WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Lawrence Pilut high-fives Rochester captain Michael Mersch following Friday’s game. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
For the second time in three years, defenseman Lawrence Pilut has left the Buffalo Sabres organization.
This time, however, it might be for good.
Pilut, who could’ve become an unrestricted free agent July 1, has signed a two-year contract with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League, the team announced Tuesday.... Read the full article
Noah Ostlund recently spent some time in Rochester. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund has decided to play in Sweden for another year.
Ostlund, the 16th overall pick in 2022, will be spending the 2023-24 season with Swedish Hockey League’s Vaxjo Lakers, the team announced Monday.
The center played 11 games in the SHL in 2021-22 with his former team, Djurgardens, before it was relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan, a second-division league.... Read the full article
Hershey’s Riley Sutter shakes hands with Malcolm Subban following Friday’s 1-0 win over the Americans. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – The reality Seth Appert would never coach this group of Americans again hit him hard in the moments after Friday’s season-ending 1-0 loss to the Hershey Bears.
This group, Appert said, took time to find its way. In late February, the Amerks were mired in sixth place. In the beginning of the season, they lost their starting goalie and two established talents expected to be big contributors.
“Success and this high a level ... Read the full article
Rochester coach Seth Appert, shown here standing behind center Mason Jobst, knows his players will benefit from a long playoff run. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – Before the Americans staved off elimination by defeating the Hershey Bears on Wednesday, coach Seth Appert asked his assistants and some veterans how many times they had competed in a conference finals or championship.
Michael Peca, who played 13 seasons and captained the Buffalo Sabres to the Stanley Cup final in 1999, told him three. Mike Weber, who played 10 years, said he never advanced that far. Defenseman Matt Bartkowski, a ... Read the full article
Rochester’s Jiri Kulich celebrates his first-period goal Wednesday with Linus Weissbach (13), Filip Cederqvist (71) and Joseph Cecconi (3). ©2023, Tori Hartman, Hershey Bears
In losing three straight games and moving to the brink of elimination from the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Rochester Americans suddenly had trouble scoring goals.
After scoring 41 times during a rollicking seven-game winning streak, they mustered just four goals against the Hershey Bears’ stifling defense.
Rookies Jiri Kulich and Lukas Rousek and captain Michael Mersch, three of the Amerks’ top forwards, combined for zero goals during that rough stretch.... Read the full article
Rochester’s Linus Weissbach zooms to the net and beats Hershey goalie Hunter Shepard early in Monday’s game. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – Having stared down elimination three times earlier in the Calder Cup Playoffs, it might be premature to write off the Americans.
When they faced a win-or-go-home scenario in the AHL North Division semifinals, they responded by rattling off seven straight wins.
They’ve thrived under adversity. So perhaps they can rebound from Monday’s emotional 4-2 loss to the Hershey Bears in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Still, following their third-period implosion, it’s ... Read the full article
Ryan Johnson recently finished college. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – Ryan Johnson acknowledged that, yes, free agency was tempting. As the defense prospect agonized over whether to sign with the Buffalo Sabres and sought the advice of others, he heard where he might fit well elsewhere.
“It’s like, ‘Oh, wow, you get to choose where you want to go?’” Johnson said Monday after skating with the Americans for the first time.
While the open market intrigued Johnson, he knew rejecting the Sabres would ... Read the full article
Rochester’s Sean Malone battles for position Saturday between Hershey’s Logan Day and goalie Hunter Shepard. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – After the Americans opened the AHL Eastern Conference finals by scoring another five goals, it felt like their offense might overwhelm another opponent.
In winning two Calder Cup Playoffs series, the Amerks averaged six goals a game in their six victories. They seemed to be picking up where they left off.
But in Games 2 and 3 against the Hershey Bears, the Amerks have been forced to play what coach Seth Appert called ... Read the full article
Ryan Johnson played four years at Minnesota. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
As each day passed and defense prospect Ryan Johnson moved closer to free agency, it seemed less likely he would sign with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres spoke to Johnson, the 31st overall pick in 2019, in April after his collegiate season at Minnesota ended and said they wanted to sign him. Then they began waiting.
The ball, general manager Kevyn Adams said last month, was in Johnson’s court.... Read the full article
Buffalo prospect Olivier Nadeau joined Rochester earlier this month. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres prospect Olivier Nadeau needed this new experience. Earlier this month, the end of his junior career angered him.
Nadeau, 20, enjoyed a terrific year with the Gatineau Olympiques, a team built to win a championship this season. After recovering from shoulder surgery, he scored 22 times in 34 games, including a four-goal outing Feb. 9. Gatineau, which acquired him in the offseason, named him captain just 18 games into his tenure.... Read the full article