GAMEDAY NOTES AND QUOTES: AMERKS CLASH WITH COMETS
The team will host its annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night tonight against intrastate rival Utica
Nov 10, 2023
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (6-2-2-0) play their Hockey Fights Cancer game tonight at The Blue Cross Arena when they host the front half of a home-and-home weekend with the Utica Comets (3-3-2-0) Friday night.
“Kevin Dineen is a great coach,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert when asked about facing Utica. “We’ve become a better team and our prospects have become better over the last three years because we get to play a Kevin Dineen-coached team so many times. They’re hard, they’re competitive, and tough to play against. They feel a little older this year, especially down the middle of the roster. You’re going to have your hands full in terms of their competitiveness and the way they play the game and that’s a good thing. It makes us a better team because of it.”
TOKARSKI FOR THREE
Appert confirmed after Friday’s morning skate that Dustin Tokarski will start a third consecutive game for the Amerks. The 34-year-old journeyman made 42 saves in a 5-4 shootout victory last Saturday in Syracuse and prepares to face Utica for a second consecutive Friday.
“He’s a veteran. We’re a young team, so to have a guy like him that has all those hundreds of games under his belt is a calming influence on the group. That’s what he’s given us in the first two games back. We feel very good about our goaltending situation.”
Tokarski has played for 10 different AHL teams and has faced Utica nine times, churning out a 3-3-2 record. He helped the Amerks earn a point last Friday with his 16-save performance.
REINFORCEMENTS IN ROCHESTER
The Amerks locker room has been a revolving door to start the season due to injuries and call-ups. This week, three additional players were called-up from ECHL-Jacksonville, with defenseman Chris Jandric and forwards Christopher Brown and Dominick Mersch joining the Amerks. All three skaters are expected to be in Friday’s lineup.
“Jandric was with us last year and he’s a really good player. He stepped in with us last year and he’s off to a good start in Jacksonville, so we’re excited to have him back.”
“We signed Brown for a reason. He’s a winning hockey player. He’s the captain in Jacksonville and was captain for Boston College. “He can help us win games because of the quality of player he is.”
“Dom is a really strong, competitive player. He’s hard-nosed and wins wall battles and he’s hard to play against.”
“You always want the opportunity, but you have to make the best of it,” said Brown. “I think your confidence and day-to-day approach helps a lot. I’m a hard two-way forward who loves to score and produce offense, but at the same time you’ve got to be accountable out there, so hopefully if you do both, you’re out on the ice a lot.”
INJURY BUG CONTINUES TO BITE (UGH)
Three players joined the laundry list of injuries for the Amerks, with defenseman Joseph Cecconi out week-to-week (upper-body), forward Mason Jobst out day-to-day (lower-body), and rookie forward Olivier Nadeau out long term (lower-body, 4-6 weeks).
“It’s something I’ve never seen before,” said forward Tyson Kozak, who also battled an injury earlier this season. “It’s definitely a little weird having this many guys out of the lineup, but the new guys that have been coming in have been great guys and they’ve looked great on the ice. It shows that we’ve got a very resilient group out there. No matter who is in the lineup, we’re going to play to the best of our abilities every night and give it everything we’ve got.”
Including injuries, call-ups, and reassignments, 12 players from Rochester’s opening night roster will not be in Friday’s lineup. Managing the personnel changes are a challenge for Appert, but one he does not look negatively upon.
“It doesn’t frustrate me at all. I became a better coach when I stopped worrying about things I can’t control. These are just game injuries. It’s a physical sport; it happens. This is why you have the depth you have in the organization. I fully expect us to play a strong game and give ourselves a chance to win regardless of who’s in the lineup.”
Cecconi, Jobst, and Nadeau join an injured list that includes Michael Mersch, Brett Murray, Aleksandr Kisakov, Brendan Warren, and Linus Weissbach. Additionally, Brandon Biro, who is currently up with the Buffalo Sabres, is also out with an injury.
PLAYING FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN HOCKEY
Friday’s game against the Comets is Rochester’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer game, presented by Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club Rochester. The Amerks will sport one of six specialty jerseys this season, wearing lavender jerseys in support of the initiative. All jerseys are currently available for auction via DASH now!
Proceeds from these game-issued jerseys will benefit Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club, an organization that provides community programming and services for cancer patients and their families in the Rochester area.
“It means everything,” said Brown. “You’re playing hockey for a bigger reason than yourself and that’s really important. When someone’s playing for a cause bigger than themselves, it motivates a lot of people and different ways.”
“It means a lot,” said Kozak. “I’m someone who has been affected by cancer. I’m sure lots of other people have as well. It definitely means a lot to put that jersey on and spread awareness.”
“It does affect everybody,” said Appert. “I’ve lost an aunt and an uncle to cancer. It’s not something you can hide from, but it’s something you can fight together. It’s something you can try to raise awareness for to try and combat it the best way you can. This is our opportunity to add to the cause.”