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River Rats begin four-game trek Friday

January 25, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Albany River Rats play their final January home game against the Worcester IceCats in a 7:00pm face-off at Pepsi Arena on Wednesday night. All seats are just $10 to see the top prospects of the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues! The IceCats (24-14-2-2, 4th Atlantic) are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Portland Pirates on the road Friday night. C Blake Evans and RW Mike Glumac both lead the top affiliate of the St. Louis Blues with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 41 games during the 2004-05 campaign. D Dennis Wideman is tied for second among AHL rookies with 18 assists and ranks sixth among all newcomers with 26 points this season. Albany holds a 14-15-5-2 record in the all-time regular season series against Worcester, including a 9-6-2-1 mark at Pepsi Arena. The River Rats and IceCats play another three times this season on February 5th in Worcester, March 11th in Albany and finally on April 3rd back in Worcester. Albany turned in a 0-1-0-1 record against Worcester last season, being outscored 5-1 in the process.

The River Rats then visit the Binghamton Senators in a 7:05pm face-off at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday night. The Senators (26-14-3-2, 1st East) have won eight straight games following a 5-3 road victory over the Hershey Bears on Sunday and will host Providence Wednesday, before visiting Rochester on Friday. C Jason Spezza was named CCM/Vector AHL Player of the week on Monday and tops the AHL with 47 assists and 69 points this season. LW Brandon Bochenski, a teammate of Zach Parise at the University of North Dakota, leads all rookies with 35 (17-18) points for the top affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. Albany shows a 6-12-3-2 record in the all-time regular season series against Binghamton, which includes a 2-7-2-1 road mark. The River Rats are 3-2-0 against the Senators during the 2004-05 season series, but have been outscored 20-16 in the five games. The East Division rivals meet four more times on February 12th & 25th in Albany, March 5th in Binghamton & finally on March 12th at Pepsi Arena.

Albany closes out the weekend with a 5:05pm face-off against the Hershey Bears at the GIANT Center on Sunday evening. The Bears (20-21-1-0, 5th East) have lost four games-in-a-row following the 5-3 home loss to Binghamton on Sunday night. The top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche hosts St. John's on Wednesday, visits Wilkes-Barre on Friday and then returns home to face-off with Hartford on Saturday night. C Eric Perrin leads the team in both assists (23) and points (36) in 42 games during the 2004-05 campaign. LW David Masse ranks third on the club with 11 goals, seven of which have come against the River Rats, and ranks second among rookies with seven power play goals. Albany has a 29-25-1-3 record in the all-time regular seasons series against Hershey, including a 13-12-0-3 record away from home. The River Rats are winless in six (0-5-1) games against the Bears this season, having been outscored 22-11 in the six previous games. The East Division rivals close out the 2004-05 season series in Hershey on February 27th at 5:00pm.

River Rats this week: * Practice times are subject to change, please call the River Rats office to confirm dates and times.

Tuesday - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Wednesday - Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00am; Rochester Americans @ RIVER RATS, 7:00pm

Thursday - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Friday - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Saturday - Game Day Skate at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am; RIVER RATS @ Binghamton Senators, 7:05pm

Sunday - Game Day Skate at GIANT Center, TBD; RIVER RATS @ Hershey Bears, 5:05pm

Monday - OFF DAY

Rat Bites: * LW Dean McAmmond has picked up a goal and an assist in each of the last three games and leads the River Rats with 35 (10-25) points in 42 games this season. He signed with Albany as a free agent on October 5, 2004 after skating with the Western Conference champion Calgary Flames last season.

* RW Aleksander Suglobov has points in each of the last three games and ranks second on the club with 13 goals, while placing third with 27 points during the 2004-05 campaign.

Over the Air:

Wed., Jan. 26th vs. Worcester IceCats, 7:00pm (6:45pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Sat, Jan. 29th @ Binghamton Senators 7:05pm (6:50pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Sun., Jan. 30th @ Hershey Bears, 5:05pm (4:50pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

** Hear all the action LIVE at www.albanyriverrats.com**

Community Outreach Appearances:

Tues., January 25th @ 4:30pm - LW Brett Clouthier will assist a Special Olympics New York Volleyball Clinic at the Capital District Psychiatric Center, which is located at 75 New Scotland, Avenue in Albany.

Thurs., January 27th @ 5:15pm - LW Brett Clouthier & LW Ryan Murphy will attend a Capital Youth Hockey Mite Youth Practice to help young youth hockey players develop their hockey skills. The Capital Mite Practice will be held at the Albany Airport Rink located at 830 Albany-Shaker Road, Albany.

Sun., January 30th @ 3:30pm - "Rowdy" The Rat will attend the Albany Cougars Annual Skate-A-Thon, "Rowdy" will be available to sign autographs and mingle with fans from 3:30 - 4:30. This years Skate-A-Thon will be held at The Albany Academy Rink, located at 830 Albany-Shaker Road, Albany.

River Rats Rewind: Week 15 - January 17, 2005 (0-3-0-1, 1pt)

January 19th - ROC 4 @ ALB 0 - Amerks C Chris Taylor scored twice and G Tom Askey stopped all 29 shots on goal for his first shutout of the season. Albany C Pascal Rheaume took a team-high six shots, while G Ari Ahonen made 35 saves in the second meeting between the New York State rivals at Pepsi Arena.

January 21st - ALB 2 @ BRI 3 F/SO - River Rats LW Dean McAmmond notched a goal and an assist as Albany erased a 2-0 second period deficit. Albany RW Aleksander Suglobov forced overtime with his 13th goal at the 8:44 mark of the third period and G Scott Clemmensen made 24 saves on the night.

January 22nd - MCH 6 @ ALB 2 - The Monarchs scored four times in the first period on the way to sweeping the 2004-05 season series. Albany LW Dean McAmmond posted a goal and an assist for the second straight game and LW Ahren Nittel connected for his sixth goal as the River Rats scored twice on 18 second period shots. * All fans that could not attend the game due to inclement weather can redeem those tickets at the River Rats office for another home game during the 2004-05 regular season *

January 24th - ALB 2 @ PHI 3 - C Zach Parise opened the scoring with a power play goal during the second period and LW Dean McAmmond notched a goal and an assist for the third consecutive game. RW Aleksander Suglobov picked up an assist and LW Ahren Nittel added another assist to give him points in two straight. G Scott Clemmensen stopped 34 of 37 shots on the night.

Upcoming Promotions:

Wed., January 26th vs. Worcester IceCats @ 7:00pm - $10 Wednesday!

All Seats are Just $10!

Wed., February 9th vs. Springfield Falcons @ 7:00pm - $10 Wednesday!

All Seats are Just $10!

Sat., February 12th vs. Binghamton Senators @ 4:00pm - Meet Dora The Explorer!

Meet Nickelodeon's Dora The Explorer at the game!

Register for your chance to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!

Win your Valentine a beautiful diamond from Hannoush Jewelers!

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American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2005


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