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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks on top of the 'A'

February 7, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice:
The Rochester Americans (34-9-3-4, 75 points) have rolled to the top of the AHL standings. The team has won 12-straight games at home and are 9-0-0-1 in their last 10. The Amerks are now one points ahead of the Manchester Monarchs (34-9-3-3, 74 points) for the AHL points lead.


Games This Week
Tuesday, February 8, 2005 6:05p.m.
Rochester Americans at St. John's Maple Leafs
Mile One Stadium; St. John's, NL


Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:05p.m.
Rochester Americans at St. John's Maple Leafs
Mile One Stadium; St. John's, NL

The Amerks will take a road trip to Newfoundland to battle the Maple Leafs (30-18-0-2, 62 points) on Tuesday and Wednesday night. The Amerks have won both games the teams have played this season. The Amerks lead the all-time series with a 21-13-4 mark. The Leafs own the AHL's eighth ranked power-play with a 17.7% success rate (44 for 257). The team is also ranked seventh in the AHL offensively, scoring 2.92 goals-per game. St. John's have been paced this season by two of the AHL's top points leaders. David Ling is tied for fourth in the AHL with 57 points (19+38) and Kyle Wellwood sixth with 55 points (22+33).


Friday, February 11, 2005 7:35 p.m.
San Antonio Rampage at Rochester Americans
Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Amerks will face the Rampage (22-26-2-4, 50 points) on Friday for the second time this season. On December 4th, Amerks forward Jason Pominville scored two goals, as Rochester picked up a 4-3 shootout victory in San Antonio. Milan Bartovic scored on his final shot in the shootout for Rochester. The Amerks hold the all-time series edge, going 3-2-0 over the past three seasons. Forward Steven Weiss leads the team in points with 36 (13+23). The Rampage roster this season includes defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. The 6-4, 219-pound blueliner was the Florida Panthers first choice (third overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Bouwmeester will also suit up for the Canadian team in the 2005 AHL All-Star Games this weekend.


Saturday, February 12, 2005 7:00 p.m.
Rochester Americans at Hamilton Bulldogs
Copps Coliseum; Hamilton, Ontario

The Amerks will have a familiar opponent on Saturday night, as the team travels to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs (19-21-6-5, 49 points). The Amerks are 5-1-1 against the Bulldogs this season. The game will mark the fourth time the clubs have met in the past three weeks. The Amerks have won the last three meetings. Forward Chris Taylor has six points (3+3) against the Bulldogs, while Ryan Miller is 4-1-1, with a 1.65 goals-against average in the season series. Forward Chris Higgins leads the way for the Bulldogs with five points (3+2) in the series.


Around the Boards:
· The Amerks have dropped to 18th in the AHL on the power play with a 14.5% success rate (39 for 269). The team is now fourth in the league penalty killing with an 88.0 percentage (213 for 242). The team is also tied for first in the AHL defensively with the Manchester Monarchs, allowing 2.12 goals-per game.
· Amerks forward Thomas Vanek, who will miss the next four games with the club, is currently on a seven-game points streak (3+5). Vanek will travel to Austria to play for his country in a series of qualifying games for the 2006 Winter Games.
· Goaltender Ryan Miller leads all AHL goaltenders in wins (28), minutes played (2423:56), saves (1164) and is tied for first in shutouts (6). Miller is seventh with a 2.08 goals-against average and has won his last six games in goal.
· Forward Norm Milley is now tied for 18th in games played on the Amerks all-time list with 343. Milley is four games behind this year's Hall of Fame inductee Don McSween for the 17th spot (347). Forward Chris Taylor is now 15th on the all-time points list with 296 (two behind Jim Jackson with 298 in 14th place) and is 10th on the all-time assist list with 201 (four behind Jim Jackson with 205 for ninth place).


Shooting Stars:
After 50 regular season games, the following players lead the team in the following statistical categories:
Skaters: Goals- Thomas Vanek (19); Assists- Chris Taylor (31) Points- Chris Taylor and Derek Roy (43); Shots- Jason Pominville (157); Penalty Minutes- Sean McMorrow (166)
Goaltending: Minutes- Ryan Miller (2423:56); Saves- Ryan Miller (1164); Goals-Against Average- Tom Askey (1.76); Save Percentage- Tom Askey (.941)

Amerks on the Dials:
Television- Friday's game against San Antonio will be broadcast tape delay on Saturday, February 12th at noon on Time Warner Cable Channel 98.

Radio and Webcast: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday's games this week will be broadcast on WHTK 1280-AM. Saturday's contest at Hamilton will be broadcast on WHAM 1180-AM. All four will also be available on webcast on the Official Website of the Rochester Americans at www.amerks.com.


AMERKS SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Tuesday, February 8 at St. John's Maple Leafs 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday, February 9 at St. John's Maple Leafs 6:05 p.m.
Friday, February 11 SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, February 12 at Hamilton Bulldogs 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 17 at Cleveland Barons 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 18 CLEVELAND BARONS 7:35 p.m.
Upcoming Promotions:

Hall of Fame Night on February 18th: The Rochester Americans annual Amerks Hall of Fame Night will be held on Friday, February 18th. Prior to the Rochester-Cleveland Barons' 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. The contest on February 18th will also be radio broadcast only. 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 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 8 Gameday skate at Mile One Stadium 10:15 a.m.
6:05 p.m. game vs. St. John's Maple Leafs
Mile One Stadium; St. John's Newfoundland
WHTK 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Wednesday, February 9 Gameday skate at Mile One Stadium 10:15 a.m.
6:05 p.m. game vs. St. John's Maple Leafs
Mile One Stadium; St. John's Newfoundland
WHTK 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Thursday, February 10 Travel Day

Friday, February 11 10:00 a.m. Game day skate in BCA
7:35 p.m. game vs. San Antonio Rampage
Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY
WHTK 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Saturday, February 12 10:00 a.m. Game day skate at ESL
7:00 p.m. game vs. Hamilton Bulldogs
Copps Coliseum; Hamilton, Ontario
WHAM 1280-AM and www.amerks.com

Sunday, February 13 AHL All-Star Break

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