By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
For the first time in 22 years, two members of the Rochester Americans were named to the American Hockey League’s All-Rookie Team.
Speedy, high-scoring wingers JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn were among the three forwards named to the six-player team. It’s the first time two Amerks forwards have been selected to the same All-Rookie Team, which the AHL launched in 1996-97.
With 25 goals, 39 assists and 64 points in 69 games, Peterka leads all AHL rookies in scoring and ranks 11th overall. The 20-year-old native of Munich is the Amerks top scorer.
Peterka didn’t turn 20 until Jan. 14. His 64 points are the most by a player in his Under-20 season since Guy Chouinard piled up 80 points for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1975-76 while playing the entire season at age 19. Chouinard went on to post one 50-goal and two 30-goals NHL seasons for the Atlanta/Calgary Flames.
Quinn is fourth in AHL rookie scoring with 25-34-59 in only 44 games. His points-per-game average of 1.34 is best among first-year pros and third-best overall in the league.
The Amerks haven’t been represented on the All-Rookie Team since 2004-05, when Thomas Vanek’s 42-goal, 26-assist season earned him a spot.
The only time two Amerks were named was 1999-2000: goalie Mika Noronen and defenseman Dmitri Kalinin.
A little franchise history can be made on Friday. If Quinn earns a point, it will be the first time the Amerks have ever had two rookies reach the 60-point plateau in the same season.
Quinn, a 20-year-old native of Ottawa, has been the model of consistency, posting points in 30 of his 44 games and never going more than two games without a point. No Amerk has produced more multiple point games (he has 18).
Peterka, meanwhile, started slowly as he adapted to the North American game, scoring just four goals in the first three months. But has piled up points since the new year began, including 9-4-13 in his past 14 games.
The other four members of the All-Rookie team all play in the AHL’s Pacific Division: goalie Dustin Wolf and forward Jakob Pelletier of the Stockton Heat and defensemen Jack Rathbone (Abbottsford Canucks) and Jordan Spence (Ontario Reign).
Perhaps one day this summer, I may feel good about this, but right now, as a fan of a franchise that is in such need of relevance… of some playoff success, I’m just not all that impressed. When we needed those two the most, they weren’t there (they had lots of company) So the feat, for the moment, while the wound in open, is empty for me.
The TEAM simply failed. All that talent, all those opportunities, all those aggravating losses this month…no personal glory can overcome that…at least not right now.
Sabres brass will be lighting cigars and thumping each other on the back. But should they though? What matters more? The fact that this organization has produced nada for two decades and more when it comes to playoff success? Or the glow of a couple of kids who did well, for awhile, but faded under the pressure of having to win games?
Yeah, I’m grumpy. I’m so tired of losing. Just so incredibly tired of it all. Barring a total miracle now, this team will go down as probably one of the top 5 disappointing teams in Amerk history. My opinion. Rarely have so many accomplished so little….as a team
Many games of multiple points, many games of no points in must have games, that’s what happens with rookies. the team had a lot of talent,other than rookies, that didn’t come through. Inconsistent goal tending and lack of grit, too many games played on the outside and away from the front of the net. There were too many games that this team was easy to play against, same old Sabres farm team. Let’s see if they’re ready to play out of the gate in a must win final game.