AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Go to Cincinnati for Two Games this Week

Published on January 8, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


MESSAGE FROM THE DESK OF STEVE DONNER

Amerks President and CEO

The snow keeps piling up outside, the air is that much colder and the holiday ornaments are stored away again. We are at the halfway point of the Amerks schedule, an exciting time when the game of hockey starts to dominate the headlines and fan interest is near its peak.

It seems it was just a little while ago that we finished training camp - time flies! Much has happened over that past three months, and the second half of the season is shaping up to be fun and exciting for the players, coaches, staff and most importantly, the fans.

· As of this writing, the Buffalo Sabres situation is still up in the air. Mark Hamister continues to work on financing the purchase of the team. Whatever the result, rest assured the Amerks organization will do what is best for the hockey fans in Rochester.

The on-ice performance of the team continues to improve as we climb in the league standings and head toward the playoffs. There is a lot of fight in this club, and Coach Randy Cunneyworth has received an honest effort from our players on a nightly basis.

The Constellation Video Board has been entertaining as we streamline the game production and we look forward to providing top-notch entertainment every home game at The Blue Cross Arena. We have been assured that penalties and the shots on goal will appear on the video board by the end of January.

We are still waiting for the piping and custom rigging for the arena safety netting and are hopeful to have the netting up by this month.

The Amerk players have once again been in the community full force, reading to and visiting kids at local schools, skating with youth players at team practices and appearing at various charity dinners and benefits. Of course, they are always available after the games for autographs and a quick hello.

Our organization always appreciates the support of the players on the ice, and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at our upcoming home games in the arena. Keep cheering on the Amerks!

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:

Send questions to Steve Donner at info@amerks.com. One question a week will be featured in the newsletter. All other emails will also receive replies.

AMERKS TRAVEL TO CINCINNATI FOR TWO: The Rochester Americans travel to play the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks twice this week. The two teams are separated by seven points in the battle for second place in the Central Division. The Amerks (14-14-8-3, 39 points) are coming off a 0-2-0-1 week in Texas. Rochester's winless streak has now reached four games. The team is currently in the midst of a five-game road trip, which ends on Saturday, January 11th in Cincinnati. The Amerks begin the week on Friday with a 7:35 p.m. game against the Mighty Ducks. Cincinnati (11-18-6-4, 32 points) enters the game after dropping a 4-1 contest to the first-place Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday. The Ducks are 7-8-1-3 at home this season and 1-1-0 against the Amerks. The last time these two teams met, the Amerks defeated Cincinnati 7-4 on December 22nd. The games are the third and fourth of the season against the Ducks. Rochester plays Cincinnati eight times this season and this weekend is the first trip to the Cincinnati Gardens for the Amerks.

MEDIA COVERAGE: The game on Friday is on WHTK 1280-AM and Saturday's contest is also on WHTK 1280-AM. Both games will be webcast on www.amerks.com.

NEXT HOME GAME: Rochester returns home on Wednesday, January 15th to face the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. The game is the third of four meetings between the two teams. The Amerks are 0-1-0-1 against the Phantoms this season. The game is the beginning of a two-game homestand for the Amerks.

NEWS AND NOTES:

PLAYER MOVES: Center Jiri Novotny returned to the Rochester Americans today after playing for the Czech Republic National Team at the 2003 IIHF World Under-20 Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Novotny played in six games and registered one assist. It was his fourth trip to the World Junior Championships. In 2002, he recorded two assists in seven games. In the Under-18 Championships, he recorded seven points (4+3) in six games in 2001 and two assists in six games in 2000.

The center was the Buffalo Sabres first-round selection

(22nd overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. With the Amerks this season, Novotny has two goals in 18 games.

The Amerks also announced that defenseman Jody Robinson has been reassigned to the Elmira Jackals of the United Hockey League. With Rochester, he played in nine games and collected one assist.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Rochester Americans left wing Jason Botterill was named to the Canadian All-Star roster for the 2003 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic.

Amerk goaltender Ryan Miller was named the AHL Rookie of the Month after posting a 7-1-2 record and a 1.97 goals-against average in December... He is on recall with the Buffalo Sabres... He is sixth in the AHL with a 2.27 goals-against average.

Rochester has the third best penalty-killing unit in the league (88.18%).

Botterill leads the Amerks and the AHL with 23 goals... He also has a team-leading 35 points (23+12) in 39 games... He is 11th in the AHL in scoring.

Chris Taylor is tied for third in the league with 27 assists.

Sean McMorrow is second in the AHL with 186 penalty minutes.

TICKET SPECIALS

01/15/03

Business Person's Special - Turn in your business card at the Box Office and receive $8.00 off each 100 Level premium ticket.

01/17/03

Stop by any Tops, Wilson Farms, or Sugar Creek store to pick up a voucher for a $5.00 ticket! Redeem voucher at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office. Voucher only good for $10.25 tickets. Show your AAA card at the Blue Cross Arena Box Office and save $4.00 off each $18.25 and $14.25 ticket!

01/18/03

Pick up a voucher at all Tops, Wilson Farms, and Sugar Creek stores for a $5.00 ticket! Redeem at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office. Show your AAA card at the Blue Cross Arena Box Office and save $4.00 off each $19.25 and $16.25 ticket.

01/19/03

Pick up a voucher at any ESL Federal Credit Union Branch location for a Buy One Get One voucher on any $14.25 or $10.25 ticket. Family Four-Pack Night - $40 gets you 4 tickets, 4 regular hot dogs, and 4 16 oz sodas. Call 454-5335 to order by phone or directly at The Blue Cross Arena.

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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