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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks fight to the break

February 14, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice:
The Rochester Americans (36-10-3-5, 80 points) entered the AHL All-Star break with the league's best record. The Amerks are now four points ahead of the Manchester Monarchs (35-10-3-3, 76 points) for the AHL points lead.

Games This Week
Thursday, February 17, 2005 7:00 p.m.
Rochester Americans at Cleveland Barons
Gund Arena; Cleveland, OH

Friday, February 18, 2005 7:35 p.m.
Cleveland Barons at Rochester Americans
Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Amerks will return to the ice after the All-Star break with a home-and-home series with the Cleveland Barons (23-25-1-4, 51 points). The Amerks are 3-0-0-0 against the Barons this season, outscoring Cleveland 13-3. Goaltenders Tom Askey (2-0-0) and Ryan Miller (1-0-0) each have a 1.00 goals-against average in the series. The Barons have won four straight games, including back-to-back wins over the Edmonton Road Runners. Barons forward Ryan Clowe leads the team in scoring with 44 points (14+30).


Saturday, February 19, 2005 2:00 p.m.
St. John's Maple Leafs at Rochester Americans
Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Amerks will face the St. John's Maple Leafs (32-19-0-3, 67 points) in an afternoon contest in Rochester on Saturday. The Amerks are 3-0-1-0 against the Baby Leafs this season. On February 9th, St. John's defeated the Amerks 4-3 in a shootout. St. John's is currently eighth in the AHL on offense, scoring 2.96 goals-per game. Forwards Kyle Wellwood and David Ling continue to rank in the top 10 among AHL points leaders. Wellwood (25+37) is fourth with 62 points, while Ling (20+39) is tied for fifth place with 59 points. Before the game, fans can skate at The Blue Cross Arena from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All skaters must have a ticket for Saturday's game and must bring their own skates. Saturday's game is also the Moose's Birthday! The first 3,000 fans will receive an Amerks hat, courtesy of the Tobacco Coalition of Monroe County and the Finger Lakes. The first 3,000 fans will also receive a free ice-cream sandwich, courtesy of Perry's Ice Cream.

Miller's Shines Again at AHL All-Star Event: Rochester Americans goaltender Ryan Miller showed the hockey world once again why he is one of the top netminders in the AHL by claiming the Reebok Top Goaltender award at the 2005 AHL All-Star Skills competition on February 13th in Manchester, N.H. It was the second straight year that Miller has claimed goaltending honor in the AHL's Skills Competition. Miller shined with eight saves in the Irving Oil Rapid Fire event, two in the Coors Light Pass and Score and five more in the RepeatSeat Breakaway Relay. Miller is the Amerks lone representative in this year's AHL Classic.

Around the Boards:
· The Amerks are 17th in the AHL on the power play with a 14.7% success rate (42 for 285). The team is now tied for the league's best penalty killing unit with an 88.8 percentage (229 for 258). The team is also third in the AHL defensively, allowing 2.15 goals-per game.
· Goaltender Ryan Miller leads all AHL goaltenders in wins (29), minutes played (2607:46), saves (1250) and is tied for first in shutouts (6). Miller is 10th with a 2.09 goals-against average.
· Forward Norm Milley is now tied with this year's Hall of Fame inductee Don McSween for the 17th spot (347) on the Amerks all-time games played list.
· Forward Chris Taylor is now 14th on the all-time points list with 299 and is 10th on the all-time assist list with 204 (one behind Jim Jackson with 205 for ninth place).

Shooting Stars:
After 54 regular season games, the following players lead the team in the following statistical categories:
Skaters: Goals- Thomas Vanek (19); Assists- Chris Taylor (34) Points- Derek Roy (47); Shots- Jason Pominville (169); Penalty Minutes- Sean McMorrow (180)
Goaltending: Minutes- Ryan Miller (2607:46); Saves- Ryan Miller (1250); Goals-Against Average- Tom Askey (1.69); Save Percentage- Tom Askey (.944)

Amerks on the Dials:
Television- Friday's game against Cleveland will be broadcast tape delay on Saturday, February 19th at noon on Time Warner Cable Channel 98. Saturday's game against St. John's at 2:00 p.m. will be televised live on WB-16.

Radio and Webcast: Thursday and Friday's games this week will be broadcast on WHTK 1280-AM. Saturday's contest against St. John's will be broadcast on WHAM 1180-AM. All three games will also be available on webcast on the Official Website of the Rochester Americans at www.amerks.com.

AMERKS SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Thursday, February 17 at Cleveland Barons 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 18 CLEVELAND BARONS 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, February 19 ST. JOHN'S MAPLE LEAFS 2:00 p.m.
Friday, February 25 at Hamilton Bulldogs 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 27 SYRACUSE CRUNCH 6:05 p.m.

Upcoming Promotions:

Hall of Fame Night Changed to March 18th: The Rochester Americans annual Amerks Hall of Fame Night will be held on Friday, March 18th. Prior to the Rochester-Albany River Rats 7:35 p.m. contest, the franchise will induct former defenseman Don McSween into the prestigious club. The game is sponsored by Advance Auto Parts. Please note that the ceremony was originally slated for Saturday, February 5th, but was moved to accommodate McSween's schedule. McSween played five seasons in Rochester and collected the most points ever by a defenseman with 215 (45+170). He was the anchor of the Rochester defense from 1987-1992 and his name still appears on the Amerks' all-time lists for games played (17th - 348) and assists (18th - 170). In his postseason career with Rochester, he is tied for sixth in games played (54), is 10th in assists (22) and is tied for 12th in points (32). During the 1989-90 season, he was named an AHL First Team All-Star as he recorded a career-high 16 goals and 59 points in 70 games.

Amerks Alumni Game: The Rochester Americans Alumni hockey team will hold their annual Hall of Fame Game from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena on Friday, February 18th. Come watch former Amerks Craig Charron, Jody Gage, Scott Metcalf, Daryl Drader and John Bednarski lace up the skates once again. All spectators must purchase a ticket to the Amerks-Barons game that evening at 7:35 p.m. For more information, contact the Amerks office at 585-454-5335.

Amerks to Hold Season Ticket Holders Skate: The Amerks will hold their annual Season Ticket Holder Skate with the Players Party on Monday. February 21st from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Genesee Valley Ice Arena, located at S145 Elmwood Avenue. For more information, please contact the Amerks office at 585-454-5335.

Amerks Serve Plates Instead of Pucks: The 2005 Amerks Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Auction will be Monday, February 28th at 5:30 p.m. at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. Join the entire Amerks Team as they "serve plates instead of pucks" to help fund a cure for CF. For further information, contact the Rochester Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at (585) 697-0777 or Jo Anne Fournier at jfournier@cff.org. Tickets are only $45 each and can be purchased individually or in groups. Tables of 10 are available for sponsors ($1000 and $750 levels), including bonuses such as your choice of an Amerks player as your waiter and ads in the program and event day signage and logo placement.

Amerks Group Information: Looking for a fun night out for your group or team? The Amerks are offering many great group packages. Groups can save up to $9.00 per ticket. There are many group leader benefits, including free tickets and Amerks merchandise. For more information, please contact the Amerks group sales department at 585-454-5335.


Amerks Weekly Schedule: (Schedule is tentative, and subject to change)

Tuesday, February 15 All-Star Break

Wednesday, February 16 2:00 p.m. practice at ESL
Travel Day

Thursday, February 17 11:15 a.m. Game day skate at Gund Arena
7:00 p.m. game vs. Cleveland Barons
Gund Arena; Cleveland, OH
WHTK 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Friday, February 18 10:00 a.m. Game day skate in BCA
7:35 p.m. game vs. Cleveland Barons
Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY
Televised Tape Delay on Time Warner
Cable Channel 98 on 2/19 at noon
WHTK 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Saturday, February 19 2:00 p.m. game vs. St. John's Maple Leafs
Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY
Televised Live on WB-16
WHAM 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Sunday, February 20 Off

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