Peter Aston

Peter Aston is a defenseman who has really come into his own this season with the Rochester Americans.  If the Amerks end up signing a long term affiliation deal with the Florida Panthers, you can bet that Peter Aston is going to play a very important role in the coming seasons before he makes his way to the NHL.

In Aston’s first year in the OHL he saw pretty limited playing time.  He played in 36 games with the Peterborough Petes where he got two goals and three assists and spent 17 minutes in the penalty box.

His second year in Peterborough was much more significant.  He played in 52 games in the 2004-05 season.  He didn’t score any goals but he recorded 15 assists and had a +/- of +7.  He played in all 14 playoff games for the Petes that year where he had 4 assists.

In the 2005-06 season in the OHL he split his time between two teams.  He once again started his season with the Petes.  He had 19 points in 16 games there (4 goals, 15 assists).  Aston was then traded to the Windsor Spitfires where he played in another 49 games.  There he added another 33 points to his season total with 12 goals and 21 assists.  He also recorded 2 goals and 1 assists in the Spitfires’ playoff run that season.

Aston got his shot in the OHL all-star game in the 2005-06 season as well.  He recorded one assist during the game and had one penalty.

Although Peter was eligible to be drafted in the 2004 draft, he wasn’t acquired by the Florida Panthers until 2006 when he was picked in the 6th round (155th overall).

During the 2006-07 season, Peter traveled overseas for the beginning of the season, playing 21 in the FNL for the Assat Pori.  There he had 2 goals and 1 assists.  He also recorded 14 penalty minutes.

Aston then returned to the OHL.  He played for the Oshawa Generals for the remaining 41 games of the season.  He recorded his best stats to date in the OHL in that stint with 8 goals and 24 assists.

This season, Peter has been making strides at becoming a very important defenseman.  You will never find him slacking on the ice and you can see his determination shining through in everything he does.  He has played in 49 games this season with the Amerks with a recorded 11 points so far (2 goals, 9 assists).

On February 22, Peter dropped the gloves with known tough guy Danny Bois in a rough game against the Binghamton Senators.  In the fight, he was thrown to the ice.  He left the game with a nasty gash on his head and possible concussion.  He hasn’t played since that fight.  Hopefully, he will be able to return to the lineup very soon.
Getting To Know Peter Aston:

LetGoAmerks.com: How old were you when you started playing hockey?
Peter Aston: Five years-old.

LGA: Who got you into playing hockey?
PA: My dad.

LGA: Any Siblings?
PA:  Two older sisters.

LGA: What is your favorite hockey moment you were involved in?
PA: The two NHL exhibition games I played this year.

LGA: What was your most memorable goal?
PA: When I was traded to Windsor from the Peterborough Petes we played against the Petes and I scored the goal to take the game into overtime.

LGA: Who is your favorite person to room with on the road? Why?
PA: Mike Funk because we get along well.

LGA: When you have free time, what do you like to do?
PA:  I like to play guitar and eat.

LGA: What do you do during the off-season?
PA: I like to golf, go out with my friends and visit cottages.

LGA: Favorite movie?
PA: Dodgeball because it has a lot of good quotes

Let’s hope while he’s with the Amerks he’ll make some connecting passes like this and score some goals like this. 

Tifu also recently played in the ECHL All-Star game where he recorded an assist playing for the American Conference.  He also won the InGlasCo Individual Puck Control Relay challenge in the skills portion of the All-Star game.

Basic Stats:

Age: 23
Home: Brossard, Quebec
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Position: center
Shoots: right

He recorded 90 points in the 03/04 season in the QMJHL, 72 points in the 05/06 season in the UHL, and 89 points in the 06/07 season in the ECHL.

Tifu has not been drafted by any NHL teams.  He has been passed over due to his smaller size, with the way he records points it appears as if he’s out to prove everyone wrong.  A number of players have been considered too small for professional hockey, including Daniel Brier.

He has only played ten games in the AHL, so it’ll be interesting to see if he is able to make an impact in upcoming games for the last place Amerks.

He was signed to help the team out with Stefan Meyer, David Brine, Clark MacArthur, and Patrick Kaleta all recalled by there NHL affiliates.

View Yannick Tifu stats on hockeydb.

By comparison, Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins won the same competition in the NHL on Saturday with a 103.1 mph shot.  Second place in the NHL challenge was Vinny Lecavalier of the Lightning at 101.9.

Kurtis Foster held the previous AHL record at 101 mph when he played for the Chicago Wolves in 2003. 

In the Toyota Breakaway Relay challenge he had a breakway against goaltender Jimmy Howard from Grand Rapids, he took a wrist shot aiming at the top corner glove side of the net but the puck went too high.

You can view a video of Mark Mancari in both challenges on YouTube (as of 01/27/08 11pm it’s still processing, so check back later if you’re trying to view it right away).

The All-Star game itself will be played on Monday January 28th at 7pm.  You can watch the game live on TWSN Channel 26 in Rochester, NY as well as for free online at B2 Networks.  The roster features at least one player from every AHL team.

In 49 games Mancari currently leads the Amerks with 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists), and is ranked in the AHL.  At this rate he’s going to have his highest point season.  In the 05/06 season he played in 71 games and had 18 goals and 24 assists.  The 06/07 season he played in 64 games and had 23 goals and 34 assists.

He replaced Clarke MacArthur who was prevented from participating due to being recalled by the Sabres.

Best of luck tomorrow night Mark!

Mark Mancari has been added to the AHL All-Star game this weekend to represent the Amerks and Team Canada.   MacArthur was originally selected to the All-Star game but will be rejoining the Sabres on Monday which is why Mancari was picked.

It’s a suprising move by the Sabres to actually send MacArthur to the Amerks for just two games, he has proven his worth for the Sabres.  Hopefully these players will put as much effort into playing for a last place team in the AHL as they have in the NHL trying to prove there worth up there.  If that happens, it isn’t too far fetched to have a two game winning streak after this weekend.

Mancari, a third-year right winger, has 13 goals, 22 assists and 35 points in 47 games.

MacArthur has scored 5 goals, 4 assists and 9 points in 21 games with the Sabres. He was the Amerks leading scorer before his recall (11-19-30 in 26 AHL games).

Proof of his value to the Sabres came on Thursday night in a 2-1 victory at Dallas, when he was on the ice in the final minute helping Buffalo protect the lead.

Kaleta is pointless in eight games with the Sabres.

Glass scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

A Dartmouth University product, Glass has one goal and 27 penalty minutes in 23 games with the Panthers.

Stats courtesy of Kevin O’s article in the D&C

The Amerks play the Lake Erie Monsters tonight at 7:35pm at Blue Cross Arena and then travel to Cleveland on Saturday for a rematch.  You can go to the games, listen live on Hot Talk 1280, or watch live on B2 Networks.

 Adam Dennis

Adam Dennis is a goalie with an unusual style who is cool under pressure.  He has been known for his success at the junior level, leading two teams to OHL championships and Memorial Cup Tournaments.

Dennis started his junior career in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL) where he played 32 games with the Oakville Blades.

From there Adam moved on to the OHL where he played first for the Guelph Storm from 2002 until the middle of the 2004-05 season.  During his time with the Storm he played 87 games and came out with 44 wins, 27 losses and 10 ties.

In the 2003-04 season, Dennis helped the Guelph Storm win the Wayne Gretzky Trophy (Western Conference Champions) and went on to win the OHL Championship.  He also helped the team make their forth ever appearance in the Memorial Cup Tournament in Kelowna, BC.  The team took 4th place in that tournament that season.

On January 10, 2005, Dennis was traded to the London Knights where he played with teammates Dylan Hunter and Drew Larman.  The London Knights started their season off with 31 wins in a row that year.  Dennis helped lead them to the OHL Championship (his second in two seasons) and helped them win the esteemed Memorial Cup. 

The next season, Adam was named the 2005-06 OHL Goaltender of the Year.

Adam Dennis was drafted in the 2nd round (182nd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.

Last season (2006-07), Dennis played 35 games for the Rochester Americans.  He was the first goalie to earn wins in his first three starts since Mika Noronen.  He ended the season 18 wins and 17 losses.  He was recalled to the Buffalo Sabres twice to serve as Martin Biron’s backup for three NHL games.

This year Adam has started 23 games and has a 9-12-0-2 record on the season.
Getting To Know Adam Dennis:

LetsGoAmerks: How old were you when you started playing hockey?
Adam Dennis: I started skating when I was three and actually playing hockey when I was four.

LGA: Who got you into playing hockey?
AD: I got into hockey just watching games with my dad when I was younger and really just enjoyed the game.

LGA: Do you have any siblings?
AD: I have one younger brother.

LGA: What is your favorite hockey moment?
AD: In juniors winning the Memorial Cup with the London Knights.

LGA: When you have free time what do you like to do?
AD: I like to spend time with my dogs.

LGA: What do you do during the off season?
AD: Mainly just train for next season maybe go camping or to cottages for a few weekends.

LGA: What is your favorite movie? Why?
AD: Rounders, because it’s just a sweet movie!

London, ONMark Mancari knows how to use his size to his advantage on the ice. With a slap shot that can take a head clear off and the ability to play both offense and defense, Mancari is an asset to any professional hockey team.

He is known for being very coachable with a coach who cares, very smart and versatile.

Mancari is always willing to do what it takes to get his team a win. He will play any position asked of him to help the team. He is one (if not the most) hardworking players in the Rochester Americans lineup.

Mark spent his entire junior career playing for the Ottawa 67’s where he played 226 games racking up 76 goals and 82 assists for 158 points. He started with the 67’s as a defenseman, turning to offense once his skills were seen.

In Mancari’s third season with the 67’s, he nearly tripled his point output of his first two seasons combined.

In his last year with Ottawa, Mark was awarded the Brian Kilrea Award for community involvement. He was also named the Booster Club’s Best Two-Way Player and was the runner-up for the Booster Club’s Best Offensive Player.

Mancari was drafted in the seventh round (207^th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.

Mark’s rookie year with the Amerks came in the 2005-06 season. That year he was 5^th on the team in points with 42 (18 goals, 24 assists). It didn’t take long for the coaching staff to see that he was a player that would be respected on the ice. The Buffalo Sabres recalled him on

Last season, Mark received two more recalls from the Sabres playing in three games for them. He had one assist and two penalty minutes during his stay there. Many people wonder why he hasn’t been recalled yet this season with the Sabres lacking size and heart. Mark has more heart than nearly every other player does in professional hockey.

Mancari finished 3^rd on the Amerks in points last season with 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists). He was also awarded the 2006-07 Fairand/O’Neil Sportsmanship Award.

After this season, Mark becomes a RFA (restricted free agent).

Getting To Know Mark Mancari:

LetGoAmerks.com: How old were you when you started playing hockey?
Mark Mancari: Three years old on, when my parents first put me on skates.

LGA: Who got you into playing hockey?
MM: My parents and my brother.

LGA: Any Siblings?
MM: I have one older brother.

LGA: What is your favorite hockey moment you were involved in?
MM: I have two. Finishing my Jr. Career in my hometown of London, Ontario and playing in my first NHL game.

LGA: What was your most memorable goal?
MM: It would have to be scoring a hat trick for my grandmother a day after she past away.

LGA: Who is your favorite person to room with on the road? Why?
MM: Clarke MacArthur because we have been here for three years and we lived together out first year.

LGA: When you have free time, what do you like to do?
MM: I like to relax, hang out with my girlfriend and my dog, shop, go golfing, and see movies.

LGA: What do you do during the off-season?
MM: I train, golf and hang out with family and friends in London [Ontario].

LGA: Favorite movie?
MM: I have always loved Shawshank Redemption.