Article written by Aidan Charde
Rochester Jr. Americans roll into postseason
With a second regular season in the books, the Rochester Jr. Americans continued their trend as one of the most successful squads in the NAHL, improving in almost every category over last year’s playoff team and earning the top seed in the division.
Whereas last year’s offense was headlined by three star forwards and little depth behind, this year’s team was lights out all the way down the roster while also still getting elite production from its top players. Forward Calle Karlsson stole the show in the second half of the season, scoring in 19 straight games between Jan. 17 and March 22. He also matched the team record for goals in a season with 31 and had the third-most assists (42) and points (73) the team has seen.
Adam Gionta was the most notable returning forward from last season and he exploded into the team’s second-best scorer. His 65 points was second on the team and slotted right behind Karlsson for fourth-most all-time. Gionta was also great in clutch scenarios, tying the record for most game-winning goals with six and earning the second-most shorthanded goals with four. He also became the first Jr. Amerks player to eclipse 100 career points.
Forwards Owen King, Jaden Dyke and Hugo Branthsson were all exceptional scorers this season as well, taking control of sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively, on the team’s all-time points leaderboard. All together, the team scored 224 goals, the third-highest total in the league and 11 more than last season’s squad with one fewer game played.
The big improvement this season was on defense, both with goalie play and some great defensemen. All six defensemen that played over 11 games found a spot on the top-10 defensive points scorers while Liam Chapman’s seven goals were the most by a defender in team history. Jordin Palmer also notched 38 points, the second-most by a defender. Palmer and Chapman each also scored multiple points in seven games apiece.
As a squad, the team only allowed 141 goals, 36 fewer than the previous season and fifth-fewest in the NAHL. And while goalie Danick Leroux was stellar all season, a stifling defensive unit led by captain Alex Zakrzewski allowed opponents to shoot an average of just 26.64 times per game. In fact, the team out-shot their opponents by at least 10 shots more times (32) than they got out-shot by any amount (14).
That is not to say Leroux does not deserve praise. In his first full season with the club, he set nearly every possible single season team record over 45 games, including saves (1,026), save % (0.927), goals allowed average (1.971) and wins (32). He was one of the best goalies in the league as well, tallying the second-most wins and was top-10 in goals allowed average, save % and shutouts.
As the season moves into the playoffs, the Jr. Amerks look forward to hosting a pair of games this weekend and hope to pack the Ice Center again in early May for round three. Games one and two against Johnstown will be this weekend before both squads head to Pennsylvania for
game three and, if necessary, game four. If the series is tied, a win-or-go-home game five will take place in Rochester on April 28.
Preview: Johnstown Tomahawks on April 18 and 19
WHEN: April 18 at 7 p.m. | April 19 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Rochester Ice Center | Fairport, NY
WATCH: NAHL.tv
FOLLOW: @JrAmerksNAHL
History
This is the first time these teams have met in the postseason, but the rivalry certainly runs deep in the regular season. The Tomahawks were the only team against which the Jr. Amerks held a losing record this year, with Rochester winning just two of their six contests. And while the final two came when Rochester had nothing left to play for — they had already locked up the top spot in the division — it will be a tough test for both teams.
There is nothing like playoff hockey
Calle Karlsson, Owen King and Demitri Diflorio headline Rochester’s first-time NAHL playoff attendees, but the vast majority of the roster has at least some experience. That could prove crucial as the intensity ramps up because so many of the Jr. Amerks’ key contributors have been in this situation before. Alex Zakrzewski was a starter on defense last season, but Adam Gionta, Jaden Dyke, Landon Brownlee, Jordin Palmer and Danick Leroux, among others, have all played their fair share of the postseason.
Two for Leroux
The golden number all season for Danick Leroux has been two goals. With a goals allowed average just below the number, he has been able to keep opponents in check all year long. As a team, the Jr. Amerks are 31–3–1 when they allow two or fewer goals in a game compared to 8–9–7 when a third goal makes it in the net. The good news is that Leroux has been on a tear to end the season, having held teams to two or fewer in each of his last nine appearances and 14 of his last 16. Since Feb. 1, he has more shutouts (3) than three-goal games (2).
Dominance at home
Over the course of the season, it has been clear that as good as Rochester is on the road, they are flat out dangerous at home. They coasted to a 22–4–2 record at the Ice Center this year with a +51 point differential and won 13 of the last 15 games they played in front of their own fans. With home ice clinched in the divisional rounds of the playoffs, that means the Jr. Amerks will get a massive advantage all postseason long.
RIT Pep Band returns
The RIT Pep Band will make a pair of appearances during the postseason after having a huge impact a few weeks ago in a 5–1 win over Elmira. The band provided an exciting atmosphere for fans and players alike with music and chants, powering Rochester to one of their most important wins of the season, clinching the top seed in the East Division. This is a whole new way to get rowdy!
Momentum can kill
The Johnstown Tomahawks enter this weekend with two wins under their belt already, taking down the New Jersey Titans in round one. In the series, the Tomahawks picked up serious momentum for a few minutes in each game, scoring three goals within six minutes in both contests. It is a feeling Rochester knows all too well; in October, they scored three goals in five minutes en route to a 4–3 win. The Tomahawks have shown themselves to be a feisty opponent that the Jr. Amerks will need to take seriously.
