Rats host BIG Game

Published on August 21, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany N.Y. - The Albany River Rats announced today that the club will host an American Hockey League pre-season game against the Worcester IceCats on October 6, 2002 at 6:00p.m. The match-up pitting the top minor league affiliates of the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues will take place at the club's practice facility, the B.I.G. Arena in Delmar. Tickets will cost five dollars with all profits being donated to the Cam Neely Foundation in memory of former River Rats head coach John Cunniff.

"This game gives the fans that have supported the team in Delmar a hometown event," River Rats President/CEO S. Garen Szablewski said. "It was long overdue to return a pre-season game to this area, and the donation should serve to continue the memory of a special man we lost earlier this year."

The contest marks the first area pre-season game for the River Rats since the team skated against the Adirondack Red Wings at the Weibel Avenue Skating Rink in Saratoga Springs on September 25, 1996. Albany holds many of its practice sessions at the B.I.G. Arena throughout the season as well as fan skate-a-longs and other team events.

"We are pleased to join the Albany River Rats in promoting the great game of hockey throughout the Capital District," added B.I.G. Arena owner Kit Guntner. "This game only enhances the relationship we have established together and with the community as a whole."

In all, the River Rats have skated in five official AHL pre-season games beginning with the first-ever pre-season game on September 26, 1993 at the Clifton Park Arena where the River Rats defeated the St. John's Maple Leafs 3-1. The club participated in a contest against the Springfield Indians at the then-Knickerbocker Arena on September 29, 1993, and a final inaugural season match-up against Binghamton in Troy on October 1, 1993. The club returned to Clifton Park, residence of current head coach Dennis "Red" Gendron, to defeat the Worcester IceCats 4-2 on September 29, 1995.

Albany also announced today that the game scheduled for Monday, November 11, 2002 against the Saint John Flames at 4:00p.m. has been changed to Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. due to a Pepsi Arena conflict.

Full and partial season ticket packages are currently on sale and individual game tickets for the entire 2002-03 regular season will go on sale on September 3rd at 10:00a.m. at the Pepsi Arena box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from August 21, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central