• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
AHL
Rochester Americans

Rochester Americans Repeating History At Spengler Cup

By Darren Matte January 7th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

This year marked a bit of history for the Buffalo Sabres’ affiliate team from the American Hockey League: the Rochester Americans. The Americans had the opportunity to represent North American hockey, the AHL and the Sabres organization when they were invited to participate in the Spengler Cup. However, this was not a first as it was the second time in the 90 years of the Spengler that and AHL team took part. The interesting part is that the only other team to compete in it from the AHL was the 1996 Rochester Americans.

Rochester Americans bench (Ross Bonander / THW)

The Rochester Americans represented the AHL at the 2013 Spengler Cup in Switzerland. (Ross Bonander / THW)

The Spengler Cup

The first Spengler Cup was held in 1923 and the tournament is hosted each year by HC Davos, a professional hockey team in the Swiss Professional National League A. The tournament is an invitational one, comprised of six teams, that takes place between Dec. 25 and Jan.1.  Over the years, the host team, HC Davos, has won the most titles with 15, followed by Canada with 12.

The tournament was founded by Dr. Carl Spengler, a Davos native, who wanted to promote contact between nations who had opposed each other during World War 1. He donated a challenge cup and his vision to create a tournament for teams to test their strength in peaceful battles became a reality.

Over the years the tournament evolved and began to include a Team Canada, who made their debut in 1984 made up of players not playing in the NHL, mostly in Europe.  Then in 1996, the first American team took part in the tournament when the Americans travelled across the pond.

1996 Rochester Americans

The Rochester team that was invited to play in the 1996 tournament was a good one, coming off a Calder Cup win the season before. Rochester had finished third in their division before breezing through the first three rounds of the playoffs losing only one game. They got to the finals and beat Portland in seven games to claim their  sixth Calder Cup in franchise history.

Dan Frawley played for the Rochester Americans for six seasons and was part of the 1996 Spengler Cup team. He proudly displays his jersey from the tournament. (Darren Matte/THW)

Dan Frawley played for the Rochester Americans for six seasons and was part of the 1996 Spengler Cup team. He proudly displays his jersey from the tournament. (Darren Matte/THW)

The team was lead by coach John Tortorella behind the bench and Craig Charron and Dixon Ward upfront, who scored 95 and 94 points during the season respectively.  They had wily veterans like Dan Frawley and up and comers like Scott Nichol and goalie Steve Shields.

After the turn over during the offseason the team still featured many of the same names but added the likes of Terry Yake, who went on to score 101 points during that season, and rookie Vaclav Varada who put up 48 in his first pro season. With the new additions the team was atop the league at season’s end, but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. However, for that team it wasn’t their regular season that they remember. It was the trip to Davos.

Frawley summed up the team’s feelings heading into the tournament. “It was very exciting to be invited to go the Spengler Cup, all the players were thrilled to have the opportunity to go to Switzerland and play in such a prestigious tournament, we had a very good team and felt we would do well.”

Much like many North American players who play in tournaments in Europe, Frawley, who is originally from Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, explained that it took some time for the he and the rest of the players to get used to the large ice. “It did take us a couple of games to get used to the big ice, we lost our first two games by a large margin but we made some adjustments and won our last two games to finish in third place. In fact our last win helped Team Canada advance to the finals, which they won.”

For the Americans, the tournament turned out to be an occasion for all of the players and their families to get away during the holiday season. “Our families really enjoyed the experience, we went skiing, tobogganing and outdoor ice skating. The food and hotel were first class, the only tough part was the long travel there and back. For an AHL team to go to Davos it was an awesome break from an otherwise long grueling season in the minors.”

During the Spengler Cup, Rochester went 2-2 in the round robin and went on to finish third.

2013 Rochester Americans

On April 19, the AHL announced that the Americans had been invited back to the tournament in 2013. “The Rochester Americans are extremely honored to have been selected to play in the 2013 Spengler Cup and represent the American Hockey League,” said Americans President Ted Black in the press release. “This is a truly unique opportunity that will provide an incredibly valuable experience for our players. In addition, the chance for the Amerks to participate in the Spengler Cup for the second time will add another chapter to the great history of this storied franchise.”

Rochester joined Team Canada, HC Davos, CSKA Moscow, Genève-Servette HC and HC Vitkovice Steel. Rochester was in a group with Moscow and Genève-Servette HC. Unfortunately, they were beaten 5-0 and 4-3. Then faced team Canada in the quarterfinals but fell 6-3 ending their tournament.

Rochester Americans 2013 highlights from their 5-0 loss to Genève-Servette HC on Dec. 26.

Even though the current Americans weren’t able to win the cup, just being there is a huge step for the franchise that is quickly becoming one of the more recognizable AHL teams on the international scale. From a Sabres perspective, they have to be happy with the experience that their prospects got playing in one of the most famous international tournaments.

 

  • Tags
  • HC Davos
  • Rochester Americans
  • Spengler Cup
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 15th 6:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Romanov Fired Up to Face Oilers’ McDavid and Draisaitl

Jan 15th 6:00 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Second Line Shines in Season Opener

Jan 15th 5:50 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Marner Looking to Add Goals to His Stats

Jan 15th 5:35 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Three Takeaways from the Sabres’ Season Opener

Jan 15th 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News and Rumors: Smith, Barrie, Forsberg, Puljujarvi, More

Jan 15th 4:40 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Have Rough Season Opener but No Need to Panic

Jan 15th 4:20 PM
Column

Jets News & Rumors: Scheifele, Laine, Hellebuyck, Lewis & Quicksand

Jan 15th 4:10 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers Bring More of the Same in 2020-21 Opening Night

Jan 15th 3:45 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Ryan, COVID, Markstrom & More

Jan 15th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

2020-21 Season Openers: Flames Lose Again, Islanders & Capitals Excel

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information