Rampage celebrate Epiphany with 5-2 win over Peoria

Yes, sirree.

Brendon Nash  (Nr. 42) is totally oblivious to T-Bone's animating the crowd, which was respectable but not overwhelming

No, he IS not related to Enrico Caruso lol!

Despite a so-so first period when both teams seem to test their skates on the ice at the-for once - not quite as freezing ATT center in San Antonio, the next two periods went better with the third rather' caliente'. :-)
 About 5,000 fans attended and seemed a bit subdued at first but with the help of T-Bone....



 Allen in goal for Peoria seemed to have problems with his 'garters' ;-) lol. Maybe that's why he let in 4 goal all together - the 5. goal was an empty netter-so he can't be blamed for that as well ;-).

 Jake Allen checking "garters" ;-)!

The kid's excitement matches that of his parents, :-)! when a fight broke out between  big guy Peluso (Nr.23 at 6'4 and 236 pds) and Rampage Selleck (Nr. 15) a mere  6'2 and 200 pds.. as I recall Selleck acquitted himself rather well ;-)!

And that was not the only fight rampageing Selleck got into that afternoon.

Anyway, Rampage first scorer was Quinton Howden, 2nd Justin Vaive (on PP), 3. Scott Timmins, and Jon Rheault  was culpable for numbers 4 and 5. 
Jacob Markstrom. at 6ft 6 and only 195 pds a real string bean, made some spectacular saves, as Peoria tried hard to get more goals into his net, after McRae scored within seconds of the Howden goal (I blinked and the deed was done!), and Nesbitt copied him with his goal (the 2. and last for Peoria) soon after Vaive scored for Rampage. Rheault scored twice and had 1 assist. Howden scored once but had two assists as well.

Rheault Nr. 1 *

 

 Phew.. that WAS close. spectacular save by Markstrom and not his only one during this game-puck circled in blue

 

Howden Goal.. yes, Allen it did go over the line

What was a bit - shall I say - annoying, were the frequent 'promotional times' out, which struck me as rather a lot.
But ... who can complain when it rains cows in parachutes and all fans walked away with a coupon for free a chicken sandwich by one of them.. Chik filet, naturally. After 4 or more goals by the Rampage Chick Filet is generous with a free sandwich with purchase of fries! Long live fried food!

A total of 9 penalties was called, twice  they were for fighting (bad boy Selleck) concurrently with other
misdeeds , but only Vaive turned a PP into a goal for Rampage.

A pleasant surprise, well, we DID know that Casey Wellman was a trade to the Panthers and would possibly skate in SA, but with the NHL lock out his appearance was a given... so here he is in a Rampage sweater: and again  as number 17!
Anyway, it was worth the trip to SA to watch  AND get 2 coupons.. which will surely be used the next time in San Antonio ..TeeHee.

Whilst this was going on in San Antonio, the home team, the Houston Aeros, battled the Texas Stars in Austin but lost in OT  3-4...On that game do, chers readers,  visit The Third Intermission for their lucid comments.

One thing: since it sure looks 100% that NHL will resume playing the rest of the season, many of the young talent skating for all AHL teams will be absent. What that may mean for Aeros, Rampage, Stars, etc .. I cannot predict except.. it will by interesting, perhaps a bit boring, but mostly interesting. As long as one keeps one's expectations in check!

And Once Again Aeros Loose At Home.

Saved, but how I did it?

It is getting a bit old, this loosing at home in front of a surprisingly largish crowd of 5741! Must have been the Bikinis that brought them out, eh? ;-)
This time, t'was the Texas Stars who had the upper hand. After three periods of chasing the puck around the ice, the Texas Stars and their elite few fans (who made the trek) left as winners Stars 3 Aeros 2. Which just shows that the Aeros did not go quietly into the loss. Hackett in goal had several excellent saves (one I think he might not have known how he did it, but save he did).
And then there was this - goal scored on the rebound by Texas Stars after he, Hackett, stopped the first shot on goal.

Don't wanna get up-they scored afterall

Tonight's game started with great promise...an early goal in the 1. by Rau (wow) -Penner.

BTW he was very busy as face - offer!
Since Peters who usually did the honors, was up North.
As Was Taffe, called up within an hour or so to puck drop.
Almond came up with a big surprise-he got a shorthanded goal in the 2. and that was all the goals the Aeros managed to score.

Despite some hectic activities at Beskorowany's end of the ice (as in clip above)in the last seconds and after Hackett was pulled for another skaterthe numbers are:

Desperate attempts to even the score..it was not to be....sigh!

Stars: 11-12-1=25 SoG to get 0-3-0 goals.
Aeros: 9-11-9=29 and 1-1-0 goals there.


Now if you've read my previous post.. I did wish for a short-legged black haired Bikini Beauty to become 2011/12 Miss Aeros, and it was granted.
As a matter of fact all contestants were dark haired-not a blond in sight except for Miss Aeros 2010/11 who-clever gal-wore leggings and boots to keep out the cold. That privilege was not granted to the bevy of black haired bikini gals.. they just had to shiver and smile!

To my delight this saxophone player did the Anthem in grand style and played some sweet stuff during intermission. Someone must have said let him play (not sing) the anthem, and the Stars fans will not bellow at every *STARS* in it, as they are known to do, alas.  Ha, t'was a brilliant idea!

Apropos Stars:

Nr. 1 went to Ryan Garlett for 2 goals (Stars),

Nr.  2 CHAD RAU

Nr. 3 (Stars) Labrie for the game winner.

G'Night y'all!

Win & Loose

Win: Stars over Bulldogs in OT, again! Standing Stars 2 Bulldogs 2.

Lost: Sharks to Blackhawks in OT 2-3, Standing Sharks (alas)0 Blackhawks 3

LOST among a huge crowd at Miller Outdoor Theater! Truly, the hill behind the theater overflowed with people sitting in beach chairs, lolling on blankets! Even several homeless persons sprawled among their earthly possessions in rapt attention.
WIN for HGO's Reprisal of TOSCA, the opera by Puccini with
Clayton as Tosca, Vasquez as the evil Baron Scarpia

Cioffari in dual role as Angelotti and Jailer,

ably conducted by Eric Melear, soon to head for Vienna Staatsoper.
and Dolgov back to reprise his outstanding performance as Cavaradossi!

Here is Scarpia (on Scaffold) at mass in the cathedral at the TeDeum,

during which Scarpia sings of his desire for Tosca.

And that gives you the gist: Revolt, prisoner escapes, abnormal jealousy, greed, heated desire, love, art, religion, attempted rape, murder, political killing and, finally suicide, THE END!
All that set to stirring music, sung with passionate abandonment and acted out superbly.
Clayton in for the original Tosca of Racette, sang convincingly with a bright and strong soprano, credible as the alluring opera singer Floria Tosca, consumed by jealousy over imagined betrayal by her lover the Painter Cavaradossi, and so easily led by Scarpia to reveal the hiding place of the escapee Angelotti.

The Scarpia of Baritone Hector Vasquez was convincing in his relentless sexual desire, fed by Tosca's refusal to submit, he sang with sonorous voice and exhibited truly evil demeanor.

HGO Studio artist Bass Adam Cioffari (remember him from his well sung comic portrayal of the servant in XERXES, recently?) used his rich voice and considerable acting talent, with no holds barred, as the escaped prisoner Angelotti. And also in the cameo role of the jail guard in Act 3.

But the night belonged to Tenor Alexey Dolgov, who simply shone!
His voice soared above with a beauty of sound, in the famous arias in act 1 and 3. His acting ability was rather better than one expects from Russian singers. And deservedly he garnered the most applause. A night to remember, for sure.

Having sat through mayhem and more, one left with emotions spent, happily surfeited with the power of music!

Stars went..

in OT Texas Stars won the first home game vs Hamilton Bulldogs 5:4 in front of raucous crowd, And how raucous... well customer services passed out earplugs on demand :-).
Once back and pictures downloaded, more to post.

Been waiting for a chance..

to use this, while reporting that the San Jose Sharks win over the Red Wings, and go on to the final round for the cup- but.. just in case they do not.. am posting this now!
And I also like Canucks, Canadiens and Bruins. So there - go ahead and laugh!

Plus of course, who has read my blogs of the past, can doubt that I like The Stars.

(Adsorbing the Iowa Chops-will that make them now Tiowa Stars or Texas Chops -LOL?)

ALAS, they were trounced by the Wolves in Cedar Park, no less, and in front of ONLY about 3000 fans!

Hmmm- Do I detect a trend to fewer spectators for minor hockey in the USA, at least? Do you think so?

I am pretty sure that the Hershey Bears will prevail in the last round - again!

But, whichever the outcome, hockey is fun to watch.

Better Half disagrees with some of my choices...let him!

I know 'what I like' :-)..win or loose.

Now, the world...Greeks are rioting, oilspill savages the golf, vulcano in Iceland starts spewing again, Floods in Tennessee, Golf can do without Tiger ;-), student loans regulated, former hockey player dies at 38 of brain tumor, Evo Morales nationalizes foreign companies, Cuban police act harshly against "Ladies inWhite" protestors, Arizona enacts tough laws on immigrants, recent USA citizen arrested for placing THE bomb car in Times Square, and so on..and someone has a final (price and fees) $ 106.5 Million to spend on a 1932 Picasso which tops a previous art sale.. however I do like this painting, LOL. At least one can view it freely (at least for now)on the web!

And spoken from the heart or rather sung (;-)! " Du bist furchterlich.."

from Wagner's Rienzi! It kinda fits-perhaps.

And tomorrow IS the day of the Concert SIN FRONTERAS in Hermosillo, Mexico by Octavio Moreno accompanied by Stephen Hopkins on pian, which can be heard on the web at

www.radio.uson.mx

at 10 Pm Houston time .. just click on the right 'escuchanos aqui'

and, huzzah, one will be able to listen or so I am told by Octavio!

Go ahead and be adventurous and turn it on!