Spring 1998 Game Updates

Game 1
January 14th
Americans 7 Dead Wings 2
Season Record 1-0
MITCH WHO?
(Sugar Land, TX) The off season loss of Mitch Lees was a topic in the locker room prior to the game. How would the team respond after losing Mitch's scoring power? Ex-American Dave "The Hammer" Stiller rejoined the team adding strength to the defensive line...but what about the offense? That question was answered early as Rod Fenwick punched a goal in from point blank range. The 3rd line stepped up to contribute with Bill Buzzell scoring two goals in a strong performance. Not to be outdone, every player on the first line (Babine, Madden and Lerner) contributed a goal while former defenseman Geoff Hodge found the back of the net in his first start at Winger. Stellar goaltending from Mark Yocum and strong defense was also a key in the season opening win. Yocum was beaten only twice. Once on a high shot from Steve Lackey, "I didn't think he HAD that shot" commented Yocum The second goal was a result of a defensive turnover with just 4 minutes remaining in the game.

Game 2
January 21st
Americans 5 Hurricanes 2
Season Record 2-0
Bing, Bang Babine!
(Houston, TX) Better late than never, Pete Babine skated onto the ice midway through the first period and ignited the Americans to their second win in as many games. The first goal of the game was scored by Tim Madden on a deflection in front of the net off Dave Stiller's blast from the blue line. After the Hurricanes tied it up 1-1, Babine scored the next two goals to give the Americans a 3-1 lead and their second win of the season. After the Hurricanes battled back in the 3rd period to pull with a goal at 3-2, Marshall Iler punched one in from close range to give the Americans breathing room with a 4-2 lead. In the closing moments of the game with an empty net on the other end, Geoff Hodge scored on a long shot from the opposite blue line to ice the game at 5-2.

Game 3
January 28th
Panthers 6 Americans 2
Season Record 2-1
Where's MITCH?
(Houston, TX) Ever have one of those games that just SUCK? This was one of them. Credit the Panthers with a good effort and some crisp passing as they stay undefeated on the season. If it wasn't for DEFENSE, the Americans would have had NO Offense at all. Trailing 4-0, Brendan Hilton's quick shot from the point got the Americans back in 4-1. Moments later the Panthers answered to make it 5-1. With a 6-1 deficit, Dave Stiller's blast from the blue line finished the scoring for the Americans as they took their first defeat of the season. Panthers goals scored by Huey, Dewey, Lewey, Dopey, Pucky and Sneezy.

Game 4
February 4th
Americans 4 Seals 2
Season Record 3-1
Hats off to PETE!
(Sugar Land, TX) Coming off a poor performance in last week's loss to the Panthers the Americans were fired up to avenge their loss to the Seals in last seasons Championship game. The first period was all Americans as the puck seemed to be in the Seals defensive zone for the entire period. Pete Babine scored his first goal of his Hat-Trick performance with about five minutes gone in the first period. Brendan Hilton made it 2-0 on a shorthanded breakaway goal that he put past the outstretched glove of the Seals Super-Sized Goaltender Derek Eichele. The Seals made a comeback early the second goal to pull to 2-1 but the American's pulled ahead for good 3-1 on Babine's second goal of the game. The Goal was set up by "The Pass" from O'Neill to Babine. Commenting on what may have been his finest assist as an American O'Neill said "man, I should open my eyes more often!". The Seals scored again and the second period ended 3-2. Going into the final period the Seals tried to rally but the stiff Americans defense had visions of Bud Lite dancing in their heads. Midway through the third, Babine's point blank backhanded goal put the game out of reach for the Seals. Vengeance is sweet...but we'd still rather have that trophy!

Game 5
February 11th
Americans 5 Hooters 1
Season Record 4-1
Americans bounce Hooters!
(Houston, TX) Goalie Mark Yocum watched with pride as his uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs Barnett ,were presented with the "Fans of the game" award. The long trip from St. Louis was made worthwhile as they each received authentic game worn Americans jocks. We thought we saw a tear in their eye when presented with the award. Or, it could have been an allergic reaction. Regardless, Yocum was determined to play the game of his life. The last time "Unkie and Auntie" had seen Mark play he'd given up a minor league record 72 goals in the first period against the girls "B" squad from Our Lady of Cleavage. His mission was to show the relatives how far he'd come. The game didn't start off promising as Hooters took an early 1-0 lead. Instant replay showed Mark was actually combing his hair at the time of the goal. After the initial embarrassment of a quick goal from the league's newest team wore off, Mark put his comb away and settled in for a flawless finish. No fewer than three times the Hooters players raised their hands in celebration of a goal only to see Mark remove the puck from an orifice in his goalie equipment. Lost in a nearly perfect performance was Pete Babine's second straight three goal game. Babine also had an assist on Rod Fenwick's second goal of the season. With the goalie sliding over to cover Babine, Pete fed Fenwick who tickled the twine at the back of the net. Dave Stiller and Keith Lerner teamed up on the final goal with just :21 seconds remaining as Stiller blasted a shot from the point that was deflected into the net by Lerner. As Yocum took his victory lap and skated off the ice he proclaimed "bring on those chicks from Our Lady Of Cleavage now, baby!". Whether he was envisioning a date or reliving his troubled past we may never know.

Game 6
February 18th
North Stars 5 Americans 3
Season Record 4-2
Stars Shoot Past Americans
(Houston, TX) It was to be a game that Brian Hughes would never forget. Even though the generous Americans spotted the Stars a 3 goal lead in the first 7 minutes of the game, Hughes wasn't concerned. He was watching some good skating. Late in the first period Pete Babine drilled a puck home past goalie Joel Petty to make it 3-1. It looked as if the Americans were on the road back. In the second period Marshall Iler scored to make it 3-2 and the comeback was on. Hughes smiled, watching an excellent performance. Even when the North Stars scored to make it 4-2, it seemed the big "MO" was on the Americans side. With 8 minutes remaining in the game Brendan Hilton smoked a shot off the post to bring the Americans within a goal at 4-3. Then it happened, the play that won the game for the Stars. Hughes got up and began to get undressed. As he stripped down to his shorts, the North Stars scored on a breakaway with just 3 minutes remaining to put the contest out of reach 5-3. At that point Hughes rolled over and turned off the light. He had finished watching the Olympic figure skating and was headed for dreamland. He missed the lackluster American performance. He also missed a brawl between Babine and Joel Petty. Babine watched the final 2 periods from the stands while Petty remained in goal. The game will be remembered for many things. But for the missing Mr. Hughes it will only be remembered as the game that lost him the coveted Americans "perfect attendance table dance". The dance paid for of course by Pete "Tyson" Babine.


Game 7
February 25th
Americans 3 Maple Leafs 1
Season Record 5-2
We'll Take It!
(Sugar Land, TX) Again the Americans took to the ice without their defensive star Brian Hughes. Hughes remains on the IR list after trying to duplicate a Tara Lipinsky move. Until he gets the tights off his condition is listed as day to day. In a game that never seemed to really have any "flow" (until the post game beer started flowing) Marshall Iler stared things off by scored his second goal in two games (3rd of the season) to put the Americans up 1-0. The Leafs, lead by former American Jimmy Frame would not go quietly into the night. After tying it up 1-1 it was time for Lightning to strike. Johnny Lightning, that is. JL put one in to make it 2-1. The scrappy Leafs team made several attempts to tie up the game, but the backbreaking goal came with just 9 minutes to play from Brendan Hilton. It may have been appropriate that the game was played in the tornado ravaged wing of the Aerodrome. The tornado blew, and this game sucked. Even though fans traveled from as far away as Chicago Illinois to witness this contest, few stayed for the post game autographs and limbo contest.

Game 8
March 4th
Americans 3 Storm Kings 2 (OT)
Season Record 6-2
A Thin Win
(Sugar Land, TX) Goalie Mark Yocum was pumped for a big game. His father and brother had made the trek to Houston to see how "Yeastboy" was faring in the big city. Taking a 2.71 goals against average into the game, Mark was determined to put on a clinic. Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want. Early in the game a puck fluttered by Mark on a bizarre play. We think either aliens or hypnosis was involved. Regardless, the Americans were down 1-0. The Americans tied it up 1-1 as Keith Lerner scored on a Pete Babine pass. In the second period, Tim Madden notched his third goal of the season from point blank range. In the third period after the Storm Kings tied things up 2-2 and with overtime approaching Bill Buzzell was caught caressing a Storm Kings player and was escorted to the box with just :34 second remaining in the game. This meant the Americans would be shorthanded for nearly a minute and a half in OT. Shorthanded? Overtime? It's what Brendan Hilton lives for. Just 38 seconds into OT, Brendan picked up the puck in the Americans zone and beat the lone defenseman and laid a vicious series of dekes on Storm King Goalie Jesse Bell. When the cloud of ice shavings settled there was a goalie jock halfway up the ice, and a puck in the net. Hilton was swarmed by team mates and chants of "we're not worthy" filled the rink. Yocum played a doubleheader leading the Dead Wings to a 2-0 victory over the Seals in the second game.

Game 9
March 11th
Americans 7 Blackhawks 3
Season Record 7-2
Americans Scalp Blackhawks
(Houston, TX) There was a lot of history talk in the locker room as the Americans prepared to take on the Blackhawks. While the names may be new to the league, the faces were all too familiar. Tracing the ancestry of the Americans and the Blackhawks leads back to The Blues. Most of what was the former Blues team were on the ice tonight playing now as either Americans or Blackhawks. With the Americans playing without scoring leader Babine, Fenwick and Lerner, it would take a strong effort to defeat a talented Blackhawk team. The Blackhawks struck first to take an early 1-0 lead. But Geoff Hodge notched his third goal of the season just a few minutes later to make it a 1-1 game. Later in the first period Marshall Iler banged home his fourth goal of the season to make it 2-1, but the Hawks tied it up on a power play goal at 2-2. Kenny Veseleny's first goal of the season made it 3-2 but the Hawks hung tough, tying the score at 3-3. As the second period drew to a close Ti Shuman's first goal of the season would prove to be the game winner. Midway through the 3rd period Brendan Hilton snapped a quick shot past Pico D Goalie to give the Americans a two goal lead. A few minutes later the rout was on as Tim Madden slapped a rebound in for his fourth goal of the season. With 3 minutes left to go, Geoff Hodge, freshly rested after 4 minutes of penalties, scored to rack up goal number four on the season and "bookend" the win by scoring the first and last goal in the 7-3 win

Game 10
March 18th
Dead Wings 5 Americans 3
Season Record 7-3
Dead Wings Fly Past Americans
(Sugar Land, TX) If the following game report is a LITTLE thin, it's due to the absence of Johnny Lightning, the Americans roving cub reporter. Also absent from this game were Pete Babine and Brendan Hilton who, sadly, will miss the remainder of the season. Reporting duties fell to the Captain Tim "Shakespeare" Madden. Here is the report he filed " We blew and lost 5-3. I can't remember who scored, it wasn't fun." Next time we'll get Stevie Wonder to file the report. It should be at least as comprehensive.

Game 11
March 25th
Hurricanes 5 Americans 2
Season Record 7-4
Hurricanes (& penalties) Defeat Americans
(Houston, TX) What happens when you rack up 20+ penalty minutes? You get to sit in the box and watch your ass get kicked. Before the game someone told Geoff Hodge a beer tap had been installed in the penalty box. In the 18 minutes of penalties he accrued looking for it, he never found it. Meanwhile the leagues #1 team went to work building a 1-0 lead. Bill Buzzell tied it at 1-1 late in the first period, but that was as close as the Americans would get. After the 'Canes built a 4-1 lead, "Lucky Dog" finally arrived. Rod Fenwick, inspired by the arrival of his dog and bride to be (not neccesarily in that order) punched in a quick power play goal off a faceoff to bring the Americans back to 4-2. The celebration wouldn't last as the Canes put a fifth goal past Dave Stiller to guarantee the #1 seed going into the playoffs. Stiller was filling in for Mark "Yestboy" Yocum who was last seen guarding a beer vat with a shotgun. With first place on the line the Hurricanes blew and the Americans sucked...Bring on the second season!

Game 12 Playoff Round #1
April 1st
Americans 3 Storm Kings 2
Season Record 8-4
Americans Storm Past Kings
(Sugar Land, TX) In the regular season meeting, defenseman Brendan Hilton scored in OT the beat the 'Kings 3-2. This time it took a great slapper from Dave "I think I'm Al MacInnis" Stiller in the last minutes of the third period to do the trick. While out-playing the 'Kings for most of the game, not much happened until the end of the first period when Pete Babine decided that enough was enough. Grabbing the puck in his own zone Babine raced around the SKings players like they were pylons and wristed a quick shot past 'Kings goalie Jessie Bell. Unfortunately the SKings responded and it was quickly 1-1. In the second period the Americans continued the pressure, with Tim Madden slamming a Babine rebound in to make it 2-1. Not more than a minute later the Stormkings responded with a nice cherry pick. During an unplanned 4 on 5 the SKings snuck a 5th man behind the Americans defense. At the same moment an errant pass to the blueline slipped behind the Americans D and it was off to the races and a 2-2 score. With time running down and significant third period pressure by the Americans, it was time for someone to step up. Who could be that unlikely hero? None other than "Dorf on Hockey" Stiller with a one timer on a nice feed from Babine. While the Americans go on with plans to tame the Panthers in round 2 of the playoffs, the StormKings won't rain on anybody's parade 'til next year. (special to the web by Tim Madden)

Game 13 Playoff Round #2
April 8th
Panthers 6 Americans 2
Season Record 8-5
Panthers BITE Americans
(Sugar Land, TX) See game #3 of the season. Same opponant, same score, same result. To quote Mark Yocum who's headed for China to teach the Chinese how to swill Bud..."Losing sucks, I'm outta here". See you next season!