ROSEN, KULICH REUNITED IN ROCHESTER

Jan 12, 2023

By Suzie Cool

 

For the first time since the conclusion of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship last week, Rochester Americans rookie forwards Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich were back in last night’s lineup against the Laval Rocket.

 

Following the tournament’s rigorous schedule, Amerks head coach Seth Appert thought it was best to give Rosen and Kulich a few days off before rejoining the Amerks full throttle. On Monday morning, the Amerks rookies returned to practice at The Blue Cross Arena.

 

 

“We were able to get them some rest this (past) weekend and, I think, that was really beneficial for them,” said Appert.

 

The rest was earned considering both rookies did quite well at the annual tournament.

 

 

Rosen represented Sweden at the annual event, posting six points on four goals and two assists in seven games while helping the Swedes to a fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, Kulich returned home with a silver medal after coming up short to Canada in the gold medal game. In seven games for the Czech Republic, Kulich tied for second amongst all players with a team-high seven goals, including a hat trick in the 9-0 rout of Austria, and added two assists for nine points. He also scored the overtime-winning goal against Sweden to send the Czechs to the gold medal game.

 

“It’s just great to have them back,” said Appert when asked about the return of Rosen and Kulich on Monday after practice. “They're talented, they're young, they have energy. They bring a lot to practice. You know, we missed them.”

 

Despite Rosen and Kulich missing six games, both are still currently among the Amerks scoring leaders.

 

 

Kulich has posted 16 points on six goals and 10 assists with Rochester this season, while Rosen has totaled three goals and 12 assists for 15 points. With the Amerks, Kulich’s play away from the puck has continued to improve by back-checking more, winning puck battles and crashing opponents into the net, while Rosen has been challenged to win every puck battle, compete every shift and to do anything to win the puck.

 

After getting back into action with the Amerks last night, Rosen and Kulich were reunited on a line together with the addition of forward Linus Weissbach leading the charge.

 

“They were just okay,” said Appert when asked how he thought the rookies did in their first game back. “With Rosen and Kulich, you can tell that they know this is a different pace than the World Juniors…but you're playing against your own age group and you're playing some of the European countries that sit back, so there's tons of time and space. There is zero time and space when you play at this level. Zero, and I thought that it took ‘Rosie’ and ‘Kulie’ probably 30 minutes to kind of be like, ‘Oh boy, this is this is big boy hockey again.’”

 

 

Neither Rosen nor Kulich registered a point last night, however, they’re ready for another challenge come Saturday night at The Blue Cross Arena.

 

The Amerks, along with Rosen and Kulich, are back in action on Saturday against the first-place Toronto Marlies at 6:05 p.m. face-off. All of the action will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.