April Edition
Jacob Bryson began this season in Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger figured defenseman Will Borgen couldn’t have broken his arm.
After the rookie blocked a shot late in the first period of Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils, he stayed in the game, taking a regular shift over the final 40 minutes.
So when Krueger learned another evaluation had revealed Borgen, 24, fractured his right forearm, he said he felt “absolute shock.”
Borgen underwent surgery Tuesday and will ... Read the full article
Seth Appert instructs the Sabres during training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Seth Appert remembers feeling scared walking up the stairs that day almost 26 years ago inside Ferris State’s hotel.
A night earlier, as Miami was annihilating his school in a CCHA playoff game in Oxford, Ohio, Appert had approached his coach, Bob Daniels, during the second intermission.
Appert, a junior backup goalie, suggested to Daniels that Jeff Blashill, who had been pulled early from the blowout, should replace him. If Blashill re-entered the game, Appert ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff (pictured) worked with Sabres coach Ralph Krueger at the 2014 Olympics. ©2021, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In Sunday afternoon’s pregame warm-up, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger showcased the same lines he had utilized the previous day against the New Jersey Devils, with one exception.
Casey Mittelstadt, who was replacing Tage Thompson, skated at left wing beside top center Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson.
Then when Sunday’s contest started, Krueger changed three of four Sabres’ lines. Only one trio from warm-ups – center Cody Eakin, left wing ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen (right) celebrates his goal Sunday afternoon with Jack Eichel. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As a defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen understands how a big body in front of the net can be a weapon during a power play.
“If some other teams, they have some good net-front presence, I know how hard it is to play when there’s guys standing in front of the net screening (the) goalie all the time,” the Sabres veteran said after scoring a power-play goal in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New ... Read the full article
Nathan Paetsch played 258 games for Rochester. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nathan Paetsch, who also spent parts of seven seasons with the Rochester Americans over three stints, has retired, the AHL club announced today.
The popular Paetsch, 37, played 870 games over 17 pro seasons, including 157 contests with the Sabres. He compiled 23 goals and 100 points in 258 career games with the Amerks.
Paetsch, who would sometimes moonlight as a forward, embraced a new role when he returned to ... Read the full article
Chris Taylor spent three seasons leading Rochester. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The New Jersey Devils have hired former Rochester Americans head coach Chris Taylor as an assistant on Lindy Ruff’s staff, the team announced today.
Taylor played for Ruff over parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Ruff, who was hired by New Jersey on July 9, also added Dave Rogalski as goalie coach to complete his staff.
Ruff named Mark Recchi and Alain Nasreddine his first assistants in September.
New Buffalo general manager Kevyn ... Read the full article
Mike Weber joined Windsor as an assistant coach shortly after retiring. ©2020, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images
When the Buffalo Sabres named ex-Americans coach Chris Taylor an interim NHL assistant a year ago, Adam Mair moved from his role as a development coach to Rochester’s bench.
Mair, 41, said he had always aspired to become a bench coach, and the seven weeks he spent assisting interim coach Gord Dineen “confirmed the passion that I sought out to achieve right when I stopped playing.”
“Being on the bench was the best way for ... Read the full article
Adam Mair filled in as an assistant coach in Rochester last season. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
The Rochester Americans have hired former Buffalo Sabres forward Adam Mair and defenseman Mike Weber as assistant coaches on Seth Appert’s staff, the AHL affiliate announced today.
“Adam and Mike are perfect fits to help establish a winning culture and develop our players in the American Hockey League,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said in a statement. “They share the same philosophies as Seth in their approach to the game and will be valuable resources ... Read the full article
Seth Appert joined Rochester from Team USA’s National Team Development Program. ©2020, Rena Laverty, USA Hockey NTDP
After 11 years at RPI, Seth Appert said he started to slip. The coach of a small college is responsible for the entire program, meaning he is essentially a CEO.
“There’s so much you do that isn’t coaching that can grind you down that you don’t even realize,” Appert said on a Zoom call Tuesday, shortly after the Rochester Americans announced him as their new head coach.
Appert recruited more kids than the premier NCAA ... Read the full article
Seth Appert has never coached in professional hockey. ©2020, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images
The Buffalo Sabres have hired Seth Appert, who coached the last three seasons in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, as the Rochester Americans’ new head coach, according to The Buffalo News.
Appert, 46, spent 11 years as R.P.I.’s coach before joining the NTDP in 2017.
Kevyn Adams fired former Amerks coach Chris Taylor and his staff hours after taking over as Sabres general manager June 16. Taylor, who was hired by former Sabres ... Read the full article
