The Rochester Americans game tonight could be something special if everything goes as planned. The team has had a major focus on ticket sales for the game tonight against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and it could be the biggest in recent memory.
About a year ago at this time I had wrote that it was, “up to ownership and management to improve the product on the ice,” and I think it’s safe to say they answered the call and have done everything needed. Curt Styres opened his wallet, put an awesome team on the ice, now it’s time to the fans to continue proving the theory that winning improves attendance. If everything goes as planned it’s going to be a packed house.
If you don’t have tickets or know anyone who does not make sure they call the Amerks office at (585) 454-5335. Some fans who stood in line last Friday for tickets did not get to their seats until the first period was almost over.
It has to be easier to sell tickets when the team is one of the best in the American Hockey League and has been since the start of the season. I’m going out on a limb and say that we’re beyond the point of it being, “early in the season.” After almost a quarter of the way into the season the Amerks have the best winning percentage in the league right now at .861 with a record of 15-2-1.
The baby Penguins have been doing alright themselves with a 10-6-1-1 record through 18 games. We should get a pretty good idea early in the game about how it’s going to go. The Penguins like to run an early line of Joe Vitale, Zach Sill, and Aaron Boogaard that goes out and hits everything that moves.
A physical game is something that the Amerks are familiar with having played against the Syracuse Crunch five times this season.
The exciting part of this team is the team aspect of it all. The game against Syracuse saw an unusual trio in Keaton Ellerby, Andrew Sweetland, and Shawn Matthias score goals that led the Amerks to a 5-2 win.
On Tuesday night the Amerks won their second straight 5-2 game this time against the Hamilton Bulldogs with scoring from Mike Duco, Andrew Sweetland, Graham Mink, and David Brine.
Jeff Taffe, Michal Repik, Mike York, and Evgeny Dadonov have all contributed assists in the previous two games.
That leaves Chris Taylor and Jamie Johnson off the scoreboard but they are two of the biggest contributors to this team.
Alexander Salak continues to rise in the standings as one of the leagues top goaltenders and has not showed any signs of slowing down.
I hate to steal a line from Rick Jeanneret, but these guys are good, scary good. Someone more creative than myself needs to come up with something of our own.
It’s an exciting year for the Amerks and the City of Rochester to have one of the best hockey teams in North America. The game is at 7:05pm at the Blue Cross Arena, make sure you’re there early to avoid the lines… it’s going to be a great hockey game.
