The Democrat and Chronicle reported today that plans for an outdoor game between the Rochester Americans and Hershey Bears at Frontier Field have fallen through.\r\n\r\nEver since the success of the Winter Classic in Buffalo the idea of an outdoor hockey game has been on the minds of every league and organization.\r\n\r\nThe reasons given for the idea not becoming a reality is the costs associated with the event. Originally planned for Frontier Field it would have cost approx $500,000 just for the costs associated with constructing the rink. That does not add in any costs for any weather related expenses and also the potential repairs to Frontier Field if the field was damaged.\r\n\r\nThe article also states that the Rhinos stadium was not considered. Lewis Staats states in the article, “because there are no permanent locker and shower facilities for the teams or game officials.”\r\n\r\nIn an interesting twist, Rochester Rhino\’s owner Rob Clark has said that they were never contacted by the Rochester Americans about a possible event like this. Rob Clark and Soccer Sam also called Lewis Staats about 3 to 4 months ago to ask for a moment to talk about an outdoor game and Lewis Staats said he [...]Read More
Archive for May, 2009
Florida Panthers Sign Alexander Salák
The Florida Panthers signed the undrafted free agent goaltender Alexander Salák to an entry-level contract on Friday afternoon. It’s also noted below that he will be attending the Panthers development camp next week in Canada.
Salák may not have been drafted by an NHL team, but he’s considered a legitimate free agent prospect. Some folks in Finland have called Salák the next Dominik Hasek.
From jatkoaika.com: Stays up when saving and covers the net well because of his size. Can do the butterfly style too and goes down smartly. On a good day saves everything. Minus is his hot temper and maybe unsteady performances.
Where does he fit within the Florida Panthers organization? That’s a big question.
This brings up a lot of questions as well about the goaltending situation for the Rochester Americans next season.
Tomas Vokoun is still under contract with the Panthers. Craig Anderson is an unrestricted free agent. That leaves an opening for a backup goaltender in Florida. I can’t imagine that the Panthers signed Alexander Salák to be a backup in the NHL without ever playing in the league.
If the Panthers are hoping that Salák will be playing in Rochester it could be [...]Read More
2009 Development Camp Roster
The Florida Panthers released the list of players invited to their 2009 Development Camp which starts on Sunday May 31st and runs through June 7th. The core of the players that will be there are essentially ones that will be playing for the Rochester Americans in the 2009/2010 season.
Noticeably absent is Tanner Glass and Chris Beckford-Tseu.
Edit June 2 – Tanner Glass is a restricted free agent and has not signed yet.
Here’s the complete list of players invited to the Florida Panthers 2009 Development camp:
Dan Collins, Keaton Ellerby, Shawn Matthias, Ryan Watson, Brady Calla, Colby Robak, Luke Beaverson, Andrew Sweetland, James DeLory, Jason Garrison, Matt Duffy, Jordan Henry, Adam Comrie, AJ Jenks, Evgeni Dadonov, Michael Caruso, Roman Derlyuk, Michael Frolik, Mike Duco, Peter Aston, Kenndal McArdle, John Lee, Eric Selleck
GOALTENDERS:
Marc Cheverie, Brian Foster, Tyler Plante, Jacob Markstrom, Alexander Salak
Complete Roster w/ Stats – click link to download a spreadsheet provided by the Florida Panthers with the complete roster and other stats associated with each player.
Hershey Bears Advance to Calder Cup Finals
It’s hard to imagine that at one time the Amerks were considered to be one of the top teams in the league along with the Hershey Bears. Those days will return to Rochester (we hope). The Amerks played the Bears twice this past season, they lost the first game 8-3 in Hershey and and won the second 3-2 in Rochester.
The Manitoba Moose and Houston Aeros are still battling for the Western Conference. The Moose have a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 tonight in Manitoba.
From TheAhl.com -
The Hershey Bears have won the Richard F. Canning Trophy as the AHL’s Eastern Conference champions for 2008-09, claiming the title with a 5-2 victory over the Providence Bruins in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence on Monday afternoon.
The Bears are heading to the Calder Cup Finals for the third time in four years since becoming the top development affiliate of the Washington Capitals, and for the 21st time overall, extending their own league record. Hershey’s most recent AHL championship came in 2006.
Chris Bourque, whose father Ray played 21 seasons with the Boston Bruins, scored the series-clinching goal on a shorthanded [...]Read More
Panthers Get Back to Work
The Florida Panthers will open their annual development camp about an hour outside of Toronto next week at the Teen Ranch, it feels like it was just yesterday that we wrote about our visit to last years camp.
The camp is a great place for signed and unsigned prospects to get the chance to go through on and off ice workouts with NHL coaches and trainers. At the camp they’ll cover everything related to the on ice game, strength and conditioning, and mainting a proper diet as well.
We last talked to the players in April when they cleaned out their lockers with the Rochester Americans and the last words were, “see you at camp.”
A list of players invited is expected prior to the start of camp on Friday, when I get it I’ll make sure to post it.
This will be the first chance this off season that players will get to make an impression hoping to get a spot on the Panthers lineup next season.
Shawn Matthias, Keaton Ellerby, Michael Caruso, and Tanner Glass are four players that expectations will be high on. Matthias had a horrible rookie year in Rochester and is looking to [...]Read More
Amerks Home Opener
The Rochester Americans announced on Thursday that the home opener for the 2009/2010 season will take place on Saturday October 3rd, 2009 at Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks will be entering their 54th season and second as the sole affiliate of the Florida Panthers.
That’s right, only about four and a half months until the next season begins.
The other four dates already set in stone for next season are:
Friday November 6th and 20th
Friday December 11th
Saturday December 26th
The day after Christmas is typically one of the more well attended games each season, assuming the on ice team is better than last year and the game being on a Saturday will produce a larger than usual crowd.
These dates are great, but it’ll be tough selling any of these to many fans until after fans get to see what kind of team is assembled through free agency starting on July 1st.
The deadline for “Early Eagle” pricing was extended to June 1st, so if you’re looking to save money head down to the arena and put down a deposit for season tickets.
The Amerks’ “Early Eagle” pricing deadline for the 2009-10 season is now good until Monday, [...]Read More
Jody Gage Removed as Amerks General Manager
Jody Gage is being removed as general manager of the Rochester Americans by ownership. Gage has spent about half of his life (24 out of 49) with the Amerks organization, 11 years as a player and 13 years in the front office.
Kevin Oklobzija reported in the Democrat and Chronicle about the change that is coming.
My guess, and it’s simply a guess, is that Curt Styres and Lewis Staats are trying to find a way to lower expenses. It’s been widely assumed that Gage is paid a decent salary but really has limited control regarding player moves. The roster is controlled by the Florida Panthers. Gage often worked with Jack Birch and the Panthers last season but ultimately they had the final say.
Anyone who has been watching headlines around the world of hockey and sports in general knows that teams are cutting costs where they can.
From the article:
Gage, 49, admitted a change is in the works but said, “I don’t have a comment right now.”
The team is expected to address the situation on Wednesday. Amerks owner Curt Styres and president Lewis Staats could not be reached for comment.
Gage said he couldn’t provide insight [...]Read More
Amerks to Play the Pirates
It’s looking as if the game a lot of fans had wanted last season is expected to finally happen, Rochester Americans vs Portland Pirates. The bitter divorce between the Amerks and Buffalo Sabres during the 2007/2008 season created an instant rivalry with whoever the Sabres would become affiliated with, that team being the Pirates.
The Amerks and Pirates have a history dating back to 1996 when the Amerks defeated the Pirates in seven games to win the Calder Cup Championship.
A home and home series between the two teams could very well be one game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo and one at Blue Cross Arena. A guaranteed attendance boost for both teams. The Pirates drew 11,144 fans last season against the Albany River Rats at HSBC Arena. A game involving the Amerks would be a huge boost for that adding a few more thousand fans. On the flipside the Pirates playing at Blue Cross Arena would have Sabres fans in the building and spark the old debate.
With 29 teams in the league during the 2008/09 season the Amerks played 44 of 80 games against five different teams. During the same season the Pirates played 48 games against five [...]Read More
Florida Everblades Eliminated
The Florida Everblades were eliminated in six games against the South Carolina Stingrays in the 2nd round of the ECHL playoffs on Tuesday night. The Blades were down 3-1 with the third period winding down when they were able to send the game into overtime by scoring two goals in the final minute and a half of regulation to tie it at 3. That’s all the team seemed to have in them as they went on to lose in overtime.
A disappointing loss for the Blades. They finished the regular season as the top team in the ECHL. They were picked No. 1 in the Hockey News ECHL poll, heralded by opposing coaches and players alike as “the best team in the league.”
Here’s a great writeup with more info about the loss by Angela Busch of the Naples Daily News. A season synopsis was also posted on Wednesday with more info.
Jacob Micflikier only played in the first game of the series before injuring his ankle again during a following practice.
Mike Brodeur had been presented the opportunity to play for the Everblades but turned it down. On one hand I understand where he’s coming from, but [...]Read More