Albany River Rats
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| Albany River Rats | |
 |
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| Conference | Eastern Conference (AHL) |
| Division | East Division |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Arena | Times Union Center |
| City | Albany, New York |
| Team Colors | Red and Black |
| Logo Design | A cartoonish rat dressed in hockey gear |
| Franchise History | Capital District Islanders (1990-93) Albany River Rats 1993 - present |
| Local Media Affiliates | WTMM-FM 104.5 Times Union |
| Owner | Walter Robb |
| General Manager | |
| Head Coach | Tom Rowe |
| Team Affiliations | Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) Colorado Avalanche (NHL) |
| Regular Season Titles | 2 (1994-95, 1995-96) |
| Division Championships | 4 (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98) |
| Conference Championships | none |
| Calder Cups | 1 (1994-95) |
The Albany River Rats are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Albany, New York, USA at the Times Union Center.
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[edit] History
The team was founded as the Capital District Islanders (playing at Houston Field House on campus at RPI located across the Hudson River in Troy, New York) in 1990 but changed their name when the New Jersey Devils sold their old affiliate the Utica Devils to become linked with this team.
The Rats' glory days came in the mid to late 90's when they made 7 consecutive playoff appearances, won 2 division titles, and took home the AHL's Calder Cup in 1995. However, wins have declined since the 1997-98 season, the last time Albany won a playoff series. Since their last playoff appearance in 2000, the River Rats have finished last in each of the past 6 seasons. A new affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes beginning in the 2006-07 season brings hope of a return to AHL glory not seen in Albany since the late '90s.
On March 22, 2006, the Devils announced that they were cutting ties with the River Rats after the 2005-06 AHL season, as the parent club announced the purchase of the Lowell Lock Monsters. Despite the move, the River Rats were not relocated and returned to Albany. In April 2006, The Carolina Hurricanes signed a one year agreement (with the option to renew for two additional) with the River Rats to be their farm affiliate. Later on, Carolina was joined by the Colorado Avalanche in a one-year partnership agreement. On February 22, 2007, the Carolina Hurricanes and Albany River Rats announced that their affiliation agreement had been extended through the 2008-09 season.
[edit] Area History
- Previous franchise names are located in franchise history to the right.
The market was previously served by:
- Albany Choppers of the IHL (1990-91)
[edit] Year-by-year record
| Year | GP | W | L | T | OL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2005-06 | 80 | 25 | 48 | -- | 4 | 3 | 206 | 278 | 57 | Last, East | Out of Playoffs |
| 2004-05 | 80 | 29 | 38 | 6 | 7 | -- | 198 | 248 | 71 | Last, East | Out of Playoffs |
| 2003-04 | 80 | 21 | 39 | 11 | 9 | -- | 182 | 257 | 62 | Last, East | Out of Playoffs |
| 2002-03 | 80 | 25 | 37 | 11 | 7 | -- | 197 | 235 | 68 | Last, East | Out of Playoffs |
| 2001-02 | 80 | 14 | 42 | 12 | 12 | -- | 172 | 271 | 52 | Last, East | Out of Playoffs |
| 2000-01 | 80 | 30 | 40 | 6 | 4 | -- | 216 | 262 | 70 | Last, Mid-Atlantic | Out of Playoffs |
| 1999-00 | 80 | 30 | 40 | 7 | 3 | -- | 225 | 250 | 70 | 4th, Empire | Lost in round 1 |
| 1998-99 | 80 | 46 | 26 | 6 | 2 | -- | 275 | 230 | 100 | 2nd, Empire | Lost in round 1 |
| 1997-98 | 80 | 43 | 20 | 11 | 6 | -- | 290 | 223 | 103 | 1st, Empire | Lost in round 3 |
| 1996-97 | 80 | 38 | 28 | 9 | 5 | -- | 269 | 231 | 90 | Tied 1st, Empire State | Lost in round 3 |
| 1995-96 | 80 | 54 | 19 | 7 | -- | -- | 322 | 218 | 115 | 1st, Central | Lost in round 1 |
| 1994-95 | 80 | 46 | 17 | 17 | -- | -- | 293 | 219 | 109 | 1st, Northern | Won Calder Cup |
| 1993-94 | 80 | 38 | 34 | 8 | -- | -- | 312 | 315 | 84 | 3rd, Northern | Lost in round 1 |
[edit] Affiliates
- New Jersey Devils (1993-2006)
- Colorado Avalanche (2006-2007) - will be primary NHL affiliate of the Lake Erie Monsters, the inactive Utah Grizzlies franchise, in Cleveland, Ohio for the 2007-08 AHL season.
- Carolina Hurricanes (2006 - present)
[edit] Team records
[edit] Single Season
- Goals: 46
Jeff Williams (1998-99) - Assists: 63
Keith Aucoin (2006-07)* - Points: 98 John Madden (1998-99)
- Penalty Minutes: 348 Matt Ruchty (1994-95)
- GAA: 2.31 Richard Shulmistra (1997-98)
- SV%: .918 Richard Shulmistra (1997-98)
- Current Season
[edit] Career
- Career Goals: 155 Steve Brule
- Career Assists: 214 Steve Brule
- Career Points: 369 Steve Brule
- Career Penalty Minutes: 1197 Rob Skrlac
- Career Goaltending Wins: 77
Peter Sidorkiewicz - Career Shutouts: 8 Peter Sidorkiewicz
- Career Games: 423
Jiri Bicek
[edit] References
- ^1 "What's next for the River Rats?", Capital News 9, 2006-03-22. Retrieved on March 23, 2006.
- ^2 "River Rats announce new affiliation, lease", theahl.com, 2006-04-04. Retrieved on April 17, 2006.
- ^3 "River Rats to remain Carolina’s top farm club through 2008-09", Carolina Hurricanes, 2007-02-22. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
