A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE MORE MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF THE SEASON FOR MARK ALT AND PETER TISCHKE

Jun 7, 2022

By Suzie Cool

The Rochester Americans’ 2021-22 season saw a lot of magical moments, both for the team and for the players. Here’s a closer look back at the top four moments for Amerks defensemen Mark Alt and Peter Tischke right now.

MAKING THE TRADE COUNT

At the AHL trade deadline, you never know what’s going to happen or who could possibly be on the docket to get traded. However, the Amerks knew that they needed to bolster their blueline back in late March and whatever move they made needed to count heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

 

So, in exchange for forward Mason Jobst, the Amerks acquired Alt from the San Jose Sharks to help add stability and a calming presence to their defensive core.

 

The biggest thing for Alt at the deadline was that he wanted to be a part of a team that was going to play in meaningful games. When Alt came to Rochester, that’s exactly what he got to do while sticking to his role of being a stay-at-home defenseman and helping propel the Amerks to the third round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

 

 

GETTING A WARM WELCOME

 

Little things go a long way. Especially when you’re a tenured AHL veteran like Alt coming to a brand-new city.

 

“I was welcome by the head coach of the team picking me up at the airport. I’ve never had that in my 10 years of pro hockey. That alone was a pretty nice welcome,” commented Alt when asked how easy it was for him to get acclimated to the locker room in Rochester.

 

WATCH: MARK ALT YEAR-END INTERVIEW

 

“That was a special thing he did, and it may seem small, but it was a big deal and then everything from there was the same. Everything matched the personality of the coach.”

 

I think it’s safe to say that Alt’s warm welcome to the Flower City was just one of his many bright spots when he made the move to Rochester.

 

TISCHKE USING AMERKS DEBUT AS FUEL

 

Although Tischke might not look back at Oct. 27, 2021 against the Belleville Senators as one of his best moments on the year, it was the exact moment that he truly began to make a mark on the beloved 2021-22 squad.

 

“I think I just took that as motivation because I wanted to be in Rochester, I wanted to be with all the guys here. I love the coaches and I think that my main motivation was just to get back and make sure I was ready to prove myself when I got a second chance,” stated Tischke when asked how he used that first game in Rochester to fuel the rest of his season.

 

Despite getting sent to Cincinnati for five games following his first stint with the Amerks, Tischke bounced right back upon his return to the Flower City. Sticking with the team for the remainder of the season despite an injury, he appeared in all but two games during the Amerks’ 2022 Calder Cup Playoff push.

 

Tischke ended the 2021-22 regular season campaign appearing in 33 games with the Amerks and tallying four points on two goals and two assists.

 

WATCH: PETER TISCHKE YEAR-END INTERVIEW

 

GETTING INTO GAMES THAT FIT HIS STYLE

 

From Mar. 11 to May 5, Tischke didn’t appear in a game due to an injury. However, when the young defenseman was finally able to return to the lineup it was at the most physical and intense time of the year: the play-in round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against the Senators.

 

“I actually fit in really well. Again, they were very physical,” stated Tischke when asked about finally getting back into the lineup against physical-minded teams. “I think that I was able to really step in and assert my physicality against them and I think it helped us.”

 

In eight playoff games, Tischke registered seven shots and racked up 15 penalty minutes.