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Posts tagged 'Mike Brodeur'

Posts Tagged ‘Mike Brodeur’

Jack Birch No Longer Works for the Florida Panthers

June 25, 2010 - By

Updated July 2nd… Birch’s contract expired June 30th and was not renewed.

As I’m reading up on the NHL Draft and the changes on the horizon for the Florida Panthers, one thing I noticed was that Jack Birch’s name is no longer listed as a member of the Florida Panthers staff. I used the term fired in the subject because that’s a little more catchy, but it could just be that His contract expired and was not renewed.

I was given the idea to look when I read on George Richard’s blog that Dale Tallon was going to be working on hiring a new director of player personnel.  Chances are no one outside of Rochester really cares all that much or would even notice the guy was gone.

Prior to being named as Director of Player personnel for the Panthers, he was involved in the scouting department for the team.

When Birch was given the position which was essentially the general manager of the Amerks, it was thought that he would bring some good decisions.  Turned out to be the opposite.  The only great move he pulled off was finding Mike Brodeur and getting him signed [...]Read More

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Comparing Last Season to this Season, the Opposite Happened

March 23, 2010 - By

As a season goes on you typically expect a team to get better.  The players get to know each other better, they build chemistry, more practice time, and find their groove.  What you don’t expect is for a team to go in the opposite direction.

The addition of Mike Brodeur to the 08-09 Amerks was a much needed boost of confidence that salvaged part of the season.  The 09-10 Amerks seemed to lose all confidence after the month of November once they were taken apart by injuries, call ups and what they say was the lack of practice time.

Let’s do a quick comparison to last years team versus this years:

The 09-10 Amerks got out to an early 18 win start.

The 08-09 Amerks got off to a horrible start losing an early 19 games.

The 08-09 Amerks were 22-27 from December 1st through March 23rd.

The 09-10 Amerks are 21-28 from December 1st through March 23rd.

A number of people have looked at the standings and said the Amerks have been in either first or second place for most of the season and there was no reason to worry.  I think the wins and losses paint a different [...]Read More

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As Expected Amerks Rebound to Defeat Senators

February 6, 2010 - By

This Rochester Americans team has become predictable lately.  Play a bad game on a Friday night and come back with a strong effort on Saturday, which is exactly what they did on Saturday in a 5-4 win over the Binghamton Senators.

Graham Mink scored at 10:21 of the first period to put the Amerks up 1-0 but Josh Hennessy answered back at 12:44 of the first with a power play goal to tie the game.  The first period was an ugly one for the Amerks as they were out shot 22-9 by the Senators.  That’s right, 22 shots in one period of play.

Did you know that the Binghamton Senators are in last place in the league?

The biggest highlight of the first period had to be Steve MacIntyre knocking out Jeremy Yablonski (click for video).  Yablonski had to be helped up off the ice and did not return to the game.

Alexander Salak was the obvious star of the game for the Amerks as he went on to make 53 saves in the game while only allowing four goals.  No, you’re not reading that wrong, the Senators had a total of 57 shots on [...]Read More

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Amerks Getting Back on Track with 5-3 Win Over B-Sens

December 28, 2009 - By

After a month long skid for the Rochester Americans I believe that things are headed back in the right direction.  The Amerks won their second game of the weekend by defeating the Binghamton Senators 5-3 in front of 4,367 in downtown Rochester on Sunday evening.  There are still some concerns, but the lineup that has been depleted by call ups and injuries seems to be finding it’s way.

The AHL has 43 transactions for the Amerks just in the month of December and there’s still a few days left.  That is a lot of change.  Within the month of December was also a number of injuries, the tail end of a six game road trip, a hectic travel schedule, and very few regular practices.  Those are not excuses, they are facts that impact consistency and chemistry.  It’s only two wins, but they’re wins that will give the team a much needed boost of confidence.

It also helps to have Jeff Taffe back in the lineup playing on a line with Jamie Johnson and Michal Repik.  Those three players combined for a total of six points on Sunday.  The two assists for Johnson gives him 32 points [...]Read More

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Tuesday Morning Practice and Other News

November 10, 2009 - By

It’s game day in Rochester and the Amerks are on the ice for their morning skate getting warmed up.  It’s an exciting day for one big reason, “the record.”  That’s something that matters to just about everyone but the players and coaches.  That’s something you can believe.

Until it’s been mentioned to the team about the record for longest winning streak they had no idea.  It’s one game at a time.  They’re not satisfied until the game is over and they’ve won.  At that point it’s time to correct mistakes that were made and move on to the next game.  It’s an exciting time to be an Amerks fan.

Tyler Plante finished practice today but will likely sit out tonights game.  Chris Beckford-Tseu will likely be the backup on the bench again.

Alexander Salak has been consistent and is ranked 6th in the AHL of all goaltenders.  I’m holding off on saying he’s been on a “hot streak” because even though he is, the more accurate description I think is consistent.  He’s become a hot topic in the world of goaltenders with his unique style.

The only player not on the ice was Shawn Matthias is [...]Read More

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4th Straight Win for the Amerks

October 22, 2009 - By

The Amerks defeated the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to four games.  The last time the Amerks won four straight was the first week of November 2007.  I have not looked yet to find when the last time they won five straight in fear of jinxing the situation.

Assuming this style of play continues the questions about “last year” will fade away, but until then they’re still relevant.  It’s a different atmosphere around the team, the front offices, and even in the stands.

Tyler Plante explained further saying,  “It’s definitely a new situation for me and the Rochester dressing room.  It’s great.  We’re playing for the pride of the team. It’s a different feeling that I’ve never felt here before.  Before we were happy to win but now we’re happy to win for the heritage of the team, proud to wear the Amerks jerseys. Every night we go out there and try to wear our hearts on our sleeves.”

It was very strange back by the locker rooms after the game.  Usually the visitors side hallway is filled with guys stretching, cooling down, and getting their gear packed up.  On Wednesday night it was very.. [...]Read More

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Gameday: Amerks vs Senators; First of Ten

October 21, 2009 - By

The Amerks are back on the ice tonight to faceoff against the Binghamton Senators, game time is at 7:05pm at Blue Cross Arena.  It’s the first of ten meetings between the two teams this season.  It’s also only one of two Wednesday night home games this season for the Amerks.

The game could see the return of goaltender Mike Brodeur who saved the Amerks 2008/2009 season from being a complete disaster.  Brodeur was offered the chance to return but he chose to take an offer with the Ottawa Senators instead.  No idea if he’ll be starting or riding the bench, his season along with the Senators has been off to a rough start.

Binghamton is off to a 2-2-2 start and currently on a four game losing streak.  Their skid started on October 10 when the Hershey Bears beat them 8-1.  The Senators have given up a goal in the first minute of two of their last four games.

Rochester is currently riding a three game winning streak, the first such streak since February 2008.  A fast start and the Amerks special teams will again be a key element of the game.

The Amerks won [...]Read More

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What happened to some of last years Amerks?

October 2, 2009 - By

Drew Larman is currently playing with the Providence Bruins

The summer of 2009 has been an exciting one with the roster that has been built for the 2009/2010 Rochester Americans.  There’ll be a lot of questions from fans getting to know some of the new players but also a lot of questions wondering about some favorites from last season.

So here’s a quick rundown of players that are no longer in the Florida Panthers or Rochester Americans organizations:

Tanner Glass – He signed a one year two way deal with the Vancouver Canucks.  After a strong training camp he’s on the Canucks opening night roster.  The Panthers had said they would have liked him back but were not ready to offer him a deal prior to the start of free agency.

Janis Sprukts – is currently playing for Dinamo Riga in the KHL.  Sprukts was unhappy last season when he realized he had no real chance of cracking the Florida Panthers lineup.  So he packed up his things and went across the pond.

Mike Brodeur – The Florida Panthers were ready to offer him a $105,000 contract to stay in the organization but Brodeur thought [...]Read More

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Alexander Salak Dreams of the NHL

June 6, 2009 - By

The recent season that ended for goaltender Alexander Salak of TPS Turku was similar to that of Mike Brodeurs with the Rochester Americans, great goalies playing for bad teams.  The Florida Panthers recently signed Salak to a 2yr contract, a goaltender that is called the next Dominik Hasek by many people that have seen him play.

The story of the 2008/2009 season for Salak is one that many Rochester Americans fans can relate to, a bad team that was carried out of last place by excellent goaltending.  TPS Turku built the success they had during the season on the shoulders of Salak, much like the Amerks did when Brodeur arrived.  Both teams still finished near the basement in the standings, but both teams also became teams that opponents knew they could not take lightly.

Salak and Brodeur both carried their teams out of the basement, and both have a dream of playing in the NHL.

I asked Salak what made him sign with the Florida Panthers he said, “It is a dream for everyone, but the dream is not to sign but to play for an NHL team.”

Salak is connected to some well known NHL goaltenders through his goalie [...]Read More

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Mike Brodeur Not Returning as an Amerk

June 6, 2009 - By

The Florida Panthers were willing to spend the money and offer Mike Brodeur a contract to return as the goalie of the Rochester Americans but Brodeur rejected the offer.  Apparently the Panthers were willing to offer Brodeur a contract worth $105,000 which is right at the re-entry waiver cap so at least we know money was not an issue.

Every player dreams of making it to the NHL, that opportunity just did not exist with the Florida Panthers in the eyes of Brodeur.  That dream appears as if it exists within the Ottawa Senators organization where it’s believed he will end up.  If that’s the case then Amerks fans will see a lot of Brodeur assuming he’s playing with the Binghamton Senators to work his way up.

Mike Brodeur arrived in Rochester in December 2008 and is credited with helping to turn the season around from a complete failure to a respectable team at the end of the season.  He made a lot of spectacular saves and single handedly kept the Amerks in a lot of games that should have been complete blow out losses.

With the departure of Brodeur it looks like Alexander Salak will definitely be in Rochester [...]Read More

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Florida Everblades Eliminated

May 6, 2009 - By

The Florida Everblades were eliminated in six games against the South Carolina Stingrays in the 2nd round of the ECHL playoffs on Tuesday night.  The Blades were down 3-1 with the third period winding down when they were able to send the game into overtime by scoring two goals in the final minute and a half of regulation to tie it at 3.  That’s all the team seemed to have in them as they went on to lose in overtime.

A disappointing loss for the Blades.  They finished the regular season as the top team in the ECHL.  They were picked No. 1 in the Hockey News ECHL poll, heralded by opposing coaches and players alike as “the best team in the league.”

Here’s a great writeup with more info about the loss by Angela Busch of the Naples Daily News.  A season synopsis was also posted on Wednesday with more info.

Jacob Micflikier only played in the first game of the series before injuring his ankle again during a following practice.

Mike Brodeur had been presented the opportunity to play for the Everblades but turned it down.  On one hand I understand where he’s coming from, but [...]Read More

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Chris Beckford-Tseu Reassigned to Rochester

April 7, 2009 - By

The Rochester Americans have Chris Beckford-Tseu back on the team after the Florida Panthers reassigned him from the Phoenix Roadrunners.  Beckford-Tseu played on game with the Florida Everblades before heading to Phoenix where he went on to register a 2-7-1 record with a 5.09 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage in 12 games with Phoenix.

In 22 American Hockey League contests with Rochester this season, the Toronto, Ontario native is 3-14-1 with a 3.94 goals-against average along with a .868 save percentage.

With the release of Miguel Beaudry I had thought that Brodeur would be capable of playing, but after seeing him in practice it does not appear that he’s ready.

Expecting to see David Shantz get the start in net Wednesday in Toronto with Beckford-Tseu as back up.

Best scenario for the final three games – The Amerks have the chance to spoil the playoff hopes of the Syracuse Crunch, all the Amerks need to do is lose to Toronto and then defeat Syracuse on Friday and Saturday.

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