Falcons Host Senators This Afternoon

November 20, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


GAME SETUP: The Springfield Falcons and Binghamton Senators meet for the first time this season tonight at the MassMutual Center. This afternoon's game is the Senators only visit to Springfield this year. These two teams will play each other one more time on Friday, January 13 in Binghamton.

The Falcons enter tonight's game on a two-game winning streak having defeated the Albany River Rats 5-3 on home ice Friday night, followed by a 4-3 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last night in Bridgeport. The Falcons rallied from a one-goal deficit in the third period last night to earn two points and improve their road record to 4-1-1-1 and improve their overall record to 8-5-1-2 good for 19 points. Last night, Mitch Fritz tied the score in the final period with his third goal of the season, followed by Ryan Vesce's game-winning marker just 44 seconds later to lead Springfield to victory. Vesce ended the night with two goals and one assist, while captain Ryan Craig also tallied for the Falcons on the power play early in the second period. Goaltender Gerald Coleman made 28 saves on his way to collecting his fifth victory of the season. Fritz was named the game's third star, while Vesce was voted Saturday's first star.

Binghamton heads into Springfield having lost to the Albany River Rats 6-3 last night at the Pepsi Arena. The Senators received a pair of goals from left wing Denis Hamel, but fell short in their bid to battle back from a 3-1 deficit in the game. Binghamton started their weekend on Friday night blanking Toronto 3-0 on home ice. The Senators used goals from Steve Martins, Brett Clouthier and Greg Watson on their way to victory. Goaltender Kelly Guard earned the shutout for the Senators making 32 saves.

CONGRATS TO D-MAN: Falcons veteran defenseman Todd Rohloff played in his 400th professional game last night in Bridgeport collecting one assist in the Falcons 4-3 win. Rohloff is in his first season with the Falcons after signing with their National Hockey League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning, this past summer. Rohloff is in his eighth professional season and the Grand Rapids, Minnesota native has played in 231 AHL games, 75 NHL games and 94 IHL games. Rohloff has split time in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.

HEADED TOWARDS THE TOP: Falcons rookie center Ryan Vesce enters tonight's game leading all AHL rookies in scoring with six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 16 games played. Vesce collected three assists in Friday's win over Albany earning the game's second star, followed by a two goal and one assist effort last night earning the game's first star. Vesce also leads Springfield in scoring and assists and the Lloyd Harbor, NY native has six multi-point games this season. Vesce signed with the Falcons on September 7, 2005 after averaging a point a game playing in Sweden last season.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: The Falcons enter tonight's game with an 8-5-1-2 record through 16 games. Springfield has seen 10 of their 16 games decided by one goal or less. Springfield has posted a record of 6-1-1-2 in one-goal games this season, including 4-0-1-1 in games decided by one goal or less on the road.

STEADY PRODUCTION: Binghamton left wing Denis Hamel currently leads the Senators in scoring this season with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 15 games played. Hamel was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 13, 2005 when he scored five goals and added three assists for eight points in four games. Hamel is in his ninth season of professional hockey and is in his third season with the Senators. Hamel collected 39 goals and 39 assists for 78 points in 80 games with Binghamton last year, including 17 power play goals. Hamel started his pro career with the Rochester Americans during the 1997-98 campaign.

SECOND ON THE LIST: Former Falcons center Steve Martins is currently second on the Senators in scoring this year with six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 15 games. Martins is also second on the team in power play goals with five, two behind the team leader Hamel.



American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2005


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