AHL Rochester Americans

Three Former Amerks Still in the Hunt for Stanley Cup

Published on May 17, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Three former Rochester Americans players are among the four remaining teams still alive in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Defenseman Brian Campbell and his Chicago Blackhawks have a 1-0 series lead over forward Scott Nichol's San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals, while goaltender Michael Leighton leads his Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 over the Montreal Canadiens in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals.

Campbell, playing in his sixth straight playoff appearance and second with the Blackhawks, returns to the Conference Finals for the first time since the 2006 postseason, where he and the Buffalo Sabres fell to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. "Soupy" is coming off his most productive season in 2008-09 in the National Hockey League, having captured career-bests with 45 assists and 52 points to finish as Chicago's top scoring defenseman, good enough for fifth overall on the team. Originally a sixth-round selection (156th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in the 1997 Entry Draft, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound blueliner played three seasons (1999-02) in Rochester, registering 95 points (11+84) and 59 penalty minutes in 177 career games. Despite helping Rochester reach the Calder Cup Finals as rookie in 1999-00, Campbell posted his best season as an Amerk during the 2001-02 campaign, scoring two goals and 35 assists in 45 games. His 95 points still rank 25th among all-time Amerks defensemen.

Nichol, a 16-year pro making only his fourth NHL playoff appearance, enters the postseason after establishing an NHL career-high 15 assists and 19 points in 79 games with the Sharks during the regular season. A heavy fan favorite during his six seasons with the Amerks from 1994-00, Nichol launched his professional career in Rochester in 1994-95, after just two seasons of junior hockey. After guiding the Amerks to their sixth Calder Cup in 1995-96, Nichol responded the following year with the best performance of his career, finishing with 43 points (22+21) and was one of seven players to reach the 20-goal plateau. In 326 career games with the Amerks, the Edmonton, Alberta, native finished his tenure in Rochester recording 173 points (80+93) and 813 penalty minutes. Serving as team captain for two seasons (1997-99), Nichol presently ranks 35th among all-time forwards in scoring, while his 813 PIMs remain seventh on the franchise's all-time leaders list.

Leighton, who is currently in his second stint with the Flyers, backstopped Philadelphia to a 6-0 win and a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals after tabbing his first career playoff shutout with a 28-save effort in Game 1 against Montreal last night. He and the Flyers became just the third team in the history of the NHL to rally from a 3-0 deficit and win four straight to claim a best-of-seven series. The Boston Bruins staked out to a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals before surrendering the next four to the Flyers. A sixth-round selection (165th overall) of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Leighton was a member of the 2005-06 50th anniversary team, his only season in Rochester. The netminder went onto finish the season with a 15-22-1 record with a 3.21 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage in 40 games. He also recorded one assist, 978 saves and 23 penalty minutes between the pipes for the Amerks.

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American Hockey League Stories from May 17, 2010


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