Albany River Rats Weekly

Published on October 9, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. - The River Rats return home from a season opening two-game road trip (1-1-0-0) for a three-game homestand at Pepsi Arena. The River Rats will face the Hamilton Bulldogs in the home opener Saturday, October 14, the Peoria Rivermen Wednesday, October 18 and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Friday, October 20 during the homestand.

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 VS. HAMILTON BULLDOGS (1-1-0-0) - PEPSI ARENA - 7:00 PM
Radio: ESPN Radio 1300 The Team at 6:45 p.m.
Web Casts: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through albanyriverrats.com.
Season Series: The Hamilton Bulldogs travel to Pepsi Arena for the first time this season. The two teams will face each other four times overall this season with the remaining three games in the series being played Wednesday, November 1 in Albany and Friday, December 22 and Friday, March 23 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.
All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL/SOL): 19-21-4-4 overall, 8-12-2-2 home.
NHL Affiliation: Montreal Canadiens.
Head Coach: Don Lever (second season)
Hamilton Top Scorers: Center Maxim Lapierre - 2 pts (1g, 1a), defenseman Andre Benoit - 2 pts (2a), center Kyle Chipchura - 2 pts (2a).
Hamilton Goaltenders: Yann Danis (1-0-0, 3.00 GAA, .906 SPCT).

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 RIVER RATS 0 AT ROCHESTER 6: Drew Stafford and Greg Jacina each scored twice and Craig Anderson stopped 21 shots as Rochester shout out Albany, 6-0, in the season opener for both teams at Blue Cross Arena. Stafford, the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, added an assist for a three-point night in his professional debut. Justin Peters, a second-round pick by Carolina in 2004, stopped nine of the 10 shots he faced in relief of starter Tyler Weiman in his professional debut for the River Rats.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 RIVER RATS 5 AT LOWELL 3: David Gove and Ben Guite scored 83 seconds apart midway through the third period, turning a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead and lifting Albany to a 5-3 win at Lowell. Guite scored twice and NHL veteran Brad Isbister added a goal and an assist for the River Rats. Tyler Weiman made 24 saves en route to his first victory of the season. Former River Rat Dan McGillis had a goal and two assists for the Devils.

RIVER RATS NEWS & NOTES

RIVER RATS RECORD AND WHERE THEY STAND: The River Rats are 1-1-0-0 for two points through the first two games games of the 2006-07 season and in a six-way tie for first place in the East Division. Albany was 0-2-0-0 after two games last season.

STANLEY CUP COMES TO ALBANY: The most coveted prize in hockey - the Stanley Cup - will be on display at the River Rats home opener Saturday, October 14 against the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. at Pepsi Arena. Fans will have a chance to see the Stanley Cup up close and take photographs.

GUITE NOMINATED FOR CCM VECTOR/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Center Ben Guite is the River Rats nomination for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending October 8, 2006. Guite had two goals, including the game-winning tally in Albany's 5-3 win October 7 at Lowell.

AUCOIN NAMED CAPTAIN: Center Keith Aucoin was named the 11th captain in River Rats history by head coach/GM Tom Rowe October 6, following Jason Miller (1993-94), Kevin Dean (1994-95), Scott Pellerin (1995-96), Geordie Kinnear (1996-99), Steve Brule (1993-2000), Sylvain Cloutier (2000-02), Ken Sutton (2002-03), Mike Matteucci (2003-04), Pascal Rheaume (2004-05) and Alex Brooks (2005-06). Defensemen Jeff Finger and center Ben Guite were appointed assistant captains.

APPROACHING MILESTONES: Center Keith Aucoin needs one more goal for 100 career AHL goals. Right wing Shane Willis needs three more points for 200 career AHL points.

RAT BITES: Left wing Brad Isbister's goal October 7 at Lowell was his first AHL goal since November 8, 1998 at Hershey when he was a member of the Springfield Falcons. Isbister has 99 career NHL goals in 467 games with the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins ... Right wing Shane Willis scored the River Rats first goal of the season at 17:49 of the first period October 7 at Lowell ... Left wing Dave Gove played in his 300th career AHL game October 7 at Lowell ... Center Ben Guite recorded the fifth multiple-goal game of his AHL career October 7 at Lowell, matching a career-high with two goals ... Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford and vice president/assistant general manager Jason Karmanos are expected to be in attendance for the River Rats home opener October 14 against Hamilton at Pepsi Arena.

TICKET INFORMATION: For information on season, group and individual-game tickets, call (518) 487-2244 or visit albanyriverats.com.

NHL AFFILIATE UPDATE

CAROLINA HURRICANES: The defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes enter the week 0-2-1 and in fifth place in the Southeast Division. Carolina fell to the Washington Capitals 5-2 October 7 at the MCI Center in its last game. The Hurricanes return to action Wednesday, October 11 at Florida.

COLORADO AVALANCHE: The Avalanche recorded their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks October 8. Colorado, 1-0-2 and in a three-way tie for first place in the Northwest Division, next plays Saturday, October 14 against Edmonton at the Pepsi Center.

RIVER RATS QUOTES

Head coach/GM Tom Rowe, on the expectations he has for the River Rats this season:
"We've got real high expectations. I'm not going to say we're going to, but I really believe we can win it all. If we can stay intact and the injuries stay at a minimum, I really like our chances. We should be one of the teams fighting it out at the end."

Center Keith Aucoin, on left wing Matt Murley:
"He's going to bring a lot, both offensive and defensively. He's been around, he's been in Wilkes-Barre where they've won a lot of games, including in the playoffs. He knows what it takes to win and what it takes to get those young guys going in this league."

Defenseman Derrick Walser, on the River Rats days as one of the AHL's most successful teams in the 1990's:
"(Albany) has always been a great franchise for treating the players well; now it's time for the players to treat the franchise right and put a winning season on the ice."

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