AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Game Day

Published on January 25, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


A reminder that tonight's game against the Syracuse Crunch can be heard on KTKR Ticket 760 AM beginning at 7 p.m. (CST). Log on to http://www.sarampage.com/box_040125.shtml for real-time coverage and period-by-period recaps.

Today's Game...

Tonight's interdivision contest against the Syracuse Crunch marks fourth game in fifth night for the San Antonio Rampage (17-18-6-0; 40 pts.) who is playing their second-to-last home game before going on the road for a 12-game road trip in February...The Rampage, who are on a four-game winless streak, trail the Crunch (18-14-5-3; 44 pts.) by four points in the Western Conference standings...San Antonio is three games above .500 at home with a 19-9-4-0 record and Syracuse sit two games below .500 with a 7-9-1-1 record...Following tonight's game, the Rampage host Chicago on Fri., Jan. 30 to begin a home-and-home series against the Wolves.

Against Syracuse Crunch: Tonight's contest marks the first meeting (of two) between the two clubs since San Antonio joined the AHL last season, with tonight's match being the only contest at the SBC Center this year...Syracuse is 2-4-1-0 against West Division teams this season, while the Rampage hold a 3-2-0-0 record against North Division opponents...The Crunch are 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games played and rank 2nd in the AHL on the power play (37/205 = 18.0%), while San Antonio is 3-5-2-0 in their last 10 games ranking 10th on the power play (25-164 = 15.2%).

Game Notes...

BATTLE AT MIDWAY: The Rampage reached the midway mark on Jan. 24 against Grand Rapids finishing the evening with a

17-17-6-0 record (40 pts.). San Antonio had a 16-15-7-2 (41 pts.) last year in their inaugural season and finished the year 36-29-11-4 (87 pts.)

SYRACUSE CONNECTIONS: Left wing Matt Dzieduszycki will face his former team tonight for the first time. Dzieduszkcki spent part of the 2001-02 season with Syracuse (4 GP, zero points) and all of last season with the Crunch. Last year, he registered 12-10-22 totals in 66 games played.

A VIEW TO A PENALTY KILL: San Antonio's penalty killing unit has been special as of late, killing all but six of their man-disadvantages in their last eight games (36 of 42). In fact, the Rampage have allowed three PP goals in their last 21 attempts.

ROAD WARRIORS: Beginning February 4, the Rampage will play 14 of the month's 15 games on the road, when the San Antonio Livestock Exhibition and Rodeo takes over the SBC Center. The Rampage have the least amount of road games to date with 16. Syracuse and Binghamton have the next lowest with 18 games played.

TARGET PRACTICE: San Antonio has been outshot in 18 of their last 21 games (699-522). In those 21 games, San Antonio has given up at least 40 shots three times, while allowing 40+ shots five times this season. In their 41 games to date, the Rampage have outshot their opposition nine times and allow an average of 32.85 shots per game (1347 total).

THREE-N-THREE: With tonight's game, the Rampage are in their fourth set of playing three games in as many nights. So far, San Antonio is 4-4-1-0 after playing three sets (of 10) of three-games in three-night sessions.

THE WEST WING: San Antonio has played 32 games against a team in the West Division this season. The Rampage, who are 12-14-5-0 against West Division opponents this season, will play 60 games against the West Division this year, including the next three games (Jan. 21-24). In total, San Antonio will face a North Division team, including Syracuse tonight, 12 times (3-2-0-0) while playing teams from the Atlantic (1-0-1-0) and East (1-1-0-0) Divisions on four occasions.

MAKING THEIR POINTS: Center Greg Jacina recorded his first point (assist) of the season in his first game with the Rampage on Jan. 24 at Milwaukee for his first AHL career point...Below is a list of others that have similar occurrences this season:

- Center Brent Cullaton on Jan. 15 vs Utah; unassisted goal = 4th AHL career goal (6th career point)

- Center Mark Smith on Jan. 13 vs Grand Rapids; assist = 1st AHL career point and assist

- Defenseman Kristian Kudroc on Jan. 2 vs Rochester; assist = 16th AHL career point and assist

- Center Vaclav Nedorost on Nov. 7 vs Milwaukee; PPG = 55th AHL career goal

- Center Petr Taticek on Oct. 16 vs Cincinnati; assist = 1st AHL career point and assist

LEADER OF THE PACK: Netminder Travis Scott leads all AHL netminders in saves with 1065 while jockeying for the #1 slot in wins with his 16-14-5 record (currently 2nd behind Jason LaBarbera, HFD). He also ranks first in minutes played (2119). In fact, Scott has notched his 10th win in only 15 games played—seven fewer than former Rampage netminder Chris Mason (1/8/03).

EXTRA SESSION: In the last 14 games, the Rampage have gone into overtime on five occurrences and have registered 2-0-3 record. All told, San Antonio has played 10 games with the extra session compiling an undefeated 4-0-6 record—making the Rampage one of two teams (GRA) without an overtime loss.

20/20 VISION: On January 17, left wing Eric Beaudoin notched his 20th goal of the season. Entering tonight's contest, Beaudoin in one of four individuals that share 20 or more goals and assists.

HEY NOW...YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR: Left wing Eric Beaudoin was among 21 skaters and three goaltenders named to the Canadian roster for the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic, held at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Ottawa, Ontario native will be making his first All-Star game appearance ever. He is the second Rampage player to represent San Antonio in the annual event (2003: Filip Novak-PlanetUSA).

BEAUDOIN BOOST: In the last 10 games, left wing Eric Beaudoin has scored 10 goals (10-2=12 pts.), including two power-play goals, a game-tying goal and a game-winning goal. His six-game point streak (which was broken on Jan. 13) was two games shy of Mike Green's for the season-high (see Green Streak).

SIX-SHOOTERS: San Antonio's sextet of Eric Beaudoin (20g, 22a), Mike Green (11g, 21a), Denis Shvidki (7g, 23a), Lee Goren (9g, 11a), Michel Periard (5g, 13a) and Josh Olson (9g, 7a) currently accounts for 158 points—56.8% of the team's overall total of 278.

- In fact, the six pack have tallied 61 goals, equaling 59.2% of the team's 103 goals scored.

CANADIAN CLUB: Victoria, British Columbia native Mike Green and Eric Beaudoin, a native of Ottawa, Ontario have now combined for 13 points in the last 10 games (7 in the last five).

- If you throw in Ukrainian native Denis Shvidki, the trio registers 20 points in the last 10 games (10 pts. in last five).

- If you throw in Grand Forks, ND native Josh Olson, the trio registers 15 points in the last 10 (8 pts. in last five).

TREMONDOUS TWO'S: The Rampage have an awesome track record when heading into the third period with a lead. The Rampage have an undefeated 12-0-2-0 record when leading after two periods. In fact, the Rampage also own an impressive 13-5-1-0 record when scoring the game's first goal.

GOAL ORIENTED: The Rampage rank 16th in the AHL in goals for per game, accounting for a 2.51 average (103 GF in 41 GP).

NEDO CENTERING IN: Of the 13 games center Vaclav Nedorost has played (missed 10 games; recalled by Florida), he has improved his scoring from 2-1=3 pts. in his first five games to 4-1=5 pts. in his last five games.

GREEN STREAK: Center Mike Green had an eight game scoring streak compiling 14 points (4g, 10a) from Nov. 20-Dec. 12. His streak was one game shy of teammate Ryan Jardine's (9 games: Mar. 20-Apr. 6, 2003) who owns the landmark.

BACK IT UP: So far this season, the Rampage have played seven back-to-back sets (of 12 for the season) with a 5-7-2-0 record.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Center Scott Kelman tallied a pair of assists in his first AHL game of the season (2nd AHL career game) against Chicago on Dec. 5 after being recalled late the night before from Augusta (ECHL). Prior to being recalled from the Lynx, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound forward collected 11 points (5-6-11) in his last 10 games and registered a +4 plus/minus rating.

AT THE 10-SPOT: Comparing to last season, the Rampage notched their 10th win on their 26th game on Dec. 14, 2002 (vs. BRI; 4-2) while this year's squad eclipsed the 10 spot in 16 games with a 5-4 OTW against Lone Star rival Houston on Nov. 23.

QUITE A BEGINNING: The Rampage's 4-0-1-0 start was the club's best start in franchise history. Last season, the Rampages' inaugural season, the team opened the season 1-4-0-0 after their first five games. In fact, the Rampage continued to have a positive beginning with a 10-3-3-0 record in 16 games, while last season's squad was 3-7-5-1 after 16 games.

YOUTH IS SERVED: As Florida's AHL affiliate, the Rampage are the youngest team in the AHL, checking in at 23-years and one-month old. Along the same lines, for the second consecutive season, the Panthers are the youngest team in the NHL with an average age of 26, one year older than the average age of the club at the beginning of last season. The Cats are almost two years younger than the NHL average age (27.9).

- An interesting noteable, Jeff Paul is recognized as the lone veteran on the squad

SCOTT HAS RED HOT OCTOBER: Goaltender Travis Scott had an impressive opening month pacing all AHL goaltenders with a 6-1-1 record. Entering November, Scott was the only netminder to record six wins. His other accolades include: one shutout (T-2nd AHL); 259 saves (3rd AHL); .952 save percentage (4th AHL) and 486 minutes logged (5th AHL). His first shutout of the season against Cincinnati with a 3-0 victory on Sat., Oct. 18 was his 17th AHL shutout.

GREAT SCOTT: Goaltender Travis Scott recorded a club record on Thur., Oct. 16 against Cincinnati by saving 56 shots on goal, helping the Rampage defeat the Mighty Ducks (4-2) at the SBC Center. Scott eclipsed former Rampage netminder Chris Mason, who set the record (55) on Mar. 9, 2003 at Houston.

FAB FOUR: Michel Periard (2g, 3a) and Denis Shvidki (2g, 3a) began the season collecting a point in each of the Rampage's first four games (Oct. 10-18). Last season's individual high of nine games (Mar. 20-Apr. 6, 2003) was set by returning Rampage player Ryan Jardine.

O' CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN: Right wing Lee Goren will wear the "C" for the 2003-04 AHL season. Goren becomes the first Rampage player in team history to be named captain.

AROUND THE WORLD: The Rampage have six countries represented by this year's opening roster, according to players' citizenships:

- 16 players were born in Canada (Lajeunesse, Scott, Andrews, Huskins, Elliott, Paul, McNeill, Rossiter, Periard, Weiss , Campbell, O'Connor, Jardine, Green, Beaudoin and Goren)

- 3 players were born in the Czech Republic (Krajicek, Nedorost and Taticek)

- One player was born in Israel (Birbraer)

- One player was born in Slovakia (Kolnik)

- One player was born in Ukraine (Shvidki)

- One player was born in the United States (Josh Olson)

NEW FACES: The Rampage season-opener roster features 10 new faces: Travis Scott, Daryl Andrews, Kent Huskins, Jeff Paul, Grant McNeill, Stephen Weiss, Max Birbraer, Vaclav Nedorost, Petr Taticek and Lee Goren.

Check out the San Antonio Rampage Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2004


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