By Warren Kozireski–
Brian Gionta (Greece) scored a breakaway backhanded goal in his only game on a professional try-out contract as he prepares to captain Team USA at the upcoming Winter Olympics, but Rochester fell to first place Toronto 4-2.
“I knew it was going to be a special night, but it sends chills up your back when something like that happens,” Gionta said about the goal and the resulting crowd chant of “U-S-A, U-S-A.”
9.836 marks the largest crowd to see an Amerks game in Rochester since April 17, 2015 when over 10,500 were on hand.
“Unbelievabale seeing Blue Cross filled u like this—realy amazing,” Amerks head coach Chris Taylor said. “It was a playoff atmosphere. I enjoyed watching the game from down on the bench…and I thought both goalies played well.”
Defenseman Arvin Atwal also netted his first AHL goal to tie the game 1-1 in the second period.
Rochester travels to Binghamton Saturday night and return home to face Belleville Wednesday.
