Rampage "3 Stars of the Week" Feb 3rd - Feb 9th

 Photo by John Snyder Jr.

The Rampage finished their first week of the annual Rodeo Road Trip, winning two of three games and claiming five out of six possible points. The shorthanded Rampage lost 5-4 in OT in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon, that saw little or no defense played. The team was without five players for the game, including team captain Greg Rallo and leading goal scorer Bobby Butler. The team officially called it "flu-like symptoms", but based on tweets from players, it seems the team chose the wrong pre road trip restaurant and fell ill with food poisoning. 

The Rampage then headed to Cleveland to take on the Lake Erie Monsters for two games. Imposing their will, both offensively and defensively, on the hapless Monsters, the Rampage won both games by a combined score of 7-2. The two wins leave the Rampage six points behind Rochester for the 8th and final playoff spot.

Drew Shore led the way with 2 goals for the week while Joey Crabb (1-3-4), Jared Gomes (1-2-3), and Vincent Trocheck (1-3-4) all scored at or above a point/game pace for the week. Additionally, both Michael Houser and Jacob Markstrom, though relatively untested, played very well in the two game sweep over Lake Erie.

The Rampage are now off for All Star week and return to action Friday night against Grand Rapids for the first of a two game set in West Michigan.



San Antonio Rampage “Three Stars of the Week” for the week ending February 2nd:

 

Photo by Darren Abate

1st Star: Joey Crabb (3GP 1G-3A-4pts 6 SOG +4)
Crabb has registered a point in all three games to start the road trip, including a multi-point night (1g-1A) in Friday's win. After a slow start to the season, Crabb has become one of the Rampage's most consistent players.
 

Photo by Darren Abate

2nd Star: Vincent Trocheck (3GP 1G-3A-4pts 10 SOG +3)
After hitting a bit of a wall in December and January, Trocheck has bounced back nicely and is starting to put up points again. His defense is slowly coming around and he remains dangerous in the faceoff circle. His playmaking and vision are unmatched on this team.
 

 Photo by Darren Abate

3rd Star: Drew Shore (3GP 2G-0A-2pts 9 SOG +1)
Shore was returned to San Antonio for, what is presumably, the Olympic break and nothing more. Drew was playing very well in Florida and his good play has followed him to San Antonio as well. Shore scored his first goal of the season in his first game back and added another in Saturday's win.
 

Honorable Mention: Colby Robak (3GP 0G-0A-0Pts 2 SOG +6)
I don't know what was said, and I don't know who said it, but Colby Robak has been playing the best defensive hockey of his career the last month or so. He has slowed down offensively, but gone are the questionable decisions and missed assignments. This new version of Colby is a sight for sore eyes.

Three Stars Season Standings
T-1. Bobby Butler - 4
T-1. Vincent Trocheck - 4
T-2. Jed Ortmeyer - 3
T-2. Drew Shore - 3
T-3. Garrett Wilson - 2 
T-3. Jacob Markstrom - 2
T-3. Jared Gomes - 2
T-3. Denny Urban - 2
T-3. Greg Rallo - 2
T-3. Matt Gilroy - 2
T-3. Michael Houser - 2
T-4. Quinton Howden - 1
T-4. Steve Pinizzotto - 1
T-4. Dov-Grumet-Morris - 1
T-4. Jon Matsumoto - 1
T-4. Doug Janik - 1
T-4. Colby Robak - 1 
T-4. Ryan Martindale - 1 
T-4. Joey Crabb - 1 



News and Notes:
- In addition to Shore, the Panthers have also loaned defenseman Dylan Olsen to the Rampage for the Olympic break. This transaction actually occurred Friday and went relatively unnoticed.
- Derek Nesbitt's second stint with the Rampage was short-lived as he was dealt to the Chicago Wolves for "Future Considerations". Nesbitt was a veteran, and with the return of Greg Zanon coming, the team needed to make room.
- In his first game back since suffering an upper body injury in Florida, Alex Petrovic laid some huge hits and participated in two fights. He was then held out for the weekend games. Could be precautionary, could be conditioning. Stay tuned.