Sharply dressed in black, the Albany River Rats begin their 17th American Hockey League season tonight against the Manchester Monarchs at the former Knickerbocker Arena.
The special sweaters with matching helmets, pants and socks were created years ago under the old New Jersey Devils regime but never allowed to be used by Albany's former parent club. They were modified to reflect the Carolina Hurricanes affiliation and brought out for the opener.
Albany is 7-7-2 all-time in season openers, including 2-2 on home ice, winning in 1995 and 2004, and losing in 1999 and 2008.
Right wing Nicolas Blanchard is in the starting lineup for Albany, his first game since being seriously injured in the team's Feb. 19 bus crash.
Two members of the Rats' 1995 Calder Cup title team are in the house, both behind the bench as assistant coaches: Geordie Kinnear (Albany) and Scott Pellerin (Manchester).
To the game. Veteran goaltender Justin Peters is getting the start in goal for the Rats, opposed by Manchester's Jonathan Bernier.
Albany's line combinations: Zach Boychuk-Brandon Sutter-Pat Dwyer (C); Chris Terry-Nick Dodge-Jerome Samson; Drayson Bowman-Mike Angelidis (A)-Nicolas Blanchard; Brad Herauf-Stephan Chaput-Steve Goertzen.
Defense pairings: Bryan Rodney-Brett Carson (A); Jonathan Paiement-Jamie McBain; Zack Fitzgerald-Brett Bellemore.
Scratches: Benn Olson, Matt Pistilli; Harrison Reed.
Manchester line combinations: John Zeiler-Corey Elkins-Kevin Westgarth; David Meckler-Gabe Gauthier-MarcAndre Cliche (A); Bud Holloway-Justin Azevedo-Brandon Segal; Scott Parse (A)-Oscar Moller-Andrei Loktionov.
Defense pairings: Viatcheslav Voynov-Thomas Hickey; Joe Piskula-Drew Bagnall (A); David Kolomatis-Patrick Mullen.
Scratches: Andrew Campbell, Geoff Walker, Juraj Mikus.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Petrecki leads Sharks into Glens Falls
Clifton Park native Nick Petrecki is less than an hour away from making his regular-season professional hockey debut with the Worcester Sharks at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by San Jose prior to his freshman season at Boston College, Petrecki and Co. will be facing the Adirondack Phantoms, marking the return of AHL hockey to the city of Glens Falls after a 10-year absence.
"I'm real excited," Petrecki said by phone this week. "I moved away from home at an early age and I've been traveling all around everywhere. I played two years out west and I know it was tough on my parents; they couldn't really get out to watch a lot of games.
"The last two years were better for them because it was within driving range. They came to every game. Now to be able to be here in Worcester where a lot of family and friends can see me play, it's pretty special."
A hulking 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenseman, Petrecki played three NHL preseason games for San Jose and one for Worcester. He signed an entry-level contract in the spring but decided to finish his sophomore year at school before turning pro. The Eagles won the NCAA championship in 2008.
"My first year (at BC) was a great year. Second year was kind of an up and down year for me personally and the team, Petrecki said. "It was defnitely tough to leave school. You're in your comfort zone there. You're at college, you're with all your friends, having a good time and stuff like that. It goes back to the ultimate goal to play pro hockey. It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I believe it was definitely the right decision. Hopefully, I'll be up in San Jose at some point, but I'm in a great situation here to learn and get better."
Drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by San Jose prior to his freshman season at Boston College, Petrecki and Co. will be facing the Adirondack Phantoms, marking the return of AHL hockey to the city of Glens Falls after a 10-year absence.
"I'm real excited," Petrecki said by phone this week. "I moved away from home at an early age and I've been traveling all around everywhere. I played two years out west and I know it was tough on my parents; they couldn't really get out to watch a lot of games.
"The last two years were better for them because it was within driving range. They came to every game. Now to be able to be here in Worcester where a lot of family and friends can see me play, it's pretty special."
A hulking 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenseman, Petrecki played three NHL preseason games for San Jose and one for Worcester. He signed an entry-level contract in the spring but decided to finish his sophomore year at school before turning pro. The Eagles won the NCAA championship in 2008.
"My first year (at BC) was a great year. Second year was kind of an up and down year for me personally and the team, Petrecki said. "It was defnitely tough to leave school. You're in your comfort zone there. You're at college, you're with all your friends, having a good time and stuff like that. It goes back to the ultimate goal to play pro hockey. It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I believe it was definitely the right decision. Hopefully, I'll be up in San Jose at some point, but I'm in a great situation here to learn and get better."
Friday, October 2, 2009
Macho Again ready for Gold Cup
No horse has beaten superfilly Rachel Alexandra since last year. The closest anyone has come was in the Grade 1 Woodward last month at Saratoga Race Course, when 4-year-old colt Macho Again fell a neck short.
Co-owned by Roger and Joyce Locks of Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa native Jim Cutbush through the West Point Thoroughbreds syndicate, Macho Again returns to action on Saturday in the Grade 1 $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Most of the pre-race talk has been about a pair of 3-year-olds, Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird and record-setting Grade 1 winner Quality Road, and Asiatic Boy, who has more than $3 million in career earnings but has yet to win a race in North America.
"Macho's doing good, and we're ready to rumble," Joyce Locks said early this evening. The Lockses arrived on Long Island for tomorrow's race around 4:30 this afternoon.
"[A win] would mean an awful lot for us. To win two Grade 1 races in the second half of the year would be absolutely phenomenal. Maybe he'd get a little more respect, which we feel he deserves. He's a great horse.
"If you look at the polls in the Racing Form, I think we come in third, but our opinion is, Macho is pretty much the best older horse out there. We're excited."
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Macho Again won the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap in March and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June. He was a closing second to long shot Bullsbay in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 8 at Saratoga before running into Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward.
"He came so close," Joyce Locks said. "It's good and bad that he came in second in the Woodward. We wanted to win. It would have been great for us. It was great for racing that she won because it really helps the fan base and they were all backing her. But, we were right there with her. If it was here at Belmont, more than likely we would have surpassed her.
"He's developed into a phenomenal older horse. He's proved himself. He's coming out of these races really well and been moving forward in a very short period of time. This is a long stretch (at Belmont) and that's what he's good at. Give him that long stretch, and he's like a bullet. It could be a phenomenal race. We're always in it to win it."
Macho Again has six wins and six seconds from 20 lifetime starts, winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga as a 3-year-old. He's the third choice in the Jockey Club at odds of 7-2.
"It's a horse race, so anythingn can happen," Joyce Locks said. "I feel good about Macho, and feel good about the race. I think we have a great chance."
Co-owned by Roger and Joyce Locks of Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa native Jim Cutbush through the West Point Thoroughbreds syndicate, Macho Again returns to action on Saturday in the Grade 1 $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Most of the pre-race talk has been about a pair of 3-year-olds, Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird and record-setting Grade 1 winner Quality Road, and Asiatic Boy, who has more than $3 million in career earnings but has yet to win a race in North America.
"Macho's doing good, and we're ready to rumble," Joyce Locks said early this evening. The Lockses arrived on Long Island for tomorrow's race around 4:30 this afternoon.
"[A win] would mean an awful lot for us. To win two Grade 1 races in the second half of the year would be absolutely phenomenal. Maybe he'd get a little more respect, which we feel he deserves. He's a great horse.
"If you look at the polls in the Racing Form, I think we come in third, but our opinion is, Macho is pretty much the best older horse out there. We're excited."
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Macho Again won the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap in March and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June. He was a closing second to long shot Bullsbay in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 8 at Saratoga before running into Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward.
"He came so close," Joyce Locks said. "It's good and bad that he came in second in the Woodward. We wanted to win. It would have been great for us. It was great for racing that she won because it really helps the fan base and they were all backing her. But, we were right there with her. If it was here at Belmont, more than likely we would have surpassed her.
"He's developed into a phenomenal older horse. He's proved himself. He's coming out of these races really well and been moving forward in a very short period of time. This is a long stretch (at Belmont) and that's what he's good at. Give him that long stretch, and he's like a bullet. It could be a phenomenal race. We're always in it to win it."
Macho Again has six wins and six seconds from 20 lifetime starts, winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga as a 3-year-old. He's the third choice in the Jockey Club at odds of 7-2.
"It's a horse race, so anythingn can happen," Joyce Locks said. "I feel good about Macho, and feel good about the race. I think we have a great chance."
Flyers return goalie to Adirondack
Goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak, recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, was returned to the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms today.
The 23-year-old Teslak practiced with the NHL team yesterday before the team left for their season opener in Raleigh, N.C. against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Adirondack's roster stands at 25 players for its season opener Saturday night against the Worcester Sharks at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Goaltenders: Michael-Lee Teslak, Jeremy Duchesne, Nic Riopel.
Defensemen: Joonas Lehtivuori, Joey Mormina, Kevin Marshall, Randy Jones, Oskars Bartulis, Michael Ratchuk, Sean Curry, Logan Stephenson.
Forwards: David Laliberte, Jon Matsumoto, Garrett Klotz, Andreas Nodl, Matt Clackson, Patrick Maroon, Jason Ward, Jared Ross, Ryan Dingle, Josh Beaulieu, Lukas Kaspar, Rob Bellamy, Krys Kolanos, Jonathon Kalinski.
The 23-year-old Teslak practiced with the NHL team yesterday before the team left for their season opener in Raleigh, N.C. against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Adirondack's roster stands at 25 players for its season opener Saturday night against the Worcester Sharks at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Goaltenders: Michael-Lee Teslak, Jeremy Duchesne, Nic Riopel.
Defensemen: Joonas Lehtivuori, Joey Mormina, Kevin Marshall, Randy Jones, Oskars Bartulis, Michael Ratchuk, Sean Curry, Logan Stephenson.
Forwards: David Laliberte, Jon Matsumoto, Garrett Klotz, Andreas Nodl, Matt Clackson, Patrick Maroon, Jason Ward, Jared Ross, Ryan Dingle, Josh Beaulieu, Lukas Kaspar, Rob Bellamy, Krys Kolanos, Jonathon Kalinski.
Saratoga riding champion reaches milestone
Ramon Dominguez, who came off record-setting meets at Aqueduct and Belmont Park to capture his first Saratoga Race Course riding title this summer, added another milestone to his breakout 2009 season.
Dominguez won today's fifth race at Belmont aboard Bon Marie, his 300th victory in New York this year. In doing so, Dominguez became only the fifth rider to reach that plateau in the Empire State in a calendar year.
The others are Steve Cauthen (433 wins in 1977), Angel Cordero Jr. (340 in 1982; 309 in 1983), Mike Smith (330 in 1991; 313 in 1993), and Eibar Coa (303 in 2006).
Bon Marie is trained by Anthony Dutrow for owners Michael Dubb and Robert Joscelyn.
"It feels great," Dominguez said. "When the year starts, you don't target anything like this. The days roll along and you start winning races and you hit 300. It's something to be proud of, especially in New York."
Dominguez set a modern-day record with 98 wins at Belmont's spring-summer meet that preceded Saratoga, where he edged defending champ Alan Garcia for the crown in his first full year in New York after dominating the Mid-Atlantic circuit.
He is 300-for-1,229 in New York this year with $11.8 million in purses. He ranks second nationally in wins and first in purses ($13.5 million).
"I'm very excited, especially with this being my first time year-round here," Dominguez said. "I couldn't have dreamed of it."
Dominguez won today's fifth race at Belmont aboard Bon Marie, his 300th victory in New York this year. In doing so, Dominguez became only the fifth rider to reach that plateau in the Empire State in a calendar year.
The others are Steve Cauthen (433 wins in 1977), Angel Cordero Jr. (340 in 1982; 309 in 1983), Mike Smith (330 in 1991; 313 in 1993), and Eibar Coa (303 in 2006).
Bon Marie is trained by Anthony Dutrow for owners Michael Dubb and Robert Joscelyn.
"It feels great," Dominguez said. "When the year starts, you don't target anything like this. The days roll along and you start winning races and you hit 300. It's something to be proud of, especially in New York."
Dominguez set a modern-day record with 98 wins at Belmont's spring-summer meet that preceded Saratoga, where he edged defending champ Alan Garcia for the crown in his first full year in New York after dominating the Mid-Atlantic circuit.
He is 300-for-1,229 in New York this year with $11.8 million in purses. He ranks second nationally in wins and first in purses ($13.5 million).
"I'm very excited, especially with this being my first time year-round here," Dominguez said. "I couldn't have dreamed of it."
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Familiar faces to lead River Rats
ALBANY -- Albany River Rats head coach Jeff Daniels said today that forward Pat Dwyer will reprise his role as team captain this season.
Dwyer, 26, is in his fourth season with the Rats, and will have worn the captain's 'C' in parts of three of them. Current assistant coach Geordie Kinnear is the only Albany player to be captain for three full seasons (1996-99).
"It's an honor and it's something I strive to be, a leader on this team," Dwyer said following practice this morning. "At the same time, in developing these kids, I have to make sure I just play my game and go out there and do what I do and lead by example. I'm not a huge overly vocal guy so I'm just trying to show these kids what it takes to be a professional."
Forward Mike Angelidis will be Dwyer's full-time alternate; defenseman Brett Carson (home games) and Bryan Rodney (road games) will share alternate's duties.
"They set the tone for practice every day," Daniels said. "They lead by example more. They're not big rah-rah guys, and that's what I told them. I don't want them to change what they do and how they play. I picked them because of the example they set every day. They're very professional. The off-ice part of it, their fitness and the way they stay on top of things. Hopefully, the young guys can look up to those guys and learn from them."
Like Dwyer, Angelidis is in his fourth season with Albany. He also wore an 'A' last year.
"I'm comfortable with it," Angelidis said. "Regardless of how young we are, I think we have some mature young players on the team and us older guys have to help them out and show them how to play certain situations and guide them through living away from home and little things like that in the transition, diet and getting rest and not partying all hours the day and night. Just be there to help the guys out."
Rodney and Carson were both given long looks in Carolina Hurricanes training camp before being returned to Albany, where they lead a solid defensive unit that will be the Rats' foundation until the young offensive guys get going.
"Anytime you get recognized as one of the leaders, it's a good feeling," Carson said. "We've got a young group in here, so I think for us older guys it's a little more important to kind of show the way and make them feel comfortable, and at the same time to push them a little bit at times and make sure they know it's not going to be easy this year. Hopefully I'll do a good job with it."
Said Rodney: "I guess a little bit more responsibility is always nice. I take it as a challenge. We've got a young group here so to be looked upon as one of the leaders is a real honor. It's not going to change the way I handle myself. I always took it as a responsibility of mine to help the young guys coming through because we were all young guys at one point starting out and I had those guys that were there for me along the way. I like to pass that on and hopefully they do the same when they're in my shoes."
********************
Line combinations from practice today were: Zach Boychuk-Brandon Sutter-Pat Dwyer; Drayson Bowman-Mike Angelidis-Nicolas Blanchard; Chris Terry-Nick Dodge-Jerome Samson; Steve Goertzen/Brad Herauf-Stefan Chaput-Harrison Reed.
Defensemen Jamie McBain, Benn Olson, Zack Fitzgerald, Brett Carson, Jonathan Paiement, Bryan Rodney and Brett Bellemore rotated through their pairings.
********************
Players have been breaking in the black pants and helmets they will wear on opening night, to go along with a special black sweater. The black uniforms are a modification of an earlier design that dates back to the Rats days as a New Jersey Devils affiliate. The Devs wouldn't allow Albany to wear an alternate jersey, so they were sold as souvenirs instead ..... In addition to the gaudy yellow charity auction sweaters the Rats will wear again this season, a special edition for games with the rival Adirondack Phantoms is also in the works ..... Injured forward Matthew Pistilli remains sidelined indefinitely. "I have two extra guys, one extra forward and one extra 'D', so from a body standpoint, we're all set for this weekend," Daniels said. "He's just day to day. He tried to skate today but he didn't feel great, so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for him."
Dwyer, 26, is in his fourth season with the Rats, and will have worn the captain's 'C' in parts of three of them. Current assistant coach Geordie Kinnear is the only Albany player to be captain for three full seasons (1996-99).
"It's an honor and it's something I strive to be, a leader on this team," Dwyer said following practice this morning. "At the same time, in developing these kids, I have to make sure I just play my game and go out there and do what I do and lead by example. I'm not a huge overly vocal guy so I'm just trying to show these kids what it takes to be a professional."
Forward Mike Angelidis will be Dwyer's full-time alternate; defenseman Brett Carson (home games) and Bryan Rodney (road games) will share alternate's duties.
"They set the tone for practice every day," Daniels said. "They lead by example more. They're not big rah-rah guys, and that's what I told them. I don't want them to change what they do and how they play. I picked them because of the example they set every day. They're very professional. The off-ice part of it, their fitness and the way they stay on top of things. Hopefully, the young guys can look up to those guys and learn from them."
Like Dwyer, Angelidis is in his fourth season with Albany. He also wore an 'A' last year.
"I'm comfortable with it," Angelidis said. "Regardless of how young we are, I think we have some mature young players on the team and us older guys have to help them out and show them how to play certain situations and guide them through living away from home and little things like that in the transition, diet and getting rest and not partying all hours the day and night. Just be there to help the guys out."
Rodney and Carson were both given long looks in Carolina Hurricanes training camp before being returned to Albany, where they lead a solid defensive unit that will be the Rats' foundation until the young offensive guys get going.
"Anytime you get recognized as one of the leaders, it's a good feeling," Carson said. "We've got a young group in here, so I think for us older guys it's a little more important to kind of show the way and make them feel comfortable, and at the same time to push them a little bit at times and make sure they know it's not going to be easy this year. Hopefully I'll do a good job with it."
Said Rodney: "I guess a little bit more responsibility is always nice. I take it as a challenge. We've got a young group here so to be looked upon as one of the leaders is a real honor. It's not going to change the way I handle myself. I always took it as a responsibility of mine to help the young guys coming through because we were all young guys at one point starting out and I had those guys that were there for me along the way. I like to pass that on and hopefully they do the same when they're in my shoes."
********************
Line combinations from practice today were: Zach Boychuk-Brandon Sutter-Pat Dwyer; Drayson Bowman-Mike Angelidis-Nicolas Blanchard; Chris Terry-Nick Dodge-Jerome Samson; Steve Goertzen/Brad Herauf-Stefan Chaput-Harrison Reed.
Defensemen Jamie McBain, Benn Olson, Zack Fitzgerald, Brett Carson, Jonathan Paiement, Bryan Rodney and Brett Bellemore rotated through their pairings.
********************
Players have been breaking in the black pants and helmets they will wear on opening night, to go along with a special black sweater. The black uniforms are a modification of an earlier design that dates back to the Rats days as a New Jersey Devils affiliate. The Devs wouldn't allow Albany to wear an alternate jersey, so they were sold as souvenirs instead ..... In addition to the gaudy yellow charity auction sweaters the Rats will wear again this season, a special edition for games with the rival Adirondack Phantoms is also in the works ..... Injured forward Matthew Pistilli remains sidelined indefinitely. "I have two extra guys, one extra forward and one extra 'D', so from a body standpoint, we're all set for this weekend," Daniels said. "He's just day to day. He tried to skate today but he didn't feel great, so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for him."
Veteran Jones arrives in Glens Falls
Defenseman Randy Jones, who cleared NHL waivers at noon Monday, has reported to the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms.
Jones, 28, arrived in Glens Falls on Wednesday night and was at the Glens Falls Civic Center today, though he didn't take part in practice.
"He wasn't on the ice because his skates didn't come with him when he left Philly," Phantoms head coach Greg Gilbert said. "He will be on the ice with us tomorrow."
Never drafted, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jones has played 217 NHL games for the Philadelphia Flyers since leaving Clarkson University following the 2002-03 season. The New Brunswick native also has 147 AHL games for their former farm team in Philadelphia.
His addition lends some much-needed experience to a mostly young defensive corps that includes highly regarded rookies Kevin Marshall and Marc-Andre Bourdon and second-year pro Michael Ratchuk.
"He's a good kid, and he's a good player," Gilbert said. "He's down here to work to get back to where he used to be. We expect some leadership out of him, and I'm sure he's going to provide that."
Adirondack opens the season at home on Saturday night against Worcester.
********************
There were several roster moves today. Forward Tomas Sinisalo was released from his training camp tryout, and defenseman David Sloane was reassigned to the Flyers' ECHL affliliate, the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Wings.
In addition, the Flyers recalled Bourdon and goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak from Adirondack, leaving the AHL roster at 24 players. Goalie Johan Backlund was summoned to Philadelphia earlier this week.
Jones, 28, arrived in Glens Falls on Wednesday night and was at the Glens Falls Civic Center today, though he didn't take part in practice.
"He wasn't on the ice because his skates didn't come with him when he left Philly," Phantoms head coach Greg Gilbert said. "He will be on the ice with us tomorrow."
Never drafted, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jones has played 217 NHL games for the Philadelphia Flyers since leaving Clarkson University following the 2002-03 season. The New Brunswick native also has 147 AHL games for their former farm team in Philadelphia.
His addition lends some much-needed experience to a mostly young defensive corps that includes highly regarded rookies Kevin Marshall and Marc-Andre Bourdon and second-year pro Michael Ratchuk.
"He's a good kid, and he's a good player," Gilbert said. "He's down here to work to get back to where he used to be. We expect some leadership out of him, and I'm sure he's going to provide that."
Adirondack opens the season at home on Saturday night against Worcester.
********************
There were several roster moves today. Forward Tomas Sinisalo was released from his training camp tryout, and defenseman David Sloane was reassigned to the Flyers' ECHL affliliate, the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Wings.
In addition, the Flyers recalled Bourdon and goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak from Adirondack, leaving the AHL roster at 24 players. Goalie Johan Backlund was summoned to Philadelphia earlier this week.
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