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Posts tagged 'Jacques Martin'

Posts Tagged ‘Jacques Martin’

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom Between Amerks and Panthers

June 3, 2010 - By

Depending on who you talk to or what you read you would think that the divorce is all but finalized between the Rochester Americans and Florida Panthers, but that’s not entirely true.  It’s not over because the Amerks and Panthers new General Manager have not even had a chance to meet yet to discuss how they envision the partnership developing.

When it was announced in the news papers on Monday that Benoit Groulx had handed in his resignation to the Florida Panthers we learned that the Panthers did not call anyone within the Amerks organization to let them know.  The Amerks also did not try to contact anyone within the Florida Panthers organization.

Lewis Staats was called by Bill Torrey the day that Dale Tallon was going to be announced as the new Panthers GM and advised it would be a few weeks before Tallon would be available.  Tallon has been busy with his travels to Germany for the World Championships, the NHL Combine in Toronto and the GM Meetings this week.  That’s the same time frame I was given when I inquired about an interview with Tallon.  That all makes sense, but if time was found to talk to [...]Read More

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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

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

2011 All Star Game, vs Pirates, Diff Divisions, Misc

July 2, 2009 - By

The big news of the day on Tuesday was that the Amerks hired Ted Nolan as the new VP of Hockey Operations.  I had the chance to talk to Rochester Americans Owner Curt Styres about a few other things that I felt were newsworthy.

The team did formally submit a bid for the 2011 AHL All Star Classic to be hosted in Rochester, something I first mentioned January 28th.  Styres was not sure if any other teams had put in a bid for the game.  The game in 2011 will be the 75th Anniversary of the league so American Hockey League President David Andrews had hinted that he was hoping to have the game be in either Hershey or Rochester.  Styres said that at a recent Board of Governors meeting Andrews asked if anyone wanted to host the game and then looked directly at Styres.

The Rochester Americans and Syracuse Crunch will be in different divisions next season.  He said that he believes the teams will be playing each other eight times, down from 12 during the 2008/2009 season.

Styres did not have any other information about divisions or schedule formats.  It sounds like the schedule is pretty much [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Panthers to visit Rochester in 2010?

April 21, 2009 - By

The Florida Panthers could be making a visit to Rochester prior to the start of the 2010/11 season when the Amerks and Panthers enter the third year of their affiliation agreement. I had read or heard somewhere about this being a possibility so I asked Jacques Martin when he was in Rochester recently and he confirmed it’s something they’d be looking into.  It would not be an option for the start of the 2009 season because the Panthers will be opening their season in Helsinki, Finland.

I would think for this to happen that the Buffalo Sabres would have to agree to any type of game within their market.

Why would they be doing this?  Try and grow the Panthers brand.  The Panthers have had an interest in the Rochester market since 2005 yet very few people care about them or can even name more than a few players on the team.

This is nothing more than idea at this point, but it’s one I’d welcome.

The Panthers need to do one thing before any Amerks fans would welcome them into town and that is to produce a winning environment.  If next season is anything like the one that just [...]Read More

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Jacques Martin and Curt Styres Press Conference

April 8, 2009 - By

It’s pretty exciting (for me at least) that the 500th post on this web site is also a post with what should be a lot of great news regarding the future of the Rochester Americans and Florida Panthers affiliation (not just a ‘yay 500 posts’).  Jacques Martin (General Manager of the Florida Panthers) and Curt Styres (Owner of the Rochester Americans) held a press conference this afternoon announcing a number of plans they have in place to make the Amerks a Calder Cup contender yet again.

Curt Styres wants to make sure that fans understand that they (Amerks and Panthers) are doing their best to make the team a contender again.  The Panthers not only want to develop their players to be ready for the NHL, but they also believe that those players can learn a lot more through success.

The business relationship between the Rochester Americans and Florida Panthers is strong.  It seems that the relationship is not only strong in terms of financials, but the way the two teams operate.  Jody Gage and Lewis Staats have been working with the Panthers for most of the second half of the season in putting together a plan to improve.

Jacques [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks

Jacques Martin and Curt Styres to Hold Amerks Press Conference

April 7, 2009 - By

Amerks fans may finally get some reassurance about the future of the team and the direction that it is headed on Wednesday afternoon.  The team has announced a press conference with Amerks Owner Curt Styres and Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin at Blue Cross Arena.  It’ll be broadcast live on Amerks.com starting at 12:30.

The announced reason is to discuss ideas and reveal proposed plans for the Rochester Americans’ 2009-10 roster composition and team make-up in general.

At least one player on the current roster will not be returning, forward Karl Stewart has signed a contract with a German team for the 2009-10 season.

Some items, including the first one below, is something I’ve asked about recently and could not get any answers.  At least now I know it was because this press conference was being planned.

The Rochester Americans and the Florida Panthers have been meeting throughout the year and have come up with the following plans regarding the proposed make-up of the Amerks’ 2009-10 roster and team make-up in general:

  • The need for more veteran experience will be addressed. Rochester will have more influence as to who they will be. They can sign players on their [...]Read More

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Amerks Lose 5-1 to Moose. Throw in the towel.

November 8, 2008 - By

The Manitoba Moose arrived in Rochester on Thursday night, and expected controlled every aspect of the game on Friday night.  Chances are the Moose are going to roll right over Syracuse on Saturday, and return to hand the Amerks their 12th loss of the season on Monday night.  Throw in the towel, this season is done.

The final score of Friday nights game was 5-1.  The lone Amerks goal was scored as the puck ended up down low behind the net, Repik and McArdle worked hard getting it free when Matthias was able to stuff it into the net past Moose goalie Cory Schneider.

Aside from the goal by Matthias and the Riley Emmerson vs Guillaume Desbiens fight, this game was disgusting.

Tyler Plante started in goal but was pulled after only playing 12:39 of the first period and allowing three goals on eight shots.  In defense of Plante, a goalie can only do so much as his teammates in front of him are out of position and all over the ice allowing opposing players to skate freely.

This team is going to end the season even worst than last years did unless something changes.  Can anyone really [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι Categories: Amerks, Headlines

An Open Letter to the Panthers from a fan of over 50 years

November 4, 2008 - By

Here’s an “open letter” from a fan of the Amerks for over 50 years has written to the Florida Panthers.  It was originally written on the Rochester Sports Fan forums.  His name is Ted, he also posts as insagt1 on that forum.  We felt this needed to be reposted for even more people to see.  We all thought we should just wait a few games and be patient, but it appears as if we’re at or near rock bottom (more on that from us later).

Read on, pass it along, please share your comments!!

From Ted, Amerks fan of over 50 years:

The 2008-09 AHL season moves into its second month. The hockey team you have provided us is quickly becoming the demise of our very storied and treasured Rochester Americans franchise. This is not being overly dramatic, or negative, or unrealistic.
The fact is, despite all the animus that has surrounded the team over the past few years, you are replacing a very popular, well established institution here in Rochester–the Buffalo Sabres…an NHL team that many local hockey fans have adopted as their own–being as they are only about an hours drive away.
You witnessed our [...]Read More

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