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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Open January Home Slate this Weekend

January 5, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... After taking a two-game sweep over the Manitoba Moose this past weekend, the Rochester Americans will now look ahead for another three-game in three-night stretch, two of which are against North Division opponents.

Rochester opens its home slate of the New Year on Friday, January 9th as the Syracuse Crunch travel west down the I-90 interstate to The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:35 p.m. North Division contest will be the fifth of 12 scheduled meetings between the longtime foes this season and will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK, whtk.com and AHL Live.

Rochester earned its first win of the season against Syracuse in a 1-0 whitewash in the previous encounter between the two teams on December 14th at The Blue Cross Arena. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Crunch dating back to last season. The Amerks are 1-3-0-0 this season and 79-70-15 all-time against the Columbus Blue Jackets' affiliate.

The game features the next installment of the Amerks' $7.00 Fridays, where fans can purchase 200 Upper End and 200 Balcony tickets for just $7.00. It's also a RARES Discount Night. The RARES discount is valid for all RARES members by logging onto www.rares.org to review their discounts. For more information, call Nathan Snyder at 454-5335 x-3006. Lastly, the game falls on Wendy's Night. Anyone can pick up a Wendy's Buy One, Get One ticket voucher at any area participating Wendy's locations and can redeem your vouchers directly at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office.

The following night, the Amerks head south to Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena to take on the Binghamton Senators. Faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. and will be carried live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK, whtk.com and AHL Live. The game will be the second of eight between the two teams this season, with the B-Sens gaining a 3-1 victory over the Amerks on October 12th. Rochester is 19-24-4 lifetime against Binghamton.

The Amerks close out the weekend on Sunday, January 11th as they host the Hamilton Bulldogs in the sixth of eight meetings this season between the divisional rivals. Rochester fell short in a 4-3 shootout loss to the 'Dogs on December 28th in the last meeting with Hamilton at Copps Coliseum. The Amerks are 1-3-0-1 this season and maintain a 61-49-9 overall record against the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate.

The game is a part of Zweigle's Family Four Pack, where fans can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for $55. Fans can call the Amerks office at (585) 454-5335 for more details. Sunday is also Buy One, Get One Half-off night, where fans can purchase a ticket and get another for half the price in any seating section for any Sunday through Thursday game.

Rochester enters the week after claiming all four points in a two-game sweep over the Manitoba Moose at the MTS Centre this past weekend to improve to 11-22-0-3 on the year. Stefan Meyer sparked a 2-1 win Friday night with a two-point effort as Jacob Micflikier netted the game-winner to give the Amerks their first win of the season against the Moose. The Amerks grabbed two more points the following night in a 3-2 shootout win over the Moose to complete the two-game set. Veteran defenseman Cory Murphy, in just his second game with Rochester as part of his conditioning stint from the Florida Panthers, netted his first career American Hockey League goal and assisted on another to lead the Amerks. Murphy shows three points (1+2) in two games with Rochester.

Meyer, coming off a three-point weekend (2+1), currently paces Rochester's offense with a team-high nine goals and 17 points. Rookie defenseman Jason Garrison has a team-best 12 assists and continues to remain Rochester's top scoring defenseman with 14 points overall, good enough for fourth best on the team.

First-year forward Michael Duco is first on the team and tied for 19th in the league with 95 penalty minutes (PIM), with Tanner Glass a close second at 78 PIM. Goaltender Mike Brodeur, who has started 12 of the last 13 games for Rochester, including nine straight, boasts an 8-3-1 record with a 1.59 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in 12 games between the pipes for the Amerks. His two shutouts also ties him for third among American Hockey League netminders.

Amerks General Manager Jody Gage announced today that the Florida Panthers have reassigned forward Shawn Matthias to Rochester and forward Andrew Sweetland to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Matthias returns after receiving his third NHL recall this season. In 13 games with the Panthers this season, the Mississauga, Ontario, native has two assists. The 20-year-old forward has skated in 24 contests with the Amerks, collecting three goals and one assist.

Sweetland returns to the Everblades, where he has four points (2+2) in seven games. The Bonavista, Newfoundland began the season with the Amerks, recording one assist in 23 games.

AMERKS WEEKLY SCHEDULE

DAY TIME LOCATION

Monday, January 5th Day Off ----

Tuesday, January 6th 10:00 a.m. practice ESL Sports Centre

Wednesday, January 7th 10:00 a.m. practice ESL Sports Centre

Thursday, January 8th 10:00 a.m. practice ESL Sports Centre

Friday, January 9th 10:00 a.m. gameday skate Blue Cross Arena

7:35 p.m. vs. Syracuse Blue Cross Arena

Saturday, January 10th 7:05 p.m. @ Binghamton Veterans Memorial Arena

Sunday, January 11th 10:00 a.m. gameday skate Blue Cross Arena

6:05 p.m. vs. Hamilton Blue Cross Arena

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