NEWCOMERS READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN ROCHESTER
Mar 10, 2023By Suzie Cool
Size and physicality.
Two things that are incredibly important in the American Hockey League at this point in the season, especially for the Rochester Americans as they look to continue to make a push to the postseason for the fourth straight year dating back to 2018 (no playoffs in 2020 or 2021).
Another thing that’s critically important to the makeup of a successful playoff contender: character. Something that Amerks newcomers Carson Gicewicz and Austin Strand easily bring to the locker room after all the homework done on the two players off and on the ice.
“High character,” began Appert on why acquisitions of Gicewicz and Strand were specifically necessary at this point of the season. “All the homework we did, our scouts, our management team, people that know both guys just rave about the kind of teammates they are, the energy and the attitude they bring the rank every day.”
Along with what Gicewicz and Strand bring off the ice, here’s a closer look at Rochester’s late-season additions and how their arrival will aid in the Amerks’ quest of another substantial playoff run.
FORWARD CARSON GICEWICZ (#15)
On Mar. 2, the Amerks acquired forward Gicewicz from the Rockford IceHogs in exchange for future considerations. He officially joined the Amerks for the final two games of their season-long five-game road swing, making his debut at Place Bell against the Laval Rocket on Mar. 3 before and then playing his second game in as many nights the following day at Belleville.
“He (Gicewicz) plays hard, he can play center, he can play wing and he can play on the penalty kill,” explained Appert when asked about Gicewicz’s first two games as an Amerk. “When you combine his size and his physicality with his character, and then that versatility of center, wing and penalty kill, it all made him an attractive piece for us to acquire.”
Gicewicz comes to Rochester after registering six points on four goals and two assists in 43 games to begin the 2022-23 campaign. Two of the forward’s six points with Rockford came on Feb. 15 at Grand Rapids, which marked his first multi-point game of the season.
A native of Orchard Park, New York, the 25-year-old Gicewicz has totaled 22 points on nine goals and 13 assists in 116 career AHL games with Rochester and Rockford. Gicewicz also added two points on a goal and an assist in five games during the IceHogs’ postseason run in 2022.
DEFENSEMAN AUSTIN STRAND (#2)
A day after acquiring Gicewicz, the Sabres made another move in obtaining Strand from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Chase Priskie. Strand has yet to play in any games with Rochester since joining the team last weekend.
The idea of adding Strand to the mix so late in the season is exciting because he adds the size and physicality that’s needed in the North Division at this time of the year.
“The North Division is heavy, it's physical, and we felt we needed to get a little bigger, a little heavier, a little more competitive in some of those areas,” began Appert when asked what Strand brings to the table in this last push of the season. “We’ve got a ton of skill on our D core. So, to add another big body – we added (Matt) Bartowski and we've added (Joseph) Cecconi and now Strand – we've added a lot of size and physicality and competitiveness to the blueline, which is going to be helpful down the stretch.”
Strand, who is just 26, has appeared in five games with the Ducks this season. He’s spent the majority of the campaign with San Diego, scoring two goals with six assists in 46 games.
The 6-foot-3, right-shot defenseman has gone on to total three assists in 26 career NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim, while amassing 53 points on 21 goals and 32 assists in 181 AHL contests.