Nolan was hired by Curt Styres in July 2009 and he helped work with Jody Gage to bring in players that summer, including Mike York who he had coached with the New York Islanders.  Nolan arrived in Rochester with a hand shake agreement to work with the team.

From the IIHF web site:

Nolan, a First Nation Canadian who grew up in a reserve near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, was coaching the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League. He won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 1997. In the last two years he has been working for the AHL’s Rochester Americans as Vice-President of Hockey Operations.

“We were looking for a neutral, authoritative coach with lots of experience and good hockey knowledge,” LHF President Kirovs Lipmans said. “This is exactly what we found with Ted Nolan.”

Nolan is also expected to help the U20 national team, which was promoted to the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship in Calgary and Edmonton, Canada, as a consultant.

Good luck to Nolan!

Ted Nolan to coach Team Latvia is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

One move that seems to have been overlooked is that the Panthers acquired Michael Grabner in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.  The Panthers sent Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich to the Canucks in exchange.  Grabner has spent the majority of the past four seasons (180 games) with the Manitoba Moose and is good for 20 goals and 20 assists.  He’s not a veteran player based on games, but he’s a fast skater and team him up with a speedy center and we’ll have a reliable scoring line.

Jamie Johnson has already said that he’s been in contact with the Panthers and would be willing to come back.  Johnson was a leader on the ice and led the team in scoring.  He ended the season with a disgruntled exit (for good reason – mostly because of Benoit Groulx though) but that’s all in the past.  Styres, Staats, Gage and Nolan run the front office very well here in Rochester and that is what would attract a player back here.  The dedication to winning is very attractive.

To stay current on any moves book mark my Twitter account at http://twitter.com/LetsGoAmerks.  You DO NOT need to sign up for an account, just bookmark that page for any breaking news.  If you do have an account, you can go there and sign up for free text alerts that will be sent to your phone so you don’t have to refresh often.

If this July is anything like last July we should be getting a lot of good news.  In case you forgot, here’s a recap of the first half of July 2009:

The Amerks hired Ted Nolan on the first day of free agency.  Nolan has been a great addition for the Amerks not only for player relations but also working with the business community.  A name and face for the franchise that can sell.

The Panthers signed Clay Wilson on July 2nd to a two year contract that was two way the first season and one way this upcoming season.  Wilson has not been written into the Panthers defensive core by any of the paid experts, he could come back as an Amerk.

Jeff Taffe was signed on July 3rd and immediately added some offense to the team.  His contract was also a two way last season and one way this upcoming season.  That’s $1.5 Million in salaries if both Taffe and Wilson spend most of the season with the Amerks.

Graham Mink was signed on July 10th, Jamie Johnson on July 15th and Chris Taylor signed on July 16th.  Mink was a great upgrade and is probably most remembered for being a healthy scratch in game 7 of the playoffs.  His season was rocky after he was out of the lineup with a back injury but a healthy Mink is an opposing goalies worst nightmare.  Taylor did everything expected of him averaging almost a point a game.

Mink and Taylor will be back in an Amerks uniform.

Mike York was signed later in the summer on August 21st.  York was also signed to a one year deal and his future is unknown.  Some fans complained about his lack of speed but that’s something he made up for with the way he handled the puck.  Any of York’s teammates knew that if they simply put their stick on the ice that York would put the puck on their stick for an easy play.

Below is a potential Rochester Americans lineup for the 2010/2011 season.  I did not include Jeff Taffe or Clay Wilson since they’re technically on one way contracts.  I also did not include Shawn Matthias or Jason Garrison since they’re likely to make the Panthers roster out of training camp.  It’ll take a disaster of an off season for either of them to not make the big club.

Forwards:

Chris Taylor, Graham Mink, Michael Grabner, Michal Repik, Evgeny Dadonov, Mike Duco, Kenndal McArdle, A.J. Jenks, Scott Timmins, Eric Selleck

Defense:

Keaton Ellerby, Michael Caruso, Jordan Henry, Colby Robak, Adam Comrie

Goalies:

Jacob Markstrom, Alexander Salak, Tyler Plante, Marc Cheverie

Two players not included are Brady Calla and James DeLory.  Neither of those players have seemed to fit into a regular role of any kind the past two seasons.

Dale Tallon has a lot of credibility and was the guy that built the Chicago Blackhawks roster that won the Stanley Cup this season.  He has said that he’s looking to build through the draft and that no player will get an easy ride.  A lot of people have already written off the Florida Panthers, but all signs are pointing to the organization heading in the right direction.

Time will tell, but for now there’s still a lot of reasons to be excited to be an Amerks fan.

Again, to stay current on any moves book mark my Twitter account at http://twitter.com/LetsGoAmerks, it’s easy to break any news through there that does also appear on the home page of this site.

Free Agency Impact on the Amerks, This Year, Last Year, Current Players is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Jamie Johnson was the most outspoken player because he does not plan to come back here next season.  Some people have criticized him for his words but if others were leaving they probably would have shared the same thoughts.  Everything said are valid points about the way he felt he was treated.  Johnson was the team leader in points with 27 goals and 44 assists.  He was also one of only two players that played in all 80 games.  Sure he had a rough stretch but so did everyone else, in the end he was there every day working hard.

Lewis Staats and Ted Nolan talked about hearing the fans loud and clear and said that it’s something that will be brought up during meetings.  The decisions are all made by the Florida Panthers but in meetings everything is brought up and thoughts are shared.

The Amerks ownership is dedicated to winning and they also want more fans (a  no brainer).  Everyone is still a little sour at the way the season ended but we can all be guaranteed that they’ll build another team next season that is supposed to win.

The affiliation agreement between the Amerks and Florida Panthers has one more season.  The original agreement says that they have to either have a new deal by November or it will have to wait until the end of the season.  I think moves and changes over the summer by the Panthers will determine whether the Amerks really want to pursue a renewal or test the waters to see what else is out there.

Jamie Johnson – Talks about the wasted season, coming back to Rochester, the Florida Panthers, the head coach, lineup changes, Amerks ownership and the crowd.  Two different interviews, basically says the same things.  I had talked to him first and then he talked again when Kevin O and YNN were there.

Part 1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4lF0ZBWysM

Part 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mULhrvVjSk

Mike York – talks about the season, coming back, and player changes during the playoffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmLtx8UCCQc

Graham Mink – “To sit and watch game 7 was one of the hardest working things I’ve had to do in my career.”  He did say it wasn’t the hardest thing in life, but in his hockey career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPWZzw4k-3k

Jeff Taffe – “I think they (younger guys) got a harsh dose of reality there in the playoffs.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ExOJnfNNQ

Ted Nolan – “When they voice their concerns like that we have to listen,” talking about hearing the fans chanting.  “I’m kind of baffled myself right now,” when asked what he thought happened.  When asked if he was coming back he said, “I’m banking on coming back.”  Also talks about the season, hearing the fans and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdu-qrQpn74

Lewis Staats – Mentions talks with Randy Sexton, hearing the fans loud and clear, attendance numbers, 5500 as the goal of fans per night, desire of Styres to win Calder Cup, and the affiliation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE9REPqc_rU

Chris Taylor had to visit the dentist and was not there, thanks to Michal Repik wacking his face trying to get at a puck.  Rory Fitzpatrick was not present either, he told the team the night before he wasn’t coming in.

Audio from 2010 Amerks Locker Cleanout, Vets, Nolan and Staats is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

After talking to a number of different players over the past week and watching practice on Tuesday morning I get the feeling that the swagger and confidence that has been talked about and also disappeared is back.  It’s pretty simple, you’re happy when you’re winning and you’re miserable when you’re losing.

I’ve watched a lot of practices in the mornings and the team that practiced on Tuesday morning looked to be a different team than the one I watched a few weeks ago.  The execution of drills, the passes, the shots and even the saves by Alexander Salak and Tyler Plante looked better.

It may have also helped that the coaches were more interactive and also giving a lot more specific directions.

Speaking of goalies, Tyler Plante has said that he is not starting on Thursday which would leave the job to Alexander Salak.  That’s not much of a surprise to me based on quotes last week by Benoit Groulx (look for them on Wednesday).  Groulx said that he’ll officially announce the starter on Wednesday.

The confidence of the team seemed to have fade from December on when injuries and call ups were really starting to have an impact on just about every game.  The lineup was changing, the goalies were changing, the rotating lines were also changing often during games.  It was a lot of change.  The players also never knew whether they were coming or going.  There is a mental aspect to hockey as well and when you’re mentally prepared one day for the minor league system and then have to switch modes to play in the NHL there is an adjustment to make and vice versa.

When the playoffs start on Thursday the team can go back to how they planned the systems at the start of the season with a specific roster and this time they will not have to worry about any players being called up.  Injuries and call ups are expected and common in minor league sports, playing through all of that is often challenging but this Amerks team found a way.

Actions will speak for themselves when the Amerks take the ice on Thursday against the Abbotsford Heat.  There’s no way that Jody Gage and Ted Nolan assembled this roster just so they could make the playoffs, they assembled this team knowing they could be capable of winning a Calder Cup.  It has not been smooth, but I’m ready for the bumpy ride to continue until June.

Look for a more in depth “Round 1″ preview on Wednesday.

Confidence is Key for the Amerks, They May Have it Back is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

We know that Curt Styres, Lewis Staats, Ted Nolan, Jody Gage and everyone else in the office cares about the success of this franchise but what can they really do on their own?  Not all that much, which brings up the question was recently raised by Kevin Oklobzija, If the parent team doesn’t care, why should the players?

I asked Ted Nolan on Sunday afternoon if they have talked to the Florida Panthers about what has been going on (the slump and possible reasons for it) in Rochester and he gave a quick answer of yes.  He said they’ve been on the phone and talked a lot of what’s been going on.  He didn’t provide any other details about whether or not any changes or help will be provided, but he did express that they are in communication.

Bill O’Flaherty, Director of Pro Scouting for the Florida Panthers was at the Amerks game on Saturday night to watch the game so someone from the Panthers was here to witness this team meltdown late in a game, a common theme of this season.

The Amerks 2,000th franchise win on Sunday versus the Portland Pirates could be a game the team can build off of but the same thing was also said about a Saturday win the week before prior to a three game losing streak.  With only 21 games remaining there’s a big gap between the Calder Cup contenders a lot of people thought the Amerks were early in the season and the team that is playing now.

Some will say that a team going from two of the worst seasons in franchise history to even making the playoffs is an accomplishment.  This team was not built to just make the playoffs though, it was made to try and make a run for the Cup.

The Democrat and Chronicle recently had this quote in the paper, “Curt put a lot of time and a lot of energy into this team,” Nolan said. “We’re not just going to sit and watching things slide.”

To fans, it appears they have done just that.  What fans would like to hear is that they (Amerks management) are upset that the Florida Panthers have done nothing and have not been around to take note.  In trying to keep a good business relationship they’re probably trying not to rock the boat and create a riff between the two sides.

It could be that patience is the key and everything will work itself out.  Unfortunately, if we look back to last season there was a similar situation when the Amerks season started out horribly the comments from Jack Birch was that the team had not even played 20 games yet.  Around the 20 game mark they went out and signed Mike Brodeur to help out in goal, but it was too little too late.  The season was lost and the Amerks were never able to climb out of the basement.  All we have to do is hope that the Amerks don’t slip into fifth place and out of a playoff spot before the Panthers take notice and try to make some changes or adjustments.

Ending on a positive and optimistic note, maybe patience really is the key and the players and coaches will turn everything will turn around and the remaining 21 games will include another long winning streak.  The return of Mike York to the lineup could help do just that.  We’ll see on Friday night when the Amerks try to win their first Friday home game since November 27th when they host the Grand Rapids Griffins who are currently in last place in the North Division.

Nolan Says Panthers are Aware of Amerks Slump is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Based on the comments after Fridays game the only thing I can think to say is that the team needs to work hard like they say and they’ll start winning again.  Hopefully they are on to something.

The stats do not paint a pretty picture for the game but I’ll be walking through the doors of Blue Cross Arena excited and hoping for the best like I always do.  The puck drops at 7:35pm, not the usual 7:05 start time.

With only 27 games remaining in the season and letters going out to season ticket holders about renewing and playoff tickets, is it time to hover our hands over the panic button?

Take a look at these stats that Kevin posted on Hockey O-Zone:

The Amerks have a 17-1 record against Syracuse, Binghamton and Toronto. Against everyone else on their schedule, they’re 13-20-1.

That second record is just awful. It translates to a .397 points-earned percentage, which by itself would be the worst record in the league.

The players are not concerned.  The coach is not concerned.  Management says they are not concerned.

Taking a look at the standings there is only six points separating the Amerks in second place with 62 points and the Moose, Monsters, and Heat all tied with 56 points.  The Amerks and Monsters face off tonight.  The Amerks also have games on Tuesday and Friday against the Manitoba Moose.  I hate to have my finger on that panic button but by next weekend the Amerks could be in a position where they’re going to be battling for a playoff spot instead of where they’ve been sitting comfortably for a while now.

As of this morning here’s the North Division standings:

Bulldogs – 76 points
Amerks – 62 points
Moose – 56 points
Heat – 56 points
Monsters – 56 points
Griffins – 49 points
Marlies – 48 points

In the D&C on Friday the following quote appeared by Ted Nolan:

“Curt put a lot of time and a lot of energy into this team,” Nolan said. “We’re not just going to sit and watching things slide.”

Well, from a fans viewpoint that’s exactly what they have done, sat and watched.  Yes, Daniel Steiner and John de Gray have been good additions to the team but the team has still continued to slide in the standings.

The attendance has also continued to slide and can you really blame people?  If it wasn’t for the $1 beers and hot dogs on Friday nights I’d be concerned what the numbers would be.  These articles probably don’t help but what can really be said?  I wish I could go back to writing about exciting hockey.

At one point not too long ago the Amerks had a 20 point lead over the Monsters and now after the game tonight that gap could be closed to four points.  We’ll know more later tonight.

Gameday: Amerks Host Monsters; Playoff Panic Button? is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

About a year ago at this time I had wrote that it was, “up to ownership and management to improve the product on the ice,” and I think it’s safe to say they answered the call and have done everything needed.  Curt Styres opened his wallet, put an awesome team on the ice, now it’s time to the fans to continue proving the theory that winning improves attendance.  If everything goes as planned it’s going to be a packed house.

If you don’t have tickets or know anyone who does not make sure they call the Amerks office at (585) 454-5335.  Some fans who stood in line last Friday for tickets did not get to their seats until the first period was almost over.

It has to be easier to sell tickets when the team is one of the best in the American Hockey League and has been since the start of the season.  I’m going out on a limb and say that we’re beyond the point of it being, “early in the season.”  After almost a quarter of the way into the season the Amerks have the best winning percentage in the league right now at .861 with a record of 15-2-1.

The baby Penguins have been doing alright themselves with a 10-6-1-1 record through 18 games.  We should get a pretty good idea early in the game about how it’s going to go.  The Penguins like to run an early line of Joe Vitale, Zach Sill, and Aaron Boogaard that goes out and hits everything that moves.

A physical game is something that the Amerks are familiar with having played against the Syracuse Crunch five times this season.

The exciting part of this team is the team aspect of it all.  The game against Syracuse saw an unusual trio in Keaton Ellerby, Andrew Sweetland, and Shawn Matthias score goals that led the Amerks to a 5-2 win.

On Tuesday night the Amerks won their second straight 5-2 game this time against the Hamilton Bulldogs with scoring from Mike Duco, Andrew Sweetland, Graham Mink, and David Brine.

Jeff Taffe, Michal Repik, Mike York, and Evgeny Dadonov have all contributed assists in the previous two games.

That leaves Chris Taylor and Jamie Johnson off the scoreboard but they are two of the biggest contributors to this team.

Alexander Salak continues to rise in the standings as one of the leagues top goaltenders and has not showed any signs of slowing down.

I hate to steal a line from Rick Jeanneret, but these guys are good, scary good.  Someone more creative than myself needs to come up with something of our own.

It’s an exciting year for the Amerks and the City of Rochester to have one of the best hockey teams in North America.  The game is at 7:05pm at the Blue Cross Arena, make sure you’re there early to avoid the lines… it’s going to be a great hockey game.

Gameday: Big Crowd and Big Game Expected for Amerks vs Penguins Tonight is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

There were a number of players who did not perform well during that game but Bonneau must not have been the “enforcer” the team was looking for.

The surprising part about Bonneau being released is that the team had started training camp with three experienced enforcers and now they’re down to none.

I could be the jinx in this situation.  I wrote an article about Mike Sgroi, he was released.  Last week I was about to post one about Trevor Gillies and then he signed with Bridgeport.  This week I was going to post something about Bonneau and now he’s gone.

Ted Nolan had talked over the summer about creating a “safe working environment,” but as of right now it seems far from it.  I put in a call to Ted Nolan to get more information about why and what they’re looking for but as of writing this have not received a call back.  I’m sure he’s a busy person and I’m sure we’ll talk this week.

The Amerks are trying to create an identity in the City of Rochester again, something they used to have but have lost in recent years.  Based on the comments by Nolan over the summer many of us had assumed that identity would be an offensive scoring team that also has some toughness and grit to the game.

Should anyone lose any sleep over this?  Absolutely not.

Will this hurt the team in any way?  It shouldn’t.

The team is working to win fans back into the building and hopes to do so by winning hockey games.  An exciting environment where a team wins games is what people want to see.  To win hockey games you need a strong offense to score goals, something they have on paper.  Right now they’re working on building team chemistry to prove they have what it takes on the ice.

To win hockey games you also want someone to protect your assets on the ice.  The management and coaching staff have always talked about wanting a player that can play that role as well as play hockey.  Someone they could rely on for a regular shift if needed.  Someone that could contribute and be a not be a liability to the team by just sitting on the bench.

Trevor Gillies could have been that guy but he decided to sign a contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers instead.  Gillies would have been the 7th veteran on the team so I can understand his decision to go somewhere that he’d be guaranteed more playing time.

I’m more than confident this team will still be successful but it’s still missing that much needed element to not only protect the team but also entertaining the fans.  It’s now up to management to try and find that player.

That player was obviously not Jimmy Bonneau or Mike Sgroi.

The bigger issue is that a roster can only have so many players and right now the Amerks are pushing the limits.

Roster spots will be guaranteed for Chris Taylor, Graham Mink, Evgeny Dadonov, Kenndal McArdle, Mike York, Jeff Taffe, Jamie Johnson, David Brine, Michal Repik, and Mike Duco.  That only leaves two roster spots available (assuming no injuries).  Those two spots right now belong to Andrew Sweetland and Brady Calla.

James DeLory is still with the team as well but we have not seen much from him.  He played in the Amerks first preseason game against the Lake Erie Monsters but since then he’s only taken part in practices.

In a couple of weeks the Amerks will have three games in four nights, one against Binghamton and two against Syracuse.  They’re going to have to figure something out by then.

At this time it’ll be up to Mike Duco to keep Kevin Harvey under control and not allow him to get under our teams skin.  It’ll also be up to Duco to get inside the head of Harvey and Mirasty to try and get them to take penalties and allow the Amerks to take advantage of a power play.

Again, the team has only played one game and things are not even close to being as bad as they were last season.  There’s no reason to think this team will not be successful.  Right now I’ll assume they’re running a tight ship and making sure to have a roster that is full of chemistry.

Amerks Release Bonneau; Limited Roster Spots is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

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 Gage said was brought up last season.

It’s easy, win some games and you’ll make better headlines than the turmoil that surrounded the team in recent years.  An easy way to try and forget the past couple of years is to remember the last time the Amerks won the Calder Cup in 1996.  The team will remember that year on opening night by wearing the same jerseys that were worn that season.

Apparently a video will also be played prior to the start of the game that features Jody Gage and Ted Nolan talking about the importance of being an Amerk.

An easy to to recognize the importance of being an Amerk is by only allowing Amerks gear to be worn in the building and around the locker room.  No more Panthers.  No more Sabres.  This is Rochester Americans hockey.

Rory Fitzpatrick is a Rochester native and understands the importance of everything.  He said, “I think it’s getting that pride back, getting that Amerks feeling here instead of what it’s been in the past whether it’s been being a Sabre or being a Panther, everybody has their different goals but right now we’re all the Amerks and all representing the City of Rochester.  We need to instill that pride, that feeling of being an Amerk, wanting to be an Amerk and wanting to be in Rochester.”

Jack Birch (Director of Player Personal for the Florida Panthers) has even been sporting Amerks gear this preseason.  It’s a great sign when an employee of another organization is showing the same level of support.

The front office has spent a lot of time putting together what they believe is a Calder Cup contender and tonight is the night they all hope it starts paying off.  The team looks great on paper.  The talk has been great but it’s time for the actions of the players and coaches to back everything up.

“We feel we’re a much better team than we were last year, everything is positive.  Even with guys still missing with the Panthers it’s exciting to start the season thinking that we’ll have a good one,” Benoit Groulx said Friday morning after practice.

Rory Fitzpatrick talked about expectations saying, “The expectations should be higher.  We went out and signed a lot of great players.  The players we have back are older, more experienced.  With those expectations we have to work harder and meet them.”

Groulx talked about the veterans saying, “Fitzpatrick, Taylor, York, Johnson, Wilson.. all those older guys will definitely help not only the young guys but the overall attitude that will help this team establish the work ethic we want and the way we want to play.”

It’s odd to think that one play this preseason has made the highlight reels more than any other play last season.  Benoit Groulx talked about Chris Taylor saying, “The play he made in Syracuse, the pass he made to York on the power play is something we did not see the entire year last year.  He’s just a smart player.”

Groulx puts everything in perspective saying, “Before winning the Calder Cup you have to make the playoffs.  Before you make the playoffs you have to put your system in place, have to have a good work ethic, have to have a good chemistry on the team.  Right now we’re not talking about making the playoffs, not talking about anything else but establishing our work ethic, the way we want to play.  It’s a day to day thing.  We have to focus what we can do every day and that’s getting better.”

With the excitement about opening night and seeing the new faces it’s weird to think that the team will look different in a week.

The Amerks will be getting Jeff Taffe into the lineup once he returns from Finland.  Other players expected back are Michal Repik, Mike Duco, Jason Garrison, and goalie Alexander Salak.  Shawn Matthias seems to have been impressive enough with the Panthers that he’s not likely to return.  That’s also not including Rory Fitzpatrick and Mike Caruso who are not expected to play Saturday night (see below).

Tonights Lineup

Tyler Plante will be starting in goal.  Ever since he was called up last February he showed that he has improved and is ready to go.  It has to be easier on the goalies knowing the game is not entirely up to them like it was last season.  Chris Beckford-Tseu will be on the bench backing up.

Going off what I saw at practice on Friday the Amerks top line looks to include Chris Taylor, Evgeny Dadonov, and Graham Mink.  The second line of Mike York, Jamie Johnson, and Andrew Sweetland.  Third line of Brady Calla, David Brine, and Kenndal McArdle.  And finally a fourth line of James DeLory, Jimmy Bonneau, and Dan Collins.

If Victor Oreskovich signs a contract look for him to replace Dan Collins in that lineup.

On defense we’ll see Clay Wilson, Keaton Ellerby, Jordan Henry, Matt Duffy, Jon Landry, and probably Peter Aston.  The Amerks are missing three key players on defense with Fitzpatrick, Caruso, and Garrison.  With those guys not in the lineup it gives Duffy, Landry, and Aston a chance to show they belong here.  Luke Beaverson is still with the team and could be a longshot to crack the lineup.

Injuries

Rory Fitzpatrick said he’s healthy and ready to play, Benoit Groulx said he is not.  Rory is not expected to play this weekend but will return the second weekend of the season.

Mike Caruso will be out with a bruised foot/ankle.  The good news is that he did a great job blocking the shot from a Crunch player.  The even better news is that nothing is broken and he should return next weekend as well.

Promotions

The first 5,000 fans will get a magnetic schedule.

I’m excited for tonight, see you at the game!

Amerks Season has High Expectations is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Here’s a few questions I asked Benoit after practice on Thursday morning.

Scrimmage instead of a typical practice?

– We already have a good idea of what our lines are going to be.  This weekend it’s important for many of them to show us what they can bring to this team.  Training camp is about knowing them (the players) better, many guys here we didn’t know before this morning.  The first two games, especially Saturday, it’s going to be an important game for guys to prove themselves.  It’ll be the team we don’t know too much of.

What’s different about this year?  What was learned from last year?

– It’s not about what we have learned from last year, it’s about the team we have in place now.  This is going to be a much different year this year than it was last year.  Last year I didnt know anybody.  I didn’t know any players, didn’t know anything about this league.  Obviously having a year under my belt helped me knowing where i’m going, knowing the players, the league, the players we’ve signed.  It’s only about knowing things better.

Anything that surprised you about coming into the AHL?

– Its a very competitive league.  Going into a new league, people are talking about the new players your coaching, going onto the ice you really don’t know them.  Everything is turning around, the six veterans you have on your team have to be good players but also have to be good people.  Our focus was not only on signing good players but good people, hopefully they’ll be able to take charge of this team on the ice and lead by example on the ice also.

Talking about the adjustment for some players to playing hockey as a job and not just another day at the rink..

– They know what it takes now to be a pro hockey player.  They understand what they have to do better than last year.  I believe they’ll be more comfortable on the ice.  Basically it’s only about what they have to do, what’s been expected of them, a much better understanding of what it takes to be successful in this league than they did last year.

Expectations?

– We’ve got to go step by step.  The first thing is to get those guys together, assemble this team.  Our focus is to assemble this team right now.  Find chemistry on the ice, find chemistry off the ice.  Have a good start.

The tough guys at camp?

– We had Riley Emmerson last year.  There’s a job for grab.  We’ll see how it plays over the weekend, obviously it’s something we’d like to have on our team.  A guy that can not only be a reinforcer on the ice but a guy that can bring toughness and a guy that can skate.  That’s why we’ve invited a number of guys to camp.  To me its not nice to have a guy on the bench who can only fight and not play.  He’s taking a spot and he’s only helping the team fighting.  We’d love to have guys that can have a presence on the ice, like i said can skate, can play, not only be a reinforcer.

Asked about goalie Alexander Salak..

– He’s done well. it took him a good week to adjust. the more he’s been out there the better he was. competes hard. very good competitor. never quit on a shot, on a rebound. works hard, seems ot be a good guy.  we’ll have to get to know him better.

The Amerks are back on the ice Friday morning at 10am at ESL Centre in Henrietta.  The practices are open to the public, stop on down.

Amerks Coach Benoit Groulx Answers a Few Questions is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.