By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Former Rochester Americans winger Michael Duco will be back at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial wearing a different uniform.
All stripes.
Duco will be one of the two referees in Saturday’s Amerks game against the Charlotte Checkers. He made his professional officiating debut in Friday night’s AHL game in Cleveland between the Monsters and Rockford IceHogs.
Duco, 31, attended the NHL’s officiating Exposure Combine in Buffalo in mid-August and was hired to work the AHL after showing solid potential.
The league is attempting to bring more former players into the officiating system for three primary reasons: 1) they have a feel for the game; 2) they are athletes; and 3) the communicate well with players.
And if there’s anybody who knows a little about penalties, it’s Duco. In his three seasons with the Amerks (2008-09 through 2010-11), he amassed 484 minutes in penalties. He also was a 20-goal scorer in 2010-11.
Both referees in Friday’s Amerks game, Corey Syvret and Mitch Dunning, came through the Exposure Combine. Syvret was hired in the summer of 2017 and worked the Calder Cup finals as a rookie referee. Those assignments are based on merit.
This is the first year where all AHL games will be scheduled to have two referees.
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