Amerks Host Lake Erie Tonight At The Bluce Cross Arena
October 9, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
Tonight, the Rochester Americans look for their first win of the season as they finish the tail-end of a two-game series with the Lake Erie Monsters at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. rematch of opening night is the second of eight scheduled meetings between the North Division rivals this season and will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be televised live on Channel 98.
*Promotions:* Fans will have the opportunity to play Price is Right-style games similar to the popular daytime game show for a chance to win various prizes and even participate in the Amerks' version of the 'Showcase Showdown'. Also, new to The Blue Cross Arena this season, fans can now enjoy Amerks games from the Party Deck. Fans can partake in a fully catered meal and beverages from a menu of your choice with all the non-stop, in-your-face action of Amerks hockey.
*Head-to-Head: *The matchup is the second of back-to-back encounters and the second of eight meetings this season for the North Division opponents. Rochester is 0-0-1-0 this season and 6-6-1 all-time against the Colorado Avalanche's affiliate.
* Amerks Notes:* Rochester enters the contest after earning a point in its 3-2 OT loss to open its 54th season in the American Hockey League. The Amerks received much contribution from veteran newcomers as defenseman Clay Wilson netted the first goal of the season, while forwards Mike York, Graham Mink and Jamie Johnson all added assists. Both Wilson and Kenndal McArdle have one goal on the season. The trio of York, Mink, and Johnson all currently stand with one assist. Third-year netminder Tyler Plante posted a 27-save performance last week, including 13 in the second stanza, in his first start of the season to earn third star honors. Plante comes into the game boasting a 2.78 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
*Lake Erie Notes: *The Monsters make their return to Rochester fueled by fifth-year pro Philippe Dupuis, who recorded both the equalizer and the game winner in the first meeting between the two teams. Lake Erie rallied from a 2-0 deficit with three unanswered goals to hand Rochester its first loss of the season. Dupuis leads the Monsters with a team-high two goals and is tied for second in the American Hockey League. Former two-time Calder Cup winner Darren Haydar posted a team-best two assists, both coming off Dupuis goals, last week against the Amerks. The pair presently stand tied for the team lead in overall points with two each, in addition to owning a plus-two on-ice rating. Monsters goaltender Tyler Weiman recorded a shutout in the third period to force overtime en route to a 25-save effort to earn his first win between the pipes this season. Weiman's 1.85 goals-against average and .926 save percentage currently rank him third and eighth among league netminders, respectively.
*Player Moves:* The Amerks saw a lot of activity this week in terms of roster moves, which saw the arrivals and departures of several players. A day after the season opener, the Amerks received reinforcements from the Florida Panthers with the arrival of forwards Michal Repik and Michael Duco, along with defenseman Jason Garrison. Goaltender Alexander Salak was assigned briefly to Rochester before making his return to Florida the following day. Also, veteran forward Jeff Taffe was assigned to Rochester last week and will make his Amerks debut tonight.
During the week, defenseman Matt Duffy was reassigned to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The Florida Panthers demoted third-year forward Dan Collins to the Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL) and the Amerks also released hard-nosed forward Jimmy Bonneau from his 25-game professional tryout. All three skated in Rochester's home and season opener last Saturday against the Monsters.
On Thursday, the Amerks added forward Victor Oreskovich (oh-rehs-KOH-vitch) after the 23-year-old signed a two-way National Hockey League contract with the Florida Panthers. The former University of Notre Dame standout attended training camp with the Panthers and played in four games with Florida during the preseason. Before a two-year hiatus from the sport, the Oakville, Ontario, native spent the 2006-07 campaign playing for the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) under the direction of Panthers Head Coach Pete DeBoer, recording 60 points (28-32-60). Oreskovich was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round (55th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
*Home Sweet Home: *Lake Erie goaltender Billy Sauer and defenseman Kevin Montgomery will have another homecoming tonight despite being members of the visiting team. The pair of Rochester natives each started their careers in the Rochester Youth Hockey program. Sauer, a former McQuaid Jesuit netminder, tended goal for the University of Michigan the past four seasons. Selected in the seventh round (201st overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Sauer posted his best season for the Wolverines in 2007-08, boasting a 1.95 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. A former member of the U.S. National U-18 Team, Montgomery registered one assist and two penalty minutes in five games with Lake Erie last season. He has 11 games of professional experience under his belt, all with the Monsters.
*Next Game:* The Amerks take to the road tomorrow night en route to the State capital for a 7:00 p.m. showdown with the East Division Albany River Rats at the Times Union Center. The contest will be the first of four encounters this season between the intra-state rivals. Rochester and Albany split the season series a year ago with an even 2-2-0 record, while Rochester owns a 46-41-9 all-time record with the Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate. The contest will be carried live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Channel 26.
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