2 Jacob Eskew, 3 Evan Granier, 4 Logan Mercier, 5 Lewis Blond, 6 Matthew Anguiano, 8 Hunter Simon, 9 Everest Schneider, 10 Brandon Shantz, 11 Bradley Napoli, 14 Joseph Anguiano, 21 Justin Trevino, 25 Tristan Bourgoin, 38 Brodie Ingersoll, 64 Landry Laird, 89 William Hosey, 91 Payne Stewart

Head Coach Brian Shantz

Assistant Coach David Stewart

Assistant Coach Gregory Laird

by Olivier Bourgoin:
"After a twenty-one game regular season, two tournaments, four semifinals games and countless practices, the “best of three” State Championship Series of the NTXHL 2011-2012 Squirt A Division finals was contested during the week-end of March 9 - 11. Game 1 in Austin saw the reigning Champions Austin Jr. Texas Stars defeat a sluggish and somewhat tentative San Antonio Jr. rampage team which did not look in their element. With their Captain under the weather, the San Antonio boys struggled to control the puck which seemed to take weird skips and bounces during most of the game. The end result was a disappointing 1-3 loss during which only Assistant Captain Matthew Anguiano was able to find the net on an unassisted top shelf right corner shot.


After a day of rest, the stage was set for an epic Game 2 showdown on Sunday morning in San Antonio. Three periods of regulation in the early game only produced a 0-0 tie. Two overtimes periods later, the result was the same. Playing four on four in the second overtime frame, the Rampage had found themselves in a desperate scrambling situation after Hunter Simon was called for hooking. The home team would eventually prevail in the shoot-out by a score of 1-0 on a well executed left-side goalie deking move by a fully recovered team Captain Everest Schneider. Rampage goalie Brandon Shantz earned a shut-out as he successfully denied all three of the Stars shooters, including perennial Austin scoring leader # 35 Caden Villegas.


The stage was set for a rare winner take-all, Home-Ice afternoon Championship Game 3. The first period was reminiscent of the morning encounter and it ended tied at 0-0. The rampage drew first blood in the second period and were on top by 1 (for the first time in regulation time in the finals); on a goal by regular season team scoring leader William Hosey (assist Lewis Blond, Payne Stewart). The Stars were determined to retain their crown and they relentlessly came back on the attack. Their efforts made the score even at 1-1 near the end of the second period. Playing every minute of every playoff game, SA Goalie Brandon Shantz who had split duties during the season with Landry Laird, performed splendidly as he made several spectacular saves, including a couple of game-saving acrobatic glove saves in the third period. Payne Stewart was able to get the puck behind talented Austin goalie Julian Barnes in the third frame for a score of 2-1, courtesy of assists from line mates William Hosey and Lewis Blond. With the Austin net empty at the other end, the Rampage were able to salvage the win, in spite of a near end of game - mad flurry in their own zone, which saw several errand pucks sailing, gliding or floating dangerously near the home goal-line for some very close calls toward the end of regulation. When the final buzzer sounded the score stood at 2-1 for a hard fought San Antonio victory and subsequent celebration.


To use a couple of clichés often heard: “It could have gone either way” - and “it doesn’t get any closer than that”. The total of 4 goals scored for each team in three games in the finals (and the shots on goal 50 SA / 47 Austin) are a testament to the parity of both teams. Congratulations to the members of the Austin team for giving us a great Championship series, long to be remembered.


Season record against Austin:


TOTAL GAMES PLAYED AGAINST AUSTIN:

Regular Season: 3 + Semifinals 1 + Finals 3 = 7

Won 4 - Lost 3

Total Goals For/Against (7 games - including playoffs: 15/14)"