AEROS IN THE MIDST OF ANOTHER GREAT SEASON IN HOUSTON
Now that we have come to the All-Star break and the midpoint of the season, the Houston Aeros want to take a look back at what has been a great first half to the 2007-08 season, and look ahead to what will be an even better second half.
On the ice, the Aeros are currently in seventh place in the West Division with a record of 22-18-2-2, and they are only two points out of a playoff spot. The team has 48 points after 44 games which is six points better than last season, so we know that head coach Kevin Constantine and his assistants Troy G. Ward and Luke Strand are leading the team in a positive direction.
Defenseman Captain Erik Reitz continues to lead the Aeros in scoring with 25 points (8-17=25) and he represented the team in the 2008 All-Star Classic presented by Reebok. Goaltender Nolan Schaefer was also selected to play in the All-Star game after a very good first half of the season in which he placed himself in the top five among AHL goaltenders in numerous categories. The Aeros acquired two veterans prior to the season in centers Steve Kelly and Serge Payer and their leadership has proven effective as the team has continued to improve while learning new systems. The team is working as hard as ever to make the playoffs for the 12th time in 14 seasons.
LOOKING AHEAD
As we look ahead to the final half of the 2007-08 season, the Aeros will continue to have fun and exciting promotions at games while making the games affordable for everyone. The Aeros website is the main source of information on the team and a great place to find ticket packages that can’t be beat. Vouchers and group seats are on sale through the website and the ticketing promotions provide fans with a personal account executive and the best seats in the house at discounted rates. Check Aeros.com or call (713) 974-PUCK to order special packages, vouchers or group tickets.
Promotions
The Aeros begin the second half of the season this Friday, February 1st against the Quad City Flames in which the first 3,000 fans will receive the 2007-08 player trading cards for the first of many giveaways scheduled for the second half of the season. The final puck in the three-part series featuring the Toyota Center will be given away on March 7th and mullet hats will be given away on March 28th just to name a few.
The Hanson Brothers will visit Houston for the Aeros’ game on March 15th against the Rockford IceHogs. Fans are encouraged to check out the game and visit the real-life hockey players whose performances helped make the movie Slap Shot one of the top sports films of all time. On March 20th, the Aeros will crown a new Ms. Aero during the team’s annual bikini contest.
Charities
HAC is hosting the 10th Annual Houston Aeros Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Auction at the Houston Intercontinental Hotel on March 5th. The proceeds will benefit the Houston Aeros Power Playroom at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. Sponsorship opportunities are available to have an Aeros’ player or coach serve you dinner!
While the Hanson Brothers are in town on March 15th, HAC has once again collected items from most of the AHL and NHL teams and will host an auction which will take place during that game only.
Beginning this Friday, February 1st, the Aeros will wear the HAC jersey for the Jerseys Off Their Backs auction. The silent auction will take place on the Toyota Center concourse outside of section 106 and will be held on the following dates: March 21, 25, 28 and April 12th. The auction will conclude in the second intermission of the April 12th game and the players will be giving their game-worn jerseys to the winners on the ice.
Two of the Aeros players have begun performance programs to help raise funds for their respective foundations. HAC is helping Nolan Schaefer and Serge Payer raise funds based on their performances on the ice. Stop by the charities table at the games behind section 112 or view the flyer online to learn more about this program.
For more information or questions regarding any of the Houston Aeros Charities events, please call (713) 974-PUCK or visit the Charities section of Aeros.com.
Broadcasting
The Aeros will have one more game televised live on FSN Houston. The Aeros take on the Hartford Wolfpack on Friday, March 7th in the final televised game of the season. Jason Shaver and former Aeros’ player and assistant coach Cam Stewart will handle the commentary for the game.
Be sure to listen live to Jason Shaver on KNTH 1070-AM or listen online through the Aeros website. Fans can also watch the game live online by purchasing the B2 Networks broadcast of the game.
For everything Aeros check out Aeros Audio on Aeros.com. Interviews with Jason Shaver and guests are continually being added throughout the season.
Partnerships
The Aeros Corporate Partnerships department is enjoying its most rewarding season since the team moved to Toyota Center. With a record number of sponsors on board, we are aggressively searching for new partners to join us for our stretch run. Let us customize a program for your business which can drive sales, build brands or support a new product launch. Partnering with the Aeros also provides your organization with a fun environment to entertain clients, reward employees and foster relationships. If you are interested in becoming an Aeros Corporate Partner for the remainder of this season and/or next, contact Chris Ronquillo at 713-361-7939.
QUICK RE-CAP
The fans have continued to make the Toyota Center a hard place to win for opposing teams. Houston currently has a 13-8-1-1 record through 23 games at home. The Aeros currently rank sixth in the American Hockey League in attendance welcoming 6,355 fans per game, including eight games in which the team has had over 8,000 in attendance.
Promotions
The Aeros are committed to making the game experience as enjoyable as possible by having giveaways and special events at games. So far this season, the team has given away two pucks in a three-part series commemorating hockey in Houston, mugs, beanies, mini-helmets, blankets and a souvenir Chilly doll. The team had their annual Kids Day Game on January 10th in which the team hosted kids from all over the Houston area and incorporated a curriculum to help the kids before their yearly testing started. The Aeros have welcomed members of the MLS Champion Houston Dynamo and “Hot Shot” Branch from the Harlem Globetrotters.
Charities
Houston Aeros Charities (HAC) has again proven that the Aeros organization does not start and stop on the ice. HAC is committed to improving the community and has already participated in over 15 player appearances at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Elves & More Bike Build, MD Anderson Cancer Center and more. Aeros Charities raised over $28,000 at their 13th Annual Charity Golf Classic on December 5th at Wildcat Golf Club. HAC has provided additional publicity and recognition for five local charities through their “HAC Cheers for Charities” program sponsored by Bridgeway.
Broadcasting
The team has welcomed a new “Voice of the Aeros” this season as Jason Shaver has come in to handle the play-by-play duties for all games home and away. Jason can be heard on KNTH 1070-AM in Houston, online at Aeros.com or fans can listen to Jason and watch the game live on the B2 Network. Jason has begun something new on the website entitled “Aeros Audio” which is an audio look that is everything Aeros. Among the topics discussed are, ‘What’s Bugging Barry Brust’, ‘Joel Ward’s Football/Sports Picks’, and the ‘Coach’s Perspective with Luke Strand.’ Check Aeros Audio daily as Jason talks Aeros hockey with the people who know it best. For the first time since the team moved to Toyota Center, the Aeros had two games televised live on FSN Houston. Shaver and Stewart provided the commentary for the games that reached over 2.5 million homes in Houston and the surrounding areas. 
