Amerks Post-Game Report: Rochester 4, Hershey Bears 3
Last night the Rochester Americans defeated the Bears at home to remain
undefeated so far this season. Chris Taylor opened the scoring for the
Americans at 14:33 of the first period. Assisting on the power play goal
were Brian Campbell (newly assigned to Rochester) and Criag Fisher. Francois
Methot extended the Amerks lead at 18:16 of the middle period, also on the
power play, with assistance from Cory Sarich and Darren VanOene.
Although Rochester's defense was suffocating last season and has proven
its mettle so far this season, Hershey began a rally which set off a scoring
blitz by both teams. Bruce Richardson scored at 4:31 of the final period to
end Maty Biron's shutout bid. Rochester answered with the power of Denis
Hamel, who scored his sixth goal of the season at 8:26, assisted by Craig
Fisher. Dan Hinote cut the Rochester lead by one just 18 seconds later.
Maxim Afinogenov rallyed the Amerks again, however, as he scored at 12:02
unassisted to finish scoring for the night for Rochester. Serge Aubin
knocked the puck past Biron with eight seconds remaining in play to cap the
scoring for Hershey. Rochester put 27 (8-9-10) shots on goal and Biron
stopped 14 of 17 shots on goal. With the win, Rochester improves their
record to 6-0 on the season.

Amerks Post-Game Report: Rochester 3, Albany River Rats 0
Mika Noronen did his best Martin Biron impression at the Pepsi Arena in
Albany this past Wednesday evening to help Rochester remain unbeaten in the
season. Biron, who was replaced in Albany each game last season by Tom
Draper, took the night off while his protege went to work on the hapless
Rats. Francois Methot scored his first of the season at 18:05 of the opening
period, assisted by Doug Houda, to give Rochester the early lead. Denis
Hamel's fourth of the season came at 15:09 of the second period to give
Rochester a goal-a-period lead. Assists were awarded to Chris Taylor and
Craig Fisher. Hamel added his second on the evening to round out the Amerks
win at 5:05 of the final period, assisted by Jeremy Adduono and Jason
Cipolla. Rochester put 24 (3-10-11) shots on goal and Noronen stopped all 33
Albany shots to earn his first shutout and win in the American Hockey League.


Amerks Post-Game Report: Rochester 6, Hamilton Bulldogs 1
Martin Biron not only stopped shots, he also body slammed opponents in
the Amerks home win against their Empire Division rivals early this past
week. When Bulldogs toughman Sean Selmser threw a roundhouse into the face
of Rochester defenseman Cory Sarich, Biron left the crease and threw Selmser
to the ice, touching off a melee between the teams. Providing the fireworks
on the scoreboard were several Rochester players. Veteran Randy Cunneyworth
scored only 1:10 into the opening period for his first goal of the season.
Maxim Afinogenov and Jason Cipolla assisted. Matt Davidson also earned his
first of the season in the opening period, scoring at 5:36 with help from
Jeremy Adduono and Darren VanOene. Craig Fisher's third of the season came
at 13:30 of the first period with help from Denis Hamel and Cory Sarich.
Doug Houda touched off the scoring in the second period with his first of
the year at 2:43 with help from Jason Cipolla and Maxim Afinogenov. Craig
Fisher's second of the evening came at 6:43 while on the power play.
Assisting were Mike Hrlbut and Jeremy Adduono. Michael Reisen put Hamilton
on the board for the first and only time at 17:08 while on the power play.
Dimitri Kalinin rounded out the scoring for Rochester with his first of the
season at 17:33, assisted by Chris Taylor and Craig Fisher. Rochester put 38
(14-11-13) shots on goal and Martin Biron stopped 14 of 15 Hamilton shots.
Mika Noronen was unopposed in his five minutes of play in the final period.

Amerks Roster Moves:
Jason Holland cleared waivers on Wednesday and joined the Amerks but will not
see action until his tender shoulder heals.

Fan-favorite Scott Nichol has been cleared to play after undergoing
off-season reconstructive knee surgery. He was not expected to return until
November.

Andre Payette, who had not appeared in an Amerks uniform this season, was
released from his tryout agreement and returned to Mohawk Valley of the
United Hockey League.

Last but not least, as mentioned above, Brian Campbell was reassigned o the
Amerks after Sabres holdouts Jay McKee and Rhett Warrener signed agreements.
Campbell played with Rochester in games four and five of the Calder Cup
Finals last season and was the Canadian major junior player of the year in
1998-99 with 12 goals and 75 assists for the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey
League. For reasons that any hockey fan can figure out, Campbell's addition
to the roster, plus the return of Cory Sarich to the blueline and Scott
Nichol to the lineup, only improves Rochester's chances of going all the way
this season. For the record, Rochester remains the only team in the American
Hockey League without a loss or a tie as their opponents in last season's
Calder Cup Fianls, the Providence Bruins, fell to the Philadlephia Phantoms
last night 3-1. Finally, Denis Hamel and Craig Fisher are tied for the lead
in Amerks scoring so far this season. Through six games played, Hamel has
6+2=8 and Fisher has 4+4=8. Maxim Afinogenov is not far behind with 2+5=7.
Rochester puts its unbeaten streak on the line in Hartford tonight as
they play the Wolf Pack, who defeated the Syracuse Crunch last night 6-3 to
improve their record to 2-0-3.

Go Amerks!
Jon D. LeRoy,
List Moderator