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Rochester Americans

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Rochester Americans
City: Rochester, New York
League: American Hockey League
Conference: Western Conference
Division: North Division
Founded: 1956
Home Arena: Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial
Colors: Red, Blue, White

              

Owner(s): Flag of Canada Curt Styres
Flag of the United States Steve Donner
General Manager: Flag of Canada Jody Gage
Head Coach: Flag of Canada Benoit Groulx
Media: Democrat and Chronicle
Time Warner Sports 26
Affiliates: Florida Panthers (NHL)
Florida Everblades (ECHL)
Franchise history
1935 to 1936: Detroit Olympics
(Original IHL)
1936 to 1956: Pittsburgh Hornets
1956 to present: Rochester Americans
Championships
Regular Season Titles: 6 (1964-65, 1967-68, 1973-74, 1982-83, 1990-91, 2004-05)
Division Championships: 14 (1964-65, 1965-66, 1967-68, 1973-74, 1977-78, 1982-83, 1986-87, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2004-05)
Conference Championships: 3 (1995-96, 1998-99, 1999-00)
Calder Cups: 6 (1964-65, 1965-66, 1967-68, 1982-83, 1986-87, 1995-96)

The Rochester Americans are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, formerly known as Rochester War Memorial Arena, which was renovated in the mid-1990s. The Americans are one of the oldest franchises in the AHL, celebrating their 50th consecutive season in the American Hockey League in 2005-06. Their years of unbroken league membership rank second to the Hershey Bears. Known commonly as the "Amerks", they have played in Rochester, since relocating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The team colors are red, white and blue. The logo is a patriotic badge with "Americans" written in script. The Americans have won six Calder Cups: in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987 and 1996. They have lost in the Finals ten times: in 1957, 1960, 1967, 1977, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2000.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early years

The Amerks became a joint affiliate in 1956, of both the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. Under Coach Billy Reay the team finished in third place in the AHL standings and played the defending champion Providence Reds in the opening round of the Calder Cup playoffs. With Bobby Perreault in goal, the Americans defeated Providence and goaltender Johnny Bower in five games. Rochester then was defeated in a five-game final by the Cleveland Barons, who won the Calder Cup.

The Amerks reached the playoffs in 1959, losing to the Buffalo Bisons in five games. The 1959 Amerks were led by the "WHAM"[1] line of center Rudy Migay, left wing Gary Aldcorn and right wing Billy Hicke. Migay and Hicke were named co-MVP for the AHL that season and Hicke was chosen league Rookie of the Year.

In 1959-60 the Americans became the first team in American Hockey League history to win a playoff series after trailing three-games-to-none.[2] The Amerks' comeback against the Cleveland Barons included the efforts of the veteran Migay, right wing Pat Hannigan and league-leading goaltender Ed Chadwick. A crowd of 7,762 at the War Memorial witnessed a 4-1 triumph in Game 7. Rochester went on to lose the Calder Cup Finals in five games to Eddie Shore's Springfield Indians.

Following the 1960-61 season in which the Amerks failed to qualify for the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens transferred their working agreement to the Quebec Aces of the American Hockey League and sent Rochester players Guy Rousseau and Claude Labrosse to Quebec. As the exclusive affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Americans made the playoffs the next two seasons but never contended for the Calder Cup championship.

Beginning in 1963-64 former Amerks' defenseman Joe Crozier became the team's Coach and General Manager. Under Crozier the Amerks won the Calder Cup in 1965, 1966 and 1968 and were finalists in 1967; they are the only team in AHL history to appear in the Calder Cup finals in four consecutive seasons.

In 1965-66 the Amerks played their final 10 regular season and all playoff home games at a neutral site because the 1966 American Bowling Congress tournament occupied the War Memorial. The home games were at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, about Template:Convert/mi from Rochester, except for of one playoff game at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium in the Calder Cup Finals. On May 8, 1966 before a crowd of 7,655 at the "Aud" the Amerks tied up the series at two games apiece with a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Barons and went on to win the next two games and the Calder Cup.

Notable players from this era included Bronco Horvath, Gerry Cheevers, Bobby Perreault, Al Arbour, Darryl Sly, Norm "Red" Armstrong, Duane Rupp, Wally Boyer, Dick Gamble, Stan Smrke, Jim Pappin, Don Cherry, Gerry Ehman, and Mike Walton.

[edit] The expansion era

When the National Hockey League expanded from six to twelve teams for the 1967-68 NHL season the Amerks lost several players. Arbour (St. Louis), Ehman (Oakland), Boyer (Oakland), Horvath (Minnesota) and Rupp (Pittsburgh) were all drafted by the new NHL teams. Pappin and Walton were both promoted to the Maple Leafs. Smrke retired.

The Amerks struggled through the early part of the 1967-68 AHL season. Just before Christmas and with the team in last place Crozier made a deal with the expansion Minnesota North Stars. In exchange for forwards J.P. Parise and Milan Marcetta the Amerks received Ted Taylor, Len Lunde, George "Duke" Harris, Murray Hall, Don Johns and the rights to Horvath. The return of Horvath marked his fourth tour of duty with the Amerks since 1956-57. The Amerks improved and by mid-March had the best record in the league. The regular-season champion Amerks then defeated the Hershey Bears 4 games to 1 in the playoff semi-finals and the Quebec Aces 4 games to 2 in the Calder Cup finals. The Amerks won the final game 4-2 before a crowd of 11,711 at Le Colisee de Quebec.

In the summer of 1968 the team was sold to Vancouver who established the Amerks as the farm team of the expansion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. With the majority of the Rochester players transferred to Vancouver of the Western Hockey League the minor league Canucks won the 1968-69 and 1969-70 WPHL Patrick Cup Championships while the Amerks finished in last place each year.

After four straight losing years the Vancouver NHL team was prepared to either sell or fold the Rochester team. In the summer of 1972 a group of Rochester businessmen bought the Americans franchise from Vancouver and named Amerks defenseman Don Cherry as Coach/General Manager. Playing the next two seasons as an independent club the Amerks made the playoffs in 1972-73 and were the regular season AHL champions in 1973-74.

The Boston Bruins hired Cherry as their coach in 1974-75 and became the Amerks' parent team the same year.

Prior to the 1979-80 season the Amerks were purchased by the Knox family, owners of the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and became the Sabres AHL affiliate. While the team was sold to local businessman Steve Donner in the 90's, the Buffalo/Rochester partnership would become the longest such NHL/AHL affiliaton, lasting until the 2007-2008 season.

During the Sabres affiliation, the Amerks would win 3 Calder Cup championships and finish as runners-up another six times. They finished out of the playoffs only 5 times in 28 years.

[edit] 1980's - 1990's

The Amerks won the first of their "Sabres era" Calder Cups in 1983 under young coach Mike Keenan, sweeping Maine, 4-0.

In the 1986-87 season the John VanBoxmeer-coached team won the division championship on the last game of the season against the Binghamton Whalers. The Amerks were one point behind the Whalers and playing in Binghamton. After goalie Darcy Walkaluk paced the team to a tie in regulation and overtime, the game proceded to the new "shoot-out" format used that season. As the shoot-out began, VanBoxmeer made one of the most memorable coaching moves in Amerks history and pulled Wakaluk from the game, inserting usual starting goalie Darren Puppa who had sat out the game due to injury. Puppa stopped every shot and low-scoring defenseman Jack Brownschidle scored the winning goal. While the teams both finished with identical records (47-26-7), Rochester won the division based on having a better record in head-to-head competition.

The first round of playoffs saw the Amerks play the rival Hershey Bears, however the first two games were moved to the Buffalo Aud arena due to the Amerks home arena being previously booked for the Shrine Circus.

The second event of that memorable season occurred during pregame warmups of the second game. With no officials on the ice (a common occurrance at that time which was changed as a result of this game) a brawl broke out. Players from both teams received suspensions and Amerk tough-guy Andy Ristau received a concussion. The Amerks won the game in overtime on a goal by defenseman Jim Hofford. Ironcially, Hofford was a late addition to the lineup as a result of the brawl. The Amerks went on to win the series, 4-1.

The Amerks took on the Sherbrooke Canadiens in the finals and after 5 games found themselves down 3 games to 2. Behind the leadership of NHL veteran Don Lever, the Amerks came from behind to win game six, 7-4 and won the championship in Sherbrooke.

After losing many players from that team to the NHL the following season the Amerks struggled but returned to the finals in '90 and '91, losing both times to the Springfield Indians. They again lost in the finals to Cape Breton in '93.

After a very slow start in the '95-'96 season, the Amerks came together midway through the season behind the dramatically improved goaltending of Steve Shields. The team breezed through the first 3 rounds of the playoffs before finally winning a hard-fought battle against the Portland Pirates to win their sixth Calder Cup.

[edit] Recent History

In 2000, with the promotion of Amerks coach Brian McCutcheon to assistant coach with the Sabres, former Amerks player Randy Cunneyworth was named coach of the Amerks.

In November 2003, the Sabres and the New Jersey Devils played in the first-ever NHL regular-season game in Rochester.

In the 2003-04 season, the Americans were beaten 4 games to 1 by the Milwaukee Admirals in the Western Conference final.

The Amerks began a duel-affiliation in 2005 after signing an agreement with the Florida Panthers. Under this agreement the Panthers and Sabres would both supply the Amerks with players while the Sabres would still employee the coaching staff.

In 2007, the Sabres announced that this would be their last season of affiliation with the Amerks. Reasons cited include the financial insecurity of the AHL team and the awkwardness of the dual affiliation with the Panthers. In June 2008 the affiliation officially ended, as Buffalo chose the Portland Pirates to be their AHL affiliate.[3]

The Americans are currently affiliated with the Florida Panthers.

On May 6 2008, the American Hockey League approved of the sale of the Amerks to Curt Styres.[4]

[edit] Retired numbers

The Rochester Americans have retired only two sweater numbers in their history.

  • Number 6 retired in honor of Norm "Red" Armstrong following his death from a fall in a construction accident in 1974 at age 35.
  • Number 9 was later retired in honor of Dick Gamble and Jody Gage. Gage broke Gamble's team scoring records with the Amerks during his long tenure with the team. Gage currently serves as the Amerks' General Manager.

[edit] 2008-2009

[edit] Season-by-season results

[edit] Regular season

Season Games WonLostTiedOTLSOLPoints Goals
for 		Goals
against 		Standing
1956–57 643425 5—— 732241993rd, AHL
1957–58 702935 6—— 642052425th, AHL
1958–59 703431 5—— 732422093rd, AHL
1959–60 724027 5—— 852852112nd, AHL
1960–61 723236 4—— 682612445th, AHL
1961–62 703331 6—— 722342403rd, West
1962–63 722439 9—— 572412703rd, West
1963–64 724030 2—— 822562232nd, West
1964–65 724821 3—— 993101991st, West
1965–66 724621 5—— 972882211st, West
1966–67 723825 9—— 853002232nd, West
1967–68 723825 9—— 852732331st, West
1968–69 74253811—— 612372954th, West
1969–70 72183816—— 522533155th, West
1970–71 72253611—— 612222484th, West
1971–72 76283810—— 662423115th, East
1972–73 76333112—— 782392763rd, East
1973–74 76422113—— 972962481st, North
1974–75 764225 9—— 933172432nd, North
1975–76 764225 9—— 933042432nd, North
1976–77 804233 5—— 893202733rd, AHL
1977–78 814331 7—— 933322961st, South
1978–79 80264212—— 642893494th, South
1979–80 80284212—— 662603274th, South
1980–81 803042 8—— 682953165th, South
1981–82 804031 9—— 893252862nd, South
1982–83 804625 9——1013893251st, South
1983–84 804632 2—— 943633002nd, South
1984–85 80402713—— 933333013rd, South
1985–86 803439 7—— 753203376th, South
1986–87 804726— 7—1013152631st, South
1987–88 804626 7 1—1003282722nd, South
1988–89 803837 5—— 813053025th, South
1989–90 804328 9—— 953372861st, South
1990–91 804526 9—— 993262531st, South
1991–92 80373112—— 862922482nd, South
1992–93 804033 7—— 873483322nd, South
1993–94 80313415—— 772773004th, South
1994–95 803538 7—— 773333044th, South
1995–96 803734 5 4— 832942973rd, Central
1996–97 804030 9 1— 902982571st, Empire State
1997–98 80303812 0— 722382605th, Empire State
1998–99 805221 6 1—1112871761st, Empire State
1999–00 804622 9 3—1042472011st, Empire State
2000–01 804622 9 3—1042241921st, Mid-Atlantic
2001–02 80323015 3— 822062112nd, Central
2002–03 80313014 5— 812192212nd, Central
2003–04 80372810 5— 892071883rd, North
2004–05 805119— 6 41122432081st, North
2005–06 803739— 2 2 782612705th, North
2006–07804830— 1 1 982692502nd, North
2007–08802446— 6 4 581972917th, North
2008–092008-09 AHL season in progress.

[edit] Playoffs

Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1956–57 W, 4-1, Providence ——L, 1-4, Cleveland
1957–58 Out of playoffs.
1958–59 L, 1-4, Buffalo ———
1959–60 W, 4-3, Cleveland ——L, 1-4, Springfield
1960–61 Out of playoffs.
1961–62 L, 0-2, Buffalo ———
1962–63 L, 0-2, Cleveland ———
1963–64 L, 0-2, Cleveland ———
1964–65 W, 4-1, Quebec bye—W, 4-1, Hershey
1965–66 W, 4-2, Quebec bye—W, 4-2, Cleveland
1966–67 W, 3-2, Cleveland W, 3-1, Baltimore —L, 0-4, Pittsburgh
1967–68 W, 4-1, Hershey bye—W, 4-2, Quebec
1968–69 Out of playoffs.
1969–70 Out of playoffs.
1970–71 Out of playoffs.
1971–72 Out of playoffs.
1972–73 L, 2-4, Boston ———
1973–74 L, 2-4, New Haven ———
1974–75 W, 4-2, Nova Scotia L, 1-4, Springfield ——
1975–76 W, 3-0, Providence L, 0-4, Nova Scotia ——
1976–77 W, 4-2, New Haven ——L, 2-4, Nova Scotia
1977–78 byeL, 2-4, New Haven ——
1978–79 Out of playoffs.
1979–80 L, 0-4, New Haven ———
1980–81 Out of playoffs.
1981–82 W, 3-1, New Haven L, 1-4, Binghamton ——
1982–83 W, 4-1, Binghamton W, 4-3, New Haven —W, 4-0, Maine
1983–84 W, 4-3, St. Catharines W, 4-2, Baltimore —L, 1-4, Maine
1984–85 L, 1-4, Baltimore ———
1985–86 Out of playoffs.
1986–87 W, 4-1, Hershey W, 4-2, Binghamton —W, 4-3, Sherbrooke
1987–88 L, 3-4, Adirondack ———
1988–89 Out of playoffs.
1989–90 W, 4-1, Utica W, 4-2, Baltimore —L, 2-4, Springfield
1990–91 W, 4-1, Hershey W, 4-0, Binghamton —L, 2-4, Springfield
1991–92 W, 4-2, Hershey W, 4-3, Binghamton L, 1-2, Adirondack —
1992–93 W, 4-1, Utica W, 4-3, Binghamton byeL, 1-4, Cape Breton
1993–94 L, 0-4, Hershey ———
1994–95 L, 1-4, Binghamton ———
1995–96 W, 3-0, Adirondack W, 4-0, Cornwall W, 4-1, Syracuse W, 4-3, Portland
1996–97 W, 3-0, Syracuse L, 3-4, Albany ——
1997–98 L, 1-3, Philadelphia ———
1998–99 W, 3-0, Adirondack W, 4-2, Hamilton W, 4-2, Philadelphia L, 1-4, Providence
1999–00 W, 3-2, Albany W, 4-2, Hamilton W, 4-0, Hershey L, 2-4, Hartford
2000–01 L, 1-3, Philadelphia ———
2001–02 L, 0-2, Philadelphia‡———
2002–03 L, 1-2, Milwaukee‡———
2003–04 W, 4-3, Syracuse W, 4-0, Hamilton L, 1-4, Milwaukee —
2004–05 W, 4-0, Hamilton L, 1-4,Manitoba ——
2005–06 Out of playoffs.
2006–07 L, 2-4, Hamilton ———
2007–08 Out of playoffs.

‡Lost in preliminary round, prior to reaching first round of playoffs.

[edit] Team records

[edit] Single season

Goals: 61 Flag of Canada Paul Gardner (1985-86)
Assists: 73 Flag of Canada Geordie Robertson (1982-83)
Points: 119 Flag of Canada Geordie Robertson (1982-83)
Penalty Minutes: 446 Flag of Canada Rob Ray (1988-89)
GAA: 2.07 Flag of Canada Martin Biron (1998-99)
SV%: .930 Flag of Canada Martin Biron (1998-99)

[edit] Career

Career Goals: 351 Flag of Canada Jody Gage
Career Assists: 377 Flag of Canada Jody Gage
Career Points: 728 Flag of Canada Jody Gage
Career Penalty Minutes: 1424 Flag of Canada Scott Metcalfe
Career Goaltending Wins: 108 Flag of Canada Bob Perreault
Career Shutouts: 16 Flag of Canada Bob Perreault
Career Games: 653 Flag of Canada Jody Gage

[edit] References

  1. ↑ WHAM is an extension of the first letters of the line's players: Hicke, Aldcorn and Migay
  2. ↑ "Same Place Half a Life Ago", Sit Down & Shut Up. 
  3. ↑ "Sabres, Amerks to separate after this season", Sabres Insider. Retrieved on 2007-12-07. 
  4. ↑ "Amerks' sale approved today", Rochester Democrat And Chronicle. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 

[edit] External links

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Trophies and Awards Calder Cup · Les Cunningham Award · John B. Sollenberger Trophy · Willie Marshall Award · Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award · Eddie Shore Award · Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award · Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award · Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award · Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award · Yanick Dupre Memorial Award · Jack A. Butterfield Trophy · Richard F. Canning Trophy · Robert W. Clarke Trophy · Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy · Frank Mathers Trophy · Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy · Emile Francis Trophy · F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy · Sam Pollock Trophy · John D. Chick Trophy  · James C. Hendy Memorial Award  · Thomas Ebright Memorial Award  · James H. Ellery Memorial Awards  · Ken McKenzie Award  · Michael Condon Memorial Award
Related Articles NHL · ECHL · IHL · CHL · SPHL · List of AHL seasons


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