Texas Stars Weekly Update - Dec. 15, 2015
Dec 15, 2015Stars Prepare for a Three-in-Three Weekend Beginning Thursday
Last week’s record: 2-1-1-0
Overall record: 14-10-2-1, .574 Win Pct. (2nd, Pacific Division)
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars prepare for their second consecutive three-in-three weekend when they travel to the Midwest on Thursday.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
December 17 at Chicago Wolves, 11 a.m. CST:
Thursday’s matchup against the Chicago Wolves is the second of four total meetings this year between the two teams. Texas won the only prior matchup against Chicago by a 7-3 final in just the second game of the season back on Oct. 16. Chicago is currently fifth in the Central Division with an 11-9-1-2 record (.543). The Wolves are led by Andre Benoit, who has 20 points this year (3-17=20).
December 18 and December 19 at Grand Rapids Griffins, 6 p.m. CST:
Friday and Saturday are the first two of four matchups this season between the Stars and Griffins. Last season the Stars went 0-2-2-0 against Grand Rapids. Gemel Smith led the Stars with three points in the season series (1-2=3). The Griffins have been the AHL’s hottest team with an 11-game winning streak entering this week. Eric Tangradi leads the Griffins with 20 points this season (12-8=20).
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
December 8 vs. Rockford IceHogs, 5-3 Loss:
Michael Leighton’s 50-save performance in net was the difference on Tuesday night as the Texas Stars fell short to the Rockford IceHogs, 5-3, in front of 6,252 at Cedar Park Center. Devin Shore extended his point streak for the Stars to 10 games, one shy of tying the franchise record held by Matt Fraser during the 2012-13 season. Leighton’s brilliance earned him his 14th win of the season while John Muse suffered the loss with 27 saves. Rockford’s veteran netminder weathered a storm of 38 shots through the first two periods by Texas to give his team a chance to score a pair of empty-net goals in the third to pull away.
December 11 vs. Charlotte Checkers, 5-4 Overtime Loss:
Brock McGinn's hat trick goal proved to be the overtime-winner as the Charlotte Checkers topped the Texas Stars in a 5-4 final on Friday night in front of 4,746 at Cedar Park Center. McGinn's winner came 1:23 into the sudden death period. The Charlotte forward also scored the game-tying goal at 13:54 of the third to knot the score at 4-4. Radek Faksa finished with a pair of goals for the Stars.
December 12 vs. Stockton Heat, 5-2 Win:
In just his third game of the season, Brett Ritchie tallied the hat trick to propel the Texas Stars to a 5-2 win on Saturday night over the Stockton Heat in front of 4,698 at Cedar Park Center. The win snapped a four-game winless skid for the Stars. Along with Ritchie, Julius Honka (goal, assist), Justin Dowling (two assists) and Travis Morin (two assists) also finished with multi-point games for Texas.
December 13 at San Antonio Rampage, 3-2 Win:
Julius Honka's third period goal held up as the difference on Sunday in a 3-2 road win for the Texas Stars over the rival San Antonio Rampage in front of 5,792 at AT&T Center. Honka's game-winner came at 7:26 of the third from the right circle. Brett Ritchie and Justin Dowling also scored for the Stars. John Muse made Honka's third period goal hold up with a 14-save third period, and finished with 31 saves in the game for his seventh win of the year.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Day Off
Tuesday: Practice, 10 a.m.
Wednesday: Travel Day
Thursday: Texas Stars at Chicago Wolves, 11 a.m. CST
Friday: Texas Stars at Grand Rapids Griffins, 6 p.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars at Grand Rapid Griffins, 6 p.m. CST
Sunday: Travel Day
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Brett Ritchie’s hat trick on Saturday was the second hat trick this season by a Texas Stars player (Devin Shore, Oct. 17 at Rockford). With a shorthanded goal on Sunday in San Antonio, Justin Dowling moved into fifth in franchise history with 147 career points as a Texas Stars, passing Francis Wathier. Sunday at San Antonio Greg Rallo appeared in the 650th game, and Travis Morin appeared in the 600th game of their pro careers. Defenseman Julius Honka scored the game-winning goal in Saturday’s and Sunday’s games, and is riding a three-game goal-scoring streak entering the week.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
The Stars return home on Dec. 26 to host the San Antonio Rampage after the holiday break at 7 p.m. Fans can enjoy free popcorn at the game, courtesy of RS3, and the ice will be open after the game for fans to walk or skate on. The Saturday contest will be a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night where the first Stars player to score wins free scratch-off tickets for a lucky row of seats at Cedar Park Center. Fans can also take advantage of Coke Zero Family Four Packs with four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks starting at just $16 per person.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and currently in their seventh season at Cedar Park Center. Full season, 24-game and 12-game ticket packages for the 2015-16 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.