Americans rookie Thomas Vanek to play for Austria in Olympic Qualifier
Published on February 3, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Americans General Manager Jody Gage announced today that the team has agreed to loan right wing Thomas Vanek to Austria for an Olympic Qualifier. Austria will host one of the three qualification tournaments for the 2006 Winter Games in Klagenfurt from February 10-13.
While at the tournament, Vanek will miss four games (February 8-12) with the Amerks and will forgo the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic. The Rochester rookie was selected as a starter for PlanetUSA at the event to be played February 13-14 at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH.
The native of Graz, Austria, is now third in the AHL in rookie goal-scoring (18) and points (33). He also ranks fourth on the Amerks in points and leads the team with 10 power-play goals in 47 games. In addition, he is currently riding a five-game point streak. Earlier this season, he was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for November 22-28, after recording seven points in four games.
Vanek was the Buffalo Sabres' first-round selection (fifth overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, following his college career at the University of Minnesota. He played two seasons with the Golden Gophers and picked up 113 points (57+56) in 83 games. In his freshman season (2002-03), Vanek led the team with 62 points (31+31), and the nation with 31 goals. He earned Frozen Four tournament MVP honors as the Gophers went on to win the NCAA title that season.
At the international level, Vanek played for Team Austria at the 2004 IIHF World Championships in the Czech Republic. He finished 12th among points leaders with seven (2+5) in six games.
Vanek and the Amerks (32-9-3-4, 71 points) are tied for the best record in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs. Rochester has also won 10 straight home games and 19 of its last 22 overall. Rochester has two home games this weekend, hosting Albany on Friday and Grand Rapids on Saturday. Both games are 7:35 p.m. starts.
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