Article Written By Aidan Charde
Recap: NAHL Showcase from Sept. 24–27
The Rochester Jr. Americans excelled last week at the NAHL Showcase, returning home with four points after three exciting games.
In the first game, the Jr. Amerks took down the El Paso Rhinos 3–2 for their first Showcase win since 2023. Although the Rhinos took an early lead, defenseman Murray Kanerva tied the game on the team’s first powerplay goal of the year. Forward Adam Gionta, making his season debut, gave the team the lead four minutes later.
The Rhinos tied the game at two before the second frame ended, but Kanerva hit the game-winner in the third period for his second goal of the game. With the goal, he also became the first defenseman in team history to score two goals in the same game.
Game two was a back-and-forth affair that proved to be one of the most exhilarating games of the young season. The Amarillo Wranglers took the lead late in the first period, but it would only last a few short minutes before forward Ryan Shaw evened the score. In the second period, the Jr. Amerks scored twice in six minutes, but the Wranglers also added one of their own in between to make it 3–2 Rochester entering the final period.
Rochester’s defense stifled Amarillo all night, holding them to 17 shots in the game — the fewest allowed this season — and just five in the third period, but the Wranglers were able to capitalize on a powerplay to tie the game in the third. Neither team could make anything happen for the final 10 minutes so, for the first time this season, the Jr. Amerks went to overtime.
Once again, neither offense could get much going, so the five minute period came and went with no scoring and shootouts began. In the past, Rochester struggled with shootouts: entering this season, they were 3–11. This season may be a different story, though, as Gionta and forward Owen King each buried their shot to ultimately earn a 4–3 shootout victory.
Rather than face a third NAHL team, the Jr. Amerks faced off against the United States National Team Development Program U-17 squad, a game that was sure to be exciting from the jump. Despite the high level of competition, the Jr. Amerks outshot the USNTDP 15–4 in the first frame and found the back of the net once on a strike from forward Michael Sandruck.
However, the USNTDP would strike back twice in the second period and although the Jr. Amerks held them out of the net for the third, they could not tie the game up and fell 2–1.
The team gets the week off to recover from the three game slate before returning home to face the Northeast Generals this weekend.
Preview: Northeast Generals on Oct. 3 and 4
WHERE: Rochester Ice Center | Fairport, NY
WHEN: Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. | Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
WATCH: NAHL.tv
FOLLOW: @JrAmerksNAHL
History
The Jr. Amerks have seen plenty of success against the Generals, but last year was a level of dominance the team has not seen against anyone else. Including a playoff series in the 2023-24 season, Rochester held a 6–2–0 record with a +8 goal differential after year one. Last year, however, the East Division champions went a perfect 6–0–0 with a ridiculous +27 goal differential. That also included the two highest scoring team games in history, which the Jr. Amerks won 8–2 and 10–2.
Sandruck returns in style
Forward Michael Sandruck made a quiet return to the squad ahead of the Showcase, but immediately made an impact with an assist against El Paso and goals against Amarillo and the USNTDP. The Cornell commit played 32 games for Rochester in the 2023-24 season and was the team’s 11th leading scorer with 16 points as well as being the second Jr. Amerk to score a hat trick. Sandruck spent last season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, where he had 10 points and 146 PIM in 43 games.
Get ready for some goals
The Jr. Amerks and Generals always make for an entertaining contest — for Rochester’s fans, at least. In 14 games, Rochester has scored four or more goals eight times, including all six last year. In fact, the last time the Jr. Amerks failed to put up three goals against Northeast was Nov. 17, 2023, a game which the Generals won 5–1.
RIT Returns
Be prepared for a rowdy atmosphere this weekend as the RIT Pep Band returns for the first time this season for Friday’s game against Northeast. The band played several games down the stretch last year — including in the playoffs — and made the normally loud rink even harder for opposing teams.
Northeast enters hot
After starting the season 0–3–1, the Generals surprised the league by being one of three teams to exit the Showcase winners of all three games. While none of the wins were against the best competition the league has to offer, it is still a good boost for a team that ended last year losing 10 of their last 11 games. Whether or not they can keep the momentum alive in one of the most difficult arenas in the NAHL is yet to be seen.
