Once again ...

I saw "The Rape of Lucretia"!
Could it have been done any better I cannot fathom that ?
It was as stunning, if not more so, than earlier.
See blog on it of 2/2/12 below.
But you HAVE to go yourselves!
Music truly sublime and the message touchingly thought provoking.
And somehow so apropos in this time!
A rather elite kinda selection of words in the libretto did NOT detract from it at all. Especially as sung and enunciated so beautifully by the cast!
Yes, it is sung in English!!
But I have been to several sung in English and felt they were sung in some unidentifiable language ;-)!
So this was a real Ohrenschmaus of music and words! 
A snippet from the opera.... for your listening pleasure!

And a few others by Britten:

NO sunshine tonight

Sprawling did not help tonight

First OKC Goal in the 2. period opened floodgates

Even though the sunshine kid, Darcy Kuemper, managed to stop 23 of 29 shots the OKC Barons threw at him in front of close to 11,000 'fans' .. Yann Danis got the shut out winner of OKC 6 Aeros 0!


Despite the fact that Ortmeyer WAS back.
Despite the fact the the 1. Period started rather promising. So promising in fact, that I turned to Better Half and commented: "Well, sure looks like the guys came out full of pep tonight. Maybe all due to the Hot and Spicy Texas Caviar (Black eyed Peas.. a tradition at New Year's Eve Parties down here in the South)".

It was however the OKC Barons who spiced up the game...skating well, passing well, penalty kill well done, and making 4 of 9 7 PP opportunities count, plus 2 goals on 5 on 5. And badgering Kuemper who, it must be said, let in 2 that could have been stopped - and he did try - throwing himself into it (see pic).

Despite the fact, that some like Foucault, Rau, Fontaine skated like the devil were after them..
But some of the blame lies squarely with the less than stellar performance of the defense, the offense... two major penalties for fighting did not improve the game, except of course fired up the audience.

A stickless Almond keeps on skating ;-0.

I  do not really like fighting, but the Almond/Ringwald bout was IMO "legal".
Ringwald, not just once, but several times pulled the 'waiting forever behind his own net' trick to delay the game once too often to suit Almond. Why was there No penalty 'delay of game'?
Maybe because it's a newish thing and neither NHL (where it started) nor AHL have decided on how to regulate that.
Well whatever, Almond hot-headily started to 'regulate' on his own, and the fans approved! Those fans, that booed loudly every time Ringwald pulled that ruse!

Linesman holding Tremblay, to save Broda :-)!

The second fight between Tremblay and Broda, alas, ended with Broda subdued and loosing.
Which he seems to be prone to as seen in his previous fights.
Why start a fight when the outcome is negative? A Kassian he is not!

Desperate Measures to keep the puck away?

Despite the fact that in the 3. a bit more pep was shown by Aeros getting off 11 sogs.. all of which Yann Danis stopped handily-with the help of some outstanding defense, I must admit.

Final Assault - in vain - no, single, honor goal for Aeros

And insured that their coach Todd Nelson will be Head Coach for the Western Conference at the All Star AHL Classic Game in Atlantic City. That could have been a HUGE spur for the Barons, especially after their loss 3-4  to the Rampage at Cox Center Dec. 31.

It was NOT a pretty game. It was NOT an exciting game.
You know like some games win OR loose are exciting.
It was a poorly played, disorganized game on the Aeros part, IMO.
And resembled a sacrifice of the innocent ="sunshine kid'!

Enuf said!
Guys, Aeros you need to play more consistent.

Monsters and Bulldogs overcome

by a fired up team! Are the Aeros hot? Or what?

Aeros victorious over Bulldogs 4-2 in regulation.
Interesting numbers.. both goalies stopped 24 sogs. 
Scoring went 0-1-1 Hamilton vs 0-2-2 for the Aeros.
Getting on the board with 11 pts (4 goals and 7 assists) which leaves them still in
FIRST PLACE in the West.
11 games played, 7W, 1L, 0 OT W/L. 3 So L = 17 points in theWest.
Just ahead of the Barons, Rampage are in last pleace!

In case you missed it:
Goals by
DiSalvatore withTaffe and Genoway
Fontaine with Bagnall and Reid
Peters with Taffe and Wellman
and
Palmer with Almond.. yes, Almond Joy IS back.

Kassian was not yet on Board, it seems.

May we see him on Sunday, if we are lucky?

Roster additions for Aeros

AEROS fans WILL enjoy hearing that Kassian cleared waivers and on his way to Houston.
Also Cody Almond was returned to Houston per AEROS Roster
And a new defense man was signed to a PTO.
Elgin Reid, who skated last season for Everblades, started this season with Kalamazoo Wings.  The 6ft-Reid is 24, hails from Ontario. Canada.
Credit to SwampHockey for the video:

Aeros loose two to Minnesota.. but sent them back already!

Almond with Locks ;-)!(artandhockey)

Just seen:
Cody ALMOND (as posted earlier) and now officially confirmed
and Justin FALK are called up to Minnesota 

Falk (Jerina)

will soon enjoy subfreezing temperatures for a while :-)! 
Well, they did get a preparatory taste two days ago here In 'balmy' Texas.

Today's morning news: 
They are back in Houston!
Gee whiz.. did they have a chance to unpack at all before being shipped back to Houston?

Hey, its hard enough to post here,
but when things change that fast ...
one is, after all, neither wizzard nor witch! And the crystal ball is a bit under the weather!


Minnies' loss - Houston's gain,
we won't quibble about THIS development, eh, fans?

Newest News per Russo's Rants about Wild/Aeros

I am JUST quoting here from Russo's Rants, the blog about the Wild:

"Well, this was one of the most optional skates I've seen in a while.
There were four skaters -- Bouchard, Stoner, Spurgeon (Ex-Aeros - good for them! They showed up! my Italics) --  and Staubitz - on the ice along with goalies Backstrom and Theodore. There were more coaches on the ice than skaters".

Somehow that statement rubs me the wrong way!

Here are these guys getting paid some pretty nice salaries!
Did the WILD organization FORCE these guys to play hockey? Of course not!

They want to be professional hockey players, they ought to behave like professionals. And part of being pros, is honing skills and - if need be - altering habits during practise.

It is so in all professions, practise makes perfect!
I guess, the other players are all so perfect they need not practise anymore?

RR also states that Scandella still suffers from a concussion!
And that Cody Almond was called up. 
Also, that Khudobin most likely will start the next game!
(all photos from various sources)

A little taste of Wild Play below, in case you have not seen it yet!
http://video.wild.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlp=8471418&fr=false

Meanwhile, on the opera front:
Rehearsals for DEAD MAN WALKING and LUCIA at HGO are well in hand. Opera in the Heights also is polishing its performance of DON CARLOS.

Falling down on the job..

literally, I did.
On the way to the garage someone ran in front of me and down I went - flat on my face. Nothing broken, not even my glasses.
No injuries to speak of except to my pride, a slight scrape to my knee and a sore left hand.

So this is late a posting. 
And since elsewhere the game was discussed ad nauseam, I shall refer to it only as the O'Sullivan baptism (for the second time :-D in Houston).
With his goal early in the First (with Falk,Di Salvatore), he fired up the team and the Aeros kept the pressure on the Griffins to the end and exited victorious.
Most of the 'blame' for this win has to go squarely on Josh Tordjman who was incredible, letting in ONLY one goal (and that alas a shorthanded one by Meech with Andersson and Owens).

"The Man in the Purple" Pearce did also well, but could not stop the two pucks the Aeros slammed at him.The second a PP goal by Almond with (again) Di Salvatore and Noreau). 
Both teams put forth great efforts.
Both goalies did well.
While Tordjman stopped all but one,
Pearce stopped all but 2 of the bigger SOG number!
Aeros 2 and Griffins 1.

And the competition will continue this afternoon.

Without further ado,
a few funny (lol) artandhockey speciality photos for your viewing pleasure-one can never have enough photos to titillate one's feeling of "Ah, they won".. right?
A win that places Aeros now in much better contention for a play off spot.
That win was really needed.
Just a few numbers:
Aeros in 4th after Rampage but Rampage have a 3 game advantage(42) over Aeros' 45. Both have 51 points, both trail Admirals, Rivermen.
Aeros are followed by Stars, OKC with Wolves and Icehogs bringing up the rear.
All these teams are separated only by a few points.
It is THAT close a race in the division.
May the Aeros' Star  keep rising.

A Blur of Defense

Saved by Tordjman

Pearce got this one despite the efforts of Welman (welcome back !)

Battling for the puck in not quite the right spot :-)

Well deserved Refresher

the "Other" Griffin Goalie

Battlelines drawn in front of Tordjman

A screen of players



Tordjman recharging his batteries in 2.



What are you looking for? The Puck's yonder..

Someone better get that puck quick !

Pearce keeping a Griffin eye out for the puck!

Almond on Defense



A nest of Griffins ;-)



2 goals in last minute-we are winners!

The Rau gaol, Di Salvatore behind net



Lots of Aeros around Hackett

Almond gets the evener goal with seconds to spare in the First, after Stafford puts the Rampage up with a PP goal.

The game started out fast for Aeros, but soon Rampage caught up with them and both teams ended the 1. with one goal and about same number of SOGs.

Four minutes into the 2. Cuma got his first AHL goal, putting Aeros again even with Rampage (Stafford's 2. goal came 1 minute after start).



Montoya stops the puck on knees

 Going into the Third Rampage were ahead by one goal (Kearns).




Kearns Goal?

 

Consultation



And that one was only allowed after some consultations between officials and Rampage Coaches.

And for most of the Third, it went like this:

Shots on goal by Aeros, stopped by Montoya,

Shots by Rampage stopped by Hackett.

And then after Hackett was pulled in favor of another skater, the Rau goal to even the score 3:3,

and seconds later, the winner by Peters and Ortmeyer.

Yes, you saw correctly, the former rampage Jed Ortmeyer (22 Aeros Jersey) just this afternoon signed by the Aeros...wellll.

His former team mates gave him some hefty shoves and sent him almost sprawling, but that's the name of the game.

Almond, of the unassisted shorthanded goal, in the Third seemingly lost it and started a brawl with Stafford,  ending up behind the Rampage net after dislodging it, all the while Stafford kept his helmet on.

Net out of the way...the bout goes on!

Almond

Winner of that bout, I think, Almond.



The Cuma Goal.. Montoya sprawls but it went in anyway!



The Only Blonde in Red wins!

An exciting game in front of 10,000 plus screaming fans, unless most came out for the Miss Aeros Bikini Competition, which was won.. I guessed it from the start...
by another Blonde like last Year's Miss Aeros.
The Brunettes despite the fans loud approvals did'nt stand a chance ....:-)!

- btw - all photos are by artandhockey!
More tomorrow.

Broda, Gillies, Kalus and Zingoni the scratches.

McBride re-released , again, the poor kid can't unpack his satchel...all those ups and downs in a few weeks. Ortmeyer signed after Rampage released him.. and before he has unpacked, barely shaken hands with new mates and coaches, he gets the winning goal assist...waaay to go Ortmeyer!

Aeros now in 6th followed by OKC Barons (41 pts), and

Rockford Icehogs (33 pts) last.

Peoria (47 pts) moves ahead of Rampage (47 pts) (do we hear a Thanks, Aeros! from the Rivermen?) and Texas Stars (46 pts) now in 3rd, followed by Admirals (44 pts) and Chicago, who have battled their way up, as well.

 Aeros and Chicago have played the most games (39)

but Chicago is ahead of Aeros by 2 points.

Night of Tears, and Smiles..who'da thunk it!

First Placed Rampage loosing to Sixth placed Stars?

"Rampage leaving ice with hung heads"
but with bags full of toys for  charity :-)

In their defense, Rampage has several of their best players out with injuries or calls up to NHL.

And so the Stars shine brightly!
Bachman (Nr 1 Star) gets a shut out over the Rampage tonight...
he stopped 41 shots - 18, 12 and 11.
For the Stars
1. goal by Gazdic (also a Star :),

2. goal, unassisted, by Wathier, another Star :), (now that one was completely Fallon's fault, he was way out of position in front of his crease and Wathier just rolled it in, oh so elegantly!) 

3. goal an empty netter by Rallo.

Stars looked remarkably like the Stars of Play offs quality!

Fast skating, ice pounding, excellent passing, outstanding defense PLUS outstanding goal tending...

Seems like all I did shoot pics (to be posted after return) of Bachman stopping another of those 41 shots the Rampage peppered and badgered him all night long :-)!

Stars took full advantage of Referee Jeff Smith's penchant to call as few penalties as he can get away with.
He 'overlooked' holdings, trippings, interferences, roughings, and more infractions on both sides.

Possible further fights were speedily and succesfully broken up by the officials, before they could get out of hand to the Fans' everlasting regret.

Plenty of hits against the boards were made which DID pleasure certain rowdy and loud (hit him, hit the gaolie!!) fans ... fans?
And so the play flowed on and on and on.
He did call 2 penalties for fighting Gazdic vs Neilson (Gazdic won this) 
and the rematch in which Neilson got the upper hand quickly.
And one each for hooking on the Stars' Morin and later the Rampage's Goncharov.
And that's all, folks.
The game flowed and ended speedily.
I think this may have been the fastest, 'furiousest' yet smoothest game which had one of the best defense, with truly well aimed passing, I have personally witnessed this season!
Waves of Gold and Black overpowering waves of White and Gray- eddying to and fro.
Since the Rampage did not score, the frustrated fans started throwing bears, and more, on the ice immediately AFTER the empty netter scored by the Stars...:-) and with over a minute yet to go. 
Of course THAT did not help, even as the pulling of Fallon only opened the way for
Rallo, et al to get goal Nr. 3.
BTW we have been told that Climie was up with the Coyotes!
Montoya again injured, so a BUG named Andrew Volkening (born October 6, 1985, in Genoa, Illinois) is an American goaltender currently in his last season at the United States Air Force Academy. He has been the regular goalie for Air Force for his last three (of four) seasons. Volkening has won numerous awards in his college career. He was not drafted by an NHL team.
Awards:
2008 Atlantic Hockey Top Goaltender
2008 Atlantic Hockey Tournament all-star
2009 Atlantic Hockey Top Goaltender
2009  East Regional tournament Top Goaltender
2010 Atlantic Hockey Second All-Star) with Nr. 31 was on the bench.
Which I am sure several of his fellow airmen in attendance were delighted to see!
Could he have stopped a goal or two?  Maybe? Doubtful.
Will the Stars continue tomorrow against Hamilton? 
Which we will see, as well.

Aeros lost to Manitoba, despite the fact that Almond scored 2 goals in First
 and "Bucky", Brandon Buck got Nr. 3 in the Second-making it his 3. Ahl Goal.

Is he coming out of his shell and  repeating successes he had with the EVERBLADES?

Manitoba made 4 goals in the Third and won 5:3

Night of TEARS for Rampage and Aeros Fans!

Night of SMILES for Stargazers!

Flying North...

All photos Chris Jerina

Almond (Joy) is joining Falk (The Falker) and

Khudobin (Dimples) Minnesota now, due to several injured, getting surgeries, sidelined players. Here's to the guys, may they have success.
I wonder who will be called to fill in, for Almond, Falk, and Khudobin during tomorrow's game against the powerhouse Chicago Wolves?