Season Preview: Rochester Jr. Americans Return to Rowdy Town As They Look To Build On Success From Inaugural Campaign

Article by Aidan Charde

Five months of anticipation draw to a close this weekend as the Rochester Jr. Americans return to the ice to drop the puck on the 2024-25 season.

Last year, the expansion team surpassed all expectations as they cruised to a 34–18–8 record and a third-place finish in the East Division. This was in large part thanks to a massive win streak that saw them earn 36 of 40 possible points across a three-month span. But with several key players moving on, the Jr. Amerks now look to a new core to lead Rochester back to the postseason.

Though they return 14 players from last year’s roster, the Jr. Amerks will play without star forwards Matteo Disipio, Massimo Gentile and Luca Leighton and defenseman Tyler Procious — the four leading scorers from last season’s team. Key returners include defenseman Alex Zakrzewski and forward Adam Gionta, along with goalies Florian Wade and Danick Leroux.

The team welcomes in several exciting new faces as well. Rochester signed three Swedish skaters in the offseason, headlined by forward Calle Karlsson, who put up 54 points in 48 games for his junior team in Sweden last year. They also added a few local players from the Rochester area, including forward Owen King from Webster, a three-year member of the BK Selects. 

Whatever the season holds, the Jr. Amerks are excited to bring fans back to the rowdiest arena in the NAHL and take the league by storm!

Preview: Sept. 13 and 14 vs. New Jersey Titans

WHEN: Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. | Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Rochester Ice Center | Fairport, NY

WATCH: NAHLTV

FOLLOW: @JrAmerksNAHL

History

Due to a scheduling anomaly, the New Jersey Titans and Rochester Jr. Americans only met four times last season, all early in the year. The Titans looked like the stronger team, winning three of the four contests, but the teams did not meet again after the Jr. Amerks’ stunning turnaround in early December. What may have happened if last season’s teams met, we will never know, but these squads are poised for an exciting matchup to start the season.

Zakrzewski earns the patch

After earning a mid-season Assistant Captain nod last year, returning defenseman Alex Zakrzewski will wear the “C” on his jersey for Rochester this season. Zakrzewski was a stellar defender last year, playing huge roles on both sides of the ice. His 36 points were fifth on the team and he had multiple points in five games, both second most among defensemen on the team.

Gionta looks to carry over strong end

Forward Adam Gionta spent most of last season behind Massimo Gentile, Matteo Disipio and Luca Leighton on the depth chart, but the role of leading scorer is his to lose this year after all three graduated. He leads returners in points (44), goals (19), multi-point games (13) and game-winning goals (3), and ended the season with 12 points in the team’s final seven games. In fact, if he can earn a point in the season opener, he would extend his points streak to eight games, which would be the third-longest streak the team has seen.

Rochester returns formidable goalie duo

Injuries plagued the Jr. Amerks at the goalie position for much of last year, with both opening day goalies missing long stretches of time. But the team found a groove toward the end of the season, bolstered by the emergence of Danick Leroux, and hope those performances can carry over to this season. Florian Wade was the team’s primary starter, sporting a solid .913 save % and allowing 2.866 goals per game across 30 games. Leroux joined the team late but made quite the impression, winning 10 of his 12 starts, allowing just 1.88 goals per game, and tallying a ridiculous five shutouts, including one in the postseason.