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Top 10 Read Posts of 2008 on Lets Go Amerks

December 31, 2008 - By

It seems like Top 10 posts are the popular thing to do, and why not, looks back at what people seemed to find the most interesting.  In 2008 the Amerks at one point were a team with an uncertain future due to a lack of ownership.  That was solved, here’s hoping that “new day for a Rochester tradition” is accomplished in 2009 with a successful team on the ice.  We’ll be out of town for a couple days, in absence of covering Wednesday mornings practice here’s a list of the top 10 most read posts on this site in 2008:

10. Amerks Open Camp, Live at ESL!

The team opened training camp at the ESL Centre in Henrietta on September 30, 2008.. the day that the Edmonton Oilers claimed Steve MacIntyre off of waivers from the Panthers.  “Big Mac” was already on the ice for camp when he was pulled off and given the news.

9. Featured Player: Adam Dennis

This is something we need to do more of, it’s the only reason I can think that Adam Dennis and Dylan Hunter were considered amongst the top posts of the year.  It’s not like either [...]Read More

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Shawn Matthias Back With Panthers

December 30, 2008 - By

Shawn Matthias

Apparently someone read my post about practice this morning and the extra work Matthias was putting in because he boarded a plane to meetup with the Panthers in Long Island.  The Panthers are light on center due to injuries and called him back to the show.

Matthias is probably hoping to get out of Rochester as quick as possible and for good, the kid can’t seem to produce any points on the ice for the Amerks.  He was expected to be an offensive power and has been anything but that.

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Tuesday Morning Practice; Injury Updates, Still No Contract

December 30, 2008 - By

It was a cold morning at the ESL Sports Centre in Henrietta for practice this morning.. amazing how much I’ve taken it for granted sitting in warm comfortable seats at Blue Cross Arena instead of metal benches.

Practice was practice, what else can really be said about the team going through the motions and drills.  Worth noting though was Kenndal McArdle and David Brine hanging out late practicing shooting the puck at various spots of the net.  The Amerks are at the bottom of the AHL with only 66 goals scored this season, which is also a reason they’re in last place.  If you can’t score, you can’t win.

Shawn Matthias and Jason Garrison were the last two players to leave the ice as they worked with Jason Cipolla.  It’s an understatement to say that Matthias needs the practice.  In 24 games he only has 3 goals and 1 assist.  He also has a team worst  +/- rating of -21.

Mike Brodeur, the one player who has put new life in the team, still has no update on any sort of contract offer.  He’s on a 25 game PTO and has played in 10 games so far.  I asked [...]Read More

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Cory Murphy Assigned to Amerks

December 30, 2008 - By

Cory Murphy of the Florida Panthers has been assigned to the Amerks on a conditioning assignment.  He’s only played in seven NHL games this season with the Panthers, a shoulder injury has kept him out of the lineup since October 24th.

The 30 year old defenseman has one assist in those seven games he has played.  The Kanata, Ontario native graduated from Colgate University in 2001 after which he went to play in Finland.  He joined the Panthers in the 06/07 season where he played in 47 games and tallied 2 goals and 15 assists.

Noah Welch recently did the same thing, so apparently things can’t be that bad around here for another player to agree to the conditioning assignment.

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Christmas Is Over…Amerks Ready To Take On The Bulldogs 12-26-2008

December 26, 2008 - By

Janis Sprukts

Tonight, the Rochester Americans take on the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Blue Cross Arena.  The game starts at 7:35PM and should have a pretty good size crowd as the post Christmas game usually does.  Mike Broduer should be starting in goal tonight even after he slipped up during Sunday night’s game.

Stefan Meyer should be will likely be back on the ice (as he should have been in Sunday night).  Drew Larman and Randel Gelech should be scratched if you are scratching players based on who is producing the worst on the team.

Rory Fitzpatrick still isn’t practicing, but he is here working out.  He is currently out here on the bench with the team watching them work.  Remember that Rory should be returning on the team’s trip out to Manitoba.

Don’t miss tonight’s game.  It may be the loudest one of the year with a crowd expected of close to 8,000.

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Can't Score Goals, Shutout By Griffins; Meyer Scratched

December 22, 2008 - By

“Story of our season, can’t buy a goal,” were words used by coach Benoit Groulx after the Amerks were shutout 6-0 by the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Amerks also aren’t able to compete with the top teams in the AHL, as evident by the standings as well  the games last night against the Griffins and last week against the Peoria Rivermen.  Those two teams will be competing for winner of the conference by the end of the season.

The Griffins are 17-7-3-3, the Amerks are 8-21-0-2.  The Griffins have a scored 104 goals in 30 games.  The Amerks have scored 59 goals in 31 games.  The stats could continue, but that says it all right there.

It seemed as if the Griffins did their homework on the Amerks, the first three goals were scored by simply heading to the front of the net and beating our defense to easily put the puck past Mike Brodeur.  Evan McGrath scored the Griffins fourth goal as he crossed the blue line right past Michal Repik, took the pass from Francis Pare and shot it right past Brodeur.  Repik should have been able to outskate that guy and prevent him from getting the [...]Read More

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Amerks vs Lake Erie Monsters (LIVE Coverage)

December 19, 2008 - By

In the words of Major League’s Harry Doyle, “In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Amerks have managed to win a few games, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.”  The weather outside is frightful…so, I brought the laptop to the game so everyone at home who may not be listening can still get updates on the game.

The Amerks just killed off a penalty brilliantly.  The Monsters never really had a chance to get anything going.  Keaton Ellerby was called for tripping.  He hit the puck and the guy “fell” over his stick…so…whatever.

15:00 left in the first.

The Sprukts, Matthias, Repik line looks nice.  They have already made some good things happen.

12:41 Left in the first period and Riley Emmerson takes on a guy who looks just like Jesus.  It really isn’t nice to hit Jesus a few days before his birthday.  But, in this case, I will allow it.  It was pretty much a draw…but, Emmerson got a few good hits in there.  So, I call the fight in favor of Riley Emmerson.

Amerks on the powerplay.  Repik got hooked.  Nothing came from that [...]Read More

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Amerks Release Classen from PTO

December 19, 2008 - By

Greg Classen has decided to head overseas and play with the Iserlohn Roosters (DEL) rather than accept a contract from the Rochester Americans.  The Amerks were the third team he was a part of this season, the Providence Bruins and San Antonio Rampage being the other two.

At least one positive thing can be said, management has made efforts to improve the team since around the 20 game mark when they said they would.

Here’s the official press release:

For Immediate Release

December 19, 2008

AMERKS RELEASE CLASSEN FROM PTO

FORWARD TO PLAY OVERSEAS WITH ISERLOHN ROOSTERS (DEL)

(Rochester, NY)… Rochester Americans General Manager Jody Gage announced today that the Amerks have released forward Greg Classen from his 25-game professional tryout (PTO) and has signed with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL.

“It’s unfortunate to lose a player like Greg, but it’s also extremely difficult to hold a player back from making a career decision,” said Gage. “We did offer him a standard player contract, but what it came down to was Greg making a career decision that he believed to be within the best interests of his future as a player.”

Classen began the 2008-09 season with San [...]Read More

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Amerks Need To Beat Lake Erie

December 18, 2008 - By

Tomorrow night the Amerks take on the Lake Erie Monsters for the second time in two weeks.  They really need to, once again, get a solid win against the Monsters.  The Amerks are actually starting to catch up to them in the rankings and a win tomorrow could mean the task is easier than expected.

The Monsters are the team directly above the Amerks in the standings.  They have 24 points and the Amerks have 16.  One game against a division rival can mean 4 points in the standings very quickly.

The Amerks are working hard at practice again today.  The defensemen are looking really solid.  You can see the difference in Shawn Matthias.  He is far more confident in himself (at least in the practices I have seen him in so far), and he is moving against defensemen much better.

Repik is looking solid as well.  And when they are on the same line, it seems no defensemen has a chance against them.

Greg Classen is still not on the ice for the Amerks, so don’t be thinking you’ll see him in the lineup tomorrow night.  Because you won’t.  He has only been in one practice.  He [...]Read More

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Back To The Grind: Practice 12-17-2008

December 17, 2008 - By

 

After a well-deserved two day break, the Amerks are back on the ice today with a few additions.  Shawn Matthias and Michal Repik are back from their call-ups to the Florida Panthers.  They had great chemistry when playing together in Florida, I would like to see that transfer to the AHL.

One major piece missing from the puzzle today is Noah Welch who went back to Florida after the game on Sunday night.  His conditioning stint in Rochester is over and we will miss him.  Rory Fitzpatrick is also not skating.  As earlier reported, he is out after having a surgery to repair his meniscus.  He is, however, up and walking around.  And it was said that he should return for Christmas.

It’s interesting to watch the players shoot on both Mike Brodeur and Chris Beckford-Tseu.  Brodeur doesn’t let anything in, even during practice.  He looks like he has belonged here in Rochester his whole life.  Beckford-Tseu is looking…well, like Beckford Tseu.  He stops some good ones, he lets some in.  Hopefully, having a real number one goaltender will help Chris get better.

Mike said that he is actively seeking a contract here in Rochester.  He wants to [...]Read More

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Mike Brodeur Named AHL Player of the Week

December 16, 2008 - By

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Rochester Americans goaltender Mike Brodeur has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 14, 2008. Brodeur was 3-2-0 with one shutout last week, stopping 130 of 137 shots as the Amerks completed a stretch of playing five games in six days.

After making 28 saves in a 3-2 loss at San Antonio on Tuesday, Brodeur came back on Wednesday to stop 26 of 27 shots through regulation and overtime, and three of four in the shootout, as the Americans took a 2-1 win in Houston. Brodeur made 26 saves in a 2-0 loss to Peoria on Friday before finishing the weekend with consecutive victories. He made 20 stops in a 3-1 win at Lake Erie on Saturday and pitched a 30-save shutout on Sunday as Rochester edged cross-state rival Syracuse, 1-0. Brodeur finished with a 1.39 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage for the week.

In recognition of his achievement, Brodeur will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Americans home game.

Brodeur, 25, is in his fifth professional season and signed with the Americans on Dec. 5. He [...]Read More

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David Shantz Sent to Elmira Jackals of the ECHL

December 16, 2008 - By

David Shantz

With the excellent play of newcomer Mike Brodeur it was only a matter of time before David Shantz was going to be reassigned to another team.  Rochester Americans General Manager Jody Gage announced today that the Florida Panthers have reassigned goaltender David Shantz to the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.

Shantz had been called up to the Amerks on November 10th and at the same time Tyler Plante was shipped off to the Dayton Bombers.

The Bombers and Jackals face off on January 13th and 14th in Elmira if you’re interested in seeing either goaltender possibly play in the area, we’ll be heading down to check the game out.

Shantz departs Rochester after posting a 0-3-1 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage in five games between the pipes for the Amerks.

The 22-year-old native of Burlington, Ontario, began the 2008-09 season with the Dayton Bombers (ECHL), where he registered a 4-2-1 record with one shutout to go along with a 2.35 goals-against average and a season-high 160 saves in seven games.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pound netminder was the Florida Panthers’ second-round selection (37th overall) in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

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