Houston Aeros vs. San Antonio Rampage

No other sport mixes the grace, passion, speed and physicality of hockey. (Physicality here translates into fistfights and group brawls, for the uninformed.) And coach Kevin Constantine’s Aeros squad is full of young kids fighting — literally — to make it to the big leagues (a.k.a. the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild, the parent club of the Aeros).

Today the Aeros take on their I-10 rivals, the San Antonio Rampage. The teams have met four times so far this season, with the Aeros winning three of those games (including a 5-1 beat-down last month), so hopes are high that they will repeat a win today. The Aeros are currently in seventh place, while the Rampage are in third. (They’re actually closer than it might seem — there’s just a two-win difference in their records so far this season.) No matter how today’s game goes, the Aeros will have another chance to beat up on, uh, we mean, face off with the Rampage in a few days when the two meet again in San Antonio. 7:05 p.m. Toyota Center, 1510 Polk. For tickets and information, call 866-GO-AEROS or visit www.aeros.com. $12 to $60.
Wed., Dec. 26, 7:05 p.m., 2007