AHL Rochester Americans

Let's Play Three

Published on January 12, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice: The Rochester Americans (18-12-5-3, 44 points) will look to continue on their success heading into the second half of the season. The Amerks will play three games this week, including two games at home on Friday and Saturday. To find all the statistics on your favorite Amerks players or any other players in the AHL, check out the League's Official Website at www.theahl.com.

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 7:30 p.m.

Rochester Americans at Albany River Rats Pepsi Arena, Albany,NY

The River Rats (10-17-5-3, 28 points) will host their New York State Thruway rivals for the first time this season. The Amerks defeated the Albany 4-2 on December 26th at The Blue Cross Arena. Jason Pominville netted two goals in the contest to lead Rochester. The Rats and the Amerks will play two more times this season. The Amerks lead the all-time series 36-32-9. Offensively, the River Rats are led by forward Craig Darby with 28 points (12+16). Scott Clemmensen (4-11-4-0) has picked up a 3.09 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 19 games. Albany is ranked 11th in the power play (23 for 154) and 18th on the penalty kill (136 for 160).

Friday, January 16, 2004 7:35 p.m.

Cleveland Barons at Rochester Americans The Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY

The Amerks will look to even up the season series against the Cleveland Barons (16-13-4-5, 41 points). The Barons defeated the Amerks 3-0 on December 23rd to take a 2-1-2 series lead. The Amerks still hold the all-time series lead with a 12-8-3 mark. The Barons have two players among the top 15 scorers in the AHL. Forwards Miroslav Zalesak is second with 45 points (21+24) and Brad Boyes is 12th with 33 points (12+21). Goaltender Dimitri Patzold and has taken over the goaltending duties for Cleveland. Patzold (8-12-0-3) has a 2.92 goals-against average. The Barons are ranked second in the AHL in goals per game, averaging 2.92, but the team is 24th in the league allowing 2.89 goals per game. The Barons power play is currently second in the league with an 18.0% success rate (30 for 167) and the penalty-killing unit is 25th in the league with an 81.3 percentage (169 for 208).

Saturday, January 17, 2004 7:35 p.m.

Toronto Roadrunners at Rochester Americans The Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY

The Toronto Roadrunners (12-9-6-2, 32 points) have seen a lot of the Amerks so far this season. The game on Saturday will be the seventh time these teams have faced each other this season. The Amerks have a 5-0-1 record against the Roadrunners this season. The Amerks goaltenders have been the difference so far. Tom Askey (1-0-0-0, 2.00 GAA) and Ryan Miller (4-0-1-0, 1.18 GAA) have a combined 1.33 goals-against average (8 goals on 183 shots) and have given up more than one goal only twice. The Roadrunners have been led most of the season by forward Jamie Wright, who has 28 points (12+16). Goaltender Stephen Valiquette (7-11-4-0) has seen a lot of hockey pucks this season. Valiquette has a 2.88 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Toronto is seventh in the power-play column with 15.5% (26 for 168), and 22nd in penalty killing with an 83.9% (151 of 189). The Roadrunners are 12th in the league averaging 2.59 goals per-game and are 22nd in goals-against with a 3.03. There will be an Amerks team autograph session in the upper atrium lobby of The Blue Cross Arena following the game. Head to Nathaniel's Pub located at 251 Exchange St. for the Amerks Official post-game party.

Around the Boards:

· The Amerks are ranked fifth defensively in the AHL, allowing 2.26 goals per game, but are still 21st in goal scoring averaging 2.32 goals per game. The team has the league's sixth best power play unit with a 16.3% (33 for 203) and the eighth ranked penalty-killing unit with an 87.5% success rate (161 for 183). The Amerks own the league's second best penalty killing unit on home ice with a 91.6% success rate (87 for 95). The Amerks are 13-5-2-0 on home ice this season and 5-7-3-3 away from The Blue Cross Arena.

· Amerks Head Coach Randy Cunneyworth is now two wins away from surpassing Brian McCutcheon (128) for third place on the team's all-time coaching wins list. John Van Boxmeer tops the list with 333 wins, followed by Joe Crozier with 260.

Amerks Pass Plates Instead of Pucks at CF Dinner: 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 will highlight the auction. Items includes authentic autographed jerseys from Rochester native and New Jersey Devil Brian Gionta, and former Amerk and current Chicago Blackhawk player Scott Nichol. There will also be game-worn jerseys from the Amerks, Knighthawks, Rhinos and Rattlers. 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 21 home games, forward Derek Roy is tied with goaltender Ryan Miller 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 37 games, the following players lead the Amerks in statistical categories: Skaters: Goals- Jason Pominville (17); Assists- Domenic Pittis (21) Points- Jason Pominville (35); Shots- Jason Pominville (112); Penalty Minutes- Paul Gaustad (84) Goaltending: Wins- Ryan Miller (12); Minutes- Ryan Miller (1521:08); Saves- Ryan Miller (702); Goals-Against Average- Ryan Miller (1.93); Save Percentage- Ryan Miller (.935)

Amerks on the Dials: Television- Saturday's game against the Toronto Roadrunners will be televised live on WB16.

Radio and Webcast- All three games this weekend 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 17th at noon and at midnight only on the WB16.

AMERKS GAME SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE Wednesday, January 14 at Albany River Rats 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 16 CLEVELAND BARONS 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, January 17 TORONTO ROADRUNNERS 7:35 p.m.
Wednesday, January 21 at Grand Rapids Griffins 8:00 p.m.
***Home Games in Caps

At the Box Office: 2003-04 Season Ticket Packages: Season ticket packages are still available. Call the Amerks season ticket department today at (585) 454-5335 for prices. For all other ticket information, check out www.amerks.com.

Weekly Ticket Discounts and Groups:

Wendy's Discount Night: Visit any Rochester Area Wendy's location and pick up a buy one $14.25 ticket, get one free voucher. Redeem your voucher at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office.

Amerks Weekly Schedule:

Monday, January 12 OFF

Tuesday, January 13 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, January 14 Game Day Skate at BCA 10:00 a.m. 7:30 p.m. game at Albany WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Thursday, January 15 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Friday, January 16 Game Day Skate at BCA 10:00 a.m. 7:35 p.m. game vs Cleveland WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com Saturday, January 17 Game Day Skate at BCA 10:00 a.m. 7:35 p.m. game vs Toronto Televised live on WB16 WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Sunday, January 18 OFF

SABRE TALK: Sabres Scoring Spree: The Buffalo Sabres are 4-1-2-0 in their last six games, boosting the team record to 4-4-2-0 in the last 10 games. The Sabres are currently in fifth place in the Northeast Division with 37 points (16-19-4-1).

Leader Board: The Sabres are led by forward Daniel Briere with 29 points (13+16). Miroslav Satan leads the team in goal scoring with 15. Chris Drury leads the team with 17 assists. Mika Noronen (8-9-0-0) leads the goaltending crew with a 2.05 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

Upcoming Games: The Sabres will have a busy week. The team will travel to Boston (January 12th) before returning home for two games against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday (January 13th) and the Bruins on Thursday (January 5th). The team will visit long Island on Saturday (January 17th) to face the Islanders.

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2004


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