September 09, 2011 6:00 AM
Note: This is the second in an 11-part series of oponnent previews leading to the start of the regular season on Oct. 7. Keep checking back for a new team every few days.
Previously: Abbotsford Heat
Head Coach: John Torchetti
Record with Houston: N/A
2010-11 Season
| |
POS |
NAME |
H |
W |
DOB |
NAT |
| |
G |
Dennis Endras |
6-0 |
168 |
7/14/85 |
GER |
| |
G |
Matt Hackett |
6-2 |
174 |
3/7/90 |
CAN |
| |
G |
Darcy Kuemper |
6-4 |
196 |
5/5/90 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Drew Bagnall |
6-3 |
216 |
10/26/83 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Josh Caron |
6-2 |
203 |
2/10/91 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Tyler Cuma |
6-2 |
187 |
1/19/90 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Chay Genoway |
5-8 |
165 |
12/20/86 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Kyle Medvec |
6-5 |
190 |
6/16/88 |
USA |
| |
D |
Nate Prosser |
6-2 |
196 |
5/7/86 |
USA |
| |
C |
Joel Broda |
6-0 |
203 |
11/24/89 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Jon DiSalvatore |
6-2 |
185 |
3/30/81 |
USA |
| |
RW |
Justin Fontaine |
5-10 |
161 |
11/6/87 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Kris Focault |
6-1 |
203 |
12/12/90 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Matt Kassian |
6-4 |
236 |
10/28/86 |
CAN |
| |
C |
David McIntyre |
6-0 |
190 |
2/4/87 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Carson McMillan |
6-1 |
201 |
9/10/88 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Jed Ortmeyer |
6-1 |
190 |
9/13/78 |
USA |
| |
RW |
Jarod Palmer |
6-0 |
201 |
2/10/86 |
USA |
| |
C |
Warren Peters |
6-0 |
201 |
7/10/82 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Chad Rau |
5-11 |
176 |
1/18/87 |
USA |
| |
C |
Jeff Taffe |
6-3 |
212 |
2/19/81 |
USA |
The Houston Aeros made it to the Calder Cup Final last season, only to come up two wins short of capturing the title. After sweeping Peoria in the first round, and beating Milwaukee and Hampton in seven games, the Aeros were set to square off against Binghamton in the championship. Houston took a 2-1 lead in the series, but dropped three consecutive games to fall to the Senators. The 2011-12 roster boasts many of the same skaters that fielded a runner-up to the title, and also includes several new additions to the Aeros' organization.
Returning next season will be two skaters from the man-advantage that helped Houston post the third most power-play goals (78) in the AHL in 2010-11, Jon DiSalvatore and Chad Rau. DiSalvatore, last season’s captain, led all Aeros skaters in total points (61), and finished ranked third in the AHL in power-play goals (14). The winger also added 12 points (7g, 5a) in 24 playoff games. Chad Rau finished first among Aeros skaters in power-play goals (3), and second in total goals (6) during the Calder Cup Playoffs. The center will provide additional firepower to a unit that ranked third in the Western Conference in goals scored (240). However, one of the key losses was the departure of defenseman Maxim Noreau. The 2010-11 all-star defenseman ranked fifth among all AHL defensemen in scoring, and second among Houston defensemen in penalty minutes. The Aeros will be looking to a new face in 2011-12 to replace Noreau.
In the offseason, Houston made a key signing in AHL veteran, Jeff Taffe. This former IceHog posted his first 30-goal season of his professional career last season, and led all IceHog skaters in scoring (67 points). Taffe has skated in 463 AHL games in his career, and can provide veteran leadership to a unit that was on the verge of a championship. The Aeros also inked Justin Fontaine, a recent University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate. The right winger posted more than a point-per-game average his final three years as a Bulldog, including his career-best 58 points (22g, 36a) in 42 games in 2010-11. These two transactions will help replace the loss of Noreau, while providing veteran leadership to a team with aspirations of a 2011-12 Calder Cup championship.
Roster Notes
Returning Leaders:
• (RW) Jon DiSalvatore - Scored 61 points (28, 33a) in 80 games. Led Aeros skaters in points. Added 12 points (7g, 5a) in 24 playoff games. Led team in playoff goals.
• (D) Nate Prosser - Scored 27 points (8g, 19a) in 73 games. Ranked third among Aeros skaters in plus/minus (+12). Added four points (2g, 2a) in 24 playoff games.
• (G) Matt Hackett - Posted a 23-16-4 record with a 2.37 GAA and .916 SV%. Went 14-10-0 with 2.50 GAA and .903 SV% in playoffs, including a shutout.
Key Losses:
• (LW) Patrick O’Sullivan - Scored 48 points (19g, 29a) in 36 games. Finished with a 1.33 point-per-game. Ranked second among Aeros skaters with nine PPG. Added 18 points (4g, 14a) in 24 playoff games. Led Aeros’ skaters in playoff points and assists.
• (D) Maxim Noreau - Scored 54 points (10g, 44a) in 76 games. Ranked fifth among all AHL defensemen in scoring. Added 12 points (2g, 10a) in 24 playoff games. Led Aeros defenseman in playoff scoring.
Key Additions:
• (C) Jeff Taffe - Scored 67 points (30g, 37a) in 74 games with RCK. Led all RCK skaters in points. Skated in 463 AHL games. Totaled 44 points (21g, 23a) in 175 NHL Games.
• (D) Chay Genoway - Scored 37 points (6g, 31a) in 36 games with Univ. of North Dakota. Led Univ. of North Dakota defensemen in points. Led all Univ. of North Dakota skaters in assists.
History
| |
HOUSTON |
| |
Established |
2001-02 |
| |
All-Time record |
394-300-31-37-38 |
| |
2010-11 Record |
46-28-1-5 (2nd West) |
| |
2010-11 Playoffs |
Lost in Calder Cup Finals (4-2 vs. Binghampton) |
| |
Calder Cup championships |
1 (2002-03) |
| |
Division championships |
1 |
| |
Conference championships |
2 |
| |
Regular season points championships |
0 |
| |
|
|
| |
VS. CHARLOTTE |
| |
2010-11 |
N/A |
| |
All-time |
N/A |
The Houston Aeros hockey club is currently the top AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. The team is named in homage to the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association in the 1970s – one of the teams “Mr. Hockey,” Gordie Howe, skated for while in the WHA. Houston retired Howe’s WHA jersey on Saturday, April 5, 2003.
The club began as an expansion team in the International Hockey League in 1994-95. Houston was featured in the IHL for seven seasons from 1994-2001, and reached the playoffs all but one year, capturing the Turner Cup in 1998-99. In 2001, the Aeros became one of six IHL teams to join the American Hockey League after the IHL folded. Since their AHL inaugural season of 2001-02, the franchise has made the playoffs eight seasons, advancing to the third round three times, and winning the Calder Cup in 2002-03.
Following their championship season, the Aeros replaced their original IHL bomber logo to a new logo featuring a modern fighter jet with bold “AEROS” printed above it. In 2005, as part of their affiliation with the Wild, Houston changed their original colors to the Wild’s forest green and Iron Range red. On April 18, 2006, the team announced that the club would return to the original bomber logo with minor color alterations. As of today, the logo remains the original IHL bomber.
Houston and Charlotte will face each other four times in 2011-12, with each team hosting two games in its home arena. Charlotte did not play Houston in its inaugural season.
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