Texas Stars Game Postponed Mid-Period Due to Ice Issues in San Antonio, Will Be Rescheduled

(Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

The Texas Stars returned Jack Campbell to the net, opened with a 2-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and then stopped. Due to ice issues in San Antonio, tonight's game at the AT&T Center has been postponed and will be rescheduled to later in the season.

The rodeo road trip forces the team to melt down the ice each year and then rebuild it at the conclusion of the trip. The Stars were the first visitors to the AT&T Center after the road trip. Several holes were present on the ice that went down to the concrete. San Antonio skater Matt Gilroy snapped a skate blade, which called attention to one of those holes in particular. There were many early stoppages as the referees worked with the ice crew to seal up the holes.

San Antonio coach Tom Rowe approached Texas's Willie Desjardins at a stoppage. After a discussion, the teams went to the locker room at 7:59 of the first period and did not return. The game will restart on the to-be-announced rescheduled date at precisely that moment with that same score. The Texas goals came from Scott Glennie and Curtis McKenzie. Jack Campbell stopped two of two shots against.

Looking at the schedules for the AT&T Center, San Antonio Rampage and Texas Stars, the first date that does not create a back-to-back, 3-in-3 or conflict with other events or games is April 8th. If that is the date, Texas and San Antonio would play each other four times straight that week.

This is the first time the Stars have had a game rescheduled for unsafe conditions either inside or outside the arena and certainly the first time it has happened mid-game. Texas has had several games rescheduled in the past to change dates or times, usually months in advance, due to arena availability or other factors.

Here is a short release from the AHL on the matter:

This evening’s American Hockey League game between the Texas Stars and the San Antonio Rampage has been suspended due to unsafe ice conditions at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Texas led, 2-0, when the game was suspended with 12:01 remaining in the first period.

The American Hockey League will make an announcement at a later time regarding the completion of the game.

The Texas Stars' release adds a bit more detail:

The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced that their game tonight against the San Antonio Rampage has been suspended due to unsafe ice conditions at AT&T Center.

American Hockey League officials emphasized player safety and cited “unsafe ice conditions” for the decision to suspend play.

The Stars had a 2-0 lead with 12:01 left in the first period when the game was called. Scott Glennie scored just 57 seconds into the game and Curtis McKenzie deflected a Hubert Labrie slap shot to give Texas a two-goal lead at 3:06. Stars goaltender Jack Campbell made his first start since December 18th, returning to the Texas lineup after missing 27 games due to injury.

The game will be rescheduled at a time to be determined and will resume from the point at which it left off. The American Hockey League will make an announcement at a later date regarding the completion of the game.

Fans that were in attendance will be able to redeem their tickets for a home game later this season or get their money refunded.