River Rats Weekly

October 25, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


What's Ahead:

The Albany River Rats visit the Norfolk Admirals for the first of three times this season in a 7:30pm face-off on Wednesday from the Scope Arena. The River Rats then host the Admirals at Pepsi Arena on Saturday night at 7:30pm when the first 2,500 fans receive a FREE computer mouse pad courtesy of Pepsi & everyone is invited to stay for a post-game autograph session. The Admirals (3-1-0-0, 3rd East) picked up their first loss of the season by a 3-2 score at Wilkes-Barre on Friday night. LW Rene Bourque leads the club and ranks fourth among AHL rookies with five (3-2) points in five games for the top affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Goaltenders Michael Leighton (1-1, 1.51gaa) and Craig Anderson (2-0, 2.47) anchor a defense that has surrendered just eight goals through four games. Albany holds a 2-9-2-1 record in the all-time regular season series against Norfolk, including a winless 0-5-1-1 record on the road. The River Rats meet the Admirals another four times after this weekend on: November 12th in ALB, February 21st in ALB and April 8th & 9th in NOR.

The River Rats will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 7:00pm face-off on Friday night at Pepsi Arena. The Penguins (1-4-1-0, 6th East) dropped a 5-2 decision to the River Rats on home ice last night in Albany's first win at Wachovia Arena since March 12, 2000. LW Tomas Surovy scored on Sunday and is tied for second on the club with five (2-3) points in six games, while placing second with 18 shots on goal. Troy native Matt Murley has two assists and serves as an assistant captain for the top affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Albany sports a 10-14-5-0 mark in the all-time series versus Wilkes-Barre, which includes a home record of 7-4-3 since the 1999-00 season. The River Rats meet the Penguins four more times on December 10th & 15th in WBS, January 15th in Albany, April 1st in Albany.

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

Tuesday – Practice in Norfolk

Wednesday – Game Day Skate, Scope Arena, 11:15am; RIVER RATS @ Norfolk Admirals, 7:30pm

Thursday – Travel to Albany

Friday – Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00am; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins @ RIVER RATS, 7:00pm

Saturday – Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00am; Norfolk Admirals@ RIVER RATS, 7:30pm

Sunday – OFF DAY

Rat Bites:

* C Zach Parise has picked up at least a point (3-4-7) in all four games he has dressed for this season. The 20-year-old ranks second among all AHL rookies with three goals and third among newcomers with the seven points.

* D David Hale scored his first pro goal on Sunday night in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native went scoreless with four assists in 65 games for the New Jersey Devils last season.

* LW Dean McAmmond has recorded (five) assists in four straight games and played in his 700th professional game against Bridgeport on Saturday night.

Over the Air:

Wed., Oct. 27th @ Norfolk Admirals, 7:30pm (7:15pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Fri, Oct. 29th vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 7:00pm (6:45pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Sat., Oct. 30th vs. Norfolk Admirals, 7:30pm (7:15pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

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

CSEA Community Out-Reach Calendar:

Sun., October 31st @ 3:30pm – "Rowdy" the Rat will be at the Comfort Inn Suites for their annual Halloween Party signing autographs for Trick-or-Treaters. The Comfort Inn Suites if located at 99 Miller Road in East Greenbush.

River Rats Rewind: Week 2 – October 18, 2004 (1-1-0-0, 2pts)

October 20th – ALB 2 @ BRI 3 F/OT – RW Aaron Voros & LW Tuomas Pihlman scored second period power play goals as the River Rats earned their first road point of the season. LW's Brett Clouthier & Dean McAmmond and C Zach Parise added assists, while G Scott Clemmensen stopped 18 shots.

October 22nd – BRI 1 @ ALB 5 – The River Rats scored five unanswered goals and matched a team record with four power play goals in their first win over Bridgeport. RW Aleksander Suglobov netted three (2-1) points, while RW Aaron Voros scored for the second straight game in front of G Ari Ahonen, who stopped 29 of 30 shots for his second win.

October 23rd – PRO 1 @ ALB 5 – C Adrian Foster opened a three-goal second period with a shorthanded goal as the River Rats won their third straight at Pepsi Arena. RW Aaron Voros scored for the third straight contest and G Scott Clemmensen stopped 34 of 35 shots for his first win of the season. D's Bobby Allen & Ray Schultz each scored their first goals as River Rats in the game.

October 24th – ALB 5 @ WBS 2 – C Zach Parise scored two of Albany's four goals in the final 5:21 of regulation for the team's first win at Wilkes-Barre since March 12, 2000. RW Aaron Voros scored for a fourth consecutive contest, while C Pascal Rheaume & LW Ryan Murphy each notched two assists. D Bobby Allen scored for the second straight game and G Scott Clemmensen stopped 23 shots as the River Rats ended the week in first place.

Upcoming Promotions:

Sat., October 30th vs. Norfolk Admirals @ 7:30pm – Pepsi Mouse Pad Night & Post-Game Autograph Session

The first 2,500 fans receive a FREE Mouse Pad courtesy of Pepsi!

All Fans are invited to bring cameras & meet the Players on the ice for pictures and autographs after the game! Albany Open MRI Youth Hockey Skills Challenge:

Puck Control Relay for all age groups (Mini-mites, Mites, Squirts & Pee-Wee)

All Winners will receive a River Rats fan pack!



American Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2004


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