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Running With the Herd (Live)--Ep. 9

And that's a wrap!

With the completion of another Rampage season comes the final weekly live Running With the Herd until the fall. We will return once a month to discuss offseason goings on and do a couple of fun things.

Tonight, JP and I look back on our preseason predictions--and how terrible they are, talk a bit about Tom Rowe's future, and go over the final Three Stars of the Week for 2014. I also quickly touch on a change in coaching philosophy over recent years that directly relates to something that may drive you crazy.

Enjoy and, as always, please leave feedback.

Running With the Herd (Live) -- Ep. 8

In our first official live radio show version of the podcast, JP and I discuss the Texas beatdown that was this past weekend, the end of season transactions, and talk about the summer ahead. I go over my "Three Stars of the Week" including a surprise 3rd Star and JP makes all Rampage depresses us all by bringing up what the Rampage needed to do to make the playoffs this year.

There will be no separate "Three Stars" post this week. Next week will be the final edition of the season and the standings will be updated accordingly with this week's results. Also, be on the lookout for the final quarter grades by the middle of next week.

As of now, the show will be live every Monday at 8pm EST/7pm CST on radio.stucknut.com. I will continue to do a post with a link to the show for those that can't listen live. But as always, please try to listen and interact via twitter, if possible.

And now, despite the Rampage season winding down in mid-April yet again, the show must go on.

Running With the Herd Podcast--Ep. 7

Last night, JP and I beta tested a method to get this podcast to the Rampage faithful live and in real time. It appears to have been a rousing success. We will tinker with the format and technology for the final 3 or 4 podcasts of this season and hope to be up and running next fall for a weekly live streaming show on Stucknut Radio. We will still record and archive as we have been doing this year and I will still put the recorded version into a blog post, Tweet, and Facebook post. But if you've ever wanted to listen to us whine in real time, now is your chance.

This week, we dicuss the successful weekend, the infusion of young talent, and what lies ahead this summer for the Rampage. I also cover my Three Stars of the Week and we lament about why the AHL hates us.

Give it a listen and stay tuned right here and on Twitter and Facebook for an announcement regarding next week's show.

Rampage "Three Stars of the Week" Mar 31st-Apr 6th

 Photo by Darren Abate

This weekend brought something to San Antonio we haven’t seen in a long long time; exciting and well played hockey by the home team. Sure, we saw this team play excellent on the road during the Rodeo Road Trip, but once they returned home, that magic disappeared. The Rampage dropped a 5-3 decision on Tuesday against Lake Erie, which saw the Monsters score three power play goals, two in an 18 second span of the second period.

Friday, a Charlotte team fighting for their playoff lives came to town and the Rampage sent them on their way with their tails tucked between their legs after a 5-2 win for the home team. The Rampage would jump out to a 4-0 lead midway though the second period on goals from four different players, including newly signed Tyler Barnes’ first pro goal. Barnes would add his second on a highlight reel goal in the third that I maintain is one of the top five individual effort goals in franchise history.

The Rampage would follow up Friday’s stellar performance with a shutdown defensive effort defeating the Monsters 3-0 on Saturday. Panthers prospect Connor Brickley, playing in just his third pro game, scored his first pro goal, Josh McFadden scored his first AHL goal, and Michael Houser stopped all 26 shots he faced to earn his first shutout at the AHL level.

Rampage fans saw a ton of “firsts” this weekend. While it’s hard to show up to games knowing your team is, for all intents and purposes, done for the season, seeing these firsts can make these end of season games seem much less meaningless.

San Antonio Rampage “Three Stars of the Week” for the week ending April 6th:

Photo by Darren Abate

1^st Star: Drew Shore (3GP  1G-4A-5pts  6 SOG   +3)

This could very well be Drew’s sendoff to the NHL. Once again, Shore asserted himself as the best player on the ice for the Rampage, playing excellent hockey in all three zones and setting up 4 goals while adding one more for himself.

 

Photo by Josh Huskin

2^nd Star: Tyler Barnes (2GP  2G-0A-2pts  5 SOG  +1)

The undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin jumped right into the Rampage lineup and made an impact right away. In his first professional game, Barnes scored two goals and has seen time on the penalty kill and power play in his first two games.

Photo by Darren Abate

3^rd Star: Greg Rallo (2GP  1G-2A-3pts  7 SOG  +3)

It’s good to see the captain on this list again. Rallo scored his first goal in 23 games on Saturday, essentially icing the game, and added two more assists. He’s had a ton of scoring chances but could never seem to capitalize. That goal was vintage Rallo and I hope he gets a few more in the last 5 games.

Honorable Mention: Josh McFadden (3GP  1G-1A-2Pts  3 SOG  +3)

McFadden scored his first AHL goal on Saturday, following John McFarland’s rush to the net and depositing the puck into the gaping net. He’s seeing a ton of time on the power play and has been steadily improving defensively. These last couple of weeks could be a huge boost to his confidence for next season.

Three Stars Season Standings

T-1. Bobby Butler - 7
T-1. Vincent Trocheck - 6
T-2. Jacob Markstrom - 5
T-2. Drew Shore -5
T-3. Jed Ortmeyer - 4
T-4. Michael Houser - 3
T-4. Greg Rallo - 3
T-5. Garrett Wilson - 2 
T-5. Jared Gomes - 2
T-5. Denny Urban - 2
T-5. Matt Gilroy - 2
T-5. Quinton Howden - 2
T-5. Joey Crabb - 2 
T-5. John McFarland - 2 
T-6. Steve Pinizzotto - 1
T-6. Dov-Grumet-Morris - 1
T-6. Jon Matsumoto - 1
T-6. Doug Janik - 1
T-6. Colby Robak - 1 
T-6. Ryan Martindale - 1 
T-6. Scott Clemmensen - 1 
T-6. Tyler Barnes - 1

News and Notes:

-          Your #1 star of the week, Drew Shore, has been recalled to Florida. With less than five games remaining in the Panthers season, he can play out the remainder of the schedule and still be waiver eligible next fall. I don’t think that will be relevant though as I see him making the NHL roster and staying there for the remainder of his career. Dan Weiss agrees.

Shore in my opinion is an NHL player and likely will stay in Florida all of next season.
— Dan Weiss (@DanWeissPBP) April 7, 2014

-          In a corresponding move, Rampage leading scorer Bobby Butler has been reassigned to the Rampage. In two games with the Panthers, Butler picked up an assist and averaged just shy of 14 minutes per game.

-          The Rampage signed defenseman Shayne Taker (pronounced Tacker) to an ATO. The 6’4” 210 lb d-man just finished up his 4^th year at Notre Dame where he registered 4 goals and 14 assists in 40 games.

-          Michael Caruso is starting to practice with the team and could be ready by this weekend according to Weiss.

Running WIth Herd Podcast--Ep. 6

After a week off to clear our heads, JP and I return for Episode 6 of the Running With the Herd Podcast.

This week, we focus on the off-ice news of the last couple of weeks. We touch on the handling of Bobby Butler and Michael Houser by Tom Rowe, the firing of Rampage GM Mike Santos, and the final 10 games of the season. We also quickly touch on the affiliation with Florida and my Three Stars of the Week returns after a 2 week hiatus.
 
 Feedback...leave it. Please...

Rampage "Three Stars of the Week" Mar 17th-Mar 23rd

Photo By Darren Abate

I took a week off. I had to do it for my own sanity. This is the life of a Rampage fan. It's not healthy and I wish I could quit, but alas, I will likely be right back here next March doing this same thing.

The Rampage split a pair of games against the Charlotte Checkers in Charlotte this past weekend. Friday night, the Rampage stormed back from a 3-0 deficit in the second period to tie the game at 3-3 only to have an ill-timed--and highly questionable--Ryan Whitney crosscheck come back to haunt them late in the 3rd period. The Checkers would capitalize as Chris Terry would beat Michael Houser with just over four minutes remaining. The Rampage were attacking the net in the final minutes, but couldn't net the equalizer and fell 4-3--their 5th straight defeat.

Sunday, the Rampage--or should I say Bobby Butler--would come back strong and would earn the split. The 4-2 win was just their third road win within the division for the season. Butler would have a hand in all four goals for the Rampage scoring the first two and assisting on the latter two. Scott Clemmensen was also strong, stopping 31 of 33 shots for just his second win in seven tries--and first since the second game of the season--in a Rampage uniform.

San Antonio Rampage “Three Stars of the Week” for the week ending February 23rd:

Photo by Darren Abate

1st Star: Bobby Butler (1GP 2-2-4  4SOG  +3) 
After finding himself sitting and watching, despite being completely healthy, on Friday for the second time in two weeks, Butler earns himself the first star of the week for his four point performance on Sunday. Butler tallied a shorthanded goal, his second of the season, and registered the first four point game of the season for the Rampage.





 

Photo by Darren Abate

2nd Star: Jed Ortmeyer (2GP 1-1-2  2SOG  +5)
Ortmeyer, lined up alongside Butler, had a strong weekend registering a multi-point game on Sunday and leading the team with a +5 in just two games. Jed continues his strong play regardless of where he slots into the lineup and his hard work has never tailed off depsite the team's recent struggles.




 

 Photo by Darren Abate

3rd Star: Scott Clemmensen (1GP 1-0-0  .939% 2.00)
It's not a secret that I'm no fan of Clemmensen. That said, he played solid to fantastic over the course of the Rampage win on Sunday, including coming up with a couple HUGE saves when the Rampage were clinging to a one goal lead in the third period.
 



Honorable Mention: John McFarland (2GP  1-1-2  8SOG  +1)
McFarland continues his strong sophomore campaign with another Pt/game week. His resurgance this season is cause for excitement leading into next season where McFarland could see plenty of top six minutes.


Three Stars Season Standings
T-1. Bobby Butler - 7
T-1. Vincent Trocheck - 6
T-2. Jacob Markstrom - 5
T-3. Drew Shore - 4
T-3. Jed Ortmeyer - 4
T-4. Michael Houser - 3
T-5. Garrett Wilson - 2 
T-5. Jared Gomes - 2
T-5. Denny Urban - 2
T-5. Greg Rallo - 2
T-5. Matt Gilroy - 2
T-5. Quinton Howden - 2
T-5. Joey Crabb - 2 
T-5. John McFarland - 2 
T-6. Steve Pinizzotto - 1
T-6. Dov-Grumet-Morris - 1
T-6. Jon Matsumoto - 1
T-6. Doug Janik - 1
T-6. Colby Robak - 1 
T-6. Ryan Martindale - 1 
T-6. Scott Clemmensen - 1


News and Notes:
- Garrett Wilson has been re-assigned to the Rampage from Florida. Wilson played 3 games for the Panthers and was held without a point.
- The NCAA Hockey Tournament begins this weekend and there is no shortage of potential future Rampage players taking part. Eight in all, including Kyle Rau (Minn), Rocco Grimaldi (UND) and Sam Brittain (Denver).
- Podcast will likely make its return Thursday so keep your eyes and ears peeled.