October 12, 2012
Amerks send goalie Lieuwen, two others to ECHL
by Mike Repertorio/Correspondent
In preparation for the start of the regular season, the Rochester Americans announced that goaltender Shane Madolora and forward Jamie Wise has been released. Wise was one of the players in attendance at the Sabres’ Development Camp in July. He recorded a hat trick in the Blue and Gold scrimmage game.
The Americans also sent three players to the ECHL.
Corey Fienhage, a physical defenseman who was drafted in 2008, was assigned to the Gwinnett Gladiators. Fienhage will be familiar with Gwinnett as he spent parts of last season with the Gladiators, playing in 32 games and posting 13 points (five goals and eight assists). He also spent time up with the Amerks, seeing action in 20 games where he contributed four assists.
Jacob Lagace, a forward who has considerable experience in the AHL, has also been assigned to the ECHL. Over the past two years, the former fifth-round draft pick from 2008 has played 116 AHL games, collecting 43 points (20 goals and 23 assists). Lagace will play for the Bakersfield Condors.
Nathan Lieuwen was the final player assigned to the ECHL. The goaltender -- who put up very strong numbers during his career in the WHL -- was believed to be in competition with Connor Knapp for the starting position in Rochester. But with David Leggio returning to the organization, it appears that Lieuwen will be the odd man out for the time being. The young ‘tender will take his 85-59-8-7 record and career 2.77 goals-against average to the Greenville Road Warriors for some seasoning.
Presuming the lockout runs its course and we again have NHL hockey, it’s not hard to imagine seeing these players making the trip back to Rochester before the end of the season.
Mike Repertorio can be reached at feedback@nyhockeyjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeRepertorio.
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