AHL Rochester Americans

Americans host Houston

Published on December 9, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


Game Notes: The Rochester Americans (13-10-0-0, 26 points) host the Houston Aeros tonight at 7:35 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial. The contest will be televised tape delayed on Saturday, December 10th at 12:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 98. The game will also be broadcast on WHTK 1280-AM and webcast on whtk.com. The game is available to on-line viewers on the B2 Networks for $6.00.

Promotions: The first 5,000 fans will receive the next card in the Amerks' 50th Anniversary Team set, Gordie Clark and Doug Gibson, courtesy of Chase-Pitkin. Both players were inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame in 1989.

Head-to-Head: The contest is the first of two between the two clubs and the only visit to Rochester by the Aeros this season. Houston leads the all-time series with a record of 4-1-3.

Amerks Notes: Rochester enters the game in third place in the North Division. The Amerks have won only three of their last eight games and two of their last five. Rochester still has the best power-play unit in the AHL, converting 26 percent of its chances (40 of 155). Center Jiri Novotny is on a four-game point streak (3+4). Rookie Mark Mancari is on a career-high three-game point streak (3+3). Amerk defenseman David Cullen is playing against his former team, with whom he won a Calder Cup in 2003.

‘Miller Time' in Rochester: The Buffalo Sabres have assigned goalie Ryan Miller to the Rochester Americans for a conditioning stint. He will get the start tonight against the Aeros. Before suffering an injury, he was 6-4-0 with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage with the Buffalo Sabres. Last season in Rochester, Miller was the recipient of the Aldege "Baz" Bastien award as the American Hockey League's Outstanding Goalie. He was also named an AHL First Team All-Star as he led the league in wins (41) and saves (1,814). He became the first AHL goalie to win 40 games since Amerk Gerry Cheevers won a league-record 48 in 1964-65. In addition, he finished with a team single-season record eight shutouts. In his Rochester career, he has 91 wins, which is fourth on the team's all-time list.

Houston Notes: The Aeros have a record of 17-7-1-1 through 26 games, good for 36 points and the top spot in the AHL's always-competitive West Division. Center Erik Westrum leads the AHL with 36 points (12+24) in 26 games. Goalie Josh Harding leads the league with 13 wins and is third with a 2.45 goals-against average. Houston enters the game on a two-game winning streak.

All-Star Voting begins: The 2006 Rbk Hockey American Hockey League All-Star Classic Fan Balloting begins today, exclusively on the official Web site of the AHL, theahl.com. Fans have the opportunity to vote for the most deserving AHL players by visiting theahl.com and completing the official AHL All-Star Fan Ballot. The players receiving the most votes by position will earn berths in the starting lineups of both the Canadian AHL All-Star team and the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team at the 2006 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic, to be held Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in Winnipeg, Man. A committee of AHL coaches will select the remaining All-Stars, and all 27 clubs will be represented on the final rosters. By completing the official ballot, fans will be entered to win various prizes, including the grand prize of a team-signed authentic 2006 AHL All-Star jersey. Ten second-prize winners will each win an autographed commemorative magazine from the event, and 10 third-prize winners will each receive an official 2006 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic T-shirt. On-line fan balloting at theahl.com will end at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 8, 2006.

Next Game: On Saturday, December 10th, the Amerks hit the road to battle the Binghamton Senators for the third of eight times this season. The game is a 7:05 p.m. start at the Broome County Arena. Rochester has won the first two meetings against the Sens this season. The game will be broadcast on WHTK 1280-AM and webcast on whtk.com. The contest is also available to on-line viewers on the B2 Networks for $6.00.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2005


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