Sunday, February 28, 2010

Peters gets the call; Rats welcome Mior

Goaltender Justin Peters today was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Albany River Rats signed netminder Ryan Mior to a professional tryout contract.

Cam Ward of the Canes is suffering from chronic back problems and will be out for at least a few weeks, possibly longer. 

Veteran Mike Morrison will assume starting duties for the Rats. 

Peters will return to Carolina having registered a 1.51 GAA, .950 SV% and two victories in his first two NHL starts earlier this month. Peters should see more playing time on this recall and may compete to become the go-to goalie as Ward remains sidelined. 

In 41 games with Albany this season, Peters has a 2.60 GAA, .915 SV%, one shutout and a record of 26-16-2-1.

Backing up Mike Morrison for the Rats will be youngster Ryan Mior, a 22-year-old second-year pro who has been spending the season with the Dayton Gems of the International Hockey League. 

In 26 games this year with the Gems, Mior has a .899 SV%, 3.23 GAA, one shutout and a record of 11-11-2-1.  

Mior played with the Rochester Americans earlier this season on a tryout contract and put up decent numbers during his first seven AHL appearances, earning a 3.03 GAA, .907 SV% and a record of 3-4-0-0. 

Mior's most impressive performance came on December 26 when the netminder overcame a shot differential of 47 to 23 to lead Rochester to a 4-2 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Mior, a native of St. John's, Newfoundland, spent his junior years in the QMJHL with the Prince Edward Island Rocket and Gatineau Olympiques before kicking off his professional career last season in the Central Hockey League with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Mior finished 2008-09 with the Port Huron IceHawks of the IHL, putting up a 1.94 GAA, .925 SV%, four shutouts and a record of 11-3-2-3. 

Catch video on YouTube of an interview with Mior taped in December in Rochester.

Rats dethrone Monarchs, 5-2

Post-game coverage:

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Return of the roster shuffle

With goaltender Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes still sidelined with back issues, Rats' netminder Justin Peters will be returning to Raleigh by week's end. Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the story.

Injured Canes' forwards Erik Cole, Scott Walker and Chad LaRose are all expected be on the ice when the NHL starts back up next week. Barring any trades, Carolina will have one extra forward, including Albany captain Pat Dwyer. Forwards Zach Boychuk and Steven Goertzen were reassigned prior to the Olympic break.

Recently acquired defenseman Alexandre Picard joined the Hurricanes at practice yesterday, giving the parent club seven defenseman, including Rats' alternate captain Brett Carson.

Rats' rookies honored

The River Rats' youngsters continue to impress. The AHL announced yesterday that rookies Zach Boychuk and Drayson Bowman were included in the league's "Top Prospects" trading-card set and first-year defenseman Jamie McBain was selected by the Hockey News for this week's "Hot List."

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Remember when

Longtime River Rats' fan Michael Hochman takes us back with a few video clips from the glory days of 1995. Available on Facebook and YouTube in two parts. 

Arena GM: AHL deal 'potentially close'

Times Union Center General Manager Bob Belber tells the Albany Times Union that a deal to bring a new AHL team to the city could be in place by the first week of March. 

Rats weekly

The regular weekly rundown is up at the Rats' website. 

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Pirates' owner talks about the future

Managing owner of the Portland Pirates Brian Petrovek sits down with Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union to discuss the possibility of the franchise relocating to the Capital District. Read the full interview here. 

Rats bus crash, one year later

Carolina Hurricanes' writer David Droschak takes a look back at the tragic events of last February and the long lasting impact the bus crash had on players like Casey Borer. Read parts one and two at the Canes' website.