September 14, 2011 6:00 AM
Note: This is the fourth 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 | Houston Aeros | Oklahoma City Barons
Head Coach: Chuck Weber
Record with Oklahoma City: N/A
2010-11 Season
| |
POS |
NAME |
H |
W |
DOB |
NAT |
| |
G |
Jacob Markstrom |
6-4 |
185 |
1/31/90 |
SWE |
| |
G |
Tyler Plante |
6-3 |
201 |
5/17/87 |
USA |
| |
D |
Michael Caruso |
6-0 |
190 |
7/5/88 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Adam Comrie |
6-4 |
205 |
7/31/90 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Roman Derlyuk |
6-5 |
198 |
10/27/86 |
RUS |
| |
D |
Olivier Ekman-Larsson |
6-2 |
190 |
7/17/91 |
SWE |
| |
D |
Mike Kostka |
6-2 |
209 |
11/28/85 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Evan Oberg |
6-0 |
165 |
2/16/88 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Colby Robak |
6-3 |
194 |
4/24/90 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Keith Seabrook |
6-0 |
198 |
8/2/88 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Tyson Strachan |
6-3 |
225 |
10/30/84 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Nolan Yonkman |
6-5 |
218 |
4/1/81 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Jusin Bernhardt |
6-1 |
181 |
2/25/88 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Mark Cullen |
5-11 |
174 |
10/28/78 |
USA |
| |
F |
Joe Devin |
6-1 |
185 |
10/5/87 |
USA |
| |
C |
Angelo Esposito |
6-1 |
181 |
2/20/89 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Jake Hauswirth |
6-4 |
203 |
2/16/88 |
USA |
| |
RW |
Jonathan Hazen |
5-11 |
170 |
6/18/90 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Bracken Kearns |
6-0 |
194 |
5/12/81 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Tim Kennedy |
5-10 |
179 |
4/30/86 |
USA |
| |
RW |
Anthony Luciani |
5-8 |
203 |
5/13/90 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Wacey Rabbit |
5-9 |
185 |
11/16/86 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Greg Rallo |
6-0 |
194 |
8/26/81 |
USA |
| |
LW |
Eric Selleck |
6-1 |
190 |
10/20/87 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Justin Vaive |
6-6 |
205 |
7/8/89 |
USA |
| |
LW |
Garrett Wilson |
6-2 |
201 |
5/30/91 |
CAN |
The San Antonio Rampage enter the 2010-11 offseason after a tight playoff race in the West Divison. In the race for the final birth, they finished just four points behind the Oklahoma City Barons, who earned the final berth with 91 points. After dressing 47 different skaters last season, the Rampage, who switched NHL affiliations during the offseason, will return just three players who suited up for the club last season.
Returning for the 2011-12 season are center Bracken Kearns and defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Nolan Yonkman. Kearns saw more time with the Rampage than the two defensemen, skating in 72 games with the Rampage. The forward posted 43 points (20g, 23a) and ranked third among San Antonio skaters in penalty minutes last season (104). Kearns was recently named the IceHogs Man of the Year during the 2009-10 campaign and can provide leadership in the approaching season. The six-year AHL veteran continues to improve his goal-scoring ability after posting his first professional 20-goal season with the Rampage.
Defensively, Ekman-Larsson and Yonkman saw action in 15 and 65 games, respectively. Ekman-Larsson, a first round pick in 2006, spent the majority of the season at the NHL level with the Phoenix Coyotes. Before being loaned to the Rampage, the blueliner tallied 11 points (1g, 10a) in 48 games with the Coyotes, posting a plus-3 rating. He served as an offensive defenseman with San Antonio, finding the net three times and dishing out seven helpers (11 points). Yonkman, a stay-at-home defenseman who check in at 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds, has seen ice time at the NHL and AHL levels. He spent the majority of the season with the Rampage, totaling 104 penalty minutes, before finishing the 2010-11 season with the Coyotes.
To fill holes on the roster, the Rampage acquired several freshmen for the upcoming season from the college and junior leagues. Among new signees is OHL standout Garrett Wilson. The left winger finished his third season with the Owen Sound Attack, totaling 86 points (40g, 46a) in 66 games, helping the team capture the Memorial Cup by notching 21 points (11g, 10a) in 22 playoff games. From the AHL, the Rampage acquired defenseman Mike Kostka, most recently with the Rochester Americans, who has has played in 237 AHL games during five seasons, totaling 111 points (22g, 89a). The defenseman helped lead the Portland Pirates to consecutive playoff appearances from 2008-10. Between the pipes, San Antonio inked highly-decorated goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who at only 21-years-old has earned top goaltending awards in nearly every league he’s participated in, including best goals-against average and save percentage in the Swedish Elite League. Markstrom appeared in one game with the Florida Panthers in 2010-11, making 12 saves in a 5-2 loss at New Jersey. With a fresh influx of talent for next season, the Rampage hope to top last season’s point total, and find a spot in the 2011-12 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Roster Notes
Returning Leaders:
• (C) Bracken Kearns - scored 43 points (20g, 23a) in 72 games. Ranked third among Rampage skaters in PIM (104). Named IceHogs Man of the Year in 2008-09.
• (D) Oliver Ekman-Larsson - scored 11 points (1g, 10a) in 48 games, registering plus-3 with PHX. Scored 10 points (3g, 7a) in 15 games with SAR.
Key Losses:
• (RW) Mathieu Beaudoin - scored 51 points (21g, 30a) in 63 games. Led Rampage skaters in points. Ranked second on SAR in PPG (9).
• (D) Garrett Stafford - scored 46 points (14g, 32a) in 65 games. Led SAR defensemen in scoring. Collected 74 PIM.
Key Additions:
• (LW) Garrett Wilson - scored 86 points (40g, 46a) in 66 games with OHL Owen Sound Attack. Won Memorial Cup with Owen. Added 21 points (11g, 19a) in 22 playoff games.
• (D) Mike Kostka - scored 55 points (16g, 39a) in 80 games with RCH. Registered a combined plus-12 to help lead POR to consecutive playoff appearances.
• (G) Jacob Markstrom - earned best goals-against average and save percentage awards in Swedish Elite League, Sweden U20 WJC and J20 SuperElit.
History
| |
SAN ANTONIO |
| |
Established |
2002-03 |
| |
All-Time record |
302-339-19-26-34 |
| |
2010-11 Record |
40-33-4-3 (7th West) |
| |
2010-11 Playoffs |
N/A |
| |
Calder Cup championships |
0 |
| |
Division championships |
0 |
| |
Conference championships |
0 |
| |
Regular season points championships |
0 |
| |
|
|
| |
VS. CHARLOTTE |
| |
2010-11 |
N/A |
| |
All-time |
N/A |
The San Antonio Rampage is currently the top AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. The club faces two intra-state rivals with the Texas Stars and Houston Aeros, all of which are in the West Division.
The team began in 2002, when the AHL approved the purchase of a franchise by a joint ownership from the Florida Panthers (NHL) and San Antonio Spurs (NBA). The franchise named John Torchetti as its first head coach, and the Rampage posted its second-best season in its existence, advancing to the Calder Cup Playoffs. On June 30, 2005, Spurs Sports and Entertainment purchased the Florida Panthers portion of the Rampage franchise, assuming sole ownership of the AHL club. The team then entered into a multi-year affiliation with the Phoenix Coyotes.
After the 2010-11 season, the Coyotes announced they came to an agreement with the AHL’s Portland Pirates, leaving San Antonio without a parent NHL team. However, on June 29, 2011, San Antonio officially became Florida’s top affiliate for the second time. The franchise has clinched a playoff berth twice, but never advanced beyond the first round.
San Antonio 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 San Antonio in its inaugural season. |
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