AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Take on Phantoms Tonight at Blue Cross Arena

Published on October 17, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


Game Notes:

Tonight, the Rochester Americans complete the tail-end of their first three-game in three-night stretch as the Adirondack Phantoms journey west to The Blue Cross Arena for an intra-state showdown. The 5:05 p.m. contest will be the first of four meetings between the non-divisional opponents and can be heard live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be shown live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Channel 26.

Promotions:

Every Sunday night for the third straight season, as part of the Zweigle's Family Four Pack, fans can purchase four tickets to a game, four hot dogs and four sodas all for one low price of just $52.00.

Brotherly Love:

It's a bit of a family reunion tonight for the Clackson family as Rochester's Chris Clackson plays host to big brother, Matt, of Adirondack. The game marks the first time the Clackson brothers have played opposite each other having spent a year together playing junior hockey and two more at Western Michigan University. The pair was even reunited last season with the Phantoms for two games, where Chris made his professional debut.

Reinforcements Arrive: Amerks Head Coach Chuck Weber announced earlier today that the club has signed forwards Barret Ehgoetz and Ryan Del Monte to 25-game professional tryouts. Both played under Weber last season with the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones who captured the 2010 Kelly Cup championship this past spring. Ehgoetz, Cincinnati's captain and Niagara University's all-time scoring leader, has one goal in two games with the Cyclones this season. The sixth-year pro made his professional debut with Rochester during the 2004-05 season, skating in one game with the Amerks. Del Monte, who attended Amerks training camp prior to the start of the campaign, has recorded one assist in two appearances with Cincinnati.

Milestone Watch:

Newly acquired veteran forward Michael Nylander is a mere six games from skating in his 1,100th professional game. The Stockholm, Sweden, native embarked on the milestone in his Amerk debut last Saturday against Toronto. He also needs just one more assist to hit 600 in his pro career. Nathan Paetsch returned to Rochester this last weekend on reassignment, appearing in his first game back in an Amerk uniform since 2005-06. The former AHL All-Star is two assists away from the century mark in his pro career. Forward Bill Thomas will reach his 200th pro game in two more outings and Triston Grant eclipsed the 1,000-penalty minute mark in his pro career Friday night against Hamilton.

Head-to-Head:

The Amerks posted a 3-1-0-0 record against Adirondack in its inaugural season a year ago, including an unblemished 2-0-0-0 mark at home. Last season was the first time in over a decade that the Amerks collided with an AHL-based team in Adirondack since last seeing Detroit's farm team in 1998-99 before the team ceased operations at the close of the campaign.

Amerks Notes:

Rochester (2-2-0-0, 4 points) enters the contest tied for third in the North Division, one point behind both Grand Rapids and Abbotsford, who share the division lead with five points apiece. The Amerks come into the matchup on the heels of a 3-2 win over the two-time defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears last night at the Giant Center. Third-year forward Michal Repik (1+1) and veteran defenseman Joe Callahan (0+2) each tabbed two points as Jacob Markstrom turned away 24 saves in his fourth consecutive start between the pipes.

Repik currently paces Rochester's offense with a team-high five points (1+4) after notching at least one point through his first four games of the season. His four assists are equal to that of defenseman Mike Kostka, who is also in the midst of a three-game assist streak (0+4). All of Kostka's assists thus far have been on the man-advantage, presently a league-best. Veteran blueliner Clay Wilson is currently on a point-per-game pace, having netted goals in three straight games to kickoff the season. A 2010 Second Team All-Star, Wilson's three goals, two of which have come on the power-play, are presently a team-high, while his four points overall are fifth best among league rearguards. Grant is first on the team and tied for fourth in the AHL with 24 penalty minutes.

Markstrom, who has made four consecutive starts, enters the contest showing a 2-2-0 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in four games. His two wins currently rank him tied for fifth among AHL netminders, while his 239 minutes played are sixth most.

Adirondack Notes:

Adirondack (2-2-1-0, 5 points) comes into the matchup after dropping two of its last three, with its only win during that span coming in a 3-2 decision over the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night. The Phantoms' most recent setback was a 5-4 overtime loss to the Albany Devils at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

The Phantoms come to the Flower City fueled by fourth-year pro Patrick Maroon, who leads his team in goals (three), points (four), shots on goal (17) and penalty minutes (18). Averaging 3.60 PIM per game, Maroon is tied for 12th in the AHL in penalty minutes.

Johan Backlund has suited up for all five games for the Phantoms thus far, posting a 3.20 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. He currently leads all goaltenders in minutes played (300) and saves (161).

Next Game

: Rochester heads north of the border on Tuesday, October 19th as it takes on Randy Cunneyworth and the Hamilton Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum. The 7:00 p.m. contest will be the second in four days between the longtime North Division rivals and the second of 10 meetings this season. Fans can tune into the live broadcast on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk.

Next Home Game: The Amerks return home on Saturday, October 23rd as the Grand Rapids Griffins come to Western New York for the first of six get-togethers this season. The game falls on the fourth annual "Sweets in the Suites" night. The highlight of the evening is the Best Costume Contest with fan voting selecting the winners during the second period intermission. The first contest is for kids ages 5 and under with the winner receiving one hour of trick-or-treating with The Moose on Halloween (Sunday, October 31st). The Best Costume winner for kids ages 6-12 will win one hour of trick-or-treating with R. Thunder. Restrictions apply within the Greater Rochester Area. As part of "Sweets in the Suites," all children can trick-or-treat during the first intermission of the game in the suite level of The Blue Cross Arena. All trick-or-treaters will receive a bag to fill with candy. Fans will also be selected to compete in a pumpkin carving contest during the game. The winner will win an Amerks gift bag. Fans are encouraged to dress in costume as part of the Halloween theme.

For further information, please call the Amerks Communications Office

at (585) 454-5335, ext. 3025.

Contacts: --

Craig Rybczynski (454-5335 ext. 3008), Vice President of Communications Warren Kosel (454-5335 ext. 3025), Manager of Communications & Hockey Operations

Rochester Americans Hockey Club AHL Affiliate of the Florida Panthers Blue Cross Arena at Rochester War Memorial One War Memorial Square Rochester, NY 14614 Phone: (585) 454-5335 Fax: (585) 454-3954 www.amerks.com Est. 1956

Calder Cup Champions: 1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987, 1996

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American Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2010


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