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Archive for March, 2008

Rochester rallies to defeat Binghamton in a shootout

March 31, 2008 - By

From the Democrat and Chronicle
Kevin Oklobzija • Staff writer • March 31, 2008

While Derek Smith and the Binghamton Senators celebrated his short-handed goal midway through the second period, a very loud clatter could be heard coming from the runway behind the Rochester Americans bench.

Having been among the five Amerks on the ice when Smith gave the Senators a 3-1 lead, Clarke MacArthur decided it was time his hockey stick become something other than a hockey stick.

“I got rid of the curse,” he said.

Equipped with a new stick, MacArthur showed that he still could put the puck in the net by scoring the winning shootout goal as the out-of-gas Amerks made an improbable rally and won 4-3.

MacArthur tucked the puck between the legs of goalie Brian Elliott on the eighth Rochester shootout attempt — the third sudden-death round — and the Amerks won their third game in three nights.

Stefan Meyer’s power-play goal with just 9.6 seconds remaining forced overtime, and he said he didn’t really need his stick to score it.

“I thought I was back home on the farm: I put a pitchfork in my hands and was pitch-forking that sucker [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks

Rookies, Plante Lead Amerks Over Griffins

March 30, 2008 - By

Amerks.com – The Rochester Americans beat the Grand Rapid Griffins 5-2 tonight at the Van Andel Arena. The Amerks second win in a row improves the team’s record to 22-40-6-4 on the year.

The teams rookies stepped up big in tonights game. Marc-Andre Gragnani had two goals to put him as the team leader in points with 50 (14+36) and earning him first star honors. Tommy Goebel netted the game winner for the Amerks in the third period. In goal for the Rochester Americans was Tyler Plante who stood on his head stopping a season high 47 of 49 shot-on-goal earning him the third star of the game.

For the third time in three straight games the Amerks got on the board first. Gragnani put the puck past goaltender Jimmy Howard on the two-man advantage. Gragnani’s goal surpassed Mark Mancari for the team lead in points. Gragnani’s goal was assisted by Jordan Henry and Dylan Hunter. Henry in his last two games has collected three points (1+2).

In the second the Griffins tied the game on a goal from blue-liner Kyle Quincey at the 1:07 mark. Quincey’s fifth of the year was assisted by Darren Helm and Carl Corazzini.

The [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks

Tyler Plante Perfect In Shootout To Beat Moose

March 28, 2008 - By

Tyler Plante stopped five of five shots in a shootout tonight to finally put away the Manitoba Moose 5-4.  Drew Larman scored the lone goal in the shootout to put the Amerks ahead.

The Amerks came out guns blazing in the first scoring three unanswered goals before the end of the period.  Jordan Henry scored his first professional goal on the power play at 10:04 when Mike Brown was in the box for roughing.

Drew Larman scored on a breakaway pass from Franklin MacDonald at 14:27.

Less than three minutes later, Tanner Glass squared off with Mike Brown at center ice.  Tanner landed one big hit before Brown was finished and grabbed for Glass’s legs to take him down to the ice.

At only 1:18 into the second period, Groulx got two minutes for boarding, once again putting the Amerks on the Power Play.  Mike Funk took a shot from in front of the net where Dylan Hunter tapped it in for the goal at 2:59, putting the Amerks ahead 4-0.

Then the Amerks began to fall apart a bit.  The Moose scored three unanswered goals to close out the 2nd period, bringing the score to 4-3 going into the third.

[...]Read More

Categories: Amerks, Headlines

Luke Beaverson vs Greg Classen

March 27, 2008 - By

Here’s a video of the fight between newcomer Luke Beaverson of the Amerks vs Greg Classen of the Manitoba Moose.

Categories: Amerks

New Potential Owner of Amerks and Knighthawks

March 27, 2008 - By

The NLL Insider is reporting that the new owner of the Rochester Americans and  Rochester Knighthawks will be Curt Styres.  An announcement could happen by the end of the week.

Styres, a Six Nations resident, is a huge finanacial backer of local lacrosse and hockey clubs in the Six Nations community, and currently also serves as the Six Nations Arrows Director of Lacrosse Personnel. The team is coached by Knighthawks players Regy Thorpe, Shawn Williams and Marshall Abrams, and over the past few years have once again regained the reputation as one of the most successful junior teams in Canada.

It is believed that team CEO Steve Donner would replace his current co-investors, Walter Turek and Randy Latona, with Styres. Sources also say though that all three would remain with the franchises in some capacity, with Donner running the day-to-day operations.

With the purchase, Styres would become the majority owner of both teams.

The sale to Styers would almost also surely mean both the Knighthawks and Americans would remain in Rochester long term.

Although it sounds as if the sale of the teams is still being finalized, it is believed an announcement will be made as early as this [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι Categories: Amerks, Headlines

Amerks Stomped by the Moose

March 27, 2008 - By

The Amerks lost yet again to the Manitoba Moose, this time by the final score of 4-1.  The Moose have won the past 11 contests between the two teams dating back to the 06/07 season.  The two teams play again on Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.

Clark MacArthur had the first scoring chance of the game as he hung out around the opposing blue line, received a pass and went in on a breakaway against Moose goalie Drew MacIntyre but was unsuccesful.

The Moose must not have been paying attention to the system the Amerks have been playing.  Moments after MacArthurs attempt, Tanner Glass (4th goal of the season) was left all alone at the same opposing blue line when he scored off of an assist from Marek Zagrapan (18th assist).

The only other Amerk related highlight of the game was when Luke Beaverson, playing in his first professional game, got into a fight with Greg Classen of the Moose.  A video is being uploaded to YouTube and will be posted on Thursday.

Drew MacIntyre saved 23 of 24 shots by the Amerks, not many of those 23 shots would’ve been considered great scoring opportunities.  He is ranked 5th [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks, Headlines

Derek Whitmore Signed by Sabres

March 26, 2008 - By

Forward Derek Whitmore signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday after completing his four-year career at Bowling Green.  An undrafted free agent, Whitmore had a career-high 27 goals and added 10 assists in 38 games as a senior, A native of Rochester, he finished his NCAA career with 103 points (70 goals, 33 assists) in 143 games.  We should probably expect him in Rochester in the coming days.

Tags: ι Categories: Amerks

Amerks Win Two Of Three Games Last Week

March 26, 2008 - By

Last week the Amerks won Thursday against the Lake Erie Monsters in OT, final score was 5-4.  They won again on Friday against the Grand Rapid Griffins, final score was 4-2.  Their only loss came against the Binghamton Senators on Saturday (7-4 Loss).  The Senators have now won all seven games they have played against the Amerks this season, they play an eighth time on Sunday March 30th.

Apologize for the lack of recaps on our part, it’s been a busy week.

Recaps courtesy of Amerks.com -

Amerks at Lake Erie Monsters (5-4 OT Win)

Amerks vs Grand Rapids Griffins (4-2 Win)

Amerks vs Senators (4-7 Loss)

Categories: Amerks

Recent ATO Signings

March 26, 2008 - By

Over the past week a number of players have been signed to amateur tryout contracts (ATO), here’s the current list of players:

  • Mike Kostka (D) – A free agent signing of the Sabres, he joins the Amerks after a four-year collegiate career with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. A native of Ajax, Ontario, Kostka registered 53 points (15+38) and 74 penalty minutes (PIM) in 143 games for the Minutemen. The team captain notched a career high 21 points (9+12) while appearing in every game on the blueline during his senior year at UMass.
  • Luke Beaverson – He’s a Florida 9th round draft pick that has played the last 4 years at the Univeristy of Alaska-Anchorage.  He is another big defenseman at 6’5″ 227lbs.
  • Tommy Goebel (F) – A short 5′ 7″ tall and 166lbs, he’s the smallest player on the ice and can’t be missed.  In three games played already for the Amerks he has scored one goal and three assists.  He is very fast on the ice with great hands, as long he doesn’t get pushed all over the ice. He just completed his second season at Ohio State University, where he transferred after playing two seasons with the [...]Read More

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Peter Aston Reassigned to Everblades

March 24, 2008 - By

Florida Panthers have reassigned rookie defenseman Peter Aston to the Florida Everblades. The move is being made to qualify Aston to dress for the ECHL playoffs. Aston played 56 games with Rochester this season, collecting 13 points (3+10).

Tags: ι Categories: Amerks

Tugs-of-war take their toll on Amerks

March 23, 2008 - By

Article in The Buffalo News on Sunday talking about the Amerks/Sabres relationship that basically says the Sabres suck as an NHL affiliate team.

Tugs-of-war take their toll on Amerks Team caught in middle of parent clubs, owners By Bucky Gleason NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 03/23/08 7:26 AM

His name was synonymous with the team he now oversees. It’s difficult for anyone who grasps the long, celebrated history of the Rochester Americans to go without thinking about Jody Gage. He’s their all-time leader in goals, assists and games played and, in recent years, tickets sold.

Gage made a connection with the Rochester fan base long before becoming general manager and vice president of sports operations, duties that extend beyond the Amerks and into the indoor lacrosse Knighthawks and outdoor lacrosse

“It’s probably tough for Cunney. He’s got two teams barking at him and telling him what to do, and it’s tough to satisfy both teams.” Rookie defenseman Mike Weber

Rattlers. His three teams have reached the championship round eight times in 11 years.

And now he’s weathering a perfect storm.

Yes, this has been a difficult year for the Amerks. Once a perennial powerhouse and a model franchise in the [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks

Mike Funk Returned to Amerks

March 23, 2008 - By

The Buffalo Sabres reassigned defenseman Mike Funk to the Rochester Americans.  In four games with the sabres he was -3 with 1 shot on goal.  In 61 games with the Amerks he has had 2 goals and 5 assists.

Tags: ι Categories: Amerks

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