Albany River Rats Notebook

Published on December 4, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Albany River Rats play two home games this week, hosting the Springfield Falcons Friday and the Providence Bruins Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Arena. The River Rats enter the week tied with Bridgeport for fourth place in the East Division with 24 points (11-11-2-0, .500). News, notes and storylines heading into this week's action:

*The River Rats earned their 11th victory December 3 with a 4-3 shootout win at Providence in their 24th game - the fastest the club has reached 11 wins since 1998-99 (19th game). The River Rats did not record their 11th win last season until their 36th game.

*The River Rats are 6-2-1-0 (.722) in games that fall under a three games in three days scenario, including 3-0-0-0 in the third game - a testament to the team's conditioning program. Last season the River Rats were 2-4-0-0 in the third game of three-in-three situations.

*Center Keith Aucoin has recorded points in five of his last six games (three goals, six assists) and 14 of his last 17 (10 goals, 17 assists). The Norwich University product is on pace for a 115-point season, which would shatter the single-season club record of 98 points by John Madden in 1998-99.

*Center Ben Guite played for the Capital District Selects in 1995-96 under Jim Salfi, who coached his father, Pierre Guite, at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971-72 before leaving that program to take the head coaching position at RPI. Salfi's connections paved the way for Ben Guite to play Division I college hockey at the University of Maine (1996-2000), where he was scouted and drafted by Montreal in the seventh round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

*Ron Francis, who was named director of player development for the Carolina Hurricanes November 3, will be in Albany this week (December 6-9) to work with and assess Carolina's prospects. In 23 NHL seasons, the future Hall of Famer played in 1,731 regular-season games, scored 549 goals, earned 1,249 assists (second all-time) and had 1,798 points (fourth all-time) with Hartford/Carolina, Pittsburgh and Toronto. Francis' name is on the Stanley Cup twice as a member of the 1991 and 1992 Penguins' championship teams.

*Defenseman Mark Flood has scored goals in two of his first three games with Albany since being acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes November 29 from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Derrick Walser.

COMMUNITY APPEARANCES (VIDEO/PHOTO OPPORTUNTIES): December 5: Keith Aucoin, Jeff Finger and Justin Peters, assisting with coaching Pee Wee/Bantam Bethlehem Youth Hockey practices, Albany Academy (135 Academy Road), 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. December 6: Pat Dwyer and Kevin Estrada, Reading With Rowdy Program at Duanesburg Area Community Center After School Program (165 Chadwick Road), 4 p.m.

ALBANY RIVER RATS UPCOMING GAMES

Albany River Rats vs. Springfield Falcons (Tampa Bay Lightning)
When: Friday, December 8 at Pepsi Arena, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $16 for adults, $12 for children, students and senior.
Promotions: Faith & Family Night with Live Music.
Radio/Internet: WTTM-AM (1300) & B2 Networks.
Season Series: First meeting in 2006-07.
Last Meeting: Springfield beat Albany, 7-1, March 19, 2006 at Pepsi Arena.

Springfield Quick Hits: The Falcons enter the week 13-10-0-0 (.565) for 26 points and in third place in the Atlantic Division, one point in back of second-place Providence...The Falcons have won three straight games and own the best record in the AHL over the last 10 games with an 8-2-0-0 mark...Springfield has earned seven of its 13 wins this season on the road (7-4-0-0, .636)...RW Norm Milley (10-12-22) and LW Eric Healey (8-13-21) lead the Falcons in scoring...NHL veteran Sean Burke has appeared in five games in net for the Falcons, going 2-5-0 with a 4.52 GAA and .856 SPCT.

Albany River Rats vs. Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
When: Saturday, December 9 at Pepsi Arena, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $16 for adults, $12 for children, students and senior.
Promotions: Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park Night; Special appearances by Sylvester/Tweety Bird.
Radio/Internet: WTTM-AM (1300) & B2 Networks.
Season Series: Series tied - River Rats 1-0-1-0; Bruins 1-0-0-1.
Last Meeting: Albany beat Providence 4-3 in a shootout, December 3 at Providence.

Providence Quick Hits: The Bruins make their second and final visit of the 2006-07 season to Pepsi Arena as they face the River Rats for the third time this season...The first two meetings have been decided by one goal, with the River Rats winning 4-3 in a shootout December 3 at the Dunkin Donuts Center and Providence skating to a 4-3 win in overtime November 4 at Pepsi Arena...The Bruins enter the week 12-7-1-2 (.614) for 27 points and in second place in the Atlantic Division, three points in back of first-place Portland, but have just one win in their last six games (1-3-0-2)...RW Kris Versteeg and C David Krejci (6-15-21) lead the Bruins in scoring...D Nathan Dempsey, a veteran of 260 NHL games with Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston and a AHL Second Team All-Star in 2002 while playing for St. John's, was assigned to Providence last week by Boston...Ex-River Rat D Bobby Allen has four points (1-3-4) in 14 games this season...Jordan Sigalet (4-0-1, 2.87 GAA, .895 SPCT) and veteran Phil Sauve (5-6-1, 3.58 GAA, .887 SPCT) share time in net.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2006


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