AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks And Panthers Exchange Players In Five-Player Swap

Published on December 2, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Americans Vice President of Hockey Operations Ted Nolan announced today that the Florida Panthers have reassigned forwards Shawn Matthias and Steve MacIntyre to Rochester. Florida has also recalled forwards Jeff Taffe and Michael Duco, in addition to goaltender Alexander Salak. Further, the Amerks have signed goaltender Ryan Mior to a 25-game professional tryout.

Matthias and MacIntyre return from their recent call-ups and will meet the Amerks tonight for their second of back-to-back tilts with the Manitoba Moose at the MTS Centre. The contest is slated for 8:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on Sports Radio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk.

The pair rejoins the Amerks after earning their first National Hockey League promotions. During their stints with Florida, MacIntyre made his Panthers debut on November 25th against the New York Rangers and Matthias skated in his 100th professional game in the Panthers' 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 23rd. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound MacIntyre appeared in four games with the Panthers, registering 10 penalty minutes.

In 11 games with the big club, Matthias has one goal and two penalty minutes. In 12 American Hockey League contests with the Amerks this season, the 21-year-old Mississauga, Ontario, native has scored two goals four assists for six points.

Duco receives his first-ever call to the "show" and is expected to make his NHL debut tonight as the Florida Panthers host the Colorado Avalanche in a 7:30 p.m. battle at the BankAtlantic Center. Taffe will join Duco in South Florida tonight after the pair each tallied assists in Rochester's 4-1 win last night over Manitoba. Duco, 22, leaves the Amerks after collecting five points (3+2) and 16 penalty minutes in 17 games.

Taffe earns his third trip to the Sunshine State where he has appeared in five games with the Panthers. The Hastings, Minnesota, native leaves Rochester currently fourth on the team with 17 points (7+10) and a plus-thee on-ice rating. Taffe's assist last night was his 10th point in his last eight games with the Amerks.

Salak heads to Florida for the second time this season after compiling an AHL league-best 15-1-0 record with 464 saves in just 17 games. His 2.03 goals-against average and.934 save percentage are currently seventh and fifth among league netminders, respectively, while his 15 wins are presently a league best. Salak has started 14 of the last 15 games for Rochester, posting a 13-1-0 record in that time with 392 saves and 27 goals against. In 17 games, Salak has only allowed 33 goals.

In the absence of Salak, Rochester signed Mior to a professional tryout. Mior, 22, arrived in Winnipeg last night and will join the Amerks for Game 2 with the Moose tonight.

A native of St. John's, Newfoundland, Mior compiled a 6-5-2 record with a 2.84 goals-against average and.903 save percentage in 13 games this season with Dayton Gems of the International Hockey League. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound netminder attended Rochester's 2009 training camp and appeared in one preseason game for the Amerks. Mior played for current Amerks head coach Benoit Groulx for two seasons (2006-08) with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL.

After completing its two-game set with Manitoba tonight, the Amerks head to Canada's western coast for a pair of encounters with the Abbotsford Heat on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th. The games will mark the first-ever meetings between Rochester and Abbotsford, one of three new expansion teams in the AHL. Opening faceoff for both contests are scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EST starts at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre and will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk.

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