My apologies for the delay in the two previous game reports; I've been on my
honeymoon since December 31st.

The Rochester Americans started a five-game road trip to kick off 2003, opening
with three games in Texas. The Amerks faced the expansion San Antonio Rampage
on Thursday, January 2nd, and fell to their hosts by a score of 5-4 in overtime.
Both clubs scored three goals in the opening period, then traded scores in the
final two periods before San Antonio took the game just under two minutes into
overtime.

Rochester's Francois Methot scored his ninth goal of the season unassisted to
open the floodgates in the first period of play, coming at 5:37. San Antonio's
Jim Campbell answered with his fifth of the season, coming at 10:52 of the
period with assists to Jeff Toms and Byron Ritchie. Jaroslav Kristek then
regained the lead for Rochester with his 12th goal of the season at 13:46,
assisted by Methot. Jason Botterill, the only Amerk to make the 2003 All-Star
Teams (Canadian), scored his 23rd goal of the season to give his club a two-goal
lead at 16:43 of the period. Kristek assisted on the score. The Rampage's Ryan
Jardine scored his eighth goal of the season at 17:28 of the period with help
from Pierre Dagenais and Serge Payer to reduce the gap to one. Mike Green then
scored during a San Antonio power-play opportunity at 18:58 to tie up the score
heading into the second period of play. Michel Periard and Jim Campbell earned
assists on the score.

Byron Ritchie scored his first goal of the season while the Rampage was
shorthanded at 19:28 of the second period to give his club a one-goal advantage
going into the final period of play. Rochester's Paul Guastad came back with
his seventh of the season, also shorthanded, at 12:06 to tie the game once more
and forcing overtime. Jaroslav Kristek earned an assist on the score. In
overtime, San Antonio's Paul Elliott scored at 1:50 to send the Amerks to the
overtime loss. Mika Noronen, returned to Rochester while Ryan Miller attempts
to spark the parent Sabres, stopped 23 of 28 shots on goal, dropping his record
to 0-2-1 as a member of the Rochester club this season.

On Friday, January 3rd, Rochester took on the Houston Aeros for the first time
in history and fell to the former IHL perennial playoff contenders by a score of
5-1. Houston opened scoring at 8:33 of the first period when Jean-Guy Trudel
scored his 16th goal of the season with help from Mark Cullen and Kyle Wanvig.
Rochester's Chris Taylor tied the game at 1:52 of the second period for the
club's lone goal of the game, assisted by Jason Botterill and Rory Fitzpatrick
while Rochester was on the power-play. Houston's Cory Larose nullified the
score at 18:18 of the period with his eighth goal of the season; Ratislav
Pavlikovsky and Lawrence Nycholat assisted.

Houston ended the game with a three-goal final period to send Rochester to its
second loss in as many nights. Marc Cavosie scored his second of the season at
11:46 of the period, assisted by Mark Cullen and Jean-Guy Trudel. Curtis Murphy
followed with his 13th of the season at 12:49, assisted by Tony Virta and
Ratislav Pavlikovsky. Erik Reitz finished the scoring with his fifth of the
season at 15:11 of the period, assisted by Dan Cavanaugh. Mika Noronen failed
to earn his first Amerks victory once again, stopping 36 of 41 shots on goal
while Rochester's offense put only 15 shots on goal in the game. Rochester and
Houston face off again Sunday evening.

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

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