Flik to stick

Coach Jeff Daniels tells the Albany Times Union that forward Jacob Micflikier is here to stay. Micflikier will have one last hoorah in his old league this week at the ECHL All-Star contest. 

Albany spark plug making his case

Jacob Micflikier is the centerpiece of a well written article by Jesse Eisenberg at AHL On the Beat. 

News & Notes

• The River Rats have a busy schedule ahead of them, Justin Peters and Bryan Rodney in particular. After the Rats finish playing three games in three nights this weekend, Peters and Rodney will head off to the AHL All-Star Classic in Portland, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Albany's two All-Star representatives talk with Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union.  

• Jacob Micflikier may be only 5-foot-8, but the solid winger packs a punch from both ends of the ice. Micflikier is featured today in the Troy Record. 

• Chris Fitz Gerlad at the Troy Record grades the River Rats' performance midway through the season.
  

• Coach Jeff Daniels talks with Bill Cain at the Schenectady Daily Gazette about coping with a thinning roster. 
  

Micflikier swapped with Pistilli

The River Rats today recalled forward Jacob Micflikier from the Florida Everblades of the ECHL and reassigned forward Matthew Pistilli. 

Micflikier has three goals in five games with Albany this season and is the ECHL's top scorer with 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 16 games. He was recently named ECHL player of the month for November. 

Matthew Pistilli has three goals, two assists and a +2 rating in 21 games with the Rats this season. The undrafted rookie forward, signed during the offseason by the Carolina Hurricanes, has been heavily involved in humanitarian efforts around the Albany area.

Micflikier, Morrison reassigned

The River Rats today reassigned forward Jacob Micflikier and goaltender Mike Morrison to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. 

Micflikier was recalled last week for the second time of the season after Drayson Bowman suffered a knee injury on November 25th. 

Micflikier played two games with Albany over the weekend and scored a goal each night. In five contests with the River Rats this season, Micflikier has three goals and a +4 rating.

Micflikier's reassignment today to Florida suggests either Bowman is recovering well or Albany is expecting captain Pat Dwyer to soon return from the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Veteran goalie Mike Morrison was recalled to Albany on November 18 after Rats' starter Justin Peters was summoned by the Canes. 

Morrison spent five games with Albany but did not get an opportunity to play. 

Peters was returned by Carolina on Friday, paving the way for Morrison's return to the ECHL.

Jacob Micflikier recalled

The River Rats today recalled forward Jacob Micflikier from the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Micflikier is playing for the Rats tonight in Norfolk. He put Albany on the board in the first period with his second AHL goal of the season. 

Micflikier takes out frustrations on ECHL

Rat-in-reserve Jacob Micflikier has 24 points in 13 games with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. "I know when I come down to the East Coast, my job is to dominate and create as many points as possible," Micflikier tells Lindsay Kramer at NHL.com. "I'm here to prove at some point, that I don't belong here." 

Read the full story here.

News & Notes

• The River Rats' busy schedule continues with three games in four days. Albany will skate at home tonight against Syracuse, in Manchester on Friday and at Binghamton on Saturday. The Rats dropped the first contest against each team, so they should be thirsty for revenge. The standings are also a concern. The Rats fell to fourth place last night after Norfolk picked up two points against Portland. Read the Rats' weekly recap for more.

• The Rats limped home from Springfield on Sunday, but the tough loss to the Falcons only provided inspiration for the coming week. The team held a spirited practice yesterday, full of heavy skating, on-ice chatter and even a few hits. Albany worked hard on improving special teams and the quality of their scoring chances. Hopefully it will pay off. Look for the Rats to come out aggressive tonight. The Schenectady Daily Gazette has more from practice.

• It is no secret. Pat Dwyer was named captain because he leads by example. Now in his fourth year with the River Rats, Dwyer is arguably Albany's most valuable player. He serves as a role model for the rest of the team, giving everything he has on every shift. Dwyer is featured today in the Albany Times Union.

• Rookie forward Drayson Bowman, who sat out the last three games with a chest injury, will not play tonight or this weekend. He will be sorely missed. Bad info!!! 

• The injury woes of the Carolina Hurricanes continue. Goaltender Michael Leighton left last night's game against Montreal with a lower-body complication, likely a groin pull. It was Leighton's second start since Cam Ward was curbed with a laceration on his leg. Eric Staal, Scott Walker and Joni Pitkanen also remain sidelined. Carolina's next game is on Thursday. If Leighton is unable to dress, Justin Peters could be on the way up. 

• Brandon Sutter and Bryan Rodney continue to shine in Raleigh. Sutter has five goals and three assists in 11 games. Rodney has two assists in 4 games. Both are skating extended minutes and getting time on the power play. Rodney was even included in the shootout line-up last night in Montreal. Read more about their stellar performances at the Raleigh News & Observer, Canes Country and Tracking the Storm.

• Players on standby in the ECHL are stacking up impressive numbers. Jacob MicFlikier has an unbelievable 22 points (7 G, 15 A) in 10 games. Rob Hennigar has 21 points (7 G, 14 A) in 14 games. Goaltender Mike Morrison has a solid GAA of 2.79 and a SV% of .903 after 10 games. The way things are going, their services may soon be required in Albany. 
  

News & Notes

• Some say a two-goal lead is the hardest to keep. Look no further than last night's game against Syracuse for an example of why. Hockey is a sport based largely on momentum and perseverance. If a team is comfortable, their opponent is usually desperate. The best players and teams are those that play hard every shift of every game, no matter the situation or score. The River Rats have plenty of talent, but they are still struggling with consistency. The players, coaches and captains need to keep the bench energized at all times. Look for that to be the deciding factor as Albany heads into a busy weekend. 

• The River Rats have a packed schedule ahead of them. Albany will play three games in three nights: Friday at home against Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Saturday at home against Norfolk, and Sunday in Springfield. The East Division remains extremely tight so these games are vital. Albany, Norfolk and Wilkes Barre/Scranton are all tied with 16 points each. Remember, the crossover rule applies to the Eastern Conference this year. If the season ended today, only three teams in the East Division would qualify for the playoffs. 

• Rat-in-reserve Jacob MicFlikier continues to tear through the ECHL. The Florida Everblades' top-scorer was named Sher-wood Player of the Week for November 2-8. MicFlikier scored nine points in his first two games back from assignment in Albany. He landed a hat-trick and three assists on November 5. He has accumulated 17 points (7 G, 10 A) in just eight contests with the Blades. The Naples Daily News has more on everyone's favorite ECHL'er.

• Forward Milan Gajic, who was assigned to the ECHL after attending training camp with the River Rats, suffered a lower-body injury on November 4. He was ranked second in scoring on the Everblades with eight points in nine games. He was placed on 21-day injured reserve and is walking with the assistance of crutches. The Naples Daily News keeps us up-to-date.

• The Carolina Hurricanes have lost 13 games in a row. Veteran goaltender Manny Legace, who was signed after Cam Ward was injured, allowed four goals on 30 shots last night in a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Forwards Stephane Yelle and Scott Walker both left the game with injuries. Tim Conboy was the only healthy scratch on the Canes' roster. Bryan Rodney, who was called up to replace an ill Joni Pitkanen, registered 21:29 of ice-time, the third-highest on the team. Rodney had an even plus/minus rating, skated on the power-play unit, and was not on the ice during any of the goals against. He was given a tripping penalty in the first period, but Carolina killed it off. 

News & Notes

• Forward Jacob MicFlikier has been reassigned to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. MicFlikier was called up to Albany on October 24th after Steven Goertzen suffered a concussion. Goertzen is now healthy. In three games with the River Rats, MicFlikier had a goal and a +2 rating. Expect him back at some point this season.

• The Carolina Hurricanes have placed defenseman Jay Harrison on waivers. Harrison will likely clear waivers and be reassigned to Albany. He will hopefully provide some much-needed relief at the Rats' blue line. Harrison was filling in for Canes' D-man Tim Gleason, who is expected to return to action tomorrow night. 

• The Carolina Hurricanes have won just two of 13 games. General Manager Jim Rutherford is preparing to make some major changes. Trades and call-ups could be on the horizon, especially if the Hurricanes keep losing. 

• Carolina's top forward Eric Staal is expected to miss several games with an upper-body injury sustained over the weekend. He is listed as week-to-week. The Hurricanes have two extra players to insert in the line-up: Stephane Yelle and Tim Conboy. If the Canes are not satisfied with those options, well, you know the drill. 

• The River Rats' weekly recap is available here. 

• Watch the next installment of Murphy's Mailbag here.
  

Weekend news & notes

Friday post-game coverage:

• Salak, Rochester defeat Rats 2-1, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Missed chances hurt Rats, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats notes 'n quotes: Rodney's stick, PK streak broken, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats comeback bid falls short, Troy Record
• River Rats offense stymied by Amerks' Salak, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com

Saturday post-game coverage:

• Video highlights, AHLLive.com
• Rats edge Phantoms 3-2, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Rats win crowd pleaser, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats notes 'n quotes: Goertzen sidelined, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats can be both pretty and ugly, Albany Times Union
• Micflikier doesn't waste any time after joining River Rats, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com

Sunday post-game coverage:

• Rats' penalty-killing stumbles in loss at Bridgeport, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats fall in Bridgeport 4-1, AlbanyRiverRats.com
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com

More news:

• River Rats weekly, AlbanyRiverRats.com
• Hurricanes recall Sutter, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Rats recall Micflickier, AlbanyRiverRats.com
• Hurricanes organizational depth analysis, Fall 2009, Hockey's Future
  
• Murphy's Mailbag Episode Two, AlbanyRiverRats.com, YouTube
• Canes place Yelle on waivers, Raleigh News & Observer

Notes:

• Brandon Sutter was called up to Carolina Saturday after the Canes' Tuomo Ruutu was suspended for three games by the NHL for a hit on Darcy Tucker of the Colorado Avalanche. Sutter centered the Hurricanes' third line and played a regular shift in his first NHL appearance of the season on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. Sutter will likely play for the Canes again on Wednesday and next Saturday. 

• Sutter may never be coming back, even after Ruutu returns. The Hurricanes placed fourth-line center Stephane Yelle on waivers. Yelle's ice-time has been limited and now he could be on the way out the door. That would open up a permanent space for Sutter on the NHL roster.

• Steven Goertzen suffered a concussion Friday night against Rochester. He did not play Saturday or Sunday. His status for next weekend is questionable. He was playing fantastic up until the injury. 

• The Rats called up Jacob MicFlickier from the ECHL's Florida Everblades on Saturday. MicFlikier, who was signed by the Rats during the offseason, is currently the Blades' top scorer with two goals and three assists after four games. He attended the Rats' training camp and skated well during the preseason. He did not arrive at the Times Union Center in time for warm-ups on Saturday, but was on the bench when the puck dropped. MicFlickier scored a goal against the Phantoms 13:49 into the first period. Watch it here.

• The Rats collected only two of six possible points over the weekend. It was undoubtedly a tiring and mostly disappointing three-day stretch. But all things considered, the Rats played solid. Not perfect, but solid. When the chips were down, they never gave up. They pushed Friday night's game to the last seconds, and despite being down 4-1 on Sunday they showed true spirit and poured on the pressure late in the game. The team is showing character and several players are stepping up in the wake of injuries and call-ups. 

• Justin Peters continues to play phenomenal hockey. His ability to stay focused under pressure is most impressive. His puck-handling skills are also much improved. After six games, Peters has registered four wins, a GAA of 2.33 and a SV% of .923. He has been named a star-of-the-game in three of his six contests. 

• Captain Pat Dwyer is playing as passionate as ever. You can tell he takes the role of captain very seriously. He is always coming through when it counts. His hunger for the puck gets the whole team going. He is possibly the Rats' most valuable player. 

• There is little doubt Zach Boychuk will be a future NHL star. He is the pure definition of raw talent. He is always moving his legs, creating opportunities and drawing penalties. His game-winner against Adirondack was an absolute beauty. He's a natural. 

• After six home games, Zack FitzGerald is already a fan favorite. His physical style of play is a valued commodity for the Rats' young and undersized club. The opposition fears his presence. He was punishing the Phantoms all night on Saturday. If anyone is fired up for the rivalry, it's him.  

• There is no telling where the Rats would be without the services of Jonathan Paiement. His willingness to block shots has been invaluable.

• Attendance at the Times Union Center has been less than spectacular. In six games, the Rats have averaged 3,332 people a contest. Only four AHL teams are drawing smaller crowds. Adirondack is in the middle of the pack with an average attendance of 4,238. Time to step it up Albany!

• The East Division is extremely tight. Less than four points separate the first and last place teams. Albany and Hershey are tied with 10 points. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Adirondack have nine a piece (the Penguins have two games in hand, the Phantoms have one). Binghamton and Syracuse have eight points each. Norfolk has six with a game in hand.

News & Notes

• The Rats' front office is hoping to draw some big crowds at the Times Union Center this weekend, especially on Saturday for the second game of the Northway rivalry. Promotions were announced today, including a giveaway of River Rats' Thurderstix to the first 5,000 fans. Bring your friends. Get those curtains open!

• The River Rats' ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, have started the season with a 1-1-1-0 record. Jacob Micflikier, who has a two-way deal with the Rats, leads the Blades in points with a goal and three assists. Rob Hennigar, who is also signed on a two-way deal, is the team's second highest scorer with a goal and two assists. Veteran goaltender Mike Morrison, another two-way player, has been in net for two of Blades' three games, registering a win and an overtime loss, and stopping 44 of 49 shots. The Fort Myers News-Press has a nice article on Morrison.

• In Carolina, defenseman Joni Pitkanen finally appears to be on the path to recovery. When Pitkanen returns to full strength, Jay Harrison will likely be headed to Albany. There is a possibility the Canes will keep Harrison as a seventh D-man, but informed sources think otherwise.

• Michael Ryan, who suffered a concussion in a NHL preseason game on September 21, has been out of action for a full month now. We would be lying if we said we weren't worried. Still waiting for an official update on his condition. When he gets healthy, expect him to play in Albany.

• Casey Borer is back home in Minnesota recuperating from neck surgery. We don't expect him to be at full strength until January at best.
  

Micflickier, Hennigar assigned to Florida

The River Rats today assigned forwards Jacob Micflikier and Rob Hennigar to the Florida Everblades. The Rats' website has the story. 

Feisty forward Brad Herauf, who has a two-way AHL/ECHL deal, remains on Albany's roster.

Rats Annouce Signing of Olson, Herauf, Micflikier, Paiement

The River Rats today officially announced the signings of Benn Olson, Brad Herauf, Jacob Micflikier, and Jonathan Paiement.

We knew about Paiement, and we had heard rumors about the other three, but nothing official until now. The signings round out the team well for next season.

Big Benn Olson, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, is a physical stay-at-home defenseman and powerful enforcer. The 22-year-old from Port McNeill, British Columbia, is returning for his second year with the club.

Benn Olson
(Photo by Jennifer Bock)

As an undrafted rookie, Olson started last season strong, but like many of the 2008-09 River Rats, he was sidelined with an injury. From November until late January, Olson was out with a broken thumb.

After recuperating, he played five reconditioning games with the ECHL's Florida Everblades and subsequently returned to the Rats to finish the year.

In 36 games with Albany, Olson landed four assists, 140 penalty minutes, and finished the year with a +2 ranking, not bad considering the team's record.

After Albany lost Trevor Gillies to a concussion, Olson stepped in as the team's go-to tough guy, showing no signs of pain in his once mangled right hand.

Prior to going pro, Olson spent four seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Kamloops Blazers. In 275 junior career games, Olson tallied 4 goals, 29 assists, and racked up 834 penalty minutes. He finished his final season in Seattle with a +31.

Olson's solid, physical defensive game will be needed more than ever this year. Expect him to run protection for young talent like Zach Boychuk and Drayson Bowman.

Brad Herauf
(Photo by Jennifer Bock)

The 27-year-old Brad Herauf, last listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, was called up from the Florida Everblades mid-season last year. In his first AHL stint, the scrappy, strong-hearted checking forward played well enough to earn a regular spot in the Rats' line-up. In 37 games, he tallied two goals, two assists, and 116 penalty minutes.

Herauf, who hails from Regina, Saskatchewan, spent the previous four seasons in the ECHL, totaling 211 games, 40 goals, 57 assists, and a whopping 851 penalty minutes.



Herauf may be a bit undersized for a checking forward, but he plays like a pit bull. He doesn't back down from anybody, works the boards well, and drives to the net with the best of them.

Herauf has inked a two-way deal with the Rats, meaning he will play somewhere between Albany and Florida next season. He is an excellent depth player to have in the organization.

Forward Jacob Micfliker is the new guy. Coming in at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, the 25-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, spent last season between the Rochester Americans and the Florida Everblades. Rochester shares their ECHL affiliate with the Rats.

Micflikier scores crashing the net

In 39 games with the Americans last season, Micflikier scored four goals and 12 assists. In 10 contests with the Blades, he had 10 goals and 14 assists.

Micflikier spent the previous year between the Springfield Falcons and their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder. He scored five points (4 G, 1 A) in eight games with Springfield and marked an impressive 37 points (10 G, 27 A) in 29 games with Stockton.

From 2003 to 2007, Micflikier attended the University of New Hampshire and became one of the school's all-time leading scorers. In 154 NCAA games, he tallied 58 goals and 92 assists for 150 points.

With Micflikier inked to a one-year deal, the Rats now have a range of depth forwards in the system.

Albany will be well protected against injuries, call-ups and any other voids that may need filling.

News of Jonathan Paiement's signing was first dropped in July by Malcolm Cameron, head coach of the Everblades. Learn more about the well-rounded blueliner here.

Rumor: Rats Sign Jacob Micflikier

Keith Wozniak, who covers the Rochester Americans, has heard through the grapevine that the Rats' have signed forward Jacob Micflikier.

Last season Micflikier spent time with the Amerks and the Florida Everblades. Rochester shares their ECHL affiliate with the Rats.

A couple of weeks ago, Malcolm Cameron, coach of the Blades, told the Naples Daily News that Micflikier had "received interest from a few AHL teams, as well as a couple of options in Europe."

Wozniak writes: "Supposedly Jacob Micflikier has/is signing with the Albany River Rats but I have not been able to confirm it."

If we hear anything official, we'll let you know.