Kent Weisbeck

After 26 years a Rochester Americans Hall of Famer and someone many players consider one of the best trainers was advised he would be without a job heading into the coming season.  A tough situation.

Kevin O wrote:

This is very much a case of life not being fair. The Sabres actually were being fair in one regard: to the people they hired to work for them in Portland. It would not have been right to kick to the curb the Pirates’ medical guy, Robert Frost, or the Pirates’ equipment manager, Rochester native Ben Laing. They were members of the Sabres organization; they deserved just treatment.

But it’s very unfair to someone who for 26 years was loyal to the Amerks. All those games. All those practices. All those bus rides. All those ice packs. All those cuts. All those ailing backs. All those knee rehabs.

Amerks equipment manager Peter Bureaux was also advised he would not be hired by the Sabres, he has moved on and will work with the Abbotsford Heat.

Assistance Coachs

Darcy Regier met with the media in Buffalo this week and said that he expects to make an announcement early next week regarding assistant coaches for Rochester. Former US National Team development head coach Ron Rolston was hired as the Amerks’ new bench boss on July 27.  (from Sabres.com)

It’s anyones guess as to who will be picked.  In the history of the Rochester Americans there has typically been someone behind the bench with some previous ties to the organization.  There’s certainly a lot of candidates out there that could fill the role, assuming they would work well with Ron Rolston and the Sabres philosophy.

“Stashing Salaries”

The common thought out there is that with the Buffalo Sabres well over the salary cap that they would likely send Ales Kotalik and Shaone Morrisonn down to the Amerks to have their salaries not count against the cap.  They’re players that would be great assetts to the Amerks roster and also solve salary cap issues.  That’s something that never would have happened under the Golisano era in Buffalo.

“Hopefully that’s not the case,” Regier said of putting players in the minor leagues. “Hopefully we’re able to make some moves to address that prior to the start of the season.”

But it sounds like Regier is trying to avoid “stashing salaries.”  Even though it helps the salary cap issue it’s still a lot of money being spent (even if Pegula has deep pockets).  Regier has said all along that they’ll be looking at making trades to solve cap issues along with fill the needs of the Amerks roster.  (source: BuffaloNews.com)

Chances are the rest of the month will be quiet in terms of any trades or moves but that’ll likely change as training camps near and teams evaluate their rosters.

Schedule

The American Hockey League released the schedule for all 30 teams and the Rochester Americans will have their home opener on Thursday Otober 13th against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  Another notable date is March 24th when the Amerks will be on the road in Syracuse where the Crunch are hoping to have the game played at the Carrier Dome.

Here’s more about the schedule.

Chat with Ted Black

Kevin O will host a chat with Ted Black on Monday at 11am, book mark his blog to tune in and chat.

1983, 1987, 1996 Amerks Calder Cup Seasons

In case you also missed it, I had posted videos highlighting the Rochester Americans Calder Cup seasons in 1983, 1987 and you can watch all of game 7 from 1996 as well.

1996 Season: Watch game 7 here or check out the highlights video here.

1987 Season: The Amerks won their 5th Calder Cup in 1987 and this is a great video called “The Strive for Five” about that season.

1983 Season: Another classic from 1983 when the Amerks won their fourth Calder Cup.  Some great similarities in this video to how things are currently.  It’s amazing how much scoring there was that season.  Watch the video here.

Amerks News Stories this Week: Salaries, Coaches, Schedule, Videos is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Hopefully the players and coaches will hear what’s said and take it as motivation into the game to prove that one day this years team will be considered one of the best.  It’ll be tough as the Amerks still try to find their way and the Pirates are looking to continue with their franchise record breaking winning streak.

I’m going to hold off from saying anything else and stay positive, it’s not easy to do.  We’ll see what happens today during the game.  If you feel like venting or reading about others vent you can check out this link (Amerks Management – WAKE UP!!) and this link (Has Anyone Seen Enough of these Clowns Yet?) which are posts on local message board RochesterSportsFan.com.

The on ice portion starts at 3:08 so the actual game won’t start until everything else is taken care of.  I mention that because in previous years people who have not cared have commented about the late start time, now you know.  Here’s the rest of the details:

The festivities will begin at 1:10 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting by Amerks Owner and CEO Curt Styres to open the Amerks Hall of Fame. The structure, which is housed in the upper atrium bar area, includes a plaque for all 48 members, a collage dedicated to the Class of 2010 and a collage of the 23 classes of Hall of Famers. The display was designed and built by Exhibits and More.

Following the opening of the Hall of Fame, Cunneyworth and Wiemer will sign autographs from 1:20 to 2:20 p.m., courtesy of the Seneca Gaming Corporation Amerks Legends Series. Fans will have the opportunity to receive one free autograph from each player by simply signing up for the free Seneca Gaming Players Club card, with no purchase necessary, at the Seneca Gaming kiosk located inside the main entrance of The Blue Cross Arena.

At 2:30 p.m., the 46th, 47th and 48th members of the Hall of Fame will be enshrined during a pregame ceremony in the Amerks Hall of Fame area. The on-ice portion starts at 3:08 p.m. with the introduction of past Amerks Hall of Famers and alumni members. Cunneyworth, Wiemer and Weibeck will then receive their plaques from Amerks Owner and CEO Curt Styres, VP of Hockey Operations Ted Nolan, and Amerks Hall of Famer and Director of Hockey Operations Jody Gage. The three inductees will then participate in the ceremonial faceoff.

Cunneyworth will enter the hall with the distinction of beginning and ending his playing career in Rochester, while also beginning his head coaching career. In all, he spent 15 seasons with the Rochester Americans, seven as a player (1981-86, 1998-00) and eight as a head coach (2000-08). In 2004-05, he was named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach. Wiemer joins his former Rochester teammate in the Hall of Fame. The rugged defenseman played parts of five seasons (1981-85, 1994-95) with the Amerks. Athletic Trainer Kent Weisbeck will go into the Hall of Fame in his 25th season of service to the club. In the past 24 years, he has earned two Calder Cup rings (1987 and 1996) and has worked in the Calder Cup Finals on five other occasions.

See you at the game, Let’s Go Amerks!

Gameday: Amerks Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; vs Pirates is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Amerks trainer Kent Weisbeck said that Duco is just waiting for his shoulder to not feel as sore so he can shoot a puck.

Duco has played in five games this season for the Amerks and through those five games was pretty much invisible.  Once the Duco is back on the ice that we saw last year he should fit in pretty well with the rest of this team.

Mike Duco is Day to Day is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.