The Rochester Americans didn't skate on Saturday but not because they don't need the practice.

Sure, their 11-1 record is best in the 27-team American Hockey League, yet no part of their game is perfect and practice time is valuable.

Except there apparently was no available ice in the city so the players did some dry-land training and skill-enhancement work in the basement of Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.

The War Memorial ice was covered up for Saturday night's Trace Adkins concert and the ESL Sports Centre was booked by youth hockey tournaments.

Thus, the Amerks made the most of their day without ice. Kevin Collins, their strength and conditioning coach, put the players through foot-agility drills. They also did stick-handling drills using wooden balls.

Amerks don't let ice drought halt practice

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Next Game
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Who: Chicago Wolves at Rochester Americans
When: Sunday, November 12, 2006; 6:05 PM
Where: Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial
TV: B2 Networks
Radio: WHTK 1280-AM
Internet: mms://168.75.182.197/rochester
Web site: www.amerks.com


He's the only current Florida Everblade with a Stanley Cup championship ring. He's the only Blade who was on a 2005-06 NHL postseason roster. And he's the only Florida player who has hoisted Lord Stanley's mug in front of a soldout arena.

Craig Kowalski, 25, played like a goalie with NHL experience Saturday night.

The Carolina Hurricanes prospect stopped 46 shots in leading Florida to a 3-1 ECHL win over the Columbia Inferno in front of 6,091 at Germain Arena. The Blades (7-3), who beat the Inferno 2-1 on Friday, can sweep their three-game series with the Inferno (3-5-3) when the teams meet again Tuesday night at Germain Arena.

Columbia's 47 shots Saturday night were a high for a Blades opponent this season and one of the highest for an opponent in Florida's nine-year history. The Greenville Grrrowl set the franchise record with 55 shots against the Blades on April 28, 2002.

K-Wol was a Hurricanes practice goal during their Stanley Cup season.

Blades' goalie stifles Inferno

A shortage of defensemen nearly caught up with the Florida Everblades on Saturday night, but goaltender Craig Kowalski took it upon himself to seal off the net to the Columbia Inferno.

Kowalski faced a mind-boggling 47 shots and stopped all but one in a 3-1 victory, Florida's third straight and second in as many nights over Columbia. The two teams meet again Tuesday night at 7:30 back at Germain Arena.

Rookies Derek Damon and David Brine and veteran Reggie Berg scored for the Everblades (7-3-0), with Damon and Brine connecting on the power play.

Columbia (3-5-3) got its lone goal 7:32 into the first period from Adam Tichauer on a one-timer from the blue line after Jeff Miles won the face-off outright.

The Blades also spend substanitally less time in the penalty box than they did the night before.

Blades finish sweep of Inferno

Two quality goaltenders — one a rookie and the other with significant professional experience under his belt — proved to be part of a successful formula for the Florida Everblades during their best season in franchise history.

Seven years later, head coach Gerry Fleming is hoping a similar tandem will yield even better results, perhaps even bringing Florida its first ever championship.

David Shantz, a 20-year-old rookie under contract to the NHL's Florida Panthers, has stormed out of the gate three weeks into the 2006-07 ECHL season to put himself among the elite goaltenders in the league. But he is not yet the clear-cut No. 1 goalie for the Everblades because Craig Kowalski still has a say.

One good turn in goal deserves another
Catching Up With Old Friends: Nov. 12
Around the ECHL: Nov. 12
Everblades win third straight; douse Inferno 3-1
Power play dooms Columbia
Inferno Drop Second Straight
Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore

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Next Game
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Who: Columbia Inferno at Florida Everblades
When: Tuesday, November 14, 2006; 7:30 PM
Where: Germain Arena
TV: B2 Network
Radio: Sportsradio 770 AM
Internet: www.abc-7.com
Web site: www.floridaeverblades.com