AMERKS FIND SUCCESS WITH COLLECTIVENESS AND COMMITMENT

Apr 21, 2023

by Emily Wade

“I’m a huge believer that habits define who you are as a person, but certainly who you are as a hockey player,” Amerks head coach Seth Appert told the media on Tuesday.

And it’s been habits — both on and off the ice — that have defined the culture in the Rochester Americans organization throughout the 2022-23 season. A culture, and a standard, that is set by the coaching staff, but is driven by the leaders in the locker room.

It’s the veteran captains Michael Mersch, Sean Malone, and Ethan Prow, who lead by example, but it’s also guys like Lawrence Pilut and Matt Bartkowski who contribute to this culture.

“When any of the youngsters look up at the leadership in our locker room,” Appert said, “they see guys that have relentless work ethics, are totally team-first driven guys, that are in the shooting room, that are on the ice early and late, and put in an extraordinary amount of extra work.”

“It’s easy for them to fall into that because that’s the culture.”

It can be intimidating, coming into the American Hockey League as a top prospect and high draft pick, and feel the expecting eyes of an entire fanbase upon you. It can be even more intimidating when you've never played in North America. It can be intimidating, or it can be a big opportunity... when you’re surrounded by the right people.

Finding the right people is what Appert, Amerks General Manager Jason Karmanos, and Buffalo Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams focus on in the offseason. “We want culture-drivers over skill,” Appert explained. “Culture-drivers are guys that their habits, and professionalism, and work ethics are high-level NHL.”

“Who are the men we’re trying to surround our prospects with?”

It’s those veterans who, in addition to the coaching staff, really get the young guys to buy-in on finding the right habits. “Especially the offensive players,” Appert added. “They’ve created a really good career for themselves, gotten drafted very high, more often than not based on their talent and their athleticism and their skill.”

But all of those things don’t immediately translate to success in the AHL. “Now you’re trying to make them see why it’s important to have defensive habits, to win puck battles,” Appert said.

And according to him, the commitment to those habits has really been on display for the last 25-30 games, as the Amerks made a big push to the playoffs.

During their ten-game point streak, the Amerks only allowed 20 total goals. Their penalty kill did not allow a single power play goal. Their success was driven by defense, and that came as no surprise to the coaching staff, who felt the wins coming.

“We really felt that we were playing the right way, that our habits were starting to kick in,” Appert said. Forward Sean Malone noticed it, too. “Over the course of these past couple months,” he said, “we’ve been playing much better defensively. When you’re able to do that, our offense will take over.”

The offense really did take over, up and down the lineup. Forward Lukas Rousek leads the Rochester squad with 56 points, but is trailed by six other 40+ point-getters. Rookie Jiri Kulich leads with 24 goals, but nine of his teammates have at least ten goals.

It’s the unique part of this team: the collectiveness. And according to Appert, it’s why the team has been able to overcome the ups and downs of the season to date.

“Part of development is habits and accountability and practicing the right way, but part of development is opportunity.”

Giving the young prospects that opportunity to step up, to learn, and to succeed has been an intentional choice within the organization. “If you have a guy who is scoring 80 or 90 points on the season,” Appert explained, “then young prospects don’t get moments on the first power play.” Or in overtime. Or in the shootout.

And Appert reminded the media that the drivers of this Amerks squad are all also young, not just the five rookies. On Brandon Biro, Linus Weissbach, Rousek, and Brett Murray: “They’re four of the biggest drivers of our team up front.”

“That’s been rewarding to see those guys elevate their game and now be counted on to be go-to guys, not just secondary players.”

Biro, Weissbach, and Murray all have career-highs across the board offensively. Biro was named Most Valuable Player, as voted on by his teammates. They’re having incredible seasons, and they’re also big reasons for this feeling of collectiveness.

“I think because of what we value when we sign free agents, there’s a collectiveness to this group that we see not only see on the score sheet,” Appert said, “but that we feel in the locker room every day.”

Malone takes pride in that feeling in the locker room. “I’ve had to do it the hard way,” he told the media. “I played minimal minutes at the beginning of my career, and was always trying to get better. He praises Mersch and Prow, too, for their hard-working mindset rubbing off on the rest of the group.

And during this second half of the season, he’s noticed how much the young guys’ habits have grown. “Those guys have embraced it. Seeing them in the weight room, they’ve put a ton of work in. They’ve done an incredible job and those guys are certainly committed to being good players.”

And this is only just the beginning. The Calder Cup Playoffs become the ultimate test of your commitment and your structure, as your team is pushed to its limits each series. You’re pushed, but you’re also rewarded. “This is a special time of year,” Appert said. “It’s fun, but it’s earned.

“I want them to take away how fun it is but also double-down on the work necessary to earn more of these moments going forward in their careers.”

Back to All

Game Center

Last Game

Upcoming Games

Forwards

Defensemen

Goalies