Rochester, NY -The Hockey season for the AHL is almost here. I am very excited to see them back on the ice, however it is extremely important coming into the season to know who will be on the net for the Americans Now keep in mind with I will only talk about the goaltenders that reported to Rochester Training Camp Roster and are labeled on the roster by EliteProspects.com.
Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen is one of the Sabers top goaltender prospects on the roster right now. I would not say on the Americans for the fact that there is still a chance Lukkonen will be on Sabers main roster. However if he is not, he will likely be the starting goalie for the Americans. Especially as he is a notable name on the Americans and Sabers prospect pool. It also helps that he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL Draft and he has a lot of talent. Hopefully he can keep it up whether it is with the Americans or Sabers.
Michael Houser has been a true journeyman in hockey. He was a part of the OHL’s London Knights for three seasons. In the ECHL he played with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Manchester Monarchs, and Fort Wayne Comets. In the AHL he has played with the Tucon Roadrunners, San Antonio Rampage, Ontario Reign, Cleveland Monsters, and of course the Rochester Americans. In fact he has been a part of the Rochester Americans for 5 seasons now. Although he made a brief appearance in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabers in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons, he has mainly been a minor league player. He has a ton of experience and is a name that man fans in Rochester are accustom to.
With bodies in the crease, somehow, someway, Michael Houser is able to make this save while on a 5-on-3 PK.
What a shot by Brandon Hawkins and he cannot believe that this one didn't convert.
"Michael Houser" chants fill the arena.
0-2 | 13:37 3rd | #TOLvsCIN pic.twitter.com/tig1gPd5x9
— FPHCyclones (@FPHCyclones) April 29, 2022
Malcolm Subban was a player that I thought would be a full time starter many years ago when he was a Boston Bruin, but it just has not worked out with him in the NHL. He had a big opportunity with the Vegas Golden Knights, but his time there was a flop. When he played with the Chicago Blackhawks, he did not do much for them. He will manly be a rotational player for the Sabers where he will play some games in the majors and some in the minor league.
Beck Warm is a new name for the Rochester Americans. He has actually has a few years of experience in hockey as he has played in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans. His best season in Tri-City was in the 2018-19 season where he played in 61 games and had a .916 save percentage. Warm also played with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL, Chicago Wolves in the AHL, and Norfolk Admirals in the ECHL. Warm has been a journeyman player and now has an oppertunity with the Rochester Americans. He would get a big opportunity if Lukkonen call up is permanent, along with Subban as well getting called up if injuries occur.
Great save by Beck Warm there on a scramble pic.twitter.com/Us6S6gugXA
— Levi (@canesplswin) April 24, 2021
So that is the current goaltender core for the Rochester Americans. There are a lot of intriguing options for this team to choose from and it will be interesting to see who will start the first game against the Toronto Marlies on October 14th.
