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Amerks Weekend Road Games; Aeros Winning Even with Call Ups

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January 27, 2012 - By
Amerks Weekend Road Games; Aeros Winning Even with Call Ups

The weekend is here and the Amerks are on the road tonight in Syracuse and tomorrow in Toronto before the All-Star break and heading into the last couple of months of the season wins will become more important than ever.

They have to beat Syracuse and Toronto.  They need two points.  That simple.  How that’s going to happen is anyones guess but any way they can do it will be acceptable.

Here’s a good writeup from Ted (insagt1 on the forums) about the current state of the team:

The standings don’t lie, from the bottom up:

Rockford 41; LE 41; Hamilton 41;GR 42; Tex 43; ROCH 44; Peoria 45 (all out of playoff contention currently)

San Antonio (ugh) 46; Mil 46; Chi 50;Abb 53; Hou 54

And then the 3 division leaders and Toronto is now 7 points ahead of us.

Amerks have to climb over Peoria first and then San Antonio currently 8th as well as Milwaukee, who has 2 games in hand. After that it gets downright ugly. For those at home not keeping score, the Amerks have not been playing well lately. Not counting the loser points they are a mere 3-7 over the last 10 games [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks

Griffins 3 Goals in Under 3 Minutes Defeats Amerks; Gongalsky vs Piche

January 26, 2012 - By
Griffins 3 Goals in Under 3 Minutes Defeats Amerks; Gongalsky vs Piche

The Amerks lost on Wednesday night and there’s two ways you could look at the standings after this game.  The glass half empty way is that the Amerks are following the Buffalo Sabres lead and slowly sinking in the standings.  There’s only four points that separates the Amerks from the Rockford IceHogs who are in last place in the conference.  They’re also only six points from last place in the league.  The glass half full way is that the Amerks are only two points from eighth place in the conference and four points from sixth place.  The good news is that the Amerks play nine out of 12 games in February on home ice so if there was ever a time to really turn things around it’d be in February.  The ship hasn’t sunk but there’s reason for concern.

The real downfall has been the inconsistencies.  Everything from goal scoring to goaltending to wins and losses.  This is a hard working group of hockey players with a lot of potential how much they can really accomplish is the question.  The hope for any sports team is to get into the playoffs and then anything can happen.  It’s going to take [...]Read More

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Gameday Notes Amerks vs Griffins; Finley and Morrisonn Back

January 25, 2012 - By
Gameday Notes Amerks vs Griffins; Finley and Morrisonn Back

The best news for the Amerks second game of this road trip against the Grand Rapids Griffins is that they’ll have Joe Finley and Shaone Morrisonn back on defense after they missed a few games.  Morrisonn has missed the last three games while serving a three game suspension.  Finley has missed the past four Amerks games while called up to the Buffalo Sabres.  The defense has gotten by but those two are much more capable defensively against the top lines of opposing teams.

Rochester came back from being down 3-1 this past Saturday against the Griffins and won in the shootout, final score was 4-3.  Nick Crawford, Zack Kassian and Mark Voakes scored in regulation and Paul Szczechura, Jonathan Parker and Shawn Szydlowski scored in the shootout for the win.  David Leggio made 35 saves for his 12th win of the season.  Leggio is now 12-10-1 with a 2.82 GAA.  My guess is that Leggio gets another start tonight.

The key to an Amerks win is simple, build a lead through the first two periods and hold on to it going into the third.  Pretty basic.  The Amerks are 18-4-2-1 when they have a lead going into the third period.  They’ve found ways to come [...]Read More

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Zack Kassian to at AHL All-Star Game; Joe Finley Sent Back

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January 24, 2012 - By
Zack Kassian to at AHL All-Star Game; Joe Finley Sent Back

Zack Kassian turned 21 today and the American Hockey League gave him a present by adding him to the All-Star Game roster in Atlantic City this coming weekend.  In 25 games with the Amerks he has 10 goals and 11 assists for a total of 21 points.  Kassian is currently tied for third on the team in goals and fifth in assists.  The rookie will replace Brayden McNabb who has been on the Sabres injured list out with a concussion.

Interesting replacement.  Kassian has had a number of great moments as a rookie but hasn’t necessarily been the best player on the Amerks roster.  It all comes down to the people making the decisions and if they’re asking for the “All-Star” of a team or the best future prospect.  Either way, congrats to Kassian.  It’s a great way to get your name out there in the hockey world to show yourself off.

Joe Finley has also been sent back to the Amerks from the Sabres.  He’ll join the team in Grand Rapids for their road game on Wednesday night.  Shaone Morrisonn will also be back in the lineup after serving his three game suspension.  With those two changes the Amerks [...]Read More

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Amerks vs Barons Again.. Pre Game Notes and Thoughts

1
January 20, 2012 - By
Amerks vs Barons Again.. Pre Game Notes and Thoughts

The Amerks lost on Thursday by three goals and they’ll get another crack tonight at the Barons.  The difference between the Amerks and Barons was defense and goaltending.  The Barons were able to keep the puck clear of their zone and advance the play which ultimately lead to goals scored.  Yann Danis was also great coming up with some big saves when needed.  Paul Szczechura, Marcus Foligno and Jonathan Parker all had great chances but Danis was able to make the save.

Drew MacIntyre will be starting for Rochester tonight.  It’ll be another chance for MacIntyre to have a big game and challenge Leggio for the top goaltending spot he’s had recently.  Rolston said he has no confidence issues in either goalie but didn’t think Leggio was as sharp as he has been so MacIntyre will get the start.  This team as it is needs the goalie to be able to bail them out of games.

Drew Schiestel wasn’t at the morning skate today but is traveling and Ron Rolston expects to have him back in the lineup tonight.  Schiestel hasn’t been one of the top defensemen but he’ll make the defense better than they were last night.

As for [...]Read More

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Amerks Using a Mulligan after 5-2 Loss to the Barons, Try Again Friday

January 20, 2012 - By
Amerks Using a Mulligan after 5-2 Loss to the Barons, Try Again Friday

The Rochester Americans weren’t very good on Thursday night and it showed on the scoreboard with the Oklahoma City Barons easily skating away with a 5-2 win.  The team will use a mulligan and forget the game ever happened and move on to the rematch on Friday night on the same ice surface.  I’ll continue going through a game recap but it can be summed up pretty easily, the Amerks were without three of their top defensemen and it showed.  The team was missing Shaone Morrisonn, Joe Finley and TJ Brennan and the Barons took advantage of it.

The news leading up to the game was that Michael Ryan would finally be back in the lineup after missing 35 games.  Well, he wasn’t.  He looked fine at the morning skate and Rolston even talked about him playing after practice.  Because of those two things I was expecting to see him but when the team came out for warmups one of the players missing was Ryan.  Jacob Legace wasn’t expected to play either but did given the opening in the roster.  Ryan in the lineup probably wouldn’t have been a game changer but he would’ve helped.

Alex Biega made one of the better [...]Read More

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Amerks Gameday Notes, Lineup and Injury Updates

January 19, 2012 - By
Amerks Gameday Notes, Lineup and Injury Updates

The biggest news in Rochester other than Kodak filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that Michael Ryan is back in the lineup for the Rochester Americans.  The last appearance of Michael Ryan on a gameday was October 16th when he was on the ice for warmups but didn’t come out for the game.  It was reported as “headaches” and he’s missed 35 games since then.  It’ll probably take a few games for Ryan to get his timing back but they’re looking for some instant offense out of him.

Zack Kassian had a solid two games against Binghamton and Hershey when he first came back and then was “ok” last weekend against Toronto and Hershey.  Rolston attributed that to Kassian just getting back to town, settling in and getting reacquainted with the team.  hmm.. I think that would’ve been the case with the first two games back, not the second two.  Kassian should be playing on a line with Michael Ryan and Paul Szczechura so a big game will be expected from him.

One thing the Amerks don’t want to do is get into a shootout type of situation against the Barons.  They don’t want the game to get into a shootout to [...]Read More

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First Half Report Card for the Amerks 2011-2012 Season

January 19, 2012 - By
First Half Report Card for the Amerks 2011-2012 Season

It feels like just yesterday I had written up a first quarter report card but it was nearly two months ago and here we are today halfway through the 2011-2012 season.  After 38 games played the Amerks are currently sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference and one point behind the eighth and final playoff spot.  There are eight teams ahead of them in standings and seven of those teams have at least one if not more games in hand giving the Amerks some room to gain some ground.  The Amerks have continued to hold on to second place in the North Division but due to the new playoff format that does not mean a thing.

Overall there’s finally reason to be optimistic about the second half of the season.  The team continues to mature and plays it’s hearts out.  They do everything they can.  They’re proud to wear the Amerks crest.  In order for the team to start making a run to solidify a playoff spot they’ll have to remain healthy, continue to play consistent hockey and also rely on players being sent back by the Buffalo Sabres.

I talked to Paul Szczechura and Derek Whitmore after [...]Read More

Categories: Amerks

Michael Ryan Returns, Evan Rankin ECHL Trade and One Hundred Thousand Amerks Fans

January 19, 2012 - By
Michael Ryan Returns, Evan Rankin ECHL Trade and One Hundred Thousand Amerks Fans

The last time Michael Ryan played a game was October 14th against the Lake Erie Monsters and has since missed 35 games due to a mystery injury/illness/something or another.  If everything goes according to plan he’ll skate to the ice tonight against the Oklahoma City Barons.  The last time he was expected to return was Thanksgiving week before another he had another set back.  So, what’s been wrong?  Who knows but a healthy Michael Ryan in the Amerks lineup immediately contributes some speed up front and even more potential scoring up front.  The team and fans will take that any day.

In his past three full seasons in the AHL, he was a big-time goal-scorer. In 2006-07 he scored 28 in 50 games for the Amerks. He scored 25 in 40 games with the Albany River Rats in 2008-09. He had 25 in 52 games for the Adirondack Phantoms last season.

And considering about half the forwards in Buffalo have been injured this season, and that six different Amerk forwards have been called up as injury replacements, there’s little doubt that Ryan would have been adding to his NHL games-played total.

(Read more from Kevin O on Hockey O-Zone)

[...]Read More

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Amerks Sign Defensemen Maury Edwards and Brock Matheson

January 18, 2012 - By
Amerks Sign Defensemen Maury Edwards and Brock Matheson

The Rochester Americans are short on defensemen for the first time this season and have added two players prior to three games in three nights starting on Thursday.  The team signed Maury Edwards (Cincinnati Cyclones) and Brock Matheson (Stockton Thunder) to PTO’s, both from the ECHL.

The Amerks lineup will be without Shaone Morrisonn who was suspended for three games because of this hit last Saturday on Brian Willsie of the Hamilton Bulldogs.  The Amerks are also without Joe Finley (healthy scratch Wednesday night) and TJ Brennan who are on recall to the Buffalo Sabres.  With those three players out it leaves the team with Alex Biega, Drew Schiestel, Dennis Personn, Nick Crawford and Corey Fienhage.

That’s not a defense that any team will be very fearful of.. with the current coaching staff though I’m confident they’ll give them some good guidance at dealing with what they have and not thinking about what or who is missing.

From the Amerks press release on Matheson:

(Rochester, NY)… The Rochester Americans announced today that the team has signed defenseman Brock Matheson of the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder to a professional tryout.

Matheson, 24, has appeared in 19 games for Stockton this season, [...]Read More

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Shaone Morrisonn Suspended 3 Games for this Hit

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January 17, 2012 - By
Shaone Morrisonn Suspended 3 Games for this Hit

The American Hockey League suspended Shaone Morrisonn for three games for this hit on January 14th to the head of Brian Willsie of the Hamilton Bulldogs.  This is the second suspension of the season for Morrisonn which puts him on the repeat offender list.  He was also suspended for one game for a hit during the  Amerks vs Rampage game back on December 16th.

Watching the video even though Willsie had his head down I suspect Morrisonn was suspended because he didn’t keep his arm tucked into his body and in the end he did hit him in the head, something that is against the rules.

The Amerks have had extra defensemen for most of the season but heading into the game on Thursday they’ll only have five (as of writing this).  Alex Biega, Dennis Persson, Drew Schiestel, Nick Crawford and Corey Fienhage.  The other defensemen, TJ Brennan and Joe Finley are on recall to the Buffalo Sabres.  Unless one of those guys is sent down the team will need to go hunting for someone in the ECHL to fill in the gap.

What’d you think?

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Whitmore and Bonneau Interviews on the Power Play Post Show

January 16, 2012 - By
Whitmore and Bonneau Interviews on the Power Play Post Show

The Power Play Post Show is a weekly podcast/online radio show that is a must listen to for every fan of the American Hockey League.  If you don’t have it bookmarked to download weekly you’re missing out.  I say that because it’s the only show that talks in depth about the AHL and interviews a variety of players (and even myself once in a while).

This past week Bob Howard interviewed three former Amerks and all are great interviews.  He talked to Jimmy Bonneau and the topic of fighting (even brings up the many battles with the Amerks against Mirasty).  Click here for many Bonneau fights as an Amerk.  He also talks to Derek Whitmore about the team and the season so far in Rochester as well as Colby Robak who played for the Amerks last season.

Season 8 Episode 14:  (Download Link and More Info)

A much anticipated interview with Worcester Sharks enforcerJimmy Bonneau was Bob’s first guest for this episode. Bob and Jimmy discuss fighting in hockey; Jimmy’s introduction into the fighting aspect of hockey and Bob gets into the mind of a hockey player who knows what his role truly is. This is a [...]Read More

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