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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Host Pirates On Hall Of Fame Night

February 21, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


Tonight, the Rochester Americans look to snap a four-game skid as they meet the Portland Pirates for the second time in as many nights on Hall of Fame Night at The Blue Cross Arena. The 3:00 p.m. matinee features the return of former Amerks Mark Mancari, Derek Whitmore, Marc-Andre Gragnani and 2010 AHL All-Star defenseman Mike Weber. The matchup will be the third of four meetings between the two teams this season. Fans can tune in for the live broadcasts on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be shown live Time Warner Cable Sports Net Channel 26.

Hall of Fame Night:

Prior to this afternoon's matchup, the Amerks will induct Randy Cunneyworth, Jim Wiemer and Kent Weisbeck as the 46th, 47th and 48th members enshrined into the club's prestigious Hall of Fame as the Class of 2010. Cunneyworth and Wiemer spent four seasons together in Rochester, playing for the Amerks from 1981-85. Both used Rochester as a launching pad for future careers in the National Hockey League. Cunneyworth also has the distinction of beginning and ending his playing career in Rochester, while also beginning his head coaching career. He is the only man to accomplish that feat in the 54-year history of the Amerks. Weisbeck, a longtime contributor to the Amerks and currently in his 25th year of service to the organization, becomes the first-ever athletic trainer to go into the Hall of Fame. During his tenure, he has missed only seven contests and has worked over 1,700 games. In the past 24 years, he has earned two Calder Cup rings (1987 and 1996) and has worked in the Calder Cup Finals on five other occasions. As part of the festivities, the Amerks will unveil the new Hall of Fame in the upper atrium lobby of The Blue Cross Arena. Cunneyworth and Wiemer will also be signing autographs from 1:40to 2:40 p.m. in the first installment of the Seneca Gaming Amerks Legends Series.

Amerks One Win Away From 2,000:

Rochester enters the contest closing in on history just one win shy from capturing its 2,000th win in the 54-year history of the franchise. The Amerks will become just the second team in the American Hockey League and only the eighth team in North American hockey history to collect 2,000 wins. In addition to all the founding original six members of the National Hockey League, the only other AHL team to accomplish the feat is the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.

Taylor Passes Ehman, Nears Garwasiuk:

Veteran forward Chris Taylor recently surpassed Gerry Ehman for the third on the all-time assist list (283) this week against Manitoba. The only two ahead of him is Bronco Horvath and Jody Gage. Further, the 18-year pro sits just a mere four goals away from moving ahead of Ron Garwasiuk for 13th on the all-time goals list.

Home is Where the Wins Are... Not So Much the Road:

With just the final quarter of the season right around the corner, home ice advantage has been beneficial for the Amerks. After earning their first regulation loss of the season at home, the Amerks are now 18-11-2-0 on home ice. Conversely, 14 of Rochester's 25 losses in regulation thus far this season have been away from the friendly confines of The Blue Cross Arena.

Head-to-Head:

The matchup will be the second leg of a two-game set between the two teams. Last night's get-together was the first between the Amerks and Pirates in Rochester in 10 years since the 2000-01 season. The Amerks are 0-2-0-0 this season and 4-7-1 all-time against the Buffalo Sabres' affiliate.

Amerks Notes:

Rochester (31-25-2-0, 64 points) enters the game presently in the midst of a four-game losing streak after falling short in a 4-3 decision to the Pirates last night at The Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks, however, remain in second in the North Division and tied for 12th overall with the Norfolk Admirals in the American Hockey League standings.

Seventh-year pro Jamie Johnson, who shows five (3+2) in his last six games, continues to pace Rochester's offense in all offensive categories in goals (22), assists (34) and points (56). Averaging just under a point per game, Johnson is seventh in the AHL in overall point production after collecting 21 points (7+14) in his last 19 outings. Further, his 22 goals and 34 assists rank him tied for 11th and ninth in each category among the AHL's top scorers, respectively.

Veteran defenseman Clay Wilson has a team-best 18 assists on the power-play this season, good enough for fourth in the AHL in that category. Wilson continues to be Rochester's top scoring defenseman with 42 points (11+31) and remains tied in second in scoring among league blueliners.Additionally, Wilson is tied for 12th in the AHL with 31 assists. He enters the contest with six points (3+3) in his last six games.

Rookie goaltender Alexander Salak, who has started 14 of the last 19 games for Rochester, boasts a 23-12-0 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a.913 save percentage in 37 games. His save percentage is currently 20th among league netminders, respectively, while his 23 wins are fifth best.

Taylor shows six points (1+5) in as many games and Michal Repik has three goals and three assists in his last seven appearances. Veteran forward Jeff Taffe comes into the contest on the heels of a four-game point streak (2+2).

Portland Notes:

Portland (32-16-5-2, 69 points) comes into the matchup after setting a new franchise record with its 11th consecutive win in a 4-3 victory over the Amerks last night at The Blue Cross Arena. Former Amerk and Rochester native Derek Whitmore potted the game-winner for the Pirates as second-year netminder Jhonas Enroth earned his 25th win of the campaign with a 23-save effort

Portland comes to the Flower City fueled by rookie forward Tyler Ennis, the AHL's top point-getter among all first-year skaters. Ennis, who shows two goals and five assists for seven points in his last four games, has a team-high 35 assists and 53 points. Performing at roughly a point-per-game pace, Ennis leads all league rookies in all offensive categories in goals (18), assists (35) and points (53). His 35 helpers are eighth best in the league, 18 of which have come on the man advantage, good enough for fourth in the AHL. Additionally, his 53 points overall tie him for 11th in the league.

Mancari, in his second season with the Pirates, is first on the team and tied for 15th in the league with 21 goals. The power-play extraordinaire has potted nine of his 21 tallies this season on the power-play, good enough for eighth in the league.

Enroth has seen the majority of time between the pipes this season for the Pirates. The Stockholm, Sweden, native boasts a 25-14-1 record with 1,057 saves in 40 games. His 2.40 goals-against average and.918 save percentage currently rank him seventh and 11th among league goaltenders, respectively, while his four shutouts are tied for third. Further, his 25 wins are second best in that category.

Next Game:

Rochester closes out its season-long five-game homestand on Friday, February 26th as the Grand Rapids Griffins make their way to The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be the third of six meetings between the North Division rivals this season and will be carried live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be televised live on Channel 98.

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