BREAKING DOWN THE AMERKS 2021-22 HOME SCHEDULE

Sep 28, 2021

By Suzie Cool

With Buffalo Sabres training camp kicking off last week and the Rochester Americans set to begin camp in early October at The Blue Cross Arena, it means that the 2021-22 campaign is quite literally right around the corner.

 

And what better way to look ahead at the upcoming season then to dive head-first into the list of home games on this year’s schedule. Games that you all back at home can finally be a part of once again.

 

Oh, how sweet it will be to have you all back for all 38 of those home face-offs.

 

After a condensed 2020-21 season, the American Hockey League is back to its normal ways heading into 2021-22 with 76 games slated for most teams. With this breakdown, we know the drill, 38 on the road and 38 Amerks games right here in the Flower City.

 

Can’t pick your favorite day to attend a game? Well, it’s a good thing the Amerks schedule comes with some variety this season.

 

This season we’ll have 14 Wednesday night tilts which will feature discounted tickets for college students around the area. Friday’s will be full of fun at the arena with 14 Friday night games with various theme nights from Irish Night to Home for the Holidays, the Home Opener and more. Our seven Saturday contests will feature some theme nights as well, such as Women in Sports Night, 90’s Night, Roc the Rink and Fan Appreciation to round out 2021-22 season at home.

 

With all theme nights already included there are 21 promotional nights on the year and six home games will feature specialty jerseys.

 

There will be two Sunday home games this season: Feb. 20, which features our Kids Take Charge game, and then March 27 to celebrate Bills Day in honor of our beloved Buffalo Bills. Finally, there’s one Monday matchup at The Blue Cross Arena on Dec. 27 against the Utica Comets – the first Monday home game for Rochester since a 2-1 shootout loss to the Comets on Jan. 15, 2018. The Amerks will be looking for their first Monday home win since Dec. 26, 2016 (5-1 win versus Syracuse).

 

All but seven home games are slated for 7:05 p.m. starts while four will being at 6:05 p.m., including Nov. 13 and March 19 against the Cleveland Monsters, Jan. 15 against the Belleville Senators and Jan. 29 against the Comets. The final start times will include 3:05 p.m. tilts on Feb. 20 against the Laval Rocket, Feb. 28 when the Amerks take on the Toronto Marlies and March 27 against the Bridgeport Islanders.

 

This season, thankfully, features more than just three opponents. In fact, the Amerks will see 14 different teams throughout the year entirety between the North and Atlantic Divisions, for the sixth straight season.

 

First up, let’s take a look at the North Division opponents that the Amerks are no strangers to as 56 of the 76 games will come against. The Amerks will hold their home opener against the Syracuse Crunch on Oct. 22 at home, marking the first of six home matchups against the Crunch this season. Dates that Syracuse will be in town include Oct. 22, Dec. 1, Jan. 1, March 2 and 11.

 

Next up is the other opponent that we’re all too familiar with after last season, the Comets in which the Amerks see at The Blue Cross Arena six times as well. The Comets, who begin their first season as the primary affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils following eight years as the top development club of the Vancouver Canucks.  Utica will be in town on Nov. 17, Dec. 8 and 27, Jan. 12 and 29 and March 30.

 

The last familiar opponent from the 2020-21 campaign is the Monsters in which the Amerks see five times at home. Cleveland will make the trip to Rochester for back-to-back tilts in the Flower City on Nov. 12 and 13, March 18 and 19 before finishing up the season-series on April 23.

 

Now, let’s look at the North Division opponents that we’re oh so happy to see again to help spice up our 2021-22 schedule.

 

The Senators will be making their way to the Flower City on three different occasions this year for four games. Nov. 3 will be the Amerks first home game against Belleville, until they return in three times over a 10-day stretch on Jan. 5, 14 and 15.

 

Laval is back in the mix with four games in Rochester as well. We’ll see the Rocket on Dec. 10, Feb. 20, March 9 and April 13. Rounding out the opponents from across the border are the Marlies, which the Amerks see three times at home. Toronto comes to The Blue Cross Arena on Nov. 5, Feb. 26 and March 25.

 

Moving on to the Atlantic Division, it’s good to have some variety back in the schedule with 10 games coming outside of the North.

 

The reigning Calder Cup champions in the Charlotte Checkers are back at The Blue Cross Arena for back-to-back matchups on Feb. 2 and 4, while the Hartford Wolf Pack are the only other team outside the North Division that the Amerks host more than once on home ice on both Jan. 7 and April 16.  

 

In November, Rochester will face off against two Atlantic Division opponents on two different occasions at home on Nov. against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Nov. 26 against the Hershey Bears.

 

December highlights three more non-divisional home tilts with the Springfield Thunderbirds coming to town on Dec. 3, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visiting on Dec. 22 and the Providence Bruins. Rounding out the Atlantic Division action at The Blue Cross Arena on March 27 is the new-look Bridgeport Islanders.