Home
»
Posts tagged 'Mike Caruso'

Posts Tagged ‘Mike Caruso’

Dylan Hunter Brings Bad Karma; Amerks Lose 2-1

December 12, 2009 - By

The headline sounds like one I would have written two seasons ago during one of the worst seasons the Amerks have ever played.  The game we witnessed tonight resembled one of those games more than it did the Rochester Americans of the 2009/10 season.  I don’t really blame Dylan Hunter and don’t really think that he brought bad karma, but it makes for a good headline.

I don’t get the sense that Amerks fans are hitting the panic button yet, but signs of frustration are part of every conversation and for good reason.  The Panthers called up Michal Repik after the game which leaves the team short another player.  This is a shell of a team we saw a month ago.

They gave a good effort but fell short.

“I thought we were a second behind,” is what Benoit Groulx said after the game.  I think that line sums it up perfectly.  That’s all it takes to decide any sporting event, sometimes even less than a second.  That’s what happens when you go from a team that was playing four consistent lines to playing two.

The game was only decided by one goal but an early [...]Read More

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

Amerks Overpowered the Dogs in the Third to Win 5-2

November 24, 2009 - By

The Rochester Americans won their 15th game of the season and third in a row defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs by the final score of 5-2.  I think that’s it is safe to say that this Amerks team is for real.  It is still early in the season with only 18 games played but the way this team is playing no one can call them a fluke any longer.

It was a good game by both teams through two periods of play before the Amerks stepped up their game to light up the scoreboard by overpowering the Bulldogs in the third.  Goals scored by Graham Mink, Andrew Sweetland, David Brine, and Jeff Taffe all in the third period secured the win for the Amerks.

This is the recipe that has led the Amerks to success this season.  The mix of scoring from vets and returning players is a lethal mix.  Toss in superb goaltending from Alexander Salak every game and there’s reason to stay excited.

The Amerks killed off three penalties in the first period in what was a back and forth period.  Some great scoring chances by each team but solid defense and goaltending kept the [...]Read More

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

Salak Earns his First Shutout in Amerks 7th Straight Win

1
October 26, 2009 - By

10/25/2009.. Alexander Salak earned his first professional shutout and led the Rochester Americans to a 3-0 win over the goon squad known as the Syracuse Crunch.

It was the Amerks seventh win in a row and also their fourth win in five nights and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down.

With the win the Amerks are now in sole possesion of first place in the American Hockey League with 17 points.

Graham Mink scored the game winning goal at 2:45 of the first period with assists to Mike Caruso and Chris Taylor.

Caruso retrieved his own shot that went wide of the net and around the boards.  He grabbed the puck at the blue line and dumped it back in right to Mink who was all alone to score.

“I don’t know where the defensemen went,” Mink  said.  “He was there and maybe he was jumping into the rush. Caruso made a great play and I had enough time for the goalie to go down and get it over him.”

Jimmy Bonneau and Jon Mirasty fought for the third time in less than 24 hours at the half way mark of the first period.  [...]Read More

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

Amerks Come Back to Win in Over Time

October 24, 2009 - By

Michal Repik scored the game winner in OT to extend the Amerks winning streak to six games with a come from behind victory in Syracuse on Saturday night.  The Amerks were down 2-0 in the first period but found a way to come back and win the game 3-2 in overtime.

3:33 into the first period Jon Mirasty layed a huge hit on Beaverson against the boards.  There was no penalty called but Jimmy Bonneau was also on the ice and quick to go after Mirasty and get a fight going.  Mirasty should have been given a boarding penalty on that hit.

Tim Miller put the Crunch on the scoreboard first at 10:02 of the first period.  Miller had tipped in a slap shot by Nick Holden.  Jon Mirasty was also credited with an assist.

At the next faceoff Jimmy Bonneau and Jon Mirasty dropped the gloves a second time for a real fight.  Mirasty appeared to get in a few more direct punches than Bonneau but credit is due for Bonneau for busting open Mirasty’s left eye.

Maksim Mayorov scored four minutes later with an assist to Jared Aulin.

Jimmy Bonneau scored at 17:08 of [...]Read More

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

Amerks Win off Strong Goaltending and Five Goals

October 10, 2009 - By

The Rochester Americans defeated the Lake Erie Monsters in a rematch of last weeks opening night contest  The Amerks won the game off of a strong performance in net from Tyler Plante as well as five goals scored by the offense.

Waitaminute… Strong goaltending and five goals leads to a a win.  I don’t think I’ve written that since I’ve started this site.

Benoit Groulx notices the play of Tyler Plante saying, “He’s competing really hard.  This is what we needed tonight to win this game.  It’s fun to see that Tyler is having this start.”

In only two games Tyler Plante has showed that he’s taking his job very seriously this season.

The down side to the night?  There was only 2,213 people at the game.  That’s a completely different topic that I’ll be addressing soon.  Anyone REALLY concerned needs to remember it’s still only the second game.  Again, more on that soon.

One of things talked about after the opening night loss was how the roster was going to be different this week and it sure was.  Six players played tonight that did not last week.  The additions of Jeff Taffe, Michal Repik, Mike [...]Read More

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

Amerks have Three Games in Four Nights

October 9, 2009 - By

The Amerks have three games in four nights coming up and we’ll get the chance to see what this team is made of.  Last weekend some key players were missing that will be back.

Here’s my guesses for changes in the lineup this weekend:

Out of the lineup: Matt Duffy, Dan Collins, Peter Aston, Jimmy Bonneau, Jon Landry, and Luke Beaverson.

In the lineup: Rory Fitzpatrick, Jason Garrison, Mike Caruso, Michal Repik, and Mike Duco.

With Oreskovich still getting work visa issues straightened out I’m assuming we’ll see James DeLory in the lineup to fill the final spot.  Luke Beaverson was not very effective so I hope DeLory is given a chance.

A full lineup should be exciting to watch.  The Amerks will have more offense with Repik and Duco on the ice.  The question mark will be with James DeLory to see how he plays.  The defense will also be stronger.

Tyler Plante will get the start in net on Friday night.  Assuming he plays as well as he did last weekend he’ll probably play all weekend.

The key to winning these games will be a strong transition game and the defense preventing the opposition from getting to the [...]Read More

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

Duffy to the Blades; Salak to the Panthers

1
October 7, 2009 - By

The regular season is less than a week old and players are starting to collect some frequent flyer miles.

Alexander Salak was called back up to the Florida Panthers after he had already landed in Rochester.  I should have known Tuesday morning that something was up when he was not in the locker room but Duco, Repik, and Garrison were.

Current Panthers backup goalie Scott Clemmensen had to attend to some family business this week.  The Panthers next game is on Friday against Carolina and with the uncertainty of when Clemmensen will return they needed a second goalie.

The Amerks next game is Friday night as well against the Lake Erie Monsters and even if Salak stayed here or does return I think Tyler Plante will be getting the start in net.

Defenseman Matt Duffy was handed a plane ticket as well for his assignment to the Florida Everblades.  Duffy had a strong few games at the end of last season when he joined the Amerks.  Duffy has a promising career ahead of him, he was just an odd man out with the current roster.

The Amerks top six defenseman will be Rory Fitzpatrick, Clay Wilson, [...]Read More

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

Amerks Season has High Expectations

October 3, 2009 - By

The Rochester Americans open their 54th season in the American Hockey League tonight against the Lake Erie Monsters at Blue Cross Arena.  The past is the past.  It’s a clean slate.  It’s a new season.  It’s time for the actions of the dream team to finally pay off.

What is the dream team you ask?  It’s Curt Styres, Ted Nolan, Jody Gage, and Kerry Atkinson.  Four individuals that have proven with actions over the summer that they want to win and bring back some pride to the City of Rochester.

Ted Nolan has talked all summer about how he loves to win.  Kerry Atkinson has talked about the Amerks being the best organization in any league that provides the best entertainment for fans.  Jody Gage has been busy making sure the roster is one that believes in Amerks pride and tradition.  Curt Styres opened his wallet and invested a lot of cash to make everything happen.

“We’ve lost our identity as a city, it’s not just the Rochester Americans that lost their identity,” Jody Gage said at a media luncheon this summer.  “How do we get the Amerks back to the headlines?”  That’s a question that [...]Read More

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

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

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

Amerks Look Forward During Locker Cleanout

April 14, 2009 - By

To discuss the 2008/2009 season in detail with anyone who has followed the Amerks this season knows it’s like beating a dead horse, it’s time to look forward to next season.  That’s what the players and coaches did in talking with the media during Tuesday afternoons locker cleanout.  It’s not just about looking forward to next season, but also heading into the season expecting to make the playoffs and be contenders.

Some players left Rochester earlier today, some in the coming days, and others are sticking around for a short time.  Riley Emmerson and Stefan Meyer are on a 40 hour road trip back to Saskatchewan, Janis Sprukts is heading back to Latvia, and Rory Fitzpatrick just had a short trip back to Irondequoit.  Jordan Henry is on his way back to Calgary where he’ll be training with some players from the Flames as well as take in some playoff games.

Besides looking forward to a long summer of working out and getting stronger, a lot of the guys were just excited to see family and friends that they have not seen since September.

One thing that everyone can agree on is that the team needs offense and [...]Read More

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

Strong Effort by Amerks not Enough to defeat Crunch

April 5, 2009 - By

The Syracuse Crunch are undefeated at home this season against the Rochester Americans and continued that streak on Saturday night with a 3-2 win in front of 6,117 fans at the War Memorial.

Unlike previous contests between the two teams in Syracuse the Amerks put in a solid effort on the ice.

The Crunch scored first when Maksim Mayorov found the back of the net for his 16th goal of the season.  Craig MacDonald tallied his 24th assist of the year when he fed the pass up to a streaking Mayorov along the boards.  Mayorov was going one on one with Mike Caruso across the blue line, slid the puck around Caruso to the center of the ice, cut left with the puck and beat David Shantz glove side.

The Crunch forwards have learned how to skate around the Amerks defense untouched.  Hopefully that’s something that can be stopped by next weekend.

David Shantz made a spectacular save towards the end of the first period on a shot from Alexandre Picard.  The puck was in the face off circle when Picard took control of it, pulled a spin-o-rama move around Ellerby and put a quick shot on Shantz.

Randall Gelech [...]Read More

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

Three Short Hand Goals Not Enough for Win

March 15, 2009 - By

The Amerks managed to score three short handed goals tonight against the Hamilton Bulldogs and all it got them was a point in an eventual shootout loss.  The short handed goals were scored by Kenndal McArdle, Drew Larman, and David Brine.  The Bulldogs goaltender Cedric Desjardins deserves an assist on McArdles first goal.

I’m really not sure if the game was somewhat boring, or it was just the difference of being at the Knighthawks game on Saturday with over 9,000 people to just over 3,000 tonight at Blue Cross Arena.

Anyways, on to the game.  Brock Trotter scored the only goal of the first period at 9:34 with a shot from the just outside the front of the net through the five hole of Tyler Plante.  David Desharnais passed the puck from just behind the net to Trotter waiting for the puck.  Great pass, great shot, appeared as if Plante was somewhat screened on it.

The Amerks certainly had a number of close calls in the first with Randall Gelech and Karl Stewart each ringing shots off the posts.  About an inch closer inside and the puck would have gone in.  Unfortunately close doesn’t really count, just an honorable mention.

[...]Read More

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