AHL Rochester Americans

Time to Hit the Road for Amerks

January 19, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice: The Rochester Americans (20-13-5-3, 48 points) will look to build on their winning streak with a four game road trip. To find all the statistics on your favorite Amerks players or any other players in the AHL, check out the League's Official Website at www.theahl.com.

Wednesday, January 21, 2004 7:00 p.m.

Rochester Americans at Grand Rapids Griffins

Van Andel Arena; Grand Rapids, MI

The Amerks will faceoff against the Grand Rapids Griffins (25-16-6-0, 56 points) for their only trip to Van Andel Arena this season. This will be the first of two meetings, with the second taking place in March in Rochester. The Griffins hold the all-time series lead with a 5-3-0 record. Overall, the Griffins lead the AHL with 25 wins and are tied with Bridgeport with the most points (56). The Griffins are led by Nathan Robinson, who has collected 33 points (17+16). Goaltender Marc Lamothe leads the way in goal. Lamothe (15-10-4) has earned a 1.93 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. The team is ranked 14th in the AHL in goals scored with a 2.58 average and is fourth in the league in goals-against with a 2.12. The Griffins are seventh in the power play category with a 16.4 (33 for 201) and eighth in penalty killing with a mark of 87.3 % (193 for 221).

Thursday, January 22, 2004 8:00 p.m.

Rochester Americans at Milwaukee Admirals

Bradley Center; Milwaukee, WI

The Amerks travel to Milwaukee to face the Admirals (18-13-5-2, 43 points) on Thursday. This will also be the first of two meetings, with the second taking place on January 30th in Rochester. The Admirals and Amerks have an all-time record of 2-2-0. Last season, the Admirals knocked the Amerks out of the playoffs in the Conference Qualifier round 2-1. Forwards Darren Haydar (11+17) and Tony Hrkac (10+18) lead the team in scoring with 28 points. Goaltender Wade Flaherty (9-4-1) leads the team goaltenders with a 1.86 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. Milwaukee leads the AHL in goals scoring, averaging 3.13 goals per game. The team is also ranked 10th in goals-against with a 2.45 mark. The penalty-killing unit is 19th (84.6%, 159 for 188) and the power-play unit is 24th in the AHL with a 11.9% success rate (27 for 227).

Saturday, January 24, 2004 7:05 p.m.

Rochester Americans at Binghamton Senators

Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena; Binghamton, NY

The Amerks will face the Senators (18-17-4-2, 42 points) on Saturday night for the third of eight games this season against Binghamton. Last time out, Milan Bartovic scored with 6:07 remaining in the game to give the Amerks a 3-2 win on November 28th. The Senators control the all-time series with a 2-3-0-2 mark. Former Amerk Denis Hamel leads the way for the Sens with 37 points (19+18). Goaltender Ray Emery (11-11-3, 2.25 GAA) has a save percentage of .924% to lead the team in goal. Binghamton is 29 for 210 on the power play, which is 19th in the AHL. The team has been very balanced overall. The team is 11th in goals scored per game with a 2.63 average and 12th in goals allowed per game with a 2.49 average.

Sunday, January 25, 2004 5:00 p.m.

Rochester Americans at Toronto Roadrunners

Ricoh Coliseum; Toronto, Ontario

The Amerks will travel to Toronto to face the Roadrunners (14-20-6-2, 36 points) in a Sunday afternoon game. The game on Sunday will be the eighth time these teams have faced each other this season. On Saturday, January 17th Milan Bartovic scored two goals and Ryan Miller made 37 saves to give Rochester a 6-2 win at The Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks have a 6-0-1 record against the Roadrunners this season. The Amerks goaltenders have been the difference so far. Tom Askey (1-0-0-0, 2.00 GAA) and Ryan Miller (5-0-1-0, 1.32 GAA) have a combined 1.43 goals-against average (10 goals on 222 shots). Forward Jamie Wright continues to lead Toronto with 31 points (13+18). Goaltender Michael Morrison (6-5-1-0) leads the team between the pipes with a 2.88 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Toronto is 13th in the power-play column with 15.1% (28 for 185), and 22nd in penalty killing with an 82.9% (160 of 193). The Roadrunners are 10th in the league averaging 2.74 goals per-game and are 27th in goals-against with a 3.14

Around the Boards:

· The Amerks are ranked eighth defensively in the AHL, allowing 2.37 goals per game, but are now 20th in goal scoring averaging 2.49 goals per game. The team has the league's fifth best power play unit · with a 17.2% (37 for 215) and the fourth ranked penalty-killing unit with an 87.9% success rate

(174 for 198). The Amerks are 15-5-2-0 on home ice this season and 5-8-3-3 away

from The Blue Cross Arena.

· With the Amerks 6-2 win on January 17th, Amerks Head Coach Randy Cunneyworth passed Brian McCutcheon (128) for third place on the team's all-time coaching wins list. John Van Boxmeer tops the list with 333 wins, followed by Joe Crozier with 260. · · Amerks forward Jason Pominville leads the AHL in power-play goals with 14. ·

Seeing Stars in the Cards: Three Amerks will represent the Flower City at the 2004 AHL All-Star Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan next month. Forwards Jason Pominville and Derek Roy will compete for the Canadian All-Star team while goaltender Ryan Miller will be between the pipes for the PlanetUSA squad, comprised of players born in the United States and Europe. Pominville was named a starter for the Canadian side, while Miller will have a homecoming of sorts. The East Lansing, Michigan native will play in his home state, where he also played college hockey for Michigan State. All three players are also featured in the 2003-04 AHL Top Prospects trading card set, featuring 45 of the outstanding young players in the AHL. The set, manufactured by Choice SportsCards of Aston, Pa., features action photos and career statistics of rising stars from all 28 AHL teams. The cards are available for purchase in the Amerks Team Store and online at ahlstore.com and PHPA.com.

Bartovic Named AHL Player of the Week: The American Hockey League announced today that Rochester Americans right wing Milan Bartovic has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 18, 2004. In three games, Bartovic recorded five goals and one assist for six points to extend his personal scoring streak to 10 games Bartovic has 10 goals and four assists for 14 points during his 10-game streak, and also has tallied a goal in five straight outings, tied for the longest such streak in the AHL this season. A second-round draft choice by the Buffalo Sabres in 1999, Bartovic has recorded 16 goals and six assists for 22 points in 41 games with the Americans this season. The native of Trencin, Slovakia, has totaled 50 goals and 28 assists in 190 career AHL games with the Amerks.

AMERKS CELEBRITY WAITER DINNER & SPORTS MEMORABILIA AUCTION: The Rochester Americans will be serving plates instead of pucks at the annual 2004 Amerks Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Sports Memorabilia Auction, to be held on Tuesday, February 24th at 5:30 p.m. at The Clarion Riverside Hotel in downtown Rochester. Amerk players will serve guests their food and drinks for tips, with all proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Rochester. The tipping does not stop after dinner, as players perform antics and tricks with their guests and fellow players for more money. Great sports memorabilia items from the National Hockey League and National Football League will highlight the auction. Items include authentic autographed jerseys from Rochester native and New Jersey Devil Brian Gionta, former Amerk and current Chicago Blackhawk player Scott Nichol, and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds. American Hockey League items from the Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Admirals, Manitoba Moose and Norfolk Admirals will also be available in the silent auction. In addition, game-worn jerseys from the Amerks, Knighthawks, Rhinos and Rattlers will be present at the event. Donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Rochester will fund on-going, groundbreaking medical research aimed at curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. For dinner, auction and ticket information, contact the Rochester chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at (585) 697-0777 or at jfournier@cff.org. Tables are available for sponsorship level donations including bonuses such as choice of your Amerks player waiter.

MORGAN STANLEY "3-Star Investment Award": The Rochester Americans and Morgan Stanley will team up to bring a yearlong promotion to the fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Morgan Stanley "3-Star investment Award" will be given to the player that accumulates the most points during the 2003-04 season. Through 22 home games, forwards Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and goaltender Ryan Miller are all tied with 13 points with the most three star nominations. The winner of the award will receive two round trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, courtesy of Morgan Stanley.

Shooting Stars:

After 41 games, the following players lead the Amerks in statistical categories:

Skaters: Goals- Jason Pominville (19); Assists- Domenic Pittis (24) Points- Jason Pominville (39); Shots- Jason Pominville (120); Penalty Minutes- Sean McMorrow (108)

Goaltending: Wins- Ryan Miller (14); Minutes- Ryan Miller (1700:24); Saves- Ryan Miller (798); Goals-Against Average- Ryan Miller (2.08); Save Percentage- Ryan Miller (.931)

Amerks on the Dials:

Television- None.

Radio and Webcast: This week's games against Grand Rapids (Wednesday), Milwaukee (Thursday) and Binghamton (Saturday) will be broadcast on WHTK 1280-AM. Sunday's game against Toronto will be broadcast on WHAM 1180-AM. All four games will also be available on webcast on the Official Website of the Rochester Americans at www.amerks.com.

Faceoff- Catch the latest episode of "Faceoff", the Amerks and Knighthawks weekly highlight and talk show this Saturday, January 24th at noon and at midnight only on the WB16.

AMERKS GAME SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Wednesday, January 21 at Grand Rapids Griffins 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 22 at Milwaukee Admirals 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 24 at Binghamton Senators 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, January 25 at Toronto Roadrunners 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 28 BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:05 p.m.

***Home Games in Caps

At the Box Office:

2003-04 Season Ticket Packages: Season ticket packages are still available. Call the Amerks season ticket department today at (585) 454-5335 for prices. For all other ticket information, check out www.amerks.com.

Amerks Weekly Schedule:

Monday, January 19 Practice at ESL 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 20 Travel Day

Wednesday, January 21 Game Day Skate 11:15 a.m.

8:00 p.m. game at Grand Rapids

WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Thursday, January 22 Game Day Skate 11:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m. game at Milwaukee

WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Friday, January 23 Travel Day

Saturday, January 24 Game Day Skate at ESL 10:00 a.m.

7:05 p.m. game at Binghamton

WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Sunday, January 25 5:00 p.m. game at Toronto

WHAM 1180-AM & amerks.com

SABRE TALK:

Sabres Scoring Spree: The Buffalo Sabres are 3-4-2-0 in 2004, boosting the team record to 4-4-2-0 in the last 10 games. The Sabres are currently in fifth place in the Northeast Division with 42 points (18-23-5-1).

Leader Board: The Sabres are led by forward Daniel Briere with 31 points (15+16). Briere and Miroslav Satan leads the team in goal scoring with 15. Chris Drury leads the team with 19 assists. Mika Noronen (9-11-1) leads the goaltending crew with a 2.09 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

Upcoming Games: The Sabres will continue their five game road trip as they play the Atlanta Thrashers (January 20th), Boston Bruins (January 22nd) and the Philadelphia Flyers (January 24th) this week.

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2004


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.

OurSports Central