MALONE MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME
Apr 15, 2022By Suzie Cool
Rochester Americans forward Sean Malone has faced an injury-riddled season, one that has forced him to miss 37 games over the course of the 2021-22 campaign. However, Malone’s made up for lost time in the 32 games he’s hit the ice.
In just the short amount of time Malone has been back in the lineup, he’s managed to shatter his offensive output from the 2019-20 season with Rochester. The year where COVID-19 abruptly put everything in the world to a screeching halt, Malone managed to string together 30 points in 58 games. Malone’s best season in the pros, until this year.
Despite the games Malone missed, he’s managed to tally 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points. Both the fifth-year forward’s goal and point totals are a career-best, while Malone is just one assist away from equaling his season best from 2019-20 with 18.
“It starts with our coaching staff, talking with them on a daily basis and even keeping you involved when you’re not playing,” commented Malone when asked how he’s managed to string together his best offensive year despite the games missed. “They’ve given me a good opportunity this year and I’m trying to make the best of it.”
More impressively, Malone surpassed the 30-point mark in 30 fewer games from 2019-20 and remains on pace to score 20 goals for the first time in his career.
The Amerks have been faced with a multitude of injuries this season, giving these players the opportunity to work with one another to get back to the ice sooner rather than later. Malone admitted that having his teammates around him in a similar circumstance, made it a lot easier for him mentally to come back strong.
“We’ve had other players that have went through the same thing this season. It has been easier, mentally, for me to be around those guys downstairs and watching the games.”
Malone then continued with, “Whether it’s working out, going on the ice for a rehab skate – it’s been a breath of fresh air with the group we have. It’s a credit to them to be able to keep me involved.”
As tough as it’s been on Malone to be sidelined for a majority of the season, he’s trying to use the experience to turn him into a better player.
“It’s tough, but at the same time, you draw from your past experiences and try to make yourself a better player as a result.”
Malone’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed throughout the 2021-22 season by Amerks head coach Seth Appert, especially since his return to the lineup on March 25 against the Toronto Marlies. Currently, Malone is riding an 11-game point streak dating back to Dec. 18, combining for nine goals and five assists for 14 points over that span. It’s the longest point streak by an Amerk this season the first of 11 games since Milan Bartovic in 2003-04.
“I mean, he’s having his best year of pro hockey,” stated Appert when asked how valuable Malone was to have back in the lineup. “He played fabulous before the injury, and he’s been great since. He’s just such a critical piece as to what we’re trying to do here. Both on and off the ice, his work ethic is incredible.”
The work that Malone put in with the training staff and Amerks strength and conditioning coach Nick Craven in his time away from the game is a large part as to why his return has been so seamless. Even amongst a time where games are much more physical, competitive, and overall tougher because of the playoff push that the Amerks are in the midst of, Malone didn’t skip a beat from the beginning of the year until now.
“He puts a lot of time in with our training staff, with Nick Craven, along with our support staff. The time they put in rehabbing his injury so he could be productive when he came back – that’s not easy because you’re coming back into a playoff push.”
Appert then continued with, “He’s coming back into the games that are more intense, they’re more physical and they’re harder games that mean more at this time of the year. So, it’s a credit to him and the way he approaches every day.”
Last weekend against the Belleville Senators, Malone appeared in his 200th game as an Amerk and needs just one more point to reach the century mark in the red, white and blue. Malone is now the 59th forward in team history to skate in 200 or more games in his career and he’s went on to rack up 99 points on 45 goals and 54 assists over four seasons in the Flower City.
While Malone has proved to be extremely beneficial when centering a line with rookie forwards JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn, along with being one of Rochester’s best face-off specialists, Appert feels having Malone back is critical in every situation during a game.
“It’s beneficial everywhere. He’s one of our best five-on-five players, one of our best defensive players, one of our leading scorers. He’s probably a key ingredient in making the power-play great and he’s one of our best penalty killers. He is a go-to guy for me and our team in every situation.”
It seems that Malone has the right mindset this season, even though he’s faced time out with injuries. All Malone needed was the right opportunity, and the perfect circumstance, to begin to flourish in his pro career.
“I have a lot of confidence in myself, and given the opportunity in the right situation, any player is going to flourish. So, you know, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity so far and hopefully it continues.”