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Posts tagged 'Graham Mink' (Page 6)

Posts Tagged ‘Graham Mink’

Fitzpatrick to Captain Amerks for Second Straight Season

October 2, 2009 - By

(Rochester, NY)… The Rochester Americans announced today the captains for the 2009-10 American Hockey League season. Local hockey product Rory Fitzpatrick will serve as team captain for the second straight season, while veteran forwards Chris Taylor and Graham Mink have been appointed alternates.

Head Coach Benoit Groulx announced the captains just two days prior to the Amerks home and season opener on Saturday, October 3rd. That night, the Amerks battle the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said the 34-year-old Fitzpatrick, who last season joined Dick Gamble, Al Arbour, Jody Gage, Don Cherry and other Amerk greats who donned the “C” in the 54-year history of the franchise. In 2008-09, the Irondequoit native served as team captain for the first time in his professional career. He has worn an “A” as an alternate captain a few times in his career, including six years ago as an Amerk. Fitzpatrick has played in 717 professional games, including 287 in the National Hockey League with teams in Montreal, St. Louis, Nashville, Buffalo, Vancouver and Philadelphia.

Taylor, who makes his return to Rochester this season, will [...]Read More

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Amerks vs Crunch 09-29-2009 Pictures

October 1, 2009 - By
Victor Oreskovich during the Amerks vs Crunch game on 9/29/2009

Victor Oreskovich during the Amerks vs Crunch game on 9/29/2009

Here’s my pics from the Amerks vs Crunch game on 9/29/2009 in Syracuse.

The Amerks won 4-2 (game recap)

I don’t consider myself a professional photographer at all and chances are you may have a better camera than me.  After two seasons of taking thousands of pictures I’m finally getting around to uploading the decent ones.  Just about all of the pictures you see used on this site are my own.

You can view all of my pics at http://flickr.com/letsgoamerks, I’ve tried to start labelling a lot of them so if you’re looking for a specific player you can do a search.

Lastly, if anyone out there uses a Canon PowerShot S5 IS and can offer me any tips I’ll take them!  Here’s the pics:

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Amerks Defeat the Crunch with a Strong Performance

September 30, 2009 - By

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

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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Amerks Lose Second Preseason Game

September 28, 2009 - By

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

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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Day #2 at Amerks Training Camp

September 25, 2009 - By

The Amerks just wrapped up day two of training camp with another scrimmage at ESL Centre.  The Red team won the game with a flurry of goals in the second half against a struggling Ryan Mior.

Chris Beckford-Tseu looked great in goal during the first half of the scrimmage.  The fans remember last year but to the coaches and players it’s a new year and a new opportunity to win a job.  It’s pretty much guaranteed that Alexander Salak will join the Amerks with Plante or Beckford-Tseu being sent to the ECHL.  The job of second goaltender at this point is Plante’s to loes.

Jordan Henry could have a breakout season.  He progressed well last season and looks great on the ice.. skating, passing, and shooting.  If he can stay out of the penalty box he’ll be a great defender.

Keaton Ellerby, Michael Caruso, and Peter Aston were given the day off today.  They deserve the rest after a crazy travel schedule with the Panthers.

Graham Mink was also given the day off today.

Mixed in with a bunch of camp invites it was easy to pick out Mike York and Jamie Johnson.

In a number [...]Read More

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Amerks Open Training Camp With A Scrimmage

September 24, 2009 - By

The Rochester Americans opened the 2009 training camp getting right to the point, playing hockey!  There was not any skating, passing, or shooting drills.  The players got on the ice, skated a few laps and went right into playing a scrimmage.  It feels like a it was only a few weeks ago that the Rochester Americans cleaned out their lockers and went home for the summer.

Who were half those players out on the ice?  I have no idea and neither did a lot of other people.  They don’t have numbers or names on the practice jerseys and it’s the first time a lot of them have met.

After a brutal preseason travel schedule with the Florida Panthers the more recognizable players that we’ll be expecting the most from were given the morning off.  Those players were Graham Mink, Mike York, Kenndal McArdle, David Brine, Jamie Johnson, Jordan Henry, and Clay Wilson.  Rory Fitzpatrick was on the ice this morning prior to everyone else putting in some skating.  Assuming nothing crazy happens those players are all guaranteed roster spots for opening night.

Looking back at the start of 2008 training camp we were all hopeful [...]Read More

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Amerks Training Camp Roster Here

September 23, 2009 - By

2008 ESL Practice

Here’s a quick list of the players that will be with the Amerks during training camp.  Many of them were just cut by the Panthers on Wednesday so no idea if they’ll be here on Thursday.

The players still with the Panthers are Mike Duco, Jeff Taffe, Alexander Salak, Michal Repik, and Shawn Matthias.  Chances are Matthias and Repik will be sticking with the Panthers.

The List (typed up quick, will post more later):

Forwards

Under Contract: Chris Taylor, David Brine, Brady Calla, Evgeny Dadonov, James DeLory, Jamie Johnson, Kenndal McArdle, Graham Mink, Victor Oreskovich, Andrew Sweetland, Mike York, and Dan Collins

Invites: Scott Bartlett, Jimmy Bonneau, Benjamin Breault, Trevor Gillies, Stephane Goulet, Tom Harrison, Lee Jubinville, Tyrel Lucas, Josh McQuade, Jordan Morrison, Nathan O’Nabigon, Les Reaney, Mathieu Roy and Mike Sgroi

Defense

Under Contract: Rory Fitzpatrick, Michael Caruso, Keaton Ellerby, Peter Aston, Luke Beaverson, Matt Duffy, Clay Wilson, Jordan Henry

Invites: Travis Gawryletz, Cleve Kinley, Jon Landry, Dwayne Zinger

Goalies

Under Contract: Tyler Plante, Chris Beckford-Tseu

Invites: Daryl Borden and Ryan Mior

Under Contract:

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Florida Panthers Article: Optimism In Rochester

September 16, 2009 - By

The article below appeared on the Florida Panthers site this past Sunday about the optimism surrounding the upcoming Rochester Americans season, something that has been missing in recent years.

One thing that’s exciting is the interest in the Amerks that a lot of Panther fans have taken.  These fans view the Rochester Americans as the Rochester Americans, not just the prospects of the Florida Panthers.  They recognize the history of this team and seem to understand the importance of the Amerks winning and how that can positively impact the big club.  These are the same thoughts that have been shared by Florida management as well.

With the Amerks front office getting back to making the Amerks relevant in Rochester again and the teams NHL parent recognizing the same thing it really does give a sense of optimism.

To bring ourselves back down to earth for a moment, I do agree with those that are saying it all sounds great in writing but we won’t know anything until the roster is assembled for opening night and the puck drops.

Training camp opens in nine days, maybe there will be more than 10 of us there to watch?

[...]Read More

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Amerks Summer News Stories, Getting Caught Up

August 12, 2009 - By

It has been a busy summer for the Rochester Americans with a lot of great news and a couple of stories that have generated some bad press.  Looking at the bigger picture it has been a positive summer.  Here’s the start of “round up” type posts I’ll be doing once the season gets started.  There’s always a lot of news but not always enough to make an individual post for.  They’re also a great way for people to get caught up that may not read this site or the news all that often.

Here’s what has happened so far this summer:

** Training camp for the Amerks has not even been announced yet but the doesn’t mean some Amerks aren’t back on the ice already.  The Rochester Americans Summer Hockey Camps are underway at ESL being led by Amerks assistant coach Jason Cipolla.  It’s great to see so many kids sporting the Amerks logo playing hockey, a sign that the season is close.

** Matt Duffy is still an unsigned draft pick of the Florida Panthers.  He was drafted in the fourth round and #104 overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.  When his season ended with the University of [...]Read More

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Panthers/Amerks Sign Graham Mink

July 10, 2009 - By

The Florida Panthers and Rochester Americans made headlines on Friday and proved that they’re not joking around about being competitive when they announced that Graham Mink has signed a two year contract.  Mink is the strong veteran forward who can score that has been promised to fans.

In early April when Curt Styres and Jacques Martin sat down at a press conference to announce changes for the upcoming season it was met with a lot of wait and see attitudes by fans and for good reason.  We were being promised four top six forwards, a veteran defensemen, and a ‘tough guy.’  The question remaind, would Curt Styres really open up the teams bank account to make things happen?

The past nine days has proved that he will.  When Curt Styres says he is going to do something that means he is.  Graham Mink, Clay Wilson, and Jeff Taffe are all quality players being brought into the organization.

Mink spent last season with the Hershey Bears and helped them win the Calder Cup.  The second to last place team in The AHL last season was able to get a player who just won the Calder Cup.  That’s further proof that [...]Read More

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