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Rampage Rewind: Rantanen makes an immediate impact

October 29, 2015

Week 3 – Oct. 23-29, 2015

The San Antonio Rampage are spending Halloween weekend in California, facing off against the Pacific Division leaders in the Ontario Reign. If the Rampage can add to the team’s current 3-game win streak, it can pull ahead of Ontario in the standings, taking over that number one position.

The Week in Review

Games
The Rampage certainly showed up for its fans on Saturday, October 24th. In the team’s home opener, San Antonio scored five unanswered goals through the first two periods. Each goal was scored by a different player, as well, so the new team’s talent was on full display: Mikko Rantanen, Samuel Henley, Colin Smith, Chris Bigras, and Marc-Andre Cliche (short-handed). The Heat’s lone goal came mid-way through the third, a power play goal scored by former Avalanche Freddie Hamilton. The Rampage organization went all out for the fans, showing off not just their new players, but also their revamped arena.

Highlights
Heat @ Rampage, Oct. 24 (Win, 5-1)

Roster Transactions
Gabriel Beaupre was reassigned to the Fort Wayne Komets on Monday. The 22-year-old defenseman was a sixth-round draft pick for the Avalanche in 2011. Since then, he has seen professional action with the Denver Cutthroats (former CHL affiliate), the Lake Erie Monsters and the Fort Wayne Komets before starting the 2015-16 season with the Rampage. In 143 games played in the AHL, Beaupre has amassed 5 goals, 12 assists and 113 penalty minutes.

Forward Dennis Everberg was recalled to the Avalanche to replace Borna Rendulic, who joined the Rampage the week before. Everberg played 55 games with the Avalanche in 2014-15, scoring 3 goals and 9 assists.

Rookie Mikko Rantanen played six games with the Avalanche before being reassigned to San Antonio with the expectation that he play big minutes and in all situations to give him the experience he needs to return to Colorado. Rantanen registered seven shots on goal while with the Avs.

The Week Ahead

Games
The Rampage heads back out on the road this weekend, playing back-to-back games in Ontario, California, on Friday, October 30th (8 pm CDT) and Saturday, October 31st (4 pm CDT). The Reign (Los Angeles Kings affiliate) currently lead the Pacific Division with a perfect record, recording wins in all five of their games thus far. Coming in just behind them with a firm hold on second place, the Rampage look to capitalize on the influx of new blood and continued success on special teams. San Antonio faces some of the toughest penalty killers in the league, however, as the Reign have killed 25 of the 26 penalties they’ve faced.

Storylines

Finnish Infusion
In his AHL debut, Mikko Rantanen scored a goal and an assist, helping to lead the Rampage in a 5-1 beat down of the Stockton Heat. Rantanen joined Andrew Agozzino and Ben Street on the top line, creating an even more formidable weapon for San Antonio.

Powerful Power Play
26.3%. That’s the current success rate of the Rampage power play, coming at third in the league. 14 of the team’s 19 opportunities have come on the road thus far, and San Antonio has converted on 5 of them (35.7%).

Still Scoring
Averaging over 4 goals per game, the Rampage is one of the top producing teams in the league. Much of that is due to the prolific scoring of Agozzino and Street, who are averaging 2.33 and 2.00 points per game, respectively.