There are 8 home games in the month with several designated as a theme night.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans are scheduled for eight home games during a busy month of March, highlighted by several special theme nights.
Friday, March 3: Hall of Fame Night presented by Seneca Resorts and Casinos
Calder Cup winner and former team captain Scott Nichol and longtime team reporter Kevin Oklobzija will be inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame on Friday, March 3 when Rochester hosts the St. John’s IceCaps at the Blue Cross Arena at 7:05 p.m. on a Seneca Resorts & Casinos Legends Night.
Following a pregame, on-ice induction ceremony, Nichol and Oklobzija will sign autographs for fans during the first intermission in the upper atrium. Tickets start at just $12, with $10 tickets available for kids 12 and under, and are available at www.amerks.com or by calling 1-855-GO-AMERKS.
Saturday, March 4: Super Hero Night presented by Coca-Cola
Super Hero Night returns for the second straight year on Saturday, March 4 when the Amerks face-off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 7:05 p.m. matchup at the Blue Cross Arena. Fans will be treated to a special meet-and-greet with various characters from the Super Hero Alliance of WNY, who will be in attendance to pose for photos and greet fans throughout the game. Special prizes will be given away to the fans dressed in the best Super Hero-themed costumes.
The Amerks are again offering a special Super Hero Figure/Bobblehead and Ticket package. For just $25, fans can purchase a best-available ticket and one of four different POP! Vinyl super hero figures or Bobblehead while supplies last with the additional tickets available for as low as just $12. Available figures include Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and Iron Man (specific characters cannot be requested when ordering). The special packages can be purchased at www.amerks.com/superhero or by calling 1-855-GO-AMERKS. A portion of the proceeds from the Bobblehead and Ticket package will be donated to Gilda’s Club of Rochester.
Tickets for kids ages 12 and under can be purchased for just $10 apiece, with tickets for adults available for $12.
The game will also feature the annual chicken wing-eating contest sponsored by The Distillery, which will take place in the tunnel located between sections 114 and 116 during the first intermission. New for this season, fans were able to vote on their favorite wing sauce on the Amerks social media channels in exchange for five complimentary chicken wings. Fans who vote will receive an e-mail with a coupon for the five free wings that they can redeem at any of The Distillery’s four locations. The offer is limited to one per person and valid through Saturday, March 4. The contestant that eats the most chicken wings soaked in the sauce voted most popular by the fans on social media will win a prize pack courtesy of The Distillery and the Amerks.
Following Saturday’s game, Amerks players will stop by The Distillery, located at 1142 Mt. Hope Ave., for the official postgame party as fans are invited to join in. The Distillery will offer a variety of great food and drink specials while Amerks prizes will be given away throughout the party.
Friday, March 10: Irish Night presented by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee & DDS
Start your Parade Weekend off right with the Amerks’ annual Irish Night presented by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and DDS in honor of St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 10 when the team hosts the St. John’s IceCaps. The Amerks will again wear special Irish-themed jerseys for the game that will be auctioned off in the main concourse to benefit the St. Patrick’s Day Committee. Winners will receive the “jerseys off the backs” of the players following the game.
Irish Night T-Shirt packages will also be available. For just $25, fans can purchase a specialty St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt, along with one best-available ticket. Additional tickets begin as low as just $12. The packages can be purchased online at www.amerks.com/irish, in person at the Amerks office, or by phone at 1-855-GO-AMERKS (while supplies last).
The Irish Night festivities begin with an Amerks Happy Hour from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Genesee Brew House Upper Atrium Bar, where fans ages 21 and over can enjoy Genesee and Genesee Light drafts for just $2. There will also be live music from the band “1916” during Happy Hour and the first intermission. Formed as an acoustic pub act in 2006, the band 1916 has “transformed into the hardest hitting Irish Rock band this side of Dublin!” The game will also feature Irish music, Irish Dancers and Irish-themed Mystery Pucks, autographed by various Amerks players, available for $10 in the upper concourse.
Friday, March 24: Seneca Legends Night presented by Seneca Resorts and Casinos
The Amerks welcome back former goaltender Martin Biron, who will headline the second and final Seneca Legends Night on Friday, March 24 when Rochester hosts the first-ever visit from the Springfield Thunderbirds at the Blue Cross Arena. Biron will sign autographs and pose for photos prior to the game from 6-7 pm in the upper atrium.
Biron backstopped the Amerks for parts of four seasons from 1997 to 2001, posting a career record of 59-32-9 with a 2.36 goals-against and a .921 save percentage. Biron’s best season an Amerk came during the 1998-99 campaign when he appeared in 52 of Rochester’s 80 games, finishing with a 36-13-3 overall record while setting the franchise mark for the lowest goals-against average (2.07) and highest save percentage (.930), the latter of which also tied an AHL record. The former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres also became just the second netminder in team history to post six shutouts in a single season that year, matching the then franchise record originally set by Amerks Hall of Famer Bobby Perreault in 1967-68. Biron played his final season in Rochester in 2000-01 while also splitting time with the Buffalo Sabres, closing out his Amerks career with 2,761 saves and 13 shutouts in 103 games in the red, white and blue.
Biron currently serves as the Director of Goaltending for the Academy of Hockey at HarborCenter and contributes regularly as a guest analyst during Sabres TV broadcasts on MSG.
Sunday, March 26: Pucks and Paws Night to benefit Lollypop Farm
Bring your dog to the game when the Amerks host their fifth Annual Pucks and Paws Night to benefit Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester. The Amerks will again face-off with the Springfield Thunderbirds at The Blue Cross Arena at 3:05 p.m.
Tickets for dog owners can be purchased for $20 along with a $5 cash donation to Lollypop Farm at the door. A portion of the proceeds from the Pucks & Paws Game will be donated to Lollypop Farm, which serves as the Humane Society of Greater Rochester and is committed to building lifelong bonds between people and animals through education, community outreach programs and the prevention of cruelty.
All fans with dogs in attendance at the Pucks & Paws Game will be seated in one of two dedicated sections for dogs known as “The Slobber Box” (211 – 213), as dogs will not be permitted in other sections. Fans will be limited to bringing just one dog per person to the game. Pucks & Paws tickets are available by visiting www.amerks.com/paws, where fans can also upload a photo of their dog to be displayed on the video board during the game, which will feature plenty of canine-friendly themed events, including a “Pooch Parade” on the ice during intermission for a limited number of dogs. Informational tables will be set up on the concourse during the game for Lollypop Farm and other Rochester area dog-related agencies.
More Home Dates:
The Amerks will also be home on Wednesday, March 8 vs. the Toronto Marlies; Wednesday, March 15 vs. the Binghamton Senators; and Friday, March 31 vs. the Utica Comets. The Wednesday night games feature a special BOGO offer, while Friday night games offer a wide variety of value-added Family Packs. As always, tickets start at just $12. For more information or to purchase tickets to an upcoming game, visit www.amerks.com or call 1-855-GO-AMERKS.
The Buffalo Sabres announced on Wednesday taht the team has assigned goaltender Linus Ullmark to the Rochester Americans.
STATEMENT FROM PEGULA SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
In response to numerous inquiries, Pegula Sports and Entertainment has issued the following statement:
Pegula Sports and Entertainment has been engaged in discussions with the hopes of reaching a long-term agreement for the Rochester Americans to compete in an improved facility that meets necessary arena standards. PSE is exploring all options for the Amerks organization with its primary preference to have the franchise remain a driver in the Rochester community as an anchor in the emerging downtown corridor.