Hockey season is back! Well, the NHL kicked things off with a few games last Wednesday but the AHL has to wait for the weekend being a development league in smaller markets. What am I saying, they have teams in Chicago, the LA ‘burbs, Toronto and the rather densely populated Northeast.
Anyway, my Stars got to kick off the season at home against the Charlotte Checkers. It was an ass-whipping victory of 6-2. Four of our goals were in the first period which resulted in the Checkers’ first goalie getting benched after the intermission. Plus they challenged two of our goals for review. No such luck, especially when your own goalie fumbles the puck into the net.
The lineup is a nice mix of returning vets (Morin namely, his eighth season with us; Gemel Smith, Justin Dowling and Maxime Lagace) and new faces. If their passing remains as solid as last night, I think we’ll be doing well. I won’t speculate our chances for a second Calder because injuries are the wild card.
Meanwhile, we lowered our season package to only half and we have new seats. I’m kind of regretting it somewhat. We’re more in a corner so the seats are wedge-like, ergo, smaller. We’re saving some money but I think I’ll lobby Somara for a return to the full-season set up and see if we can be returned to our rightful place: Section 120, Row C, Seats 1-2.
What else? Oh, we have a new divisional member. The Tucson Roadrunners. The Coyotes moved their team out West and also got them under the crybaby rules allowing them to play five fewer games like all five California teams. As if the Coyotes will be a Stanley contender again. I do look forward to seeing their jerseys.
Go Stars!