AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Play Three at Home this Week

Published on February 18, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice: The Rochester Americans (21-21-7-4, 53 points) will look to get on their winning ways with three home games this week.


Wednesday, February 18, 2004 7:05 p.m.
San Antonio Rampage at Rochester Americans
The Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY
The San Antonio Rampage (21-23-6-0, 48 points) will play the Amerks for the second time this season. On January 2nd, the Amerks defeated the Rampage 4-3 in San Antonio. Milan Bartovic (1+1), Jason Botterill (1+1) and Jason Pominville (0+2) each picked up two points for the Amerks. Despite the loss, the Rampage hold the all-time series lead against Rochester (2-1-0-0). This season, San Antonio has been led offensively by forward Eric Beaudoin who has picked up 42 points (20+22). Goaltender Travis Scott (18-18-5, 2.42 GAA, .925%) has seen a lot of rubber this season. Scott leads the AHL in saves (1230) and is second in minutes played (2475:24). The Rampage own the AHL's fifth ranked power play unit (17.2, 32 for 186) and are 17th in the penalty-killing department with an 85.8% (206 for 240). The team is 12th in the AHL in goals-per game with a 2.61 and 20th in goals-against giving up 2.75 per game.

Friday, February 20, 2004 7:30 p.m.
Syracuse Crunch at Rochester Americans
The Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Amerks will play an important divisional game on Friday against the Crunch (26-16-7-3, 62 points). The Crunch lead the series 4-2-0-0, with both teams capturing wins on their home ice. Overall, this will be the 107th time the Crunch and Amerks have faced each other. The Amerks lead the all-time series with a 52-41-13 record. Crunch forward Tim Jackman has seven points against Rochester (5+2). Forward Donald MacLean leads Syracuse in scoring this season overall with 47 points (19+28), which is seventh in the AHL among scoring leaders. Goaltenders Pascal LeClaire and Karl Goehring have been solid in goal for the Crunch. LeClaire has a 2.85 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Goehring has posted a 2.34 GAA and a .923 save percentage. Syracuse currently owns the AHL's top power-play unit at 18.9%, going 52 for 275. The Syracuse penalty-killing unit remains at 19th in the league with an 85.4% success rate, killing off 239 of 280 attempts. Overall, the team is averaging 3.02 goals per game, which is good for second in the league. The Crunch are giving up 2.75 goals per game, which ranks 19th in the league. The first 1,500 fans will receive a coupon for an Amerks hockey puck courtesy of Chase-Pitkin. Pucks can be picked up following the game.



Saturday, February 21, 2004 7:00 p.m.
Albany River Rats at Rochester Americans
The Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Amerks will host their Thruway foes the Albany River Rats (14-24-8-6, 42 points) on a special night in Rochester on Saturday night. Former Amerks defenseman Dave Fenvyes will be inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame in a special pregame ceremony. This will be the last time Albany and Rochester will play this season, with Rochester leading the season series 2-1-0-0. Last time out, the Amerks defeated the River Rats 3-2 in Albany. The Amerks lead the all-time series 37-33-9. Offensively, the River Rats are led by forward Craig Darby with 45 points (17+28). Darby's totals place him 11th among AHL scoring leaders. Ari Ahonen (9-15-4) leads Albany between the pipes with a 2.88 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Albany is ranked 22nd in the power play department (29 for 232) and 22nd on the penalty kill (203 for 243, 83.5%) in the AHL. The River Rats are 24th in scoring with a 2.21 average per game and 27th in goals-against with a 3.13.


Around the Boards:
· The Amerks are ranked 11th defensively in the AHL, allowing 2.48 goals per game, and have dropped to 21stin goal scoring averaging 2.26 goals per game. The team has the league's ninth best power play unit with a 16.2% (44 for 277) and the sixth ranked penalty-killing unit with an 88.0% success rate (212 for 241). Rochester has the AHL's top penalty-killing unit on home ice with a 90.9% rate (110 for 121). The Amerks are 15-9-3-0 on home ice this season and 6-12-5-4 away from The Blue Cross Arena.
· Despite missing the past nine games with an injury, Amerks forward Jason Pominville still leads the AHL in power-play goals with 15.


The "Moose" to Celebrate Birthday: Tonight, the Rochester Americans will celebrate the Moose's birthday with a cast of characters from the National Hockey League, the National Football League and other local teams and businesses. That night, the first 3,000 fans will receive an ice cream sandwich, courtesy of Perry's Ice Cream. The Amerks game against the San Antonio Rampage is a 7:05 p.m. start. The Moose has been the mascot for the American Hockey League Amerks for 25 years and will throw a party at The Blue Cross Arena to celebrate his silver anniversary. Nearly 20 of his friends will accompany him during the first-period intermission tricycle race. Rex the Raging Rhino, Laxcalibur of the Rochester Knighthawks, the Rochester Red Wings Spikes and Clifford the Big Red Dog from WXXI will join in the festivities.

Amerks Jersey Auction This Saturday: The Rochester Americans will celebrate Hall of Fame night on Saturday, February 21st by wearing red throwback sweaters against the Albany River Rats at 7:35 p.m. That night at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial, the Amerks will wear the uniforms once worn by Rochester teams of the 1960s. During that decade the franchise captured its first three Calder Cups (1965, 1966 and 1968). The sweater features a shield in the middle of the chest and white stars that adorn the shoulders. The sweaters were produced locally by jerseyconnection.com. Rochester last wore its traditional reds during the 1970-71 campaign, before changing its logo to emulate the look of the National Hockey League parent club, the Vancouver Canucks, during the 1971-72 season. The following season, the Amerks changed to the familiar tilted shield with the word Americans scripted horizontally across it. Huther-Doyle Prevention Services is the corporate sponsor of the jerseys and will receive the proceeds from the jersey auction. One set of jerseys will be auctioned following the game. The jerseys will be game worn and will be autographed by their respective player. Bids will start at $100 and the auction will be a silent auction, with the opportunity to match the highest bid. The mission of Huther-Doyle Prevention Services is to assist and partner with the community to develop, implement, and sustain strategies that promote healthy choices related to alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and associated wellness issues.



Fenyves to Enter Hall of Fame on Saturday: On Saturday, February 21st, former Amerks defenseman Dave Fenyves will be inducted into the prestigious club prior to the Amerks-Albany River Rats game. Fenyves will become the 39th member of the Amerks Hall of Fame, and the eighth defenseman so honored. He joins former defensemen Al Arbour, Darryl Sly, Don Cherry, Duane Rupp, Steve Kraftcheck, Jim Hofford and John Van Boxmeer in the Hall of Fame. Fenyves was a member of the Rochester Americans for six seasons, patrolling the blueline for the red, white and blue from 1980-81 to 1986-87. His 358 regular season games are 16th in team history and his 104 points are 18th among Amerks defensemen. Amerks Hall of Famer and the second winningest coach in team history, Joe Crozier, will present Fenyves with his award and welcome him as the 39th member of the prestigious club. The Amerks' Alumni Team, along with Dave Fenyves, will also play an exhibition game in the afternoon and members of the team will sign autographs during the second intermission.

"3 Star Investment Award" brought to you by the Doyle, Moll, Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley: The "3 Star Investment Award" brought to you by the Doyle, Moll, Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley will be given to the player that accumulates the most points during the 2003-04 season. Through 27 home games, forwards Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and goaltender Ryan Miller are all tied with 13 points with the most three star nominations. The winner of the award will receive two round trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, courtesy of the Doyle, Moll, Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley.

Shooting Stars:
After 54 games, the following players lead the Amerks in statistical categories:
Skaters: Goals- Jason Pominville (20); Assists- Domenic Pittis (32) Points- Jason Pominville and Domenic Pittis (40); Shots- Jason Pominville and Domenic Pittis (129); Penalty Minutes- Sean McMorrow (156)
Goaltending: Wins- Ryan Miller (15); Minutes- Ryan Miller (2307:25); Saves- Ryan Miller (1063); Goals-Against Average- Ryan Miller (2.31); Save Percentage- Ryan Miller (.923)

Amerks on the Dials:
Television- Friday's game against Syracuse will be televised tape delay on Time Warner Cable Channel 98 on Saturday, February 21st at 12:30 p.m. Saturday's game against Albany will be televised live on the WB16 at 7:35 p.m.

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

Faceoff- Catch the latest episode of "Faceoff", the Amerks and Knighthawks weekly highlight and talk show this Saturday, February 21st at midnight and Sunday, February 22nd at 11:30 a.m. only on the WB16.

AMERKS GAME SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Wednesday, February 18 SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE 7:05 p.m.
Friday, February 19 SYRACUSE CRUNCH 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, February 21 ALBANY RIVER RATS 7:35 p.m.
Friday, February 27 HERSHEY BEARS 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, February 28 at Cleveland Barons 7:00 p.m.
***Home Games in Caps



At the Box Office:

Four For 22 Promotion: On Saturday, February 21st, the Amerks are offering a special ticket discount in honor of Hall of Fame Night and Dave Fenyves. A family of four can attend the game and receive an Amerks magazine for $22, which was the number worn by Dave Fenyves. For more information or to purchase your tickets, please contact the Amerks office at (585) 454-5335.

Kodak Night: On Saturday, February 21st, all area Kodak employees can purchase $18.25 tickets for $14.25, $14.25 tickets for $10.25 and $10.25 tickets for $7.25 by showing their ID at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office or by contacting the Amerks Group Sales department at (585) 454-5335.

Xerox Night: On Saturday, February 21st, all Xerox employees can purchase $14.25 tickets for $9.25 by showing their ID at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office or by contacting the Amerks Group Sales department at (585) 454-5335.

Amerks Weekly Schedule:

Wednesday, February 18 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at BCA
7:05 p.m. game vs. San Antonio
WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Thursday, February 19 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Friday, February 20 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at BCA
7:35 p.m. game vs. Syracuse
Tape Delay on Time Warner Cable Channel 98
Replayed on Saturday, February 21st at 12:30 p.m.
WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Saturday, February 21 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at BCA
7:35 p.m. game vs. Albany
Televised Live on WB16
WHAM 1180-AM & amerks.com


Sunday, February 22 Off


SABRE TALK:
Sabres Closing In: The Buffalo Sabres are 8-2-0-0 in their last 10 games, to close within four points of the New York Islanders for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres are currently in fifth place in the Northeast Division with 60 points (27-26-5-1).

Leader Board: The Sabres are led by forward Daniel Briere with 46 points (20+26). Miroslav Satan leads the team in goal scoring with 22. Briere leads the team with 26 assists. Mika Noronen (9-13-1) leads the goaltending crew with a 2.23 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Martin Biron leads the duo with 16 wins (16-11-4).

Upcoming Games: The Sabres continue their homestand this week with games against Florida (February 18th) and Tampa Bay (February 20th). The team will take to the road to play the New York Islanders on Saturday night (February 21st).

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2004


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