The Rochester Americans signed three more players today to professional tryouts (PTO). They added defensemen Griffin Luce and Alec McCrea along with forward Ryan Scarfo.
Why the addition of more players? The Buffalo Sabres hope to return to practice Tuesday but also have nine players on the COVID-19 protocol list. Rasmus Dahlin was just added today joining Taylor Hall, Jake McCabe, Brandon Montour, Tobias Rieder, Rasmus Ristolainen, Dylan Cozens, Curtis Lazar, and Casey Mittelstadt. There’s likely call ups that will happen to fill in roster spots before the Amerks return to play Wednesday night.
Amerks roster is available here:
***
Here’s the team press release about the additions:
The Rochester Americans announced today that the team has signed forward Ryan Scarfo and defensemen Alec McCrea and Griffin Luce to Professional Tryouts (PTO).
Scarfo, 26, joins the Amerks after starting the 2020-21 season with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), recording one goal in five games. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward split the 2019-20 campaign between the Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), combining for 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points in 55 contests. Scarfo ranked seventh among all Penguins in both assists (14) and points (26) in 43 games before the season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The third-year pro has appeared in 56 career AHL games between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Belleville Senators, totaling 14 points (4+10) while also adding 29 points (14+15) over 58 contests with the Brampton Beast (ECHL) and Nailers.
Prior to turning pro, the Boston, Mass., native completed a four-year collegiate career at Union College (ECAC), where he registered 88 points (48+40) in 151 games with the Dutchmen from 2014-2018. As a senior, Scarfo led the team in goals (20) and points (36) on his way to earning ECAC Third All-Star Team honors.
McCrea, 26, comes to Rochester after starting the 2020-21 campaign with the Indy Fuel (ECHL), recording a pair of assists in eight games. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner began his professional career in 2019-20, notching six points (1+5) in 34 contests between the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) and Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). McCrea tied for second among all Griffins first-year defensemen in both assists (5) and points (5) in 28 games last season.
Prior to turning pro, the San Diego. Calif., native completed a four-year collegiate career at Cornell University (ECAC), where he registered 49 points (12+37) in 137 games with the Big Red from 2015-2019. As a junior, McRea was named the ECAC’s Best Defensive Defenseman and was named to the All-Ivy Second Team after finishing second among team defensemen in scoring with 12 points (5+7) in 32 games. He helped Cornell advance to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last three years.
Luce, 22, joins the Amerks after appearing in 12 games this season for the Rapid City Rush (ECHL), recording two assists to begin his professional career. Prior to joining Rapid City, the Williamsville, NY, native completed a four-year collegiate career at the University of Michigan (NCAA), posting 14 points (3+11) in 131 career appearances with the Wolverines. Before attending Michigan, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound blueliner played two seasons at the United States National Team Development Program 2014-16. He represented Team USA at the 2016 U-18 World Junior Championship, helping the Americans capture the bronze medal.
Luce, who attended the 2018 Buffalo Sabres Development Camp, is the grandson of former Buffalo Sabres forward Don Luce and the son of former Amerks goaltender Scott Luce.
The Amerks remain at home on Wednesday, Feb. 10 for their first of 12 meetings on the season against the Syracuse Crunch at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV.
