The Amerks won back to back games against the Manitoba Moose, what an excellent start to the new year!  Karl Stewart scored the game winning goal in the 10th round of the shootout on Saturday to give the Amerks the two game sweep.  The last time the Amerks won in Manitoba was December 2006.

Mike Brodeur is now leading the AHL with a 1.59 goals against average following Saturday nights win, if he continues at this pace he should be selected to Team Canada for the AHL All-Star Classic.

On Friday night Stefan Meyer and Jacob Micflikier scored to give the Amerks a 2-1 win.

Saturday goals were scored for Cory Murphy, Stefan Meyer, and the shoot out winner by Karl Stewart for the 3-2 win.

Cory Murphy cleared waivers back on October 11th, makes one wonder if the team could have started the season any differently had he been assigned here at that time.

The Amerks gained four points this weekend and continue climbing the steps out of last place, a lot of games are left in the season and a lot is possible.

“We were better than we were last night,” Moose head coach Scott Arniel said after Saturdays game.

If they were better and the Amerks still won, that’s a sign they’re an improved team.

The Moose are playing without Jason Jaffray and Alexandre Bolduc who have both been called up by the Vancouver Canucks, but we’re playing without Shawn Matthias.. that’s comparable wouldn’t you agree?   (insert sarcasm!)

I wasn’t able to listen to or watch either, luckily the Manitoba Moose have an amazing web site that has highlights from both games.

Thoughts from watching the highlights:

Friday nights 2-1 win -

* Fistric mixing it up with Sprukts, is he crazy?  Sprukts would break him in half just by looking at him.
* Meyer’s 8th goal of the season, Amerks first of the game assisted by Larman and Gelech.  Three players that everyone has been expecting more out of.  Good job guys!
* Micflikier’s third goal of the season and game winning goal scored in front of family and friends, and a great shot it was from the face off circle.
* Nice seeing the team play smart hockey in the closing seconds by not icing the puck (something the Moose would later do on Saturday night)

Saturday nights 3-2 shootout win -

* Amazing Brodeur didn’t stop Ouellet’s first goal short handed.
* Cory Murphy was on the ice for all four regulation goals, did he play the whole game?
* Cory Murphy’s first ever AHL goal, and first of the game was an excellent shot from the point that beat Goehring stick side.. also a great pass by Repik.
* Ouellet’s 2nd goal was a great shot.
* Meyer tied the game 2-2 with 5 seconds left in regulation for his 9th goal of the season, assisted by Murphy who shot the puck perfectly in front of the net where Meyer could tip it in.  Well, it looked more like a perfect pass than a direct shot on goal.

The Amerks will travel back to Rochester on Sunday with their next game on Friday night at Blue Cross Arena against the slumping Crunch who are 1-6-2-1 in the last 10 games.

Pass the word to friends and family, the Amerks are playing some exciting hockey again!

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Amerks Win Two Games Against the Moose

It seems like Top 10 posts are the popular thing to do, and why not, looks back at what people seemed to find the most interesting.  In 2008 the Amerks at one point were a team with an uncertain future due to a lack of ownership.  That was solved, here’s hoping that “new day for a Rochester tradition” is accomplished in 2009 with a successful team on the ice.  We’ll be out of town for a couple days, in absence of covering Wednesday mornings practice here’s a list of the top 10 most read posts on this site in 2008:

10. Amerks Open Camp, Live at ESL!

The team opened training camp at the ESL Centre in Henrietta on September 30, 2008.. the day that the Edmonton Oilers claimed Steve MacIntyre off of waivers from the Panthers.  “Big Mac” was already on the ice for camp when he was pulled off and given the news.

9. Featured Player: Adam Dennis

This is something we need to do more of, it’s the only reason I can think that Adam Dennis and Dylan Hunter were considered amongst the top posts of the year.  It’s not like either of them has busted into the Sabres lineup.

8. Featured Player: Dylan Hunter

See above!

7. NY Times Article on Amerks Owner Curt Styres

At the time it was the most any of us got to know about Styres.  As noted in the last paragraph of the article, Styres dreams big.. he still is which is great, here’s hoping it really happens in ‘09.

6. Mike Funk Practice Video

At the end of practice you had to score a shootout goal, if you did you got to leave the ice, if you didn’t you had to take off a piece of equipment each time you failed.  Watch the video.  If kids weren’t in the bleachers who know where this would have gone!

5. Sabres Affiliation ‘Days Away’ from Being Over

In June 2008 it became official that the Sabres and Amerks were ending a 29 year relationship.

4. A Day at Florida Panthers Rookie Camp

This was the first real look we had at our current team, it was worth the long drive and we plan on doing it again this year.

3. Rochester Americans Future Still in Question

In March 2008 no one really knew what the future of the team was, especially at the height of the Rhinos/Paetec Park/City of Rochester fiasco going on.

2. Skating With The Players At Blue Cross Arena

Short and sweet post, but it appeared to be something a lot of people were interested in!

1. New Goalie Helmet for Tyler Plante

Tyler Plantes’ goalie helmet is unique to say the least.  He’s currently playing for the Dayton Bombers in the ECHL.  Given the popularity of this post, I’m going to try and capture more images of goalies helmets as they pass through town.  Many are boring, some seem very interesting!

There you have it, the top 10 read articles of 2008 on Lets Go Amerks!  If you have any ideas of something that could make the list in ‘09 please use the contact form or leave a comment below!

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Top 10 Read Posts of 2008 on Lets Go Amerks

It was a cold morning at the ESL Sports Centre in Henrietta for practice this morning.. amazing how much I’ve taken it for granted sitting in warm comfortable seats at Blue Cross Arena instead of metal benches.

Practice was practice, what else can really be said about the team going through the motions and drills.  Worth noting though was Kenndal McArdle and David Brine hanging out late practicing shooting the puck at various spots of the net.  The Amerks are at the bottom of the AHL with only 66 goals scored this season, which is also a reason they’re in last place.  If you can’t score, you can’t win.

Shawn Matthias and Jason Garrison were the last two players to leave the ice as they worked with Jason Cipolla.  It’s an understatement to say that Matthias needs the practice.  In 24 games he only has 3 goals and 1 assist.  He also has a team worst  +/- rating of -21.

Mike Brodeur, the one player who has put new life in the team, still has no update on any sort of contract offer.  He’s on a 25 game PTO and has played in 10 games so far.  I asked him for any sort of update and he said, “I wish, I want to start making some more money.”

Rory Fitzpatrick is back on the ice prior to the rest of the team.  He has been hoping to be back in the lineup in this weekend.

Riley Emmerson attempted to skate for a minute, but lasted about 45 seconds.  He’s been out of the lineup nursing a sprained ankle.

Mike Duco left the game on Sunday in Hamilton after Greg Stewart nailed him into the boards, Steward was called for boarding major and game misconduct.  No idea what the nature the injury is, but he wasn’t practicing either.  Cipolla said they’d find out today.

Last but not least it appeared as if the flu bug that pestered the team over the weekend is gone.  Everyone seemed healthy, hopefully it stays that way as they’ll need everything ounce of energy when they travel to Manitoba for back to back games on Friday and Saturday.

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Tuesday Morning Practice; Injury Updates, Still No Contract

Tonight, the Rochester Americans take on the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Blue Cross Arena.  The game starts at 7:35PM and should have a pretty good size crowd as the post Christmas game usually does.  Mike Broduer should be starting in goal tonight even after he slipped up during Sunday night’s game.

Stefan Meyer should be will likely be back on the ice (as he should have been in Sunday night).  Drew Larman and Randel Gelech should be scratched if you are scratching players based on who is producing the worst on the team.

Rory Fitzpatrick still isn’t practicing, but he is here working out.  He is currently out here on the bench with the team watching them work.  Remember that Rory should be returning on the team’s trip out to Manitoba.

Don’t miss tonight’s game.  It may be the loudest one of the year with a crowd expected of close to 8,000.

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Christmas Is Over…Amerks Ready To Take On The Bulldogs 12-26-2008

“Story of our season, can’t buy a goal,” were words used by coach Benoit Groulx after the Amerks were shutout 6-0 by the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Amerks also aren’t able to compete with the top teams in the AHL, as evident by the standings as well  the games last night against the Griffins and last week against the Peoria Rivermen.  Those two teams will be competing for winner of the conference by the end of the season.

The Griffins are 17-7-3-3, the Amerks are 8-21-0-2.  The Griffins have a scored 104 goals in 30 games.  The Amerks have scored 59 goals in 31 games.  The stats could continue, but that says it all right there.

It seemed as if the Griffins did their homework on the Amerks, the first three goals were scored by simply heading to the front of the net and beating our defense to easily put the puck past Mike Brodeur.  Evan McGrath scored the Griffins fourth goal as he crossed the blue line right past Michal Repik, took the pass from Francis Pare and shot it right past Brodeur.  Repik should have been able to outskate that guy and prevent him from getting the pass.

Mike Brodeur was pulled after the first two periods of play and replaced by Chris Beckford-Tseu.  Brodeur gets a “pass” on this game.  He’s been playing outstanding, but when your defense starts relying too much on you instead of stopping the puck and opposing players, and the offense can’t score, there’s only so much a goalie can do.

The team was not able to get any plays going, as soon as they’d enter the Griffins zone with the puck they would take it and head back the other way.

The defense is soft against top teams.  The offense can’t get anything started.  Let’s hope Santa is good and leaves something good under the tree for all.

The other interesting story line of the game was Stefan Meyer being a healthy scratch from the game.  When I asked Groulx about it he said, “We expect more from him and he’s aware of it.  We’ve been talking with him for a while.  I think Stefan is a good player, obviously you can’t do more, he’s the first one that knows he’s gotta bring more to this team.  We want this team to work.”

Stefan Meyer had “no comment” after the game.

Trouble in Amerk-Ville?  Meyer is tied for the team lead in goals with seven and is one of only six players with double digits in points.  Seems as though Groulx is trying to send a message by scratching Meyer from the lineup showing no one is untouchable.. Drew Larman and Randall Gelech have also recently been healthy scratches.

Interesting times in Amerk-Ville for sure.  The Amerks return to the ice on Friday when they play the Hamilton Bulldogs at Blue Cross Arena.

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Can’t Score Goals, Shutout By Griffins; Meyer Scratched

In the words of Major League’s Harry Doyle, “In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Amerks have managed to win a few games, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.”  The weather outside is frightful…so, I brought the laptop to the game so everyone at home who may not be listening can still get updates on the game.

The Amerks just killed off a penalty brilliantly.  The Monsters never really had a chance to get anything going.  Keaton Ellerby was called for tripping.  He hit the puck and the guy “fell” over his stick…so…whatever.

15:00 left in the first.

The Sprukts, Matthias, Repik line looks nice.  They have already made some good things happen.

12:41 Left in the first period and Riley Emmerson takes on a guy who looks just like Jesus.  It really isn’t nice to hit Jesus a few days before his birthday.  But, in this case, I will allow it.  It was pretty much a draw…but, Emmerson got a few good hits in there.  So, I call the fight in favor of Riley Emmerson.

Amerks on the powerplay.  Repik got hooked.  Nothing came from that PP, but the puck movement was good and they kept it in pretty well.

6:30 left in the 1st period.  The Amerks are really hitting guys tonight.  Jason Garrison had a nice open ice hit, Jordan Henry is hitting anything in a maroon jersey, Mike Caruso and Keaton Ellerby are all over their men.  It’s great to see.  Everyone is hoping to not be the defenseman benched once Rory Fitzpatrick comes back against the Manitoba Moose on January 2nd in Manitoba.

Team Chiropractor, Dr Dudley was just called into action on the bench in place of equipment manager Peter.  He is doing a great job…his stick handling skills are being tested…and he is doing great.

4:01 let in the first: Peter Aston scores his first goal of the season.  A beautiful shot from the point hit the crossbar and sunk right into the net.  Assists to Keaton Ellerby and Kenndal McArdle. (EDIT: Scoring change…Goal scored by Michael Duco.  Assists Peter Aston and Keaton Ellerby).

End of the first period.  Amerks winning 1-0.

Second period starting.

16:00 left in the 2nd period.  A penalty shot is awarded the the Lake Erie Monsters.  Brodeur is in goal so, I wasn’t worried about it.  And I shouldn’t have been.  Nothing for them.

12:24 left in the 2nd: Peter Aston, two minutes for slashing.  David Brine and Mike Caruso had a really good kill.

9:58 Williams two minutes for hooking.  This is the second powerplay opportunity of the game.  Shawn Matthias just missed the top corner of the net sending it all the way down the ice.  Now the Amerks are having a hard time getting back into the play.  Shots are being fired…a few close calls.  Almost a few goals.  Just couldn’t finish the play.

I have to go down and clean up the starts on the ice…so, I won’t be able to finish updating this period.  When I get back, I will be on it again.

The Amerks had a five-on-three opportunity…Matthias had a beautiful shot but, it was robbed by Monsters’ goaltender Jason Bacashihua.  Matthias is really getting some good clean passes to his teammates today.  Much more crisp than before his stint in the NHL.

3rd period is underway.  Brodeur got plowed over by some Monster ogre.  No call made.  Helen Keller doesn’t make a very good ref out here on the ice.

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Amerks vs Lake Erie Monsters (LIVE Coverage)

Tomorrow night the Amerks take on the Lake Erie Monsters for the second time in two weeks.  They really need to, once again, get a solid win against the Monsters.  The Amerks are actually starting to catch up to them in the rankings and a win tomorrow could mean the task is easier than expected.

The Monsters are the team directly above the Amerks in the standings.  They have 24 points and the Amerks have 16.  One game against a division rival can mean 4 points in the standings very quickly.

The Amerks are working hard at practice again today.  The defensemen are looking really solid.  You can see the difference in Shawn Matthias.  He is far more confident in himself (at least in the practices I have seen him in so far), and he is moving against defensemen much better.

Repik is looking solid as well.  And when they are on the same line, it seems no defensemen has a chance against them.

Greg Classen is still not on the ice for the Amerks, so don’t be thinking you’ll see him in the lineup tomorrow night.  Because you won’t.  He has only been in one practice.  He will need about a week of them to be in game shape after a break like he is having.

Michael Duco just took a puck to the leg, but he doesn’t seem to care.  Just a little flinch and he was on his way again.  No whining from him…ever.  This kid is like a wall in front of the net.  He may be shorter than a lot of the guys on the team, but there is no one I would rather see in front of the goalie.  He knows exactly what he is doing there and he is very hard to move.

Randall Gelech actually asks the coach questions.  That’s nice to see instead of what the kids usually do…don’t know what’s going on and get yelled at for it five minutes later.

Benoit is not allowing even the smallest mistake today.  Lines are doing things completely over if they can’t get it right.  Even a few months into the season, I can’t believe this is the work ethic of our team.  I was so used to seeing practices that my then 3 year-old son could do without breaking a sweat, that when I come to these it still shocks me a little bit that these guys are so hard working.

The ones who are here that were here last season (Stefan Meyer, Kenndal McArdle, Tanner Glass, and David Brine mostly) weren’t the players who were the problem with last year’s team.  And let’s get serious…the coaching was a joke last year.  The guys were playing games half the time and not working on any of the problems.  Cunneyworth had given up on them from day one…the only reason he cared at all about the team was so he could get a job in the NHL.

I digress.

Mike Brodeur will be starting in goal tomorrow night.  This is no shock to anyone.  He is on an extreemly hot streak and he needs to be rode until the wheels fall off.  This weekend isn’t a togh travel weekend or anything like that.  A game Friday, day off Saturday, game Sunday.  He should play both and most likely will play the first game back from Christmas break as well.

The lines they are working with today look like this:

Repik - Sprukts - Matthias
Stewart - Brine - Collins
Duco - Glass - Emmerson
Gelech - Larman - Meyer

Caruso - Henry
Garrison - MacDonald
Aston - Ellerby

I kind of like Riley Emmerson being played on regular shifts with Tanner Glass and Mike Duco.  The first reason of course being that an all out brawl could break out at any time.  And I love brawls.  The second being that every game Riley improves his game, gets a bit faster and shows he can be a “real” hockey player.

At the library on Tuesday night, you can tell how happy he really is to be a part of this team.  And he is thrilled to be able to really contribute and to be on a line with Tanner Glass.  I have a gut feeling he is going to score his first goal soon.  And when he does, I hope there is as much noise for him as there was when Brodeur got his first star on Sunday night.

It’s always great when a guy like Riley Emmerson can contribute more than one minute in ice time and a fight.  Look at Mirasty on Sunday, he was completely useless in every sense.  Once Riley made it clear he wasn’t going to fight him, he had nothing to do and was benched the rest of the game.

Emmerson has taken one minor penalty this year.  Only one.  Besides that, every penalty minute is for a fighting major.  He may be on the slow side, but he is working on that.  Riley…you have a fan in me now.

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Amerks Need To Beat Lake Erie

After a well-deserved two day break, the Amerks are back on the ice today with a few additions.  Shawn Matthias and Michal Repik are back from their call-ups to the Florida Panthers.  They had great chemistry when playing together in Florida, I would like to see that transfer to the AHL.

One major piece missing from the puzzle today is Noah Welch who went back to Florida after the game on Sunday night.  His conditioning stint in Rochester is over and we will miss him.  Rory Fitzpatrick is also not skating.  As earlier reported, he is out after having a surgery to repair his meniscus.  He is, however, up and walking around.  And it was said that he should return for Christmas.

It’s interesting to watch the players shoot on both Mike Brodeur and Chris Beckford-Tseu.  Brodeur doesn’t let anything in, even during practice.  He looks like he has belonged here in Rochester his whole life.  Beckford-Tseu is looking…well, like Beckford Tseu.  He stops some good ones, he lets some in.  Hopefully, having a real number one goaltender will help Chris get better.

Mike said that he is actively seeking a contract here in Rochester.  He wants to get it out of the way so he doesn’t have to worry about what is going to happen to him after the PTO is over.

In case you’re wondering why Riley Emmerson didn’t fight Jon Mirasty during Sunday’s game.  Last night at the library, Riley told us that he wanted to fight Mirasty really bad but, he couldn’t give the Crunch the spark they needed to get back into the game.  Which is what I said on Sunday when everyone was yelling for him to fight.

Well, the guys didn’t seem like they wanted to practice hard today…so, it was time for them to do sprints and pushups at center ice.  After that, they are working hard again.  Having two days off hasn’t gotten them very mentally prepared for this week’s practices and games.  Once asked if they want to practice for 40 more minutes or just skate for 40 minutes, they got back to business.

Repik and Matthias just came up the wings on Broduer, beautiful pass by Shawn to Repik for the goal.  Even the seemingly impenetrable Mike Broduer couldn’t get a hand on that one.  I really want to see these two on a mine together on Friday night.  They really had things going in Florida.  They were constantly on good drives when they were on the ice, they are both quick and they both have a great sense when it comes to what is going on on the ice.

Keaton Ellerby looks like a shell of his usual self.  He is slow, sweating a lot more than usual.  He really just looks like death on skates.  Looks like all his two days off gave him was the flu.  Get well soon Keaton, we need you on the ice healthy on Friday.

As usual, Jason Garrison is the last person on the ice working.  He always stays as long as the team will allow him to work on whatever he feels he needs to.

The Amerks next game is on Friday against the Lake Erie Monsters.  Puck drops at 7:35 pm.

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Back To The Grind: Practice 12-17-2008

After making 28 saves in a 3-2 loss at San Antonio on Tuesday, Brodeur came back on Wednesday to stop 26 of 27 shots through regulation and overtime, and three of four in the shootout, as the Americans took a 2-1 win in Houston. Brodeur made 26 saves in a 2-0 loss to Peoria on Friday before finishing the weekend with consecutive victories. He made 20 stops in a 3-1 win at Lake Erie on Saturday and pitched a 30-save shutout on Sunday as Rochester edged cross-state rival Syracuse, 1-0. Brodeur finished with a 1.39 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage for the week.

In recognition of his achievement, Brodeur will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Americans home game.

Brodeur, 25, is in his fifth professional season and signed with the Americans on Dec. 5. He is 4-2-0 with a 1.16 goals-against average, a .958 save percentage, and two shutouts in six outings for Rochester this season. A Calgary native, Brodeur shows a career AHL record of 10-9-0 with two shutouts in 25 appearances for Norfolk, Rockford, and Rochester.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany left wing Michael Ryan, Bridgeport center Mike Iggulden, Chicago right wing Joe Motzko, Grand Rapids forward Jamie Tardif, Hartford left wing Jordan Owens, Houston goaltender Barry Brust, Lake Erie goaltender Tyler Weiman, Manchester center Marty Murray, Manitoba right wing Michel Ouellet, Milwaukee center Cal O’Reilly, Norfolk right wing Steve Downie, Philadelphia defenseman Nate Guenin, Portland defenseman Mike Kostka, Providence center Martin St. Pierre, Quad City left wing Kyle Greentree, Rockford goaltender Corey Crawford, San Antonio goaltender Josh Tordjman, Syracuse left wing Mike York, Toronto center Ben Ondrus, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Janne Pesonen, and Worcester right wing Ryan Vesce.

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Mike Brodeur Named AHL Player of the Week

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Video: Riley Emmerson vs Eric Neilson 12/10/2008