The Rochester Americans announced their team captains at a luncheon yesterday
afternoon. Wearing the "C" for the red, white and blue is defenseman Doug
Houda, the gritty veteran and fan favorite who has over 1,000 games of
professional hockey under his pads. The alternates will be Chris Taylor, the
leading scorer for the team last year (21+45=66) and an alternate the
previous two seasons and local native Rory Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick joined
the Americans last year and played high school hockey in Irondequoit, a
suburb of Rochester where he was raised.

In other news, Denis Hamel returned to the Amerks earlier this week after
remaning unselected in the NHL Waiver Draft. Hamel played last season with
the Sabres, appearing in 105 games, scoring 11 goals and notching 9 assists
for 20 points. He last appeared with the Amerks in 2000.

Other players assigned to the Americans include goaltender Ryan Miller, the
collegiate standout (2001 Hobey Baker Award winner) expected to follow in the
footsteps of Martin Biron and Mika Noronen, Norm Milley and Andrew Peters.
Milley scored 20 goals each of the last two seasons in a Rochester sweater
and Peters collected 388 penalty minutes to lead the AHL last season.

The Amerks open their season at home this coming Friday night, squaring off
against the Albany River Rats; the puck drops at 7:35pm. Be sure to stay
with amerks@yahoogroups for all the latest Amerks news!

Jon LeRoy, Moderator
amerks@yahoogroups.com
Go Amerks!