River Rats Weekly

October 13, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Week 1 Recap:

Excited to kick off the 2008-09 season, the River Rats opened up the year at home for just the fourth time in club history. In front of a boisterous crowd of 7,039 fans at the Times Union Center, defenseman Mark Flood scored a first period short-handed goal to put the Rats ahead 1-0 over Bridgeport. But the Sound Tigers rattled off four-straight goals, including two power play strikes, starting at 19:45 of the first period and ending at 2:48 of the third period. Dwight Helminen, who assisted on Flood's goal, scored his first goal for Albany at 9:04 of the third period to cut the lead to two goals, but Albany could not close the gap as they fell to the Sound Tigers 4-2. In spite of the four goals against, Justin Peters looked sharp in goal for the River Rats and rookie forward Harrison Reed raised a few eyebrows with his offensive play.

Week 2 Preview:

Forced to wait a full week before hitting the ice for game two of the season, Albany should be chomping at the bit on Friday, October 17th as they host the Worcester Sharks at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The River Rats were 1-2-0-0 in games at Glens Falls last season, 1-5-0-0 over the last two years, but they will be carrying a win into Friday's game from their last appearance in the Adirondacks. On March 8, 2008 Pat Dwyer scored in overtime to beat the Binghamton Senators and give the River Rats their first Glens Falls win in several years. Saturday night, October 18th, Albany will hit the road for the first time this year, traveling to Connecticut for a rematch with Bridgeport and an opportunity to return the favor during the Sound Tigers' home opener.

Like their parent club in Carolina, the Rats have been bitten by the pre-season injury bug. Jerome Samson (RW), Joe Jensen (C) and Bobby Hughes (C) were all out of the lineup for Albany's opener. But in some exciting news Monday, Hughes was cleared for full contact in practice for the first time since being shutdown in January of 2008 for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. New appointed captain Tim Conboy (D) is also hoping to make his first appearance of the season with Albany on Saturday at Bridgeport; Conboy has one more game remaining on the carry-over of his eight-game suspension during the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Week 2 Schedule:

(All games are broadcasted LIVE on the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com and either ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team or 88.3 FM The Saint)

Friday, October 17 - 7:30 pm - Glens Falls Civic Center

vs. Worcester Sharks (0-1-0-0, 0 pts)

Tied-Sixth Place, Atlantic Division

The River Rats took three out of the four games with Worcester during 2007-08, sweeping the two games at the Times Union Center and splitting the two at the DCU Center in Massachusetts. This will be the Sharks' first-ever trip to the Glens Falls Civic Center in their short franchise history in Worcester.

Leading Scorer: Cory Larose (C) - 2 points (2 goals, 0 assists) in one game played.

Leading Goaltender: Thomas Greiss (G) - 6.15 GAA, 0.824 save pct., 0-1-0 record in 1 GP.

Who's Hot: Cory Larose (C) - 2 goals in season opener. Ryan Vesce (RW) - 2 assists in first game. Rookies Frazer McLaren (LW) and Mike Morris (RW) each scored 1 goal in first game with Worcester.

Saturday, October 18 - 7:05 pm - Arena at Harbor Yard

@ Bridgeport Sound Tigers (1-1-0-0, 3 pts)

Third Place, East Division

Playing for the third time in two and a half weeks, and second of the regular season, the River Rats will have the opportunity for some vengance against the Sound Tigers, after Bridgeport spoiled Albany's home opener. Bridgeport begins the season with six games in ten days, two-straight weeks of three-games in three-nights. Sound Tigers scored four times versus Albany, but only two goals in their other two games of the opening weekend.

Leading Scorer: Mike Iggulden (LW) - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in three games played.

Leading Goaltender: Yann Danis (G) - 2.03 GAA, 0.935 save pct., 1-1-0 record in 2 GP.

Who's Hot: Mike Iggulden (LW) - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) and +1 rating in three games played. Trevor Smith (RW) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in first three games played. Kurtis McLean (C) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) and +2 rating in three games played.

Week 1 Game Results:

10/11/08 Bridgeport 4 @ Albany 2

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 1)

Dwight Helminen - C - #11 1GP, 2 Points (1 Goal, 1 Assist), Even +/- Rating

Center Dwight Helminen shined in his River Rats debut last Saturday night at the Times Union Center. Helminen factored in both of Albany's goals, setting up Mark Flood's first period short-handed goal and then poking the puck past Bridgeport goaltender Yann Danis in the third period. He led the team in scoring for the week and proved that he will be an offensive leader on this new-look River Rats squad.

Rat Bites:

- FIRST PRO POINT - Rookie center Nick Dodge made his professional and AHL debut Saturday against Bridgeport and the Clarkson University alum recorded his first career pro point with an assist on Albany's first goal of the game, a short-handed goal by Mark Flood.

- BACK TO .500 - Prior to this season, Albany had only opened the season at home three times in their 15-year history. Now in year 16, the River Rats 4-2 loss to the Sound Tigers drops their all-time season opener record to 7-7-2, while their record at home in season openers fell to 2-2.

- A LARGE CROWD DOWNTOWN - The River Rats opened the season with an energetic crowd of 7,039, the largest attendance at the Times Union Center for a River Rats game since March 10, 2007 when 7,111 saw Albany beat Rochester 6-4. Saturday's crowd was also the 5th biggest attendance for a Rats home opener in their 16-year history; Albany's home opener record came on October 7, 1995 when 8,091 fans came to see the River Rats raise the 1995 Calder Cup Championship banner.

- NO POINTS IN DEBUT - New River Rats Head Coach/General Manager Jeff Daniels made his head coaching debut with Albany Saturday night. While the River Rats could not get Daniels his first career win, Daniels did become the sixth different head coach to stand behind the bench in Albany's 16-year history.

- NEWCOMERS - Rookie forward Harrison Reed made his AHL and Pro debut for Albany and had several chances to score his first Pro goal, including a first period shot that beat Bridgeport goaltender Yann Denis, but rang harmlessly off the goal post. Along with rookies Reed and Dodge, Dwight Helminen and Jonathan Paiement both made their River Rats debuts against the Sound Tigers.

River Rats Recent Transactions

October 13 - DELETE Jonathan Paiement (D) - Assigned to Florida Everblades (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: 19 tied with (1)

Goals: Mark Flood & Dwight Helminen (1)

Assists: Marc Cavosie, Nick Dodge, Pat Dwyer & Dwight Helminen (1)

Points: Dwight Helminen (2)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer (+1)

Penalty Minutes: Ryan Weston (5)

Power Play Goals: Dwight Helminen (1)

Short Handed Goals: Mark Flood (1)

Game-Winning Goals: None (0)

Shots: Pat Dwyer (7)

Shooting Percentage: Mark Flood (33.3%)

Saves: Justin Peters (25)

Wins: None (0)

GAA: Justin Peters (4.07)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.862)

Next up for Albany is a match up with the Worcester Sharks on Friday, October 17th at 7:30 pm at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY. River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2008


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