By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With a stable of talented draft picks on the Rochester Americans roster, there’s not always a game-night roster slot or playing time available for the second-tier players.
The American Hockey League is, after all, the place where prospects develop. Since forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz is not a draft pick, he’d need to wait his turn.
That’s why, for all of October, Fiddler-Schultz did nothing but practice. But Amerks coach Michael Leone was honest with the second-year winger, a free-agent signee in the summer of 2023 out of the Western Hockey League.
Work hard, believe in the process and there would be a chance at some point. Leone gave him his word.
“You work hard, be a good person, good things happen,” Leone said.
Fiddler-Schultz did just that – for six weeks. He said he relied on the team’s support staff – the mental coach and the conditioning staff – as well as his faith to remain focused without losing confidence.
He finally got a chance to play on Nov. 20, then again two nights later. After sitting out games on Nov. 23 and 27, he was back in the lineup last week for the home-and-home weekend set against Syracuse.
The Amerks won both, and Leone liked what Fiddler-Schultz did both with and without the puck, so he was back in the lineup on Wednesday and delivered big-time.
Fiddler-Schultz set up the game’s first goal by linemate Konsta Helenius and scored the second as the Amerks ran their winning streak to three with a 3-2 home victory over the Utica Comets.
“It’s big for the confidence, for sure,” Fiddler-Schultz said.
The Amerks used a lineup that featured 11 forwards (not the standard 12) and seven defensemen on Wednesday, which shows how much Leone liked what Fiddler-Schultz had been doing. And by the midway point of Wednesday’s game, Fiddler-Schultz was being double-shifted.
“He earned it,” Leone said. “He practices like his life depends on it. He does everything right all the time. When he’s at the end of a shift and has to chip it in, he does. I’m big on puck pressure, staying on the puck, being hard to play against.”
That’s why, when Utica went to the power play trailing 3-1 with 7:30 remaining, Fiddler-Schultz was one of the penalty-killing forwards. And why, in the final minute, he was helping protect that same 3-1 lead. He was knocked down in the high slot by Utica’s Brian Halonen but got back up just in time to reach high above his head and swat an airborne puck out to center.
When ranking Buffalo Sabres prospects on the Amerks roster, Fiddler-Schultz isn’t going to be on the list. But he’s proving he can be a valuable part of the team. And giving him an abundance of ice time was a just reward.
“I think it sets a standard and a precedent on how we’re trying to play,” Leone said.
Fiddler-Schultz made his mark early, sprinting away on a two-on-one fastbreak to set up the sixth goal of the season by Helenius at 16:50 of the first period.
“Fids had a real good game,” Helenius said.
He then scored his first goal of the season – and second AHL goal in 11 career games at the level – at 11:31 of the second period by converting at Zach Metsa pass off a quick-developing fast break.
That quick-strike rush was made possible by his play on the wall in front of the Utica bench. He won a puck battle, and in an instant the Amerks sprinted the other way, with Graham Slaggert entering the zone, passing to Metsa in the slot who, in turn, found Fiddler-Schultz open in the right circle.
“At this level, the little plays make such a big difference,” Fiddler-Schultz said of that play along the boards. “You have to treat every play like it’s Game 7.”
The lead became 3-0 when Brett Murray fired home a Helenius pass 6:40 later.
The Comets tried to rally, scoring their first goal against Devon Levi 8:44 into the third period. But the Amerks held them off until giving up a redirection goal by Mike Hardman with 10.2 seconds left.
“I liked our game in the first and second periods,” Leone said. “I didn’t like our game in the third.”
Any win is a good win, mostly. Its 2 points. Amerks stopped the Comet juggernaut they helped create just a short time ago. The 3 goal lead in the 3rd was significant because this team just cannot hold 2 goal leads. Happily the Comets 2nd goal came so late as to be more an annoyance, than a legit chance to tie the game.
Still would have liked a bit more grit in the 3rd. But we’ll take the win and a modest 3 game win streak as they head out on a 5 game roadie which will basically be played over 2 weekends. This will definitely test Levi’s stamina as I figure he will play most the games, including one back to back.
Amerks won a couple of home games in this streak. Now thats rare!
Give this young man the chance and he’ll prove that he belongs at the AHL level and will be an incredible asset in the Sabres organization! He has proved this throughout his minor & junior hockey career and will repeat given the chance to compete on a daily basis.