A.R.S.....allusions

The Texas Hockey Threestep also known as 'The Lone Star Face Off ' pits the three Texas teams,
the above named A.R.S. against each other.
In its Inaugural season The Texas Stars in their inaugural,  literally 'ran away ' the winners.


Wundergoalie Hackett



Following the off-season shuffle and reshuffle of coaches and players,

dear hockey experts and readers,

for which of the A.R.S. will you, root this season?

Which team will be 'flushed' out from the pack?

Which team will go 'down the drain'?
Which team will 'float to the top'?

At the moment the tide is still ebbing to and fro!

Teams are feeling each other out.

Adjusting to coaches, new mates and slotting themselves into new or old systems.
Players are still feeling their oats.

BTW: Do you know whence comes that phrase?

Let me enlighten you...after all it is a boring Monday morning :-)!
To feel energetic or frisky (Gillies comes to my mind!)
To behave in a vigorous or bold manner (describes The Scrapper-it does)  
To feel important (VIPs do that)
To be empowered (Captains are)

But I digress..
back to ARS -
no, not that Company...
no, not the Arts.. although some (artandhockey- well sort of) do consider it.

At this time in 'history' all three teams seem relatively even!
As  can be seen from the AHL standings of the day (games played in Bold):
both A and S have played only one game while R has played 2.

1 Houston Aeros             1 1 0 0 0 2 1.000 6 1 1-0-0-0 1-0-0-0 26

2 Texas Stars                  1 1 0 0 0 2 1.000 3 0 1-0-0-0 1-0-0-0 10
3 Chicago Wolves           2 1 1 0 0 2 0.500 5 7 1-0-0-0 1-1-0-0 36
4 Peoria Rivermen           2 1 1 0 0 2 0.500 6 6 1-0-0-0 1-1-0-0 51
5 Milwaukee Admirals     2 1 1 0 0 2 0.500 8 5 0-1-0-0 1-1-0-0 27
6 Rockford IceHogs        2 1 1 0 0 2 0.500 7 9 1-0-0-0 1-1-0-0 26
7 San Antonio Rampage  2 1 1 0 0 2 0.500 6 6 0-1-0-0 1-1-0-0 36
8 Oklahoma City Barons 2 0 2 0 0 0 0.000 2 8 0-2-0-0 0-2-0-0 50

Of course it's just the beginning of the season.

Ultimate Defense?

Lots of things and circumstances (pomp - not included)

can and will influence the final outcome, among them:

injuries and call ups, murderous travel schedule,

even worse: placement of games back to back,
or long periods of "rest which may = rust"
burn out by players, slack offense, lackluster defense,
confidence loss by players in coaches/systems,
replacement players needing to learn the system, etc.

But which ever way it goes, Hockey, despite the new rules
and regulations, is still the most exciting sport to watch - and of course play!
Or else there wouldn't be so many youngsters scrambling for invitations to team camps,
ready to pack up at drop of  a 'helmet' and go,
playing through pain and aches - just to be a hockey hopeful!

It portends to be an exciting season, somehow each new season does!

Just play it cool boys!