The Amerks are just finishing up their Thursday morning practice where they spent most of the time working on special teams.  Everyone was present and accounted for at practice with no current call ups.  Rolston said that he hadn’t talked to the Sabres yet but with the Sabres playing at home Friday night there’s no real urgency to scramble for flights.  If this had been last season in Portland someone would probably be getting a flight booked already as a precaution.

Along with the inuries and the call ups the other issue with the Rochester Americans roster is the lack of scoring at times.  When I asked Rolston if they’ve been looking at making changes to the roster by bringing in players he said, “pretty much every day it’s something we look at.”  He also said that every day they make sure to have a list of guys they’d like if the need comes up.  Finding the right players that will produce and have chemistry is the biggest issue.  Any moves would likely come from the ECHL where players may put up a ton of points there but that doesn’t always equal production in the AHL.  It’s probably a pipe dream to think that Darcy Regier would even look at possible trades to make improvements mid season.

Evan Rankin has been a player they signed to a PTO and has produced on the ice and been a big part of the lineup.

Dennis Persson and Travis Turnbull were on the ice and in full practice mode with the team.  Persson has been out since the first week of the season with an ankle injury.  Turnbull has been out since November 11 with a concussion.  Persson is going to be playing this weekend but Turnbull is still questionable.  Amerks Coach Ron Rolston said that he has to talk to Turnbull to see how he’s doing.

TJ Brennan was on the ice before the rest of the team practicing but left the ice shortly after the whole team warmed up.  He’s out with an “upper body injury” and will miss this weekends three games but they hope to have him back next week.

There’s also no update on Michael Ryan who has only played the first three games of the season.  Rolston still says that he has doesn’t know what’s going on but there’s obvious concern for him as a person and also him playing this season.  Ryan had been skating with the team but that’s no longer the case.

Matt MacKenzie suffered a deep cut above his knee last Saturday against Hamilton and is out indefinitely.

The Amerks will have another tough weekend of three games and travel.  They’re home Friday against Albany and then on the road to Glens Falls for a game Saturday and back to Hamilton for a game Sunday afternoon at 3pm.