TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: AMERKS EXCITED TO GET BACK TO WORK

Oct 3, 2022

By Suzie Cool

 

With the Buffalo Sabres opening training camp last week, that only means we’re that much closer to the start of the 67th American Hockey League season for the Rochester Americans. In fact, Amerks training camp gets underway tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 4, when players hit the ice for an 11 a.m. practice at The Blue Cross Arena.

 

 

After seeing what the Sabres have been building in preseason so far, it’s an exciting time to be an Amerks fan.

 

Jack Quinn, the AHL’s reigning Rookie of the Year, forced overtime against the Washington Capitals. Forward Brandon Biro had a multi-goal contest versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Those are just two examples of the many other lucrative prospects that have climbed their way through the organization over the last few seasons right now making a case as to why they should start the 2022-23 campaign in the National Hockey League.

 

When Amerks head coach Seth Appert looks ahead to the start of training camp in Rochester this week, there’s nothing but excitement headed into his third season behind the bench with the organization.

 

“It’s exciting,” stated Appert when asked what there is to look forward to as camp begins this week. “It’s an opportunity to start dialing in with our guys. Ninety percent of what Buffalo does, and what we do, is the same, but still to get going on our identity, to get going with our culture – the things we want to do.”

 

Culture has played a critical role for the entirety of the Buffalo organization over the past two seasons.

 

In fact, it helped an Amerks squad that went 37-29-7-3 in the 2021-22 regular season sneak right into the playoffs as the fifth seed in the North Division. Rochester then went on a heroic postseason push that saw them in the North Division Finals for the first time in 18 years.

 

That’s why culture is important to instill from the start of training camp, especially with a number of invitees that we’ll see in and out of the lineup throughout the course of the upcoming season.

 

“We have a lot of invitees coming – some from Cincinnati and others from other organizations in the East Coast League, and that's important. It's important to look at some of the guys we might need to call up.”

 

Appert then finished with, “Last year, I think, we had 54 players. You're going to need those depth options at some point. So, to spend a week or so with them, to see them in game action gives us a better glimpse into who they are as people and hockey players.”

 

Here's a list of invitees to this year’s Amerks training camp:

 

FORWARDS

Patrick Polino

Conlan Keenan

Matt Berry

Matt McLeod

Lincoln Griffin

Emmett Sproule

Philip Lagunov

 

DEFENSEMEN

Arvin Atwal

Wyatt Ege

Jalen Smereck

Sean Allen

 

These 11 will join the 22 others who were reassigned to Rochester over the weekend for Tuesday’s first practice.

 

The Amerks preseason schedule is as follows with their first preseason matchup in Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 5:00 p.m. against the Syracuse Crunch. Rochester then returns home to host the Utica Comets on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 5:00 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena. Tickets start at $12 and are on sale now! Season Ticket Members can claim up to four free tickets, as an exclusive Season Ticket Member benefit.

 

Amerks Season Ticket Memberships for the 2022-23 season are on sale now. Season Ticket Memberships start as low as $15 per game and come with a number of Members-only perks and benefits. Full Season, Half Season and Quarter Season Membership options are all available.  For more information on Amerks Season Tickets or to sign up today, visit www.amerks.com/memberships.

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