11/18 – In-Game Blog Aeros vs. Rivermen
Khudobin holds strong in the waning minutes to close out the shutout as the Aeros win it 1-0 tonight over the Peoria Rivermen. Remember to check aeros.com tonight for the recap. Goodnight from Toyota Center, see you Friday night as the Aeros welcome the Milwaukee Admirals
18 seconds remaining as Peoria takes their timeout. Faceoff to be taken just outside the Houston zone
Peoria G Bishop heads to the bench for the extra skater
2 great one on one opportunities from Petr Kalus and Duncan Milroy, but neither can find the twine to put this away….1:24 left, Aeros still lead 1-0
4 minutes to go, the Aeros still clinging to a 1-0 lead here at Toyota
Aeros on the board! Jon DiSalvatore sends a whistler on net that rebounds to the stick of Daoust who finishes it off for the power play goal. Aeros lead 1-0 with 8:55 to go
Houston can’t find the net on the man-up and we’re back to even strength…just under 12 to go
Aeros on the PP at 5:47…Adam Cracknell in the box for Peoria, 2 minutes for hooking
14:23 left in the game and it’s still 0-0 here at Toyota Center between the Aeros and Rivermen. Peoria still leading in shots on goal 15-11.
Another solid kill by the Aeros and we’re back to even strength
1:37 into the third and the Aeros go back on the PK….Ryan Gunderson sits for 2 minutes on the tripping call
Back to the game…3rd period just underway at Toyota Center in a scoreless game
Props to the guy in the Argyle sweater vest for showing off the dance moves to Y-M-C-A during the second intermission!
Colton Gillies was sent to the penalty box for high sticking and the Aeros came up with a great penalty kill after Nathan Smith lost his stick off the faceoff. Khudobin made two saves with his mask and the four penalty killers succeeded in killing off the entire two minutes to keep the game scoreless. The second period comes to an end scoreless, the Rivermen still with the advantage in shots at 12-11.
But not for long as Justin Falk is called for delay of game (closing his hand on the puck) at 12:11
Aeros kill the penalty and we’re back to even strength
Aeros called for too many men on the ice at 9:28…penalty served by Peter Zingoni and the Aeros are on the PK
The Aeros with three great looks just can’t buy one…still scoreless with 10:45 remaining in the middle frame
14:39 left in the second…and we’re still scoreless. Still no shots on goal in the period for either side
Aeros and Rivermen back on the ice for period number 2…still scoreless as they start the frame
And the first period comes to an end as the teams are scoreless after one. Peoria outshot the Aeros 6-5, Houston went 0-for-2 on the power-play and the Rivermen went 0-for-1.
The Rivermen kill off the penalty. Brandon Rogers was alone briefly in front of the Peoria net but was unable to get a shot off.
Aeros will head back on the PP….Drazenovic called for hooking, he’ll serve 2 minutes at 14:55
6:14 remaining in the period, and both teams are back to full strength…Still 0-0
Strachan penalty expries, Peoria on the PP
Khudobin now called for delay of game…Ryan Gunderson will serve the 2 minute minor at 11:45
First penalty of the night goes against Peoria. Tyson Strachan in the box 2 minutes for hooking…Aeros on the PP at 10:49
The Rivermen have the early advantage in shots on goal 4-2….the Aeros mustered a couple solid scoring chances off a scrum in front of the net but were unable to cash in. 12:35 remaining in the first period.
5 minutes gone and we’ve yet to have a stoppage in play…
Puck is on the ice and we are underway from Toyota Center between the Aeros and the Peoria Rivermen
Starting for Houston: C Nathan Smith, LW Jon DiSalvatore, RW J-M Daoust, D Clayton Stoner, D Maxim Noreau, and in net for the Aeros G Anton Khudobin
Starting for the Rivermen: C Nicholas Drazenovic, LW Lars Eller, RW Yan Stastny, D Tyson Strachan, D Jonas Junland, and in the cage for Peoria G Ben Bishop
Scratches for the Aeros: Cody Almond, Andy Hilbert and J.P. Testwuide
Scratches for Peoria: Adrian Veideman, Anthony Peluso, Derek Armstrong, Justin Fletcher and
ACM Palmer Hestley back here at Toyota Center for tonight’s in-game blog between the Aeros and Rivermen. I’ll have scratches and starters coming up before puck drop.
11/15 Wolves outlast Aeros 2-1
The Houston Aeros (9-8-0-0) dropped their second game in as many days, 2-1 to the Chicago Wolves in front of 7,946 at Toyota Center. C Nathan Smith scored the lone goal for the Aeros in the second period and G Anton Khudobin made 21 saves in the loss. C Jason Krog scored a goal and added an assist on RW Spencer Machacek’s game-winning goal in the second period and G Peter Mannino made 26 saves in the win.
For more log on to aeros.com
11/14 Aeros fall 3-1 to Monsters
The Houston Aeros (9-8-0-0) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 loss to the Lake Erie Monsters (7-9-0-1) in front of 2,967 at Quicken Loans Arena. D Ryan Gunderson scored the lone goal for the Aeros and G Wade Dubielewicz stopped 20 of 22 shots in the loss. RW Brian Willsie, RW Darren Haydar and D Brian Fahey scored for Monsters; G Tyler Weiman made 14 saves in the win.
For more log on to aeros.com
11/7: Aeros top Rampage 5-2
Former President George H.W. Bush was on hand Saturday where the Houston Aeros (8-7-0-0) defeated the San Antonio Rampage (6-6-2-1) 5-2 in front of 8,433 on Military Appreciation Night at Toyota Center. Forwards Peter Zingoni, Chad Rau, Robbie Earl, Jon DiSalvatore and Petr Kalus each scored for the Aeros and G Anton Khudobin saved 24 of 26 to record his third straight victory and sixth on the season. The Rampage netted two second period goals off the sticks of D Jeff May and LW Brett MacLean while G Josh Tordjman tallid 23 saves to get saddled with the loss.
For more visit aeros.com
Rogers Reaches Milestone Against Manitoba
By Thao Pham
Maxim Noreau scored three points, Danny Irmen added two goals goaltender Anton Khudobin returned to Houston ice after a stint in Minnesota to record his fifth win of the season. For Head Coach Kevin Constantine it was his 1,100th career game as a head coach and Brandon Rogers made his own mark in Houston’s win against Manitoba when he found out Thursday night was his 150th game as an Aero.
“I didn’t even know that until I heard them announce it,” Rogers said. “It’s a good thing. I like the city. I’m glad that I’ve been here for three years now and it all.”
To make him even happier to be in Houston, the Aeros snapped their three-game losing streak by winning 4-1 over the Moose, dominating the game with 35 shots compared to the 15 by Manitoba.
Manitoba eliminated Houston from last year’s playoff contention after six games in the conference final before falling to Hersey in the Calder Cup final.
“It’s definitely a good win,” Rogers said. “We talked a lot about it this week. We needed to come back out with a better start, have more energy for the whole game, have more hits. The last four games we’re kind of worn out; we didn’t have the amount of hits we usually have. Going into this game with Manitoba, having lost three games in a row…it’s a critical game for us to get back on track.”
Rogers, since coming to Houston in 2007 after a stint in Norfolk, has seen the team changed over the past three years since he’s been here.
This year’s team is similar to the one he played with in his first season as an Aero, Rogers said. They can’t rely on much scoring to win games like last year, but they don’t allow many goals either.
“We don’t give up a lot of goals,” Rogers said. “We don’t necessarily score a lot of goals [either]. I think last year we were a team [that] could score 4 or 5 or 6 goals on a good powerplay, and we could rely on that, and it’ll bail us out if we were giving up goals. This year’s a lot different. We can’t score quite as easily, but we’re a hardworking team and that’s a good adjustment.”
11/5: Aeros defeat Moose 4-1
The Houston Aeros (7-7-0-0) got two goals from RW Danny Irmen and D Maxim Noreau added two goals and an assist en route to a 4-1 win over the Manitoba Moose (8-7-2-0) Thursday in front of 3,163 at Toyota Center. G Anton Khudobin (5-2-0) made his return to Houston after being re-assigned by the Minnesota Wild earlier this week and tallied 14 saves for his fifth win of the season. Former Aero C Marco Rosa netted the only goal for Manitoba while G Daren Machesney (2-6-0) saved 31 of 34 in the loss.
Log on to www.aeros.com for more.
Wade’s World: Dubielewicz Feeling Right At Home In Houston
By Denton Ramsey, Houston Aeros Writer/Columnist
Houston Aeros goalie Wade Dubielewicz has been playing hockey since most kids are first learning to read and write.
And at a young 30-years-old, “Dubie” (as he is affectionately called by fans, announcers, and sportswriters) has been on the ice for nearly 28 years, as he first strapped on the skates at just 2 ½-years-old.
“The first time I skated I remember that I fell down and couldn’t get up,” Dubielewicz said. “My mom had to drag me off the ice crying.”
It didn’t take Dubie long to learn to be tough, as he began playing organized hockey at the age of four (as both a goalie and a player) and has been between the pipes since around the age of 10.
“Secretly, all goalies want to get out there and score goals,” Dubielewicz said. “It’s fun.”
With a loving and understanding wife, along with two young kids at home, Dubie’s favorite thing to do when not in net with the Aeros is to spend time with his family.
“I’m on the road a lot and spend too much time away from my kids,” Dubielewicz said. “With a 2 ½-year-old boy and a four-month-old girl at home, it’s tough and I don’t want to miss anything.”
Dubie enjoys going to the park with his kids and family in his spare time, and he also enjoys watching sports (and only listens to sports talk-radio when he’s in the car).
“I like to study the game of hockey by watching other goalies,” Dubielewicz said.
Like an All-Star MLB catcher, Dubie does his best to gain all the knowledge he can on opposing players and teams — trying to do anything he can do to help his team.
“First and foremost, my main goal is to help the team win,” Dubielewicz said. “As far as personal goals, I really don’t have any; being in the American League, you’re at the mercy of the parent club and a lot of things factor into the team you have in front of you. My main goal is every night, I want to give my team a chance to win.”
Speaking of giving a team a chance to win, Dubie’s favorite hockey memory is right on the money.
“A few years ago I got called up to the New York Islanders,” Dubielewicz said. “I played in the last five games with them and we had to win all five to make the playoffs. After winning the first four, we were in a shootout in the last game of the season with the New Jersey Devils and we won the shootout and made the playoffs.”
The celebration on the ice that ensued will forever be etched into the heart and soul of Dubie; although much of his true learning can be traced back to his younger days, with the Houston goalie calling his college coach his biggest influence.
“At that time in your life, there are a lot of things going on and he helped me to put things in perspective,” Dubielewicz said. “It was always ‘life comes first, hockey comes second.’ He really helped mold me into the person I am now.”
Dubie’s favorite band is Coldplay (he’s seen them in concert five times), but you won’t catch him listening to a particular song on the iPod or anything like the come game-day.
“I just go with the flow,” Dubielewicz said. “On game-day, I do take a lot of nervous energy out on my wife; I’m not the most pleasant person to be around on game-day. But by the time I get in the game, I’m pretty relaxed and I try to just leave it all out there on the ice.”
Since being thrust into the starting role with the Aeros with Anton Khudobin being called up to the Minnesota Wild, Dubie has posted a 2.45 GAA through eight games.
“I’ve felt okay [since being called on to start],” Dubielewicz said. “I feel like these last couple games, I’m really starting to elevate my play. So far, so good.”
As great as Dubie has been in net, the Aeros have been on a slide lately (having dropped their last three contests, despite remarkable outings by their goalie). But as Dubie says, “hard work” defines this year’s Houston hockey team.
“We have a great group of guys who are very determined to play the right way,” Dubielewicz said. “The coaching staff is very demanding on us to play the game the right way and right now I think we’re in a transition period with a lot of new guys.”
For Dubie and the rest of the Aeros, hopefully all that hard work will begin to pay off and turn into wins on the rink.
“It’s just a matter of us getting used to playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played: every shift and every second of every game,” Dubielewicz said. “We just need to transition through that — and the end result is going to be a great thing.”
With a master of the game in net for Houston night-in and night-out, it’s only a matter of time before the Aeros begin to shine. Dubie, meanwhile, is just happy to be donning an Aeros jersey, and he truly believes there’s something special about this year’s team.
“I’m really happy to be a part of the Wild and Aeros organization,” Dubielewicz said. “I really think the coaching staff is outstanding — they have a great philosophy about hockey; and once we all get on the same page, we’re going to have a pretty special team and a pretty special season.”
11/1: Aeros fall at Texas 3-1
The Aeros (6-7-0-0) fell to the Texas Stars (8-2-0-2) 3-1 in front of 4,130 in their first regular season visit to the Cedar Park Center. D Brandon Rogers scored the only goal for Houston while G Wade Dubielewicz (2-5-0) saved 26 shots in the loss. The Stars received goals from forwards Travis Morin, Greg Rallo and former Aero Matheiu Beaudoin. Another former Aero, G Matt Climie (3-1-2), stopped 27 shots to earn his third win of the season.
For more log on to www.aeros.com
Aeros Penalty Kill Remains Stronghold
By: Thao Pham
The Aeros penalty kill gave them a chance to win on Tuesday, October 27 at Toyota Center in a thrilling game against the Hamilton Bulldogs, especially after the 5-on-3 powerplay for Hamilton.
“I thought the biggest moment of the game was when we killed, not just the 3-on-5, certainly the 3-on-5, but the momentum that we saved for ourselves with the penalty kills,” Aeros Head Coach Kevin Constantine said.
And although the Aeros allowed a Grand Rapids Griffins powerplay goal on Thursday, October 29 in a 2-0 loss at Van Andel Arena, they are still ranked second in the league in penalty kill, behind only Manchester Monarchs.
Much of the Aeros shorthanded success can be attributed to forward Danny Irmen who is the Aeros top penalty killer.
“He’s done a good job [on the penalty kill] every year,” Constantine said of Irmen. “That’s an easy thing. He’s got great speed so he can get around the ring really quick, and I like to find a way for him to get the goals he got before I got here, but he’s just continuing to be a high energy guy, a very trustworthy guy, a guy the coach could really trust, and he’s done all those things, and I think he just continues to work on the other parts of his game.”
Irmen, who according to Constantine is one of the featured penalty killers every year, is quick to deflect the credit from himself. He credits the goalie and his teammates for their contribution when the team is one man short.
“A group of five makes it work so good,” Irmen said. “The main part of the penalty kill is the goaltender. He’s been a huge success to our penalty kill. You got to work as five guys.”
Irmen also credits the Aeros penalty kill system and work ethic for the team’s success while being shorthanded.
While the Aeros are looking to improve on their powerplay, the team takes pride in their penalty kill rating, allowing just two powerplay goals this year.
“It’s a huge to be top five in the league in penalty kill,” Irmen said. “You try to score some powerplay, so we got to make sure we’re taking care of our penalty kill and get our powerplay to come around and that’s how you win hockey.”
10/30: Griffins Best the Aeros 3-1
The Grand Rapids Griffins (6-4-0-0) scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Aeros (6-6-0-0) 3-1 Friday in front of 4,473 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI. Forwards Michael Nylander, Evan McGrath and Patrick Rissmiller each scored for the Griffins and G Thomas McCollum (3-2-0) tallied 32 saves for the win. LW Robbie Earl scored the lone goal for Houston while G Wade Dubielewicz (2-4-0) made 26 saves to get saddled with his second loss in as many nights.
For more visit www.aeros.com
