How the Texas NHL Teams are Doing This Season
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The NHL season is well underway, and the Texas teams are holding their own. The Dallas Stars are currently leading the Western Conference and the Houston Astros are right behind them. The San Antonio Rampage are also doing well, sitting in third place in the Central Division
The Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are currently leading the Central Division with a record of 32-20-5. They have been strong defensively, only giving up 2.55 goals per game which is the second best in the NHL. The Stars have also been getting great goaltending from Ben Bishop who has a .934 save percentage and a 1.98 GAA. The Stars look like they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs and could potentially make a run at the Stanley Cup
The Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice Hockey Team in Houston, Texas. They are members of the American Hockey League (AHL) and play their home games at the Toyota Center. The team is currently affiliated with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Aeros were founded in 1994 and have won two Calder Cups, in 2003 and 2008. The team has also made it to the playoffs 10 times in its 20-year history.
The 2016–17 season is the Aeros’ 23rd season in existence and their 21st season as a member of the AHL.
The San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage are a professional Ice Hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). They are currently affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Rampage play their home games at the AT&T Center in San Antonio Texas.
The Rampage were founded in 2002 as the Louisville Panthers, moving to San Antonio in 2005. The team has been relatively successful since its inception, making the playoffs seven times in its first thirteen seasons. However, the team has yet to make it past the second round of the playoffs.
The Austin Ice Bats
The Austin Ice Bats are a professional ice Hockey Team in the Central Hockey League The team is based in Austin, Texas, and plays its home games at the Cedar Park Center. The Ice Bats were founded in 1996 as a member of the Western Professional Hockey League In 2001, the WPHL merged with the Central Hockey League
The team has qualified for the playoffs nine times in its history, but has never won a playoff series. The Ice Bats’ lone division championship came in the 2005–06 season. Following the 2012–13 season, the Ice Bats announced that they would not return for the 2013–14 season due to financial reasons, and ceased operations.
The Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi Icerays are a minor-league Ice hockey team that plays in the South Division of the North American Hockey League. The team is based in Corpus Christi Texas, and their home arena is the American Bank Center.
The IceRays are currently in last place in their division with a record of 21-36-5-4. However, they have shown improvement over last season’s record of 15-42-7-2. The team’s leading scorer is forward Joseph Dunlap, who has 22 goals and 19 assists for a total of 41 points.
The IceRays play their next game on Friday, March 8th against the Odessa Jackalopes.
The El Paso Rhinos
The El Paso Rhinos are a professional Hockey team in the Central Hockey League (CHL). The team was founded in 2003, and they play their home games at the El Paso County Coliseum. The Rhinos are currently in first place in their division with a record of 43-17-2. They have qualified for the playoffs four times and have won two league championships.
The Amarillo Gorillas
The Amarillo Gorillas are a professional ice hockey team in Amarillo, Texas. They are members of the West Division of the Central Hockey League (CHL). The Gorillas were founded in 1998 as an expansion team of the CHL, and play their Home Games at the Cal Farley Coliseum. The Amarillo Gorillas have been to the playoffs four times in their history, most recently in 2008.
The Laredo Bucks
The Laredo Bucks are a professional Ice Hockey team in the Central Hockey League (CHL) based in Laredo, Texas. They are owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group. The Bucks played their first season in the CHL in the 2010–11 season.
The team is currently in last place in their conference and division.
The Odessa Jackalopes
The Odessa Jackalopes are a professional ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The team is based in Odessa, Texas, and plays its home games at the Ector County Coliseum.
The Jackalopes were founded in 1996 as a member of the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL). The team played two seasons in the WPHL before moving to the Central Hockey League (CHL) for the 1998-99 season. The Jackalopes spent nine seasons in the CHL before moving to the NAHL for the 2007-08 season.
In their history, the Jackalopes have won two division championships (1998-99 and 1999-00) and one conference championship (1999-00). The team has also qualified for the playoffs nine times.
The Wichita Falls Wildcats
The Wichita Falls Wildcats are a junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The team is based in Wichita Falls, Texas, and plays its home games at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. The team was founded in 1986 as the Kansas City Stars, and relocated to Wichita Falls in 1991.