The Albany River Rats: A Legacy of AHL Hockey

Introduction

The Albany River Rats were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League (AHL) from 1993 to 2010. The team was based in Albany, New York, and played its home games at the Knickerbocker Arena (later known as the Times Union Center). The River Rats were the primary affiliate of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) for most of their existence.

History

The River Rats began play in the 1993-94 season as the Binghamton Rangers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. The team moved to Albany in 1995 and rebranded as the River Rats. The River Rats quickly became a popular team in Albany, and they enjoyed several successful seasons in the AHL.

In 2003, the River Rats won their first and only Calder Cup championship, defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs in five games. The team also won the MacGregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL's regular season champions in 2006.

Player Development

The River Rats were known for their strong player development program. Many players who went on to have successful NHL careers played for the River Rats, including Martin Brodeur, Scott Gomez, Zach Parise, and David Clarkson.

Community Involvement

The River Rats were also active in the Albany community. The team hosted numerous events and fundraisers for local charities. The Rats also had a strong relationship with the local media, and they were often featured in local newspapers and television broadcasts.

Closure

The River Rats ceased operations in 2010 after the New Jersey Devils relocated their AHL affiliate to Lowell, Massachusetts. The team's departure was a major blow to the Albany community, and it left a void in the local sports scene.

Legacy

The Albany River Rats were a successful and popular AHL team that made a significant contribution to the sport of hockey in the Capital Region. The team's legacy lives on through the many players who went on to have successful NHL careers.

Albany River Rats by the Numbers

Attendance:

Win-Loss Records:

Calder Cup Playoff Results:

Notable Players

Many notable players played for the Albany River Rats during their 15 seasons in the AHL. Some of the most famous include:

• Martin Brodeur: The legendary goaltender played for the River Rats in the 1993-94 season. Brodeur went on to win three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils and is considered one of the greatest goaltenders of all time.
• Scott Gomez: The skilled centerman played for the River Rats from 1999 to 2002. Gomez went on to win two Stanley Cups with the Devils and is known for his playmaking ability.
• Zach Parise: The talented forward played for the River Rats from 2005 to 2007. Parise went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Minnesota Wild and is one of the most dangerous scorers in the NHL.
• David Clarkson: The rugged winger played for the River Rats from 2006 to 2008. Clarkson went on to play for the Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Mike Rupp: The versatile forward played for the River Rats from 2002 to 2004. Rupp went on to play for several NHL teams, including the Devils, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New York Rangers.

Humorous Stories

The Case of the Missing Jersey

One night, after a River Rats game, a player realized that his jersey was missing. He frantically searched the locker room, but it was nowhere to be found. Finally, the player asked the equipment manager for help.

The equipment manager searched everywhere, but he couldn't find the jersey either. Finally, he gave up and told the player that he would have to wear a practice jersey for the next game.

The player was not happy about this, but he didn't have any other choice. He put on the practice jersey and went out to warm up for the game.

When the player got on the ice, he realized that the practice jersey was too big for him. It was hanging off his shoulders and flapping around in the wind. The other players started to laugh, and the player was so embarrassed that he wanted to crawl into a hole.

The player ended up playing the whole game in the oversized practice jersey. The River Rats lost the game, but the missing jersey story became a legend in the Albany locker room.

The Case of the Frozen Zamboni

One winter night, the River Rats were playing a game in Binghamton. The game was going well, and the River Rats were winning.

In the third period, the Zamboni came out to clean the ice. However, the Zamboni driver was not paying attention, and he drove the Zamboni into the boards. The Zamboni got stuck, and the ice started to melt.

The game was delayed for over an hour while the Zamboni driver tried to get the Zamboni unstuck. Finally, the Zamboni was freed, and the game resumed.

The River Rats ended up losing the game, but the frozen Zamboni story became a legend in the AHL.

The Case of the Flying Puck

One night, the River Rats were playing a game against the Springfield Falcons. The game was tied in the third period, and the River Rats were on a power play.

The River Rats had a great scoring chance, and the puck was bouncing around in front of the Springfield net. Suddenly, the puck flew up into the air and hit a fan in the head.

The fan was knocked unconscious, and the game was delayed while the paramedics attended to him. Fortunately, the fan was not seriously injured.