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Archive for September, 2009

Amerks Defeat the Crunch with a Strong Performance

September 30, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

The Amerks won a game on the road in Syracuse.  Amazing.  What an odd drive home that was talking about how well the team played instead of the other way around.  With two minutes left in the game my sons face lit up with excitement that he finally saw a win in Syracuse, something he’s never witnessed before in his life.

Ok, back to ground level, it was only a preseason game.. but I’ll take it.

The team that played on Tuesday night in Syracuse was a completely different team than the one that played on Sunday night.  The team had some chemistry, some cohesion, the passes were crisp, bodies were thrown around, goals were scored, and there was blood.  What more can you ask for in a hockey game?

I knew we were in for a good game when players were chirping at each other during warmups.   Trevor Gillies for the Amerks was stretching near the red line at the end of warmups when a couple of pucks came across the ice in his direction.  How did they get there?  Kevin Harvey of the Syracuse Crunch.  Warmups ended with Gillies tossing a puck back towards Gillies and the two [...]Read More

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Jeff Taffe, Preseason Game #3 vs Crunch, End of Camp

September 29, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

The Amerks wrapped up training camp this morning at the always freezing cold ESL Centre in Henrietta.  The team will also finish there preseason with a game tonight in Syracuse against the Crunch at the On Center.  The puck drops just after 7pm and I’ll be there.  Tickets are $5, no idea if they’ll charge more at the door.

The Florida Panthers today placed Jeff Taffe on waivers.  There’s very little chance he’ll be claimed off of waivers based on his current contract.  He’s signed to a two way deal this season and a one way NHL deal in 2010/2011.  I doubt an NHL team see’s that much value in him, or at least we can hope.  I’ll try to find out tonight if there’s any chance he’ll fly back on his own to join the Amerks.

Tonight’s game is an opportunity for the first two lines to try and continue building some chemistry on the ice.  It’s also a game for a few players to get a last look by the team prior to either being released or offered deals to go play with the Everblades.

The line of Dadonov, Taylor, and Mink looks to be our top line [...]Read More

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Chris Taylor Looking Over Broad Street

September 29, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

Chris Taylor on the windows of Blue Cross Arena

The giant windows at Blue Cross Arena were given a new look this week with the addition of a couple of huge pictures.  Rochester American Chris Taylor is on the Broad Street side of the building and the Rochester Knighthawks first round draft pick Sid Smith is on the Exchange Street side.

There’s nothing on the building that indicates what sports teams play at the arena so this will give the building a great new look from the outside by showing off two players from a couple of the teams that use the building.

These will get some attention from those working downtown and any out of town people who may be visiting.

It’s awesome to see the outside of the arena have the identity of two teams that use the building.  Up until this point there had been nothing on the outside of the building to give any indication of who used it.

The current ads are sponsored by the law firm Segar-Sciortino.

I assume on a day with nicer weather you’ll be able to see these better than the pictures let on.

It’s amazing [...]Read More

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Amerks Trim 12 Players from the Roster

September 28, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

With the official closing of training camp after practice on Tuesday morning the Amerks trimmed 12 players on Monday from a roster that started with over 40 players.  The team will probably cut more players on Wednesday after the final preseason game in Syracuse against the Crunch.

Mike Sgroi was one player released from the team that I had hoped would stick around but knew inside he didn’t really stand a chance once Trevor Gillies and Jimmy Bonneau were invited to camp.  Given the real lack of ice time at Sunday nights game it was clear he would be cut.

Here’s the rest of the players released from tryouts with the team:

Mike Sgroi, Stephane Goulet, Les Reaney, Tom Harrison, Nathan O’Nabigon, Tyrel Lucas, Scott Bartlett, Josh McQuade; defensemen Dwayne Zinger, Ryan Stokes, Travis Gawryletz; and goaltender Daryl Borden.

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Amerks Lose Second Preseason Game

September 28, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

Brent Regner, Dan LaCosta, and Jamie Johnson

Something familiar happened on Sunday evening, the Amerks lost to the Crunch.  The final score was 4-1, the fourth goal was on an empty net.

If you showed up to the game expecting to see some finesse hockey you would have been let down.  The games going on in the other rinks were probably smoother than this one.

The game was sloppy, was all over the place, had little chemistry, and also had some guys trying to show themselves off more than trying to work together as a team.

We just need to remember, it’s only the preseason.  These players have only skated together a couple of times with there first real practice together Sunday morning for a short gameday skate.

After the game head coach Benoit Groulx said, “To me it’s an exhibition game.  We have alot of things that we need to put together and we’ll keep working at it.”

“Tonight we’re missing so many guys still with the Panthers like Repik, Duco, and Taffe.  Tonight we tried something and obviously it’s too early to get an idea,” is how Benoit Groulx replied to a question [...]Read More

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Preseason Game #2: Amerks vs Crunch at ESL Centre

September 27, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

Mike Sgroi and Trevor Gillies

It’s hockey night in Rochester Henrietta!  The Amerks play their first home game tonight at the ESL Centre in Henrietta to take on the Syracuse Crunch.  The two teams will play again against each other in Syracuse on Tuesday night.

These games have a little more meaning in terms of players looking to make the roster.  Syracuse is well known for being a team that likes to fight and the Amerks have a three guys that are willing.  Mike Sgroi, Trevor Gillies, and Jimmy Bonneau will be trying to prove in these games they deserve to earn a contract with the team.

Rory Fitzpatrick was skating with the team this morning but will not be playing.  He’s healthy and ready to go but there’s no need for him to play in a meaningless game.

The game might be meaningless but the players are not.  While watching practice I could overhear kids at the arena for tournaments talking about seeing “these guys in NHL 10.”  One kid said, “I had to play against these guys when I was sent down to the Hershey Bears.”

I have no idea where [...]Read More

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Mike Sgroi is Passionate about Hockey and Fighting

September 27, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

When the name Mike Sgroi is brought up in the world of hockey fighters you’ll get responses ranging from a great heavyweight fighter that can skate to someone who is a lunatic, a cancer in the locker room, and a whack job with a highly inflated ego.

Some of things may have been true years ago but not so anymore.

Sgroi is out to prove everyone wrong and earn a roster spot on a team that’s in need of a heavyweight fighter.  The Amerks aren’t in need of just a heavyweight, but a heavyweight that can also play hockey.  Playing hockey is the focus of the Amerks training camp and something Sgroi did a decent job of on the opening day of camp.

Amerks head coach Benoit Groulx wants more than just a heavyweight, “We want a guy that can not only be an enforcer on the ice but a guy that can bring toughness and a guy that can skate.”

Mike understands what the team is looking for and said, “That’s the one thing that separates me a little bit.  I’ve always liked to play.  I’ve always been a half decent hockey player as well as a fighter.  [...]Read More

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Amerks Fall to Monsters Despite Late Comeback

September 26, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

(Strongsville, Ohio)…  Despite staging a late third-period comeback, the Rochester Americans fell 2-1 tonight to the Lake Erie Monsters at Hoover Arena in southern Cleveland. The game was the first of three for Rochester for the 2009 preseason.

Brock Bradford broke a 1-1 tie and netted the game-winner with just four seconds left in regulation to give the Monsters the 2-1 win. Kevin Schaeffer tallied Lake Erie’s first goal earlier in the first period. Lake Erie goaltender and Rochester native Billy Sauer logged a 25-save performance.

Ryan Mior and Chris Beckford-Tseu combined for a 27-save effort and second-year forward Andrew Sweetland scored Rochester’s lone goal of the contest.

17 seconds into the game Rochester’s Tom Harrison and Lake Erie’s T.J. Reynolds dropped the gloves

The Amerks nearly jumped out to an early 1-0 lead early in the first period as Lee Jubinville one-timed a nifty pass from defenseman Matt Duffy, but Sauer was quick to make the save.

Lake Erie got on the board first as Schaeffer beat Mior high glove-side to give the hometown Monsters a 1-0 lead at 5:01 of the opening frame. Ryan Stoa received the lone assist on the play.

After [...]Read More

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Preseason Game #1: Amerks @ Laker Erie Monsters

September 26, 2009 - By Keith Wozniak

Tonight is the first preseason game of the 2009/2010 season for the Amerks who are heading to just south of Cleveland to play the Lake Erie Monsters.

What does this game mean?  It’s a chance for some players to show what they have.  It’s players that were either invited to camp or will probably be sent to the Florida Everblades.

If the Amerks lose it will have no impact on the regular season.  If they win the game we’ll talk about how well these kids played.

It’s not broadcast anywhere, so check back tomorrow for some type of report from the game along with a pregame report for the game at ESL Centre on Sunday night.

2009-10 PRESEASON ROSTER

NAME POS HGT WGT D.O.B. AGE 08-09 CLUB 30 BECKFORD-TSEU, Chris [...]Read More

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