January 23, 2013
Amerks Notebook: Brouhaha in Hamilton
by Mike Repertorio/Correspondent
After another big week for Rochester, T.J. Brennan has earned a promotion to the big club. (Getty Images)
On Jan. 11, Rochester played host to the Hamilton Bulldogs and came out ready to get back in the win column. Scoring four goals in the first two periods, Rochester took a 4-1 lead into the third. Hamilton would strike quickly in the final frame, to get within two.
Not even two minutes later, tensions boiled over following a skirmish in front of the Rochester net. A line brawl would ensue that saw roughing minors handed out to T.J. Brennan (Willingboro, N.J.), who also got a misconduct, Joe Finley and Kevin Porter. Alex Biega would also receive his first fighting major of the year when he dropped ‘em with Bulldogs' Brendan Gallagher.
And if the brawl wasn’t enough of a show for the home crowd, the Amerks gave their fans a 5-2 win to boot. Scoring on the night came from Brennan, Brayden McNabb, Brian Flynn, Mark Mancari and Nick Tarnasky. Assists came from Evan Rankin, Phil Varone, Luke Adam, Zemgus Girgensons (2), Flynn, and Porter. The win went to Williamsville, N.Y., David Leggio.
The Week in Review
The Amerks traveled east to Syracuse to play the Crunch in their first of two games that week. Rochester -- and their fans who made the trip -- were in for a pleasant showing, as the Amerks came out victorious with a 4-1 win. Brennan, who currently finds himself on Buffalo’s active roster, would be joined by Rick Schofield, Porter and Tarnasky with a goal apiece in the match. Nick Crawford, Kevin Sundher, Adam, Mancari, Flynn, Biega (2) and Brennan all had assists.
After a few days off, Rochester found themselves in Binghamton, the home of the Senators. Unfortunately, the hometown team took care of business in their barn, beating the Americans by a score of 5-1. Adam was the only Rochester scorer and the goal was assisted by Crawford and McNabb.
Back home on the 18th, Rochester and Syracuse met again, and the Crunch couldn’t escape the same fate. The Amerks would again put up four tallies (Mancari, Flynn, Rankin, Varone). Biega, Porter, Crawford, Varone, Schofield (2), Adam and Sundher all chipped in with assists in a 4-1 victory.
Hamilton would again meet the Amerks at Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, N.Y.). And again, the Amerks would dominate. With goals from Flynn, Porter, Rankin, Schofield, Frederick Roy and Sundher, Rochester would cruise to a 6-3 win. Assists on the night came from Biega, McNabb, Porter, Mark Pysyk, Varone, Mancari (2), Schofield, Shiestel and Adam Pardy.
Fight Tracker
Alex Biega (See above) - Got into his first fight of the season against Brendan Gallagher.
T.J. Brennan - After a cheapshot on Zemgus Girgensons from Syracuse skater Richard Panik, Brennan stepped in to let him know that doesn’t fly.
Joe Finley - Finley dropped the gloves at center ice with Syracuse’s Eric Neilsen.
Nick Tarnasky - Tarnasky and Hamilton’s Zack Stortini continued their season long dance with the third fight between the two.
Kevin Sundher - The rookie (blackbelt) got in his first two professional tilts. One against Syracuse’s Tyler Johnson and another vs. Hamilton’s Gabriel Dumont.
Brayden McNabb - In his second fight of the season, McNabb engaged Bulldog, Kyle Hagel.
News and Notes
- Girgensons will be out of the lineup for a few games after suffering a concussion on the dirty hit from Richard Panik.
- With the NHL season starting, some players found themselves waived. Most notably, Joe Finley, who was picked up by the New York Islanders. Sabres defenseman Adam Pardy was also waived, but he cleared and is currently with the Americans. Other players to have cleared waivers and resume their duties with the Amerks include David Leggio, Mark Mancari, Drew Schiestel, Kevin Porter and Nick Tarnasky.
- T.J. Brennan, Marcus Foligno (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Cody Hodgson have graduated from the Amerks and are now with the big club.
The Week Ahead
Friday, Jan. 25 | Home vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins
Mike Repertorio can be reached at feedback@nyhockeyjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeRepertorio.
