Rochester American On the Rush
Photo courtesy of Rochester Amerk
As the weather turns colder in Rochester, sports fans in the area are looking forward to attending events at the Blue Cross Arena downtown and the Frank Ritter Ice Arena on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus.
The Rochester Americans’ 2009-10 regular season is currently underway and early on, the Amerks are one of the surprise stories in the American Hockey League. The primary affiliate of the Florida Panthers have exceeded expectations in terms of talent on the ice, with a young goaltending tandem of Alexander Salak and Tyler Plante, along with veteran forwards Chris Taylor, Mike York, Jeff Taffe, and Graham Mink among others. Head coach Benoit Groulx and vice president of hockey operations Ted Nolan are working to bring a Calder Cup contender back to Rochester and will work towards the playoffs all season.
The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s hockey season is also underway and while the Tigers are off to a slow start in 2009-10, R.I.T. fans are hopeful that head coach Wayne Wilson’s goal of an Atlantic Hockey Association postseason championship and a spot in the NCAA Division I Tournament is not out of the question. R.I.T. was co-champion of the AHA with Air Force last season and with four meetings between the two programs this season, those games are expected to be must-see hockey in Colorado Springs and in Rochester. With 28 of their 34 regular season games against conference opponents, the Tigers will certainly be tested this season.
A Rochester Knighthawk
Photo courtesy of NLL Insider
The Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League will begin their 2010 schedule on Saturday, January 9th when they host the Buffalo Bandits at 8:05 p.m. Having made the playoffs in all but one season in the franchise’s 15-year history, the K-Hawks always have high expectations despite playing in the league’s smallest arena (Blue Cross Arena) and the league’s smallest market. Paul Gait will return for his second season as head coach and team owner Curt Styres, also the owner of the Rochester Americans, will take over duties as general manager, replacing Regy Thorpe. Players expected to return to the teal and black this season include Chris Schiller, Shawn Evans, Steve Toll, lacrosse legend Gary Gait, fan favorite Pat O’Toole, and superstar John Grant Jr., who missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing emergency surgery to remove an infection in his knee.
Championship-caliber basketball will return to the Blue Cross Arena in January when the Rochester Razorsharks begin their 2010 schedule. Head coach Rod Baker has led his team to two consecutive Premier Basketball League championships, along with an American Basketball Association championship in 2006, to turn the Razorsharks into one of the elite franchises in all of minor pro basketball. Players expected to take to Les Harrison Court in the upcoming year include James Reaves, Sammy Monroe, Marty O’Sullivan, Jerice Crouch, and 2009 PBL MVP Keith Friel.
With options such as the Amerks, Knighthawks, Razorsharks, and R.I.T. hockey to entertain sports fans in the Rochester area, there is certainly no shortage of sporting events in the Flower City this fall and winter.
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