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The Albany River Rats: A Look Back

April 3, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats announced today that Albany County will honor team owner Dr. Walter Robb in a special on-ice ceremony during the American Hockey League club's final home game in franchise history, tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Times Union Center. In preparation for the historic game, the River Rats would like to offer the following "look back" at the team's 17-year history.

Top Home Moments in Albany River Rats History

May 27TH, 1993 - WE HAVE A TEAM: Albert Lawrence announces that the Capital District Islanders will be moving to the Knickerbocker Arena. He signs an agreement with the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils and all that remained was the name. The infamous "Rowdy" The Rat logo is introduced to the hockey world at a press conference held at the Knick on July 29, 1993.

October 3RD, 1993 - HOME ICE ADVANTAGE BEGINS: Bill Armstrong scored the first HOME goal in Albany River Rats history as the team went on to romp the Rochester Americans 9-3 at Knickerbocker Arena. The nine goals, while matched on March 21, 1998 against Adirondack, remains a team record - talk about opening with a bang!

February 27TH, 1994 - DOWD AND EVEN MORE DOWD: River Rats Center Jim Dowd establishes a team record by scoring two goals in just SEVEN seconds of the first period as the club defeats the Portland Pirates 7-5. The Brick, NJ native scored at 3:49 of the opening session and tallied again at the 3:56 mark of the first period, all prior to his GWG during the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals.

April 15TH, 1994 - FIRST PLAYOFF DANCE: The Albany River Rats clinch their FIRST EVER PLAYOFF BERTH with a 3-3 tie against the Cape Breton Oilers at Knickerbocker Arena on March 29th, 1994, but the real fun begins with the FIRST EVER PLAYOFF GAME, a 3-1 road victory the Portland Pirates. Jeff Christian scored the first playoff goal in franchise history late in the second period and Corey Schwab made 31 saves to pick up the win.

February 18TH, 1995 - PACKING THEM IN: The infamous Northway series boils over as the FIRST SELL-OUT CROWD IN TEAM HISTORY of 13,941 witnesses the River Rats defeat the rival Adirondack Red Wings 5-3 at Pepsi Arena. Bill Armstrong scored twice and Corey Schwab made 22 saves for the victory.

May 20TH, 1995 - RATS CHASE CALDER AT HOME: An all-time high playoff crowd of 7,985 fans watch the Albany River Rats turn in a 4-3 victory over the Fredericton Canadiens in Game One of the 1995 Calder Cup Finals at Knickerbocker Arena. Steve Brule, who would go on to set 13 team records over six seasons, nets the game-winner 9:18 into the third period.

March 15TH, 2000 -FREDDY STOPS 60! River Rats goaltender Frederic Henry stops a team record 60 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Hartford Wolf*Pack at Pepsi Arena. The one-man-show began with Henry stopping 24 shots in the first period and 20 of 21 second-period shots, allowing the teams to enter the third period in a 1-1 tie. Henry made 13 saves in the third period and the first three fired his way in the extra session before succumbing to a Brad Smyth shot.

November 6TH, 2000 - A CHAMP'S SEQUEL: Geordie Kinnear's return to the River Rats allowed the warrior to reclaim his position atop the ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON GAMES PLAYED leaderboard. Kinnear skates in 14 games with the club prior to his injury-related retirement to finish his Albany career with 406 regular season contests, surpassing Steve Brule who claimed the title only six months earlier.

April 24th-25th, 2008 - LONGEST GAME IN AHL HISTORY: Game Five of Albany's first round Calder Cup Playoff series against the Philadelphia Phantoms extends into five overtimes at the Times Union Center. Goaltender Michael Leighton makes a Calder Cup Playoffs record 98 saves, but Phantoms forward Ryan Potulny breaks the 2-2 tie after a record 142:58 of action.

March 1st, 2009 - BATTERED AND BRUISED RATS RETURN HOME: The team bus careens off of Interstate 90 and overturns on February 19th, 2009. The depleted team was back in action on the road a week later, and then posted a 4-2 win over the Norfolk Admirals in its return to the Times Union Center.

The Albany River Rats By The Numbers

1: Calder Cup

2: Regular Season Championships

4: Division Championships

7: First Team All Stars; Calder Cup Playoff Series won

8: Second Team All Stars

10: Calder Cup Playoff Appearances

17: Seasons

38: All Star Game Participants

39: Playoff Wins

46: Hat Tricks

58: Goalie Shutouts

74: Playoff Games

180: NHL Players

361: Players

593: (+ this season) Regular Season Wins

1,357: Regular Season Games

4,069: Regular Season Goals For

30,500: Regular Season Penalty Minutes

42,248: Regular Season shots

2,974,901: Total Attendance

The River Rats play their final regular season home game in franchise history on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. in Game 11 of the Time Warner Cable Cup series against the Adirondack Phantoms. 2010 Calder Cup playoff packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2010


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.

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