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A Day at Florida Panthers Rookie Camp

May 31, 2008 - By

It seems rather odd to have spent the day at the Florida Panthers rookie camp, and then made it home in time to watch game four of the Stanley Cup finals.  The Panthers have begun planning for next season while the 07/08 season hasn’t even ended.

We made the road trip to not only get our fix of hockey, but to also check out many likely players that will fill the Rochester Americans lineup next season (assuming the Panthers become the sole affiliate).

Speaking of the affiliation, any player that was on the Amerks team last season showed a great sigh of relief when asked about last season.  All were happy that it’s over and are already focusing on next year.  I did ask if anyone had heard anything about the affiliation being made official and heard two responses, “it’s up in the air,” and “within a couple of weeks.”  All things that we have heard before.

One way to speculate that it’s more or less a done deal is that Amerk equipment manager Peter Bureaux was working the camp and dressed in Panther gear.

We had previously mentioned that it was a sort of “pre rookie” camp, but it in fact is rookie [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Headlines, Panthers

Panthers Hold Pre Rookie Development Camp

May 28, 2008 - By

The NHL and AHL are yet to crown a champion and the Florida Panthers have already started looking forward to the future. An annual pre rookie development camp is being held this week at the Teen Ranch in New Caledon, Ontario Canada.

The Florida Panthers have invited Lachlan MacIntosh from the University of New Brunswick, based on what we can find he is the player with the highest potential.

Courtesy of the Bugle Observer:

Right winger Lachlan MacIntosh, who had 227 points for Woodstock in three seasons (2003-2006), will be a special invitee by the Florida Panthers to its annual Teen Ranch pre-rookie development camp set for the May 26 weekend in New Caledon, Ontario.

The 22-year-old from Perth-Andover said last week he’s excited, and looking forward, to the opportunity to show his skills for the Panthers.

“It’s been a bit surreal,” said the University of New Brunswick skater, who stands 5′ 11” and weighs 184 pounds. “I’ve been told it’s the main pre-camp before the big rookie camp the Panthers hold every year. I will be going there to show them what type of player I am, to show my skills, and my physical game. Coach Tatarnic has [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks, Panthers

Panthers Sign Michael Frolik

May 28, 2008 - By

From “On Frozen Pond” by George Richards – As I’m sure you all have heard, the Panthers inked center Michael Frolik to an entry-level deal on Wednesday afternoon, days before the mandated deadline to get him under contract.

Frolik, Florida’s first round pick (10th overall) in 2006, spent the past two years playing for Rimouski of the Quebec junior league — the same team Sidney Crosby played for before he jumped into the NHL with much aplomb.

I would have the think Michael is going to have a very good shot at making next year’s squad out of training camp, and that’s probably the reason this deal took so long in getting done. The Panthers don’t have very many roster spots open at the current time, so look for some buy-outs to be on the way. I think Florida would like to have Frolik and Shawn Matthias — among others — to have a real shot to make it out of training camp.

Says Jacques: “We are confident he will help our organization for a long time. Michael has had two strong seasons with Rimouski and he is ready to compete for and earn a spot on our roster.”

[...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Amerks, Panthers

More info on Martin Lojek

May 26, 2008 - By

As previously reported on May 1, 2008 about Martin Lojek signing in Europe, we finally have more info that he has signed with the Czech team named HC Ocelári Trinec.

Martin Lojek was drafted in the 4th round, 105th overall, 2003 Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers. With the end of the 2007/08 season Lojek was to become a restricted free agent and likely continue to play in the AHL if he had been resigned by the Panthers.

Lojek has played in at least part of the past three seasons for the Rochester Americans on defense. In 156 games with the Amerks he tallied 13 goals and 19 assists. He only played in 5 games for the Florida Panthers where he had one assist.

Lojek is a big player at 6’4″ and over 230lbs, he needs to learn to use his body and become more involved in plays. Unless he finds a way to do that, it’s unlikely we’ll see him return to North American hockey.

Tags: Categories: Headlines, Panthers

Mike Caruso Signs with Panthers

May 24, 2008 - By

From GuelphStorm.com: Mike Caruso Signs with Panthers

The Florida Panthers signed defenceman Mike Caruso to an entry-level contract on Thursday.
The 20-year-old Caruso, a 2006 fourth-round pick by the Panthers, recently completed his fourth full season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Guelph Storm.

The Mississauga native totaled 34 points, 10 goals and 24 assists in 62 games played and led the team in plus minus with a +21 rating.

Assuming the Florida Panthers are the Amerks’ affiliate next season, there is a good chance that Michael Caruso could be seen in Red, White and Blue within the next season or two.The Florida Panthers have now signed all but one of their 2006 draft picks who need to be signed by May 31st.  This is important because if they fail to do so, they could lose those players and they go back into the draft-pool.

The last player they need to sign is left wing, Michael Frolik.  He was the Panthers’ 10th overall draft pick in 2006.  Frolik has 138 points (55 goals, 83 assists) in 97 games with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic over the last two Seasons.  Most scouts believe he will [...]Read More

Tags: ι Categories: Headlines, Panthers

Panthers Sign Brady Calla

May 21, 2008 - By

Assuming the Florida Panthers sign back on as an affiliate of the Amerks we should expect to see Calla be in an Amerks uniform in the 08/09 season.

SUNRISE, Fla. “ Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin announced today (May 20, 2008) that the club has agreed to terms on an entry level contract with RW Brady Calla.

Calla, 20, played in 52 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League after being traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors, for Panthers prospect D Keaton Ellerby, 16 games into the 2007-08 season. With the Blazers, Calla had 30 points (10-20-30) and 52 penalty minutes. Calla played in 39 games for Moose Jaw during the 2006-07 season, scoring 32 points (12-20-32) in 39 games. In four playoff games this spring for the Blazers, Calla had two assists.

Brady is a young prospect who works hard, has defensive responsibility and plays with a physical presence, said Martin.  We are very pleased to have signed a high-character individual like Brady and we look forward to his continued development and growth into a complete player within our organization.

The 6-foot-0, 190-pound right wing, played for Team Canada and won the gold medal [...]Read More

Tags: ι Categories: Panthers

Panthers Call up Rob Globke

February 12, 2008 - By

The Florida Panthers believe in calling players up based on recent performances, with Globke’s great weekend he has been recalled by the Panthers.  It’s his second call up of the season.

Tags: ι Categories: Panthers

Panthers vs Sabres: More Than I Bargained For

February 11, 2008 - By

  At the beginning of the season, I had originally bought tickets to last night’s Panthers’ game because I thought it would be fun to see an “Amerks vs. Amerks” game.  As it turns out, I got a lot more than I had bargained for.

With 9:56 left in the third period, Clarke MacArthur checked Olli Jokinen into the corner.  His leg came up hitting Richard Zednik in the neck with his skate.  Zednik immediately fell to the ice holding his neck with a huge splatter of blood following him down.

Somehow he had enough in him to get to the bench where a doctor and teammate Jassen Cullimore got him to the locker room where Dr Leslie Bisson was able to stop the bleeding to get him transported to a local Buffalo hospital.

Zednik had surgery there and is now in stable condition.

The Panthers’ bench was despondent.  Teammates had tears in theirs eyes as they waited to find out what was going to be the outcome of the incident.  The last 9:56 of the game were a waste.  Both teams were just going through the motions.

Although the Sabres’ scored again…it didn’t matter, the game was over at [...]Read More

Categories: Headlines, Panthers

15 Active, Lost 20 of last 22, Where's some Help?

January 20, 2008 - By

With only 15 players on the roster in tonights game against the Quad City Flames, the Amerks lost there fourth straight by the final score of 4-2, they have also now lost 20 of the last 22 games.

Mark Mancari (13th of season) and Kenndal McArdle (5th of season) scored the only goals for the Amerks, all four goals for the flames were scored by Grant Stevenson.  Adam Dennis stopped 30 of 33 shots.

The Amerks only had 15 players on the roster tonight, two under the norm, Stefan Meyer and Marek Zagrapan were out presumably with the flu bug that has been going around the locker room.

Franklin MacDonald was playing as a forward tonight, he now joins Gragnani who was also recently moved to the same position after a depressing start as a defenseman.

The Amerks have been short on players for much of the season and especially as of recent. The Buffalo Sabres currently have Clark MacArthur who was recalled on January 5, and Patrick Kaleta on the 8th.  The Florida Panthers called up Tanner Glass on January 13 and Anthony Stewart back on January 3rd.  Neither team has assigned any players to the Amerks as replacements.

[...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks, Headlines, Panthers

Amerks Kick Off 2008 With Uncertainties

January 2, 2008 - By

Tonight the Amerks kick off 2008 as a year with a lof of uncertainty as they head out on the road with a game against the division leading Toronto Marlies.

In the month of December the Amerks went 1-12 while tying a team record with 10 consecutive losses.  They also finished the first 3 months of the season in last place in the Division, Conference, and 2nd to last in the league.

Statistically the Amerks still have the potential to climb out of the basement and back into playoff contention, or least prove they won’t be ranked amongst one of the worst Amerks team in history.  In November they went 7-4 and were playing .500 hockey.

The skid started just after reports came that the Sabres were officially going to split from the Amerks at the end of the 07/08 season.  Officials from the city of Rochester also indicated they would not negotiate renewing the lease beyond this season until after Rochester Sports Group figures out there financial issues and get things on solid ground.

The uncertainties include ownership, affiliation, the young team, coaching, and the lack of a lease with Blue Cross Arena beyond this season.

The Amerks, who are owned by Rochester [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks, Headlines, Panthers

New Goalie Helmet for Tyler Plante

December 19, 2007 - By

Goaltender Tyler Plante recently had his helmet painted and is quite possibly the most amusing of any professional goalie.  While many goalies go for art work featuring details about the team and city they play in, Tyler dedicated his helmet to “the funniest man alive,” and two of his favorite movies, Blades of Glory and Talladega Nights.

The helmet was painted by professional Dan Lessard who has painted a lot of goalie masks, check out his web site to see more of his work.

Tylers favorite quote is, “if you ain’t, first you’re last.”  He said he hasn’t quoted Will Ferrell at all during games, but we encourage him to do so.

Tyler Plante is a prospect of the Florida Panthers who is currently playing in the ECHL for the Florida Everblades.  He played one game this season for the Amerks, but we’re expecting to see more of him in Rochester before the end of the season.

Edit 4/10/2009: This has become the most popular post on this site and written at a time when we were still new to all of this. Not much meat to the story, but the pictures speak for themselves.

(click image to view [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι Categories: Amerks, Headlines, Panthers, Players

The Facts Regarding The Finances and Affiliations

December 5, 2007 - By

The existence, financial stability, ownership and even the NHL affiliate of the Rochester Americans is all up in the air right now. A lot of what has been going on is “he said, she said,” and all sorts of politics. I thought I’d take some time to start at the beginning and work up to where we’re at right now. I’m hoping to get all of the facts only and leave out opinions, insight, and speculation, those will come in a later article.Here’s a general time line of what has happened:

January 5, 2007 –

(This information was not made public until November 29, 2007)

Source: News 10 NBC (Rochester, NY)

View a pdf of the letter Larry Quinn sends a letter to Steve Donner showing interest to start discussing the affiliation between the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans for the 2007-2008 season and beyond. The letter states the Sabres are interested in discussing two alternatives, one of which is a long term affiliation agreement, the other is the outright purchase of the Americans.

March 9 2007 –

Steve Donner made a public announcement in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that the Rochester Americans and Knighthawks [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks, Panthers