River Rats weekly

November 21, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Week Ahead:

The Albany River Rats make their first trip to the Hartford Civic Center to take on the Hartford Wolf*Pack on Wednesday night at 7:00pm. (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ).

The Wolf*Pack (8-6-1-2, T-4TH Atlantic) are coming off a 5-3 loss to the Portland Pirates on the road last night. C Alexandre Giroux leads the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers with nine goals and 16 points in 16 games during the 2005-06 campaign. D Thomas Pock tops team blueliners with nine assists and 40 shots on goal this year. The River Rats hold an 11-16-3-3 record in the all-time regular season series against Hartford, including a 6-9-1 record on the road. Albany fired off a season-high 47 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Wolf*Pack at Pepsi Arena back on November 4TH in the first of six meetings. The River Rats then host the Philadelphia Phantoms for the second time this season in a 7:00pm face-off on Friday night at Pepsi Arena. (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ).

The Phantoms (7-10-0-2, 5TH East) posted a 2-1 road victory over Norfolk on Sunday and visit the Admirals again on Wednesday night. RW Pat Kavanagh leads the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers with nine goals, including three on the power play and 13 points this season. D John Slaney is tied for 10TH among league defensemen with 12 (3-9) points in 19 games during the 2005-06 campaign. The River Rats hold a 15-17-4-4 record in the regular season series against Philadelphia, including a 10-6-2-2 mark at home. The teams have split the first two of six games this season, with each club scoring five goals and winning once on home ice.

Albany closes out the post-holiday weekend with their first and only area meeting with the Rochester Americans at 5:00pm on Saturday evening. (4:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ).

This weeks Showstopper Saturday features Getty Travel Mug Night! The Americans (10-7-0-0, 3RD North) has lost two straight following a 5-1 loss to the Hershey Bears on the road last night. RW Jason Pominville leads the AHL with 16 goals, including a league-high nine on the power play for the top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. D Nathan Paetsch leads team defenders and ranks third on the circuit with 13 assists in 17 games during the 2005-06 season. The River Rats hold a 35-36-9-6 record in the all-time series against Rochester, including a 20-12-6-15 record at Pepsi Arena. Albany went 1-5-0-0 against Rochester last season, being outscored 19-10 in the process. The New York State rivals finish out their series at Blue Cross Arena on Friday, January 13, 2006 at 7:35pm.

River Rats Practice Schedule:

Tues., November 22, 2005 - 10:00am practice @ Pepsi Arena

Wed., November 23, 2005 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Bethlehem YMCA;

RIVER RATS @ Hartford Wolf*Pack, 7:00pm

Thurs., November 24, 2005 - Thanksgiving

Fri., November 25, 2005 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Pepsi Arena; Philadelphia Phantoms @ RIVER RATS, 7:00pm

Sat., November 26, 2005 - 9:00am Game Day Skate @ Pepsi Arena; Rochester Americans @ RIVER RATS, 5:00pm

Sun., November 27, 2005 - OFF DAY

Mon., November 28, 2005 - 10:00am practice @ Bethlehem YMCA * The schedule is subject to change, so please verify with the Communications Staff

Story Ideas

Petr Vrana The rookie hit a rough patch and was a healthy scratch three times over a two-week span. He returned to the lineup after one of those nights with two assists last Friday and is a BIG part of the club's offensive success in his first pro season.

Aaron Voros - He has heated up over recent weeks and is regaining the form of the early part of the 2004-05 campaign when he scored nine goals in 10 games. The hard work in the corners and in front of the net are the definitions of knowing his role.

Rat Bites: C Petr Vrana has three points in the last four games and is tied for second on the team with five goals and places third with nine points this season.

D Krisjanis Redlihs has three assists in the last two games and leads River Rat defensemen with seven (1-6) points during the 2005-06 season. He is on pace to quickly surpass his 10 (0-10) points picked up in 46 games last season. C Nicklas Bergfors has four (3-1) points in his last two games and ranks second on the team with 10 (4-6) points in 12 match-ups during his rookie season. The league's youngest player snapped an eight-game, goalless streak last Friday. The River Rats power play has four goals in the last nine chances after going through a 1-for-40 stretch during the club's recent losing streak. C Ivan Khomutov set a career high with three (1-2) points on Saturday night. He has seven (1-6) points in 11 games after totaling 17 (6-11) in 66 games last year.

River Rats Rewind: Week 7 - November 14, 2005 (1-2-0-1, 3pts)

November 16 - ALB 1 @ LOW 4 - LW Ilkka Pikkarainen scored his first goal since October 21ST in Lowell as the River Rats dropped their first game of the season to the Lock Monsters. LW David Clarkson recorded the lone assist and G Ari Ahonen stopped 32 of 35 shots on the night.

November 18 - ALB 3 @ SPR 5 -LW Mike Sgroi and C Nicklas Bergfors each recorded their second goals of the season in Albany's second loss to Springfield this season. C Petr Vrana chipped in two assists and G Ari Ahonen stopped 27 shots on goal in taking the loss.

November 19 - BNG 3 @ ALB 6 - C's Nicklas Bergfors (2-1) and Ivan Khomutov (1-2) each set a career-high with three points as Albany snapped a seven-game losing skid. RW Aleksander Suglobov scored for the first time since October 22ND and C Petr Vrana added his first shorthanded goal, while G Frank Doyle stopped 33 shots on goal for the win.

November 20 - ALB 3 @ PRO 4 F/SO

RW Aleksander Suglobov notched his first career hat trick and LW Ilkka Pikkarainen added two assists in the club's first overtime game of the season. D's Krisjanis Redlihs and Ray Schultz each picked up an assist for the second straight game and G Frank Doyle stopped 30 shots, including nine shootout attempts. Upcoming Promotions:

Friday, November 25, 2005 @ 7:00pm -- Family Fun Friday! 4 Tickets, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Sodas & A Family Portrait For Just $44! Radio Disney Joins The Party With Games & Prizes! Total Tan, Time Warner Cable & NY Lottery King Kong Giveaways! & Listen to The River 99.5 WRVE FM & Enter For Your Chance To Watch The Game From Your Own Hack's Furniture Living Room Suite!

Saturday, November 26, 2005 @ 5:00pm - Showstopper Saturday vs. Rochester! Pre-Game Fireworks Extravaganza & Wedekind Pontiac Score-O! GETTY MUG NIGHT! Free Travel Mug To the First 2,500 Fans!

For further information on 2005-06 season and flex ticket packages contact (518) 487-2244 or visit www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2005


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