AMERKS WEEK 6 ROUND-UP
THE CAPTAIN RETURNS, ROSEN RISES TO THE OCCASSION, A WEEK OF UNFAMILIAR FOES
Nov 21, 2022By Suzie Cool
There were only two games for the Rochester Americans last week, however, there’s always several storylines that can come out of a home-and-home against the Utica Comets.
First, there was the return of Amerks captain Michael Mersch. Then, rookie forward Isak Rosen was presented a challenge and rose to the occasion. And finally, the Amerks finished a stretch of 15 games against North Division foes before embarking on a week of Atlantic Division action.
A lot to be excited about and Amerks head coach Seth Appert covers it all right here.
THE CAPTAIN IS BACK
“He (Mersch) impacts our team in so many ways,” started Appert when asked to discuss the prominence of Mersch’s presence in the games against Utica.
Mersch returned to play this weekend after being sidelined for 10 games with an upper-body injury. In the captain’s first game back, he immediately found himself on the scoresheet by crashing a rebound and steering the puck past Utica netminder Nico Daws as he was falling to his knees.
However, Mersch’s presence on the ice isn’t even what Appert values the most from his captain.
“He's our most vocal player in terms of communicating with his teammates, communicating with his linemates, talking to guys on the ice when he's on the bench. Him being there allows me to say less and any time I can use my voice less is a powerful thing because now when I say things, it becomes more important.”
Prior to this weekend Mersch, appeared in just three games to start the 2022-23 campaign, before suffering an injury against the Belleville Senators on Oct. 19. After this weekend’s action, Mersch now has three points on the season with one goal and two assists and looks to appear in his 100th game as an Amerk this upcoming Friday against the Bridgeport Islanders.
ROSEN RISES TO THE OCCASION
“Saturday morning, we challenged our forwards…to up the compete and challenge how hard we need to play to score five-on-five and to get to those dirty areas,” said Appert when discussing the play of Rosen this weekend against Utica.
The rookie forward posted his fourth two-point effort of the year on Saturday with an assist and the eventual game-winner. Rosen’s first game-winner of the season, and his third tally on the year, pushed his point total to 11 through his first 15 games as an Amerk.
And Appert was happy with how his young group of forwards responded to his challenge from the night prior, especially Rosen.
“I thought that their response collectively as a group of forwards, but specifically with Rosen, was outstanding with just how competitive they played. The goal was a great example that they won a puck battle, (Jiri) Kulich attacked them inside, and Rosen went to the front of the net and scored on a rebound.”
THOUGHTS ON THE NORTH
“It’s a hard, physical division,” explained Appert when asked what he’s learned from the first 15 games of the 2022-23 campaign.
To kick-off the season, the Amerks had 15 straight games against teams in the North. Two against the Toronto Marlies, two against the Belleville Senators, four against the Syracuse Crunch, two versus the Laval Rocket, one against the Cleveland Monsters and another four contests matching up against the Utica Comets.
That’s a lot of hard, physical hockey for a team as young as the Amerks, however, every game serves as a challenge no matter who the opponent may be, even if they are all in the North Division.
“Every night, every team has a little different style, but certainly it's a physical, competitive division. Every game is challenging,” finished Appert when discussing the brand of hockey the Amerks see in the North.
IMPORTANCE OF NON-DIVISIONAL FOES
After 15 games against the North Division, the Amerks have three games against non-divisional opponents this week in the Providence Bruins, Bridgeport Islanders and Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
“It's just nice to have a change of pace,” commented Appert when asked what the importance of non-divisional matchups was.
With facing the North Division so many times over the course of a season, a week like the one coming up for the Amerks presents new challenges for the coaching staff and team.
“You don't know their personnel as much, so the players have to be a little more dialed in on pre scouts, on tendencies, on the penalty kill and power-play. So, it just presents different challenges, and I think different challenges are good because that allows you to grow. If you're only playing the same teams over and over, you can get really accustomed to that style, and these teams present different challenges.”
Appert then finished discussing the week’s slate of action with, “Playing these Atlantic teams, quite frankly, I probably wish we played them a little bit more.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO THIS WEEK
The Amerks are faced with another three games over a four-day span, however, this time they’re taking on all Atlantic Division opponents.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23 Rochester hosts Providence for the only time this season at The Blue Cross Arena, along with the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday night. Saturday the Amerks head to Lehigh Valley to take on the Phantoms at the PPL Center.
All game times are slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV, while Friday’s home game against Providence will be tape-delayed on the local CW at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26.