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THE KIDS HAVE STEPPED UP

THE KIDS HAVE STEPPED UP

May 10, 2023

By Emily Wade

 

The Calder Cup Playoffs spotlight has been on the trio of young Rochester rookies, and they’ve been shining. “Those are young kids to be delivering in moments like this,” Amerks head coach Seth Appert told the media after the series win.

 

Jiri Kulich has a goal in all three of his playoff games.

 

Isak Rosen has three assists and a goal.

 

Tyson Kozak, who has two goals and an assist so far, opened the scoring in Game 5 in Syracuse and according to Appert was excellent most of the game.

“Rosen and Kulich get a lot of praise, and obviously they deserve it,” Appert explained.

 

He continued: “For him to be one of our best penalty killers, and one of our best defensive — and most physical — players as a 19, 20-year-old in this league is just incredible.” Kozak came up with a string of unbelievable blocked shots throughout the game, and really proved that he was willing to do whatever it took to win.

 

"As good as Rosen and Kulich are in the offensive part of their game, Kozey is as good in his defensive game."

 

And it was very nice for him, and the other rookies, to get rewarded.

 

“I think there’s a lot of confidence for us younger guys,” Rosen said on Tuesday. “To know what it takes to win a playoff series.”

 

Appert had mentioned, before the series began, that he expected some growing pains with the younger players. Playoff hockey is different — it’s faster, it’s more physical, there isn’t much space — and it sometimes takes a game or two to adjust.

 

 "There’s going to be failure and success in this playoff experience, and both are going to be great learning moments."

 

That’s how the team approached the week of practice between Game 2 and 3, when the Amerks trailed the Crunch 0-2 in the series. Rosen struggled a bit, without having time to adjust on the back-to-back, and Kulich was out due to injury.

 

 

During the week, the coaching staff approached the rookies and asked them: “What did you learn? What did you see? Why did you struggle?”

 

Appert sees self-reflection as one of the biggest pillars of development: “We can poke questions and prod them, but they’re the ones doing the processing and thinking and speaking.” He was impressed with how Rosen was able to self evaluate.

 

And he was impressed with how Rosen responded in Games 3 and 4. Rosen opened the scoring for Rochester in front of the home crowd on Friday night, but maybe had his best game of the year on Sunday.

 

“Just looking at the plays he made, he had so much poise out there,” goaltender Malcolm Subban said after the game. “And Kulich, obviously, comes back and has two huge goals in two games. It’s huge to see that from the young guys.”

 

Kulich has goals in all three of his playoff games so far, and all have come at big moments. His performance, however, comes to no surprise to the coaching staff.

“He has a knack for big moments. He’s not afraid of the stage at all."

While the scoresheet is important, it’s also the commitment to playing the right way, building the best habits, and attacking the series that makes a big difference.

 

 

Subban explained that Kozak’s biggest contributions don’t show up on the scoreboard: “The blocked shots, winning the races, making plays, even in the first game — he made that play on the board back-door on the pass — it’s been great to see that.”

 

Because, as has been said many times before, it takes everything you’ve got to win a series in the playoffs, and then to keep winning. “It’s not just about your skill, it’s not just about your play-making, or the systematic structure,” Appert said.

 

“Playoff hockey sometimes is about how many shots you’re willing to block, how many puck battles you’re wiling to win, those things.” So far, the rookies have proved that they’re willing to do those things and more.

 

And, as Rosen said: “Now we’re more ready to go into the next series and play even harder there.” 

 

The Rochester Americans will face the top-seeded Toronto Marlies in the North Division Finals, starting with Game 1 on Thursday night in Toronto. They’ll return to Rochester for Game 3 on Wednesday, May 17 — tickets are on sale now.

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