in 15 games.

Left wing Chris Bourque rounds out the top scorers for the Bears. He leads Hershey in playoff scoring with 23 points in 15 games played. Bourque is tied for second in the AHL playoff scoring race, trailing Stars rookie Jamie Benn by one point. In the regular season, Bourque dished out 48 assists and totaled 70 points in only 49 games played.

SERIES SUBPLOTS......

- Hershey will attempt to become just the ninth team in AHL history to repeat as Calder Cup Champions. The last team to repeat was the Springfield Indians from 1989-91.The Indians are also the only team to win three straight Cups, taking home the hardware from 1959-62.

- Texas defenseman Dan Jancevski helped the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Hershey Bears in five games to claim the 2007 Calder Cup.

- Stars defenseman Andrew Hutchinson was a member of the Milwaukee Admirals, sweeping the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins to win the Calder Cup in 2004.

Calder Cup Finals - Texas Stars vs. Hershey Bears (best of seven):

Game 1 - Thu., June 3 - Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

Game 2 - Sat., June 5 - Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

Game 3 - Mon., June 7 - Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm

Game 4 - Wed., June 9 - Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm

*Game 5 - Fri., June 11 - Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm

*Game 6 - Mon., June 14 - Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

*Game 7 - Wed., June 16 - Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

*if necessary... All times Central

TICKETS TO THE CALDER CUP FINALS AT CEDAR PARK CENTER:

To purchase a Calder Cup Finals playoff package, which offers fans the same seat for all three possible home games, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. To rent a suite for a home playoff game or book a group, those interested may call 512-GO-STARS. Individual tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

WATCH PARTIES AT CEDAR PARK CENTER FOR GAMES 1 AND 2 OF THE CALDER CUP FINALS:

Fans who want to watch the first two games of the Calder Cup Finals may do so at Cedar Park Center. The Texas Stars will host a pair of watch parties for Games 1 and 2 inside the bowl of Cedar Park Center. The Austin Diamond District Ice Girls will be on hand, providing numerous giveaways. The game will be broadcast on the four-sided HD video board above center ice and the audio of the radio broadcast will be played through the state-of-the-art sound system. Fans may sit in the Club Section and receive In-seat service for food and beverages.

Admittance and parking to the event are free. The parking lot and doors at Cedar Park Center will open at 5:00 PM with the games starting at 6:00 pm. Cedar Park Center is running food and drink specials for the watch parties.

WEAR WHITE and Calder Cup Finals Promotions:

The Texas Stars are asking fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for every home game of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. For Game 3, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a Texas Stars playoff t-shirt, compliments of State Farm. For Games 4 and 5, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs for all three home games.

Playoff Format......

Four rounds, with each round slated as a best of seven series. The top four teams in each division qualify for playoffs. The teams play within their division for the first two rounds. The division winners will meet in the conference finals. The winner of the Western Conference will play the winner of the Eastern Conference for the Calder Cup. In order to take the Calder Cup, a team must win 16 games.

The Calder Cup......

The coveted Calder Cup has been a motivational force for American Hockey League teams throughout the League's 73-year history. It is one of our sport's greatest challenges and ultimate honors to hoist the Calder Cup in victory.

The trophy is named for Frank Calder, who served as the National Hockey League's first President from 1917 to 1943. During the 1920's, Mr. Calder was instrumental in guiding hockey into the mainstream of America's major cities including Boston, New York, Detroit and Chicago, while helping in the formation of the American League.

The Calder Cup trophy itself was actually first awarded in 1938 to the Providence Reds for winning the second International-American Hockey League championship. (In 1996, George Parsons of the Syracuse Stars was presented the Calder Cup in a ceremony at the Onondaga County War Memorial, as it is believed the Stars never received a trophy for their 1937 championship.

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American Hockey League Stories from May 30, 2010


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