From: Patrick Armstrong , Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger , Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
9/28/07

AEROS DOWN RAMPAGE 5-4 IN SECOND PRESEASON GAME

BEAUMONT, Texas– The Houston Aeros defeated the San Antonio Rampage for the second night in a row, winning the preseason contest 5-4 in Ford Arena. This marks the second and final preseason game with both teams opening their regular season on Saturday, October 6 in their home arenas.

C Morten Madsen and LW Ryan Hamilton led Houston with three points each, Madsen tallied a goal and two assists and Hamilton marked three helpers. Leading the Rampage with two points a piece was Joel Perrault (1-1=2) and David Schlemko marking two assists. G Nolan Schaefer earned the win for Houston while blocking 22 of 26 shots. Josh Trodjman minded the Rampage’s net stopping 25 of 30 shots in the loss. The Aeros finish 4-7 on the power-play while San Antonio marked on 2 of 10 man-advantages.

The Aeros hit the ice skating, tallying the first goal of the evening only 20 seconds into the contest. Madsen, who netted the puck, was assisted by Hamilton and D Jon Awe on the early score. This marks Awe’s second assist in two nights, having marked a helper the night before in Laredo. Just over six minutes later C Adrian Foster netted Houston’s second goal of the night, a power-play goal, at 8:43 in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. RW Aaron Voros and D A.J. Thelen added the helpers on Foster’s marker. San Antonio’s Enver Lisin scored the Rampage’s first goal of the night at 14:42 in the first. The Rampage tied the game up at 2-2 a mere 1:54 later on a Keith Yandle power-play goal to finish the period’s scoring. The Aeros out-shot San Antonio 12-8 in the period. The Rampage converted on one of three man advantage opportunities while Houston converted on one of two.

Houston went back up by one goal at 3-2 at 1:32 in the second period as D Jeff May netted the Aeros second power-play goal of the night. Voros and Foster added the helpers marking their respective second point of the night. San Antonio tied the game back up at 3 a piece with a Chris Durno short-handed goal at 12:04 in the second. With one minute left in the period D Andre Lakos gave Houston a 4-3 lead heading into the second intermission. Madsen marked his second point of the evening with the first assist and LW Ryan Hamilton marked the second helper on the Lakos goal. The Aeros converted on both their power-play chances while San Antonio went 0-5 on the man-advantage.

The Aeros took a 5-3 lead in the final period at 3:59 as RW Moises Gutierrez netted the game-winner for the team’s fourth power-play marker of the night. Hamilton marked his second assist of the night and Madsen tallied his third point of the evening on the goal. San Antonio attempted a comeback with former Aero Alex Leavitt bringing the team back within one at 5-4 with 3:39 remaining in the game but that would be it for the night’s scoring.

The Houston Aeros will host their intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Sugar Land Ice & Sports Center, tickets are still available. The regular season begins next Saturday, Octrober 6 in a 7:35 p.m. contest against the Chicago Wolves so be sure and get your tickets today!

-- HOUSTON AEROS --