Amerks eager for season to begin
Non classé - 1 avr 2013Rochester head coach Chadd Cassidy leads the team through drills at practice on Wednesday. Cassidy believes goaltending and defensive zone play will be strengths this season.
)Story HighlightsDefense and goaltending will be strengths for the AmerksThere nothing wrong with playing close, low scoring games, according to captain Drew BagnallAmerks will rely on the continued development of Sabres prospects Mikhail Grigorenko and Joel Armia
Ask newcomer Zac Dalpe what he knows about the Rochester Americans and he provides an instant reply.
“I think they’ve got the coolest jerseys I’ve ever seen,” said Dalpe, who was assigned to the Amerks on Tuesday.
The next order of business for Dalpe and his teammates: make sure the storied red,wholesale nfl jerseys from china white and blue sweater gets some serious use in the spring.
While the Amerks have reached the postseason for three consecutive years, they haven’t won a Calder Cup playoff series in a decade. They haven’t won the American Hockey League championship since the John Tortorella coached team hoisted the Cup in 1996.
Now, with the puck about to drop for their 59th AHL season,http://www.cheapnflsalejerseys.com there is an air of anticipation in their dressing room at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial. Friday.
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“You talk to everybody on the team and they seem happy; it’s a lively room,” Dalpe said. “I’m excited and confident.”
Coach Chadd Cassidy believes goaltending with incumbent starter Nathan Lieuwen and upstart Andrey Makarov and defensive zone play will be two big strengths.
The most important thing as the season progresses: Learning what it takes to win tight games, because that’s what playoff hockey is about.
“We have to be comfortable in close games,” said defenseman Drew Bagnall, the team captain. “Close games aren’t a bad thing.
“There’s nothing better than real life experiences in games, in the heat of the moment, when you know one play can be the difference.”
The defensive corps features a good amount of snarl, with Bagnall, Nick Petrecki and Matt MacKenzie.
Video: Bagnall named captain
“I have to set the battle level every night,” Bagnall said.
Those are the words every goalie appreciates.
“For me it’s pretty comforting,” Lieuwen said. “I feel like no one’s going to come near me because those guys are pretty scary.”
The forward lines have some proven scoring center Phil Varone, left winger Luke Adam and Dalpe as well as two players projected to be future point producers for the parent Buffalo Sabres.
Right winger Joel Armia was Buffalo’s first round pick in 2011. He started slowly as an AHL rookie in 2013 14 but showed solid promise down the stretch. Mikhail Grigorenko, chosen 12th overall in 2012, finally gets to play only pro hockey this season after bouncing between major junior and the NHL the past two years.
Grigorenko performed well in training camp with the Sabres, but they believe having him be a prime time player for the Amerks will be best for his development. He said he’s OK with that plan.
