AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks to play three in four

January 26, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice: The Rochester Americans (20-15-7-3, 50 points) will look to get back on the winning track with three games this week, including two at home. Rochester is coming off a 0-2-2 road trip.

Wednesday, January 28, 2004 7:05 p.m.

Binghamton Senators at Rochester Americans

The Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Amerks will face the Senators (19-19-4-2, 44 points) on Wednesday night for the fourth time in the eight game season series. Last time out, rookie Brooks Laich scored two goals and Ray Emery made 22 saves as the Sens defeated the Amerks 3-1 on January 24th. The Senators control the all-time series with a 5-2-1-2 mark. Former Amerk Denis Hamel leads the way for the Sens with 38 points (19+19). Goaltender Ray Emery (12-11-3, 2.21 GAA) has a save percentage of .925% to lead the team in goal. Binghamton is 29 for 222 on the power play, which is 19th in the AHL. The team has been very balanced overall. The team is 12th in goals scored per game with a 2.55 average and 12th in goals allowed per game with a 2.48 average. After the game, stop by Nathaniel's Pub, located at 251 Exchange St. for the Amerks Official post-game party.

Friday, January 30, 2004 7:35 p.m.

Milwaukee Admirals at Rochester Americans

The Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY

The Admirals (20-13-6-2, 48 points) head into The Blue Cross Arena on Friday night. This will be the second of two meetings between the clubs this season. On January 22nd, five separate Milwaukee players picked up a goal as the Admirals defeated the Amerks 5-1. The Admirals lead the all-time record with a 3-2-0 mark. Forward Tony Hrkac (11+21) leads the team in scoring with 32 points. Goaltender Wade Flaherty (10-4-2) leads the team goaltenders with a .934 save percentage. Flaherty's 1.74 goals-against average is ranked fourth in the AHL. Milwaukee leads the AHL in goals scoring, averaging 3.10 goals per game. The team is also ranked 8th in goals-against with a 2.34 mark. The penalty-killing unit is 18th (85.6%, 172 for 201) and the power-play unit is 22nd in the AHL with a 12.5% success rate (30 for 240).

Saturday, January 31, 2004 7:00 p.m.

Rochester Americans at Albany River Rats

Pepsi Arena; Albany, NY

The Albany River Rats (13-19-5-5, 36 points) will host their New York State Thruway rivals for the second time this season. The Rats defeated the Amerks 6-4 on January 14th. The Rats and the Amerks will play one more time this season, on February 21st in Rochester. The Amerks lead the all-time series 36-33-9. Offensively, the River Rats are led by forward Craig Darby with 34 points (15+19). Ari Ahonen (8-10-1) leads Albany between the pipes with a 2.61 GAA and a .910 save percentage. Albany is ranked 18th in the power play department (25 for 183) and 20th on the penalty kill (165 for 194, 85.1%) in the AHL. The River Rats are 24th in scoring with a 2.26 average per game and 26th in goals-against with a 3.00.

Around the Boards:

· The Amerks are ranked 10th defensively in the AHL, allowing 2.42 goals per game, but are now 19th in goal scoring averaging 2.40 goals per game. The team has the league's seventh best power play unit · with a 16.4% (38 for 232) and the fifth ranked penalty-killing unit with an 88.2% success rate

(186 for 232). The Amerks are 15-5-2-0 on home ice this season and 5-10-5-3 away

from The Blue Cross Arena.

· Amerks forward Jason Pominville leads the AHL in power-play goals with 15, and is 10th in the AHL in scoring with 40 points (20+20). · · The American Hockey League announced today that Lowell Lock Monsters center Mike Zigomanis has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 25, 2004. In three games, Zigomanis recorded four goals, an assist and a plus-5 rating as the Lock Monsters extended their winning streak to six games ·

AMERKS TO HOLD BOBBLEHEAD NIGHTS: The Rochester Americans have announced three bobblehead nights for the second half of the 2003-04 season. The giveaways will feature Amerk Hall of Famer Jody Gage and the Amerks mascot, the Moose. The inaugural Amerks' bobblehead giveaway is scheduled for Friday, March 19th, as the Amerks battle the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7:35 p.m. The first 1,500 fans that night will receive a Jody Gage bobblehead, courtesy of ESL Federal Credit Union. Gage currently works as the general manager for the Amerks, Knighthawks and Rochester Rattlers. He holds the Amerks all-time records for goals (351), assists (377), points (728) and games played (653). He was inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame in 1999. The second bobblehead night features the lovable Moose, the Amerks mascot. The first 1,500 fans 12 and under will receive the likeness of the Moose on Friday, April 9th. The event is sponsored by Label World and Monroe County Smoking & Health Action Coalition. The game is the final regular season contest of the season and matches the rival Syracuse Crunch against the Amerks at 7:35 p.m.

AMERKS CELEBRITY WAITER DINNER & SPORTS MEMORABILIA AUCTION: The Rochester Americans will be serving plates instead of pucks at the annual 2004 Amerks Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Sports Memorabilia Auction, to be held on Tuesday, February 24th at 5:30 p.m. at The Clarion Riverside Hotel in downtown Rochester. Amerk players will serve guests their food and drinks for tips, with all proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Rochester. The tipping does not stop after dinner, as players perform antics and tricks with their guests and fellow players for more money. Great sports memorabilia items from the National Hockey League and National Football League will highlight the auction. Items include authentic autographed jerseys from Rochester native and New Jersey Devil Brian Gionta, former Amerk and current Chicago Blackhawk player Scott Nichol, and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds. American Hockey League items from the Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Admirals, Manitoba Moose and Norfolk Admirals will also be available in the silent auction. In addition, game-worn jerseys from the Amerks, Knighthawks, Rhinos and Rattlers will be present at the event. Donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Rochester will fund on-going, groundbreaking medical research aimed at curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. For dinner, auction and ticket information, contact the Rochester chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at (585) 697-0777 or at jfournier@cff.org. Tables are available for sponsorship level donations including bonuses such as choice of your Amerks player waiter.

MORGAN STANLEY "3-Star Investment Award": The Rochester Americans and Morgan Stanley will team up to bring a yearlong promotion to the fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Morgan Stanley "3-Star investment Award" will be given to the player that accumulates the most points during the 2003-04 season. Through 22 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 Morgan Stanley.

Shooting Stars:

After 45 games, the following players lead the Amerks in statistical categories:

Skaters: Goals- Jason Pominville (20); Assists- Domenic Pittis (26) Points- Jason Pominville (40); Shots- Jason Pominville (129); Penalty Minutes- Sean McMorrow (120)

Goaltending: Wins- Ryan Miller (14); Minutes- Ryan Miller (1885:12); Saves- Ryan Miller (887); Goals-Against Average- Ryan Miller (2.16); Save Percentage- Ryan Miller (.929)

Amerks on the Dials:

Television- Friday's game against Milwaukee will be televised live on Time Warner Cable Channel 98 at 7:35 p.m. The game will also be replayed on Saturday, January 31st at 12:30 p.m.

Radio and Webcast: All three games will be broadcast on WHTK 1280-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, January 31st at noon and at midnight only on the WB16.

AMERKS GAME SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Wednesday, January 28 BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:05 p.m.

Friday, January 30 MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, January 31 at Albany River Rats 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4 at Hamilton Bulldogs 7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 6 MANITOBA MOOSE 7:35 p.m.

***Home Games in Caps

At the Box Office:

Business Person's Special: On Wednesday, January 28th, bring a business card to The Blue Cross Arena Box Office to purchase an $18.25 ticket for only $10.25!

Crazy Eights Ticket Packages: Take advantage of the Amerks Crazy Eights Ticket Package this Friday, January 30th. For $88, you get four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas. Call the Amerks ticket department at (585) 454-5335 for more information or to order your package today!

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Night: On Friday, January 30th, all Blue Cross/Blue Shield members can receive $3.00 off each ticket purchased at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office.

American Heart Association Night: On Friday, January 30th, Purchase $10.25 tickets for $9.25 by contacting the American Heart Association, or by calling the Amerks office at (585) 454-5335.

Amerks Weekly Schedule:

Monday, January 26 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 27 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, January 28 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at BCA

7:05 p.m. game vs. Binghamton

WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Thursday, January 29 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Friday, January 30 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at BCA

7:35 p.m. game vs. Milwaukee

Live Television on Time Warner Cable Channel 98

Replayed on January 31st at 12:30 p.m.

WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Saturday, January 31 Game Day Skate at ESL 10:00 a.m.

7:05 p.m. game at Albany

WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Sunday, February 1 Off

SABRE TALK:

Sabres Scoring Spree: The Buffalo Sabres are 5-6-2-0 in 2004. After a four-game road trip, the Sabres will enjoy nine of their next 14 games at the HSBC Arena. The Sabres are currently in fifth place in the Northeast Division with 46 points (20-25-5-1).

Leader Board: The Sabres are led by forward Daniel Briere with 34 points (15+19). Miroslav Satan leads the team in goal scoring with 17. Chris Drury leads the team with 21 assists. Mika Noronen (9-13-1) leads the goaltending crew with a 2.17 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Martin Biron leads the duo with 11 wins (11-10-4).

Upcoming Games: The Sabres will return home on Tuesday night (January 27th) to face the Montreal Canadiens at HSBC Arena. The Sabres will play a home-and-home series with the New York Rangers on January 31st and February 1st, with the latter game in Buffalo. The game on Saturday night will also mark the beginning of a four game home stand.

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2004


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