Rochester opens with a home-and-home series against the Syracuse Crunch.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans usher in the 2017-18 American Hockey League season this weekend with a home-and-home series against the defending Eastern Conference champion Syracuse Crunch. The Amerks open their historic 62nd season in the AHL on Friday, Oct. 6 when they host the Crunch in their Home Opener at 7:05 p.m. at the Blue Cross Arena. The same two teams will meet again on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a rematch at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Amerks coaching staff along with select players will join members of the Amerks front office staff beginning at 12:30 p.m. to deliver season tickets to fans and corporate partners throughout the greater Rochester Area.
The following night, The Distillery, a longtime sponsor of the Amerks, will host its annual Meet the Players Party at the restaurant’s Mt. Hope location on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at from 5-7 pm as the Amerks get set to open the 2017-18 season.
Amerks Head Coach Chris Taylor and the players will be on hand at the event to meet fans and sign autographs. The Distillery will offer food and drink specials throughout the event, such as half price pizzas and select appetizers. The event will also feature a special three-hour Happy Hour from 3-6 pm with half-priced bottles of wine, pints and specialty and blender drinks while fans can spin the prize wheel for the chance to win great prizes from the Amerks and Distillery.
Mike Danger and Gene Battaglia, hosts of The Sports Bar radio show on 95.7 FM/950 AM ESPN Rochester, will broadcast live from the event from 3-6 pm.
The opening night festivities begin with a special two-hour Party on the Patio presented by Genesee Brew House from 5-7 pm on the riverside of The Blue Cross Arena. The event will also feature live music from The Strictly Hip as well as $2 drafts of Genesee and Genesee Light for fans 21 and older. Pat Duffy, host of the morning radio talk show “The Break Room” on 96.5 WCMF, will be on hand to emcee the event. The doors to the general public will open at 6 pm.
As part of the Party on the Patio, the Amerks also are hosting a “Taste of the Arena” event presented by JFS Curtze, giving fans an opportunity to sample some of the new menu options from the various arena concessions. Tasting tickets will be available for purchase at the event.
The Amerks are again offering a special-edition T-shirt and ticket package for the 2017-18 Home Opener. For just $25, fans can purchase one Lower Level ticket to the game, one Home Opener T-shirt and two tickets for the Taste of the Arena event. T-shirt and ticket packages are available www.amerks.com/party or by calling 1-855-GO-AMERKS
The game will also feature the first “Mystery Puck” of the season, where a limited number of “Ready Your Shield” Amerks pucks, signed by various players, will be available for just $10. Fans in attendance will receive a 2017-18 Amerks magnet schedule, courtesy of Perry’s Ice Cream.
Prior to the game, there will be special pre-game introductions of this year’s team on the ice.