JOIN THE AMERKS FOR ‘90s THROWBACK NIGHT FEBRUARY 20
Fan-favorite specialty jerseys, appearances from alumni and Calder Cup highlight latest throwback night
Feb 14, 2026The Rochester Americans are turning the clocks back again for a 90’s Night Celebration, presented by CooperVision supporting Veterans Outreach Center, on Friday, Feb. 20 when they host the Laval Rocket at The Blue Cross Arena.
The team’s latest throwback night will honor the 30-year anniversary of the Amerks’ most recent Calder Cup championship in 1996, featuring appearances from three members of that year’s team, including Dixon Ward, Wayne Primeau and Jody Gage. The trio will greet fans as they arrive as part of an extended pregame event which will also include an opportunity to take photos with both the current and vintage iterations of the Calder Cup. The alumni members will also be available for a special meet and greet beginning at 6 p.m.
Ward played his only season with the Amerks in 1995-96, leading the team with 56 assists and finishing second behind only Hall of Famer Craig Charron in goals (38) and points (94). He later went on to add 35 points (11+24) during Rochester’s unprecedented run to the Calder Cup, earning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs that year. Ward would go onto appear in 537 career NHL games, including 307 with the Buffalo Sabres.
Primeau joined the Amerks late during the 1995-96 campaign, first making his NHL debut with the Sabres before recording five points (2+3) in eight games to close out the regular season in Rochester. A former first-round pick of the Sabres in the 1994 NHL Draft, Primeau notched four points (3+1) in 17 postseason appearances. His entire AHL career was spent in Rochester, where he amassed 19 points (11+8) in 32 games with the Amerks before becoming a full-time fixture in the NHL with stops in Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Boston, Calgary, and Toronto.
The 1996 Calder Cup was the third for Gage, who would retire following the season as the franchise’s all-time leader in goals, assists, points, and games played. Dubbed “Mr. Amerk during his illustrious 11-year career in Rochester, Gage is one of just three players to record 500 career AHL goals and 1,000 career AHL points, and his 17 AHL seasons tie him for third in league history. One of only three players to have their number retired, Gage is a member of both the Amerks and AHL Hall of Fame.
The Amerks will wear their fifth of six specialty throwback jerseys Friday against Laval as part of the team’s season-long celebration of its 70th anniversary season. The game-worn, fan-favorite jerseys were previously worn by the 1996 Calder Cup-winning team and return for the first time since opening night of the 2009-10 season.
The one-of-a-kind, patriotic jersey features a pattern of alternating red and white vertical stripes with “Americans” placed over a large centered “R”. Additionally, six white stars adorn the all-blue shoulders, representing the team’s six Calder Cup championships in franchise history.
The jerseys will be auctioned off on DASH, a sport-focused online auction platform and partner of the Amerks, with the proceeds benefitting Veterans Outreach Center. To access the auction, visit www.amerks.com/auction, or text “DASH” to 66866, click on the download link and install DASH on your mobile device. Fans can then create their own personal profile and select the Amerks as their favorite team to start bidding. The auction will open for bidding beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 16 and closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22. Winners will be contacted directly.
Friday’s festivities begin with a Pregame Happy Hour, presented by Genesee Brewery, before the game where fans 21 and older can enjoy $5 12-ounce beer specials at the Genesee Brew House at Blue Cross Arena (located at the top of the stairs in the main atrium) until puck drop.
Additionally, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive an Amerks 70th anniversary light-up rally towel, courtesy of ESL Federal Credit Union. The towels feature the same design of the specialty jerseys the team will be wearing that night. CooperVision will also be distributing 1,000 winter beanies as a postgame giveaway.
Season Ticket Memberships for the 2026-27 season, which start as low as $22 per game, are on sale now and come with several Members-only perks and benefits. Full and Half Season Membership options are also available. For more information on Amerks Season Tickets or to sign up today, call 585-454-5335 or visit www.amerks.com/memberships.