TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS CONCLUDE OUTDOOR CLASSIC WEEKEND
Jan 15, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (16-13-3-1) return to the Flower City after a memorable weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Amerks and Checkers split a two-game series that ended outdoors at Truist Field in the 2024 Queen City Outdoor Classic.
After hanging on for a 3-2 win at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday, the Amerks were unable to secure the sweep at the ballpark, with Charlotte evening the weekend with a 5-2 final in their favor.
COOLEY ON FIRE
Devin Cooley made his first start of the new year on Friday and what a start it was. The Los Gatos, California, native stifled Charlotte scoring chances left and right, earning the Amerks two big points in the standings with a 37-save performance. Cooley denied four of the Checkers’ five power-play opportunities in the game and was a big reason the Amerks remained in the game despite being outshot, 39-23. Cooley faced 30 shots in the final 40 minutes, including 17 in the third period alone.
Since Nov. 24, Cooley has churned out quality starts in five of his last six outings. He has allowed three or fewer goals in each of those five starts. Cooley has also earned the Amerks points in four of his five road starts and has a 10-2-1 record on the road over his last 14 outings, dating back to Dec. 31, 2022.
APPERT HITS THE CENTURY MARK
Saturday’s 3-2 win was a milestone win for Seth Appert, who became just the seventh head coach in the 68-year history of the franchise to reach 100 career wins with Rochester. He joins an impressive list that includes the likes of Amerks Hall of Famers Randy Cunneyworth, John Van Boxmeer, Joe Crozier, Mike Keenan, Chris Taylor and Brian McCutcheon.
On Dec. 16 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Appert also became the seventh head coach in team history to be behind Rochester’s bench for 200 games.
Since the 2020-21 season, Appert has guided the Amerks to a 100-84-18-8 record as well as two straight playoff appearances, which included a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023. It was the team’s deepest playoff run in nearly 20 years and their first to the Conference Finals since the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs.
KALE REWARDED
After a productive October and November, defenseman Kale Clague posted three points (all assists) in 12 games last month. The sixth-year pro has now matched that output just four games into January after recording a goal and two helpers on the weekend in Charlotte.
Clague reached multiple points in Friday’s game for the first time since Oct. 28, scoring his second goal of the season while adding an assist on Justin Richards’ third-period tally. He then earned a point in the first period of the Outdoor Classic, sliding a puck from the left-wing boards across to Linus Weissbach for the one-timer to get Rochester on the board.
Clague’s efforts were rewarded Monday morning when it was announced that he would be recalled by the Buffalo Sabres for the first time this season.
ROUSEK’S STREAK HITS DOUBLE-DIGITS
With an assist in both Friday and Saturday’s game, Lukas Rousek was able to extend his career-best point streak to 10 games. The third-year Amerk has scored three goals and eight assists for 11 points over this stretch that began Dec. 20.
Rousek leads the Amerks with 17 assists and is tied for second in team scoring with Jiri Kulich (23), sitting just a point back from Isak Rosen, who leads the way with 24 points (9+15). Rousek’s 10-game point streak is the longest active streak in the AHL. If he can record a point in his next game, the Czechia native will tie Texas’ Logan Stankoven for the second longest point streak of the season. Alex Steeves of the Toronto Marlies recorded an AHL best 16-game streak from Oct. 22-Dec. 20.
A GAME TO REMEMBER
Regardless of the outcome, the Amerks played in just the second outdoor game over the 68-year history of the franchise. Some things are bigger than the final score. This was one of them.
“It was really fun,” said Amerks captain Michael Mersch, who scored a goal in his second professional outdoor game and third overall. “It’s a different style of game with the ice conditions being a little different than they would be in an indoor rink, but it was a great experience. You just got to remember the good parts of it.”
“I’ve never participated in an outdoor game,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert. “It was an awesome event. It was really cool to be part of.”
COMING UP NEXT
The Amerks will play their 39 remaining games in the season with a roof over their heads, beginning Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on the second Sensory Friendly Night of the season in Downtown Rochester. Rochester then ventures to Utica on Friday for its only North Division game of the week against the Comets, before returning home to host Springfield on Women In Hockey Night presented by Zweigles Saturday against the Thunderbirds.