AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks win three of four in nation's heartland.doc

Published on January 22, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... After their recent five-game road trip, the North Division leading Rochester Americans will return to The Blue Cross Arena this week for a two-game series against the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Amerks will battle the Griffins at home on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:05 p.m. and Friday, January 26th at 7:35 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on Hot Talk 1280 WHTK, whtk.com and B2 Networks. Friday night's game will be televised live on Time Warner SportsNet Channel 26.

On Wednesday night, fans can turn in their business card at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office to receive a regular $19.00 ticket for $10.00. The promotion is part of the clevermethod Business Person's Special. On Friday night, AAA members can show their AAA membership card at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office to receive tickets for the best available seating for $10.00 each. Orders of 10 or more tickets can be placed by calling Adam Winslow at (585) 454-5335, ext. 3019. The game will also be a College Discount Night. College students who show their student ID at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office will receive a regular $16.00 ticket for $8.00. In addition, Friday night is Scout Night. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can purchase regular $16.00 tickets for $10.00 each. Scout troop leaders can call Nathan Snyder at (585) 454-5335, ext. 3006 to book their scout group.

Grand Rapids is coming off a two-game series sweep at the hands of the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Griffins were defeated by the Bulldogs on January 19th and 20th at Copps Coliseum. Despite the recent skid, the Griffins are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Griffins are led by the efforts of center Kip Miller who has 15 goals and 28 assists in 44 games. Jimmy Howard leads the Griffins goaltending corps with a 12-12-1 record, a 2.89 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.

The Amerks are 1-3 this season and 8-13-1 all-time against the Griffins. In their last meeting on December 31st, the Griffins knocked off the Amerks 3-0 at Van Andel Arena. Amerks goaltender Craig Anderson made 18 saves in net and fell to 0-2 against Grand Rapids on the year.

On Saturday, January 27th, the Amerks will finish the week with a trip to Binghamton for a showdown with the Senators at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be broadcast live on Hot Talk 1280 WHTK, whtk.com and B2 Networks.

Last week, the Amerks completed their five-game road trip and a stretch in which they played 10 of 11 games on the road. The Amerks went 7-4 in that stretch and finished their final four games of the trip 3-1.

On January 16th, the Amerks kicked off the final four games of their five-game trip with a 5-4 overtime shootout win against the Iowa Stars at Wells Fargo Arena. Rochester trailed 4-1 midway through the second period, but rallied to tie the game, 4-4, late in the third. Amerk forward Michael Ryan scored the game-winner in the seventh round of the overtime shootout to give the Amerks the win. With the victory, Amerks Head Coach Randy Cunneyworth passed Joe Crozier on the Amerks' all-time regular season wins list with his 261st regular season victories behind the Amerks bench. John Van Boxmeer leads all Amerks coaches with 333 regular season wins.

The following night, Patrick Kaleta picked up his first professional goal as Rochester defeated the Peoria Rivermen, 4-2, at Carver Arena. Amerk forward Clarke MacArthur led the Amerks offense with one goal and two assists, while goaltender Adam Dennis made 32 saves in net to lift the Amerks to their fifth straight victory.

On January 19th, the Amerks had another first, as David Brine scored his first American Hockey League point/goal and Michael Ryan registered three assists to lift the Amerks over the Milwaukee Admirals, 4-1, at the Bradley Center. Brine, Mark Mancari, Marek Zagrapan and Brandon Smith combined to produce Rochester's four goals, all in the first period, while Craig Anderson made 23 saves in net to improve to 14-7-0.

The Amerks had their winning-streak cut at six games, as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights on January 20th at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Amerks defenseman Brandon Smith scored Rochester's only goal to extend his scoring streak to two games, while Adam Dennis made 21 saves in the losing effort.

PLAYER MOVES

Last week, Drew Stafford, Drew Larman, and Clarke MacArthur were recalled to the NHL. All three players returned to Rochester today. Kamil Kreps and Anthony Stewart were also reassigned to Rochester by the Florida Panthers, while Dustin Johner and David Brine were reassigned by Florida (NHL) from Rochester to Florida (ECHL).

On January 17th, Stafford was recalled by the Buffalo Sabres. He played four games with the Amerks' parent club before being reassigned to Rochester on January 20th.

On January 19th, the Florida Panthers reassigned Johner from Rochester to Florida (ECHL) and Larman from Florida (NHL) to Rochester. Larman spent just one game with the Panthers in his most recent recall, playing in Florida's 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina on January 16th. Johner returned to Florida (ECHL) after playing two games with the Amerks.

On January 20th, Florida (NHL) reassigned Kamil Kreps and Anthony Stewart to Rochester, while the Sabres recalled MacArthur. MacArthur played in the Sabres 4-3 defeat in Montreal on January 20th before being returned to Rochester on January 21st.

On January 21st, the Sabres reassigned Stafford and Paille to Rochester. On the same day, the Amerks lost the services of Brine, as he was reassigned to Florida (ECHL) by the Panthers.

PLAYER APPEARANCES

Amerks at Build-A-Bear Workshop® Tuesday for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

On Tuesday, January 23rd at 3:30 p.m., Patrick Kaleta, Adam Dennis, Mike Card, and Greg Jacina and Cystic Fibrosis Ambassador Kyle Schuhart will be at the Build-A-Bear Workshop ® store location at 443 Eastview Mall (Victor, NY) in the Sears wing. The Rochester Americans and Schuhart will make bears for the Amerks Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Sports Memorabilia Auction to be held on Tuesday, February 13th at the Clarion Riverside Hotel in downtown Rochester.

Rochester Americans Reading Power Play Program

During the 2006-07 hockey season, Amerk players will continue to visit participating libraries to read to youth, talk about the importance of reading, and give a hockey demonstration. Each appearance also features a raffle for Amerk memorabilia and an autograph session by the visiting player and The Moose.

January Reading Power Play Schedule

Monday, January 29 - Pittsford Library @ 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 30 - East Irondequoit Library @ 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 31 - Rush Library @ 7:00 p.m.

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2007


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