Albany River Rats

Pro hockey team
text_color = black
bg_color = #FF2420
team = Albany River Rats

logosize = 200px
city = Albany, New York
league = American Hockey League
conference = Eastern Conference
division = East Division
founded = 1990
arena = Times Union Center
colors = Red, Black, White
owner = Walter Robb
coach = Jeff Daniels
GM =
media = WTMM-FM 104.5
Times Union
affiliates = Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) (2006-Present)
Colorado Avalanche (NHL) (2006-2007)
New Jersey Devils (NHL) (1990-2006)
Florida Everblades (ECHL)
name1 = Capital District Islanders
dates1 = 1990 to 1993
name2 = Albany River Rats
dates2 = 1993 to present
reg_season_titles = 2 1994-95, 1995-96
division_titles = 4 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98
conf_titles =
calder_cups = 1 1994-95

The Albany River Rats are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Albany, New York, USA at the Times Union Center.

History

The team was founded as the Capital District Islanders (playing at Houston Field House on campus at RPI located across the Hudson River in Troy, New York) in 1990 but changed their name when the New Jersey Devils sold their old affiliate the Utica Devils to become linked with this team.

The Rats' glory days came in the mid to late 1990s making seven consecutive playoff appearances, won 2 division titles, and took home the AHL's Calder Cup in 1995. Also in 1995, their parent club, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup.

However, wins have declined since the 1997-98 season, the last time Albany won a playoff series. The River Rats finished last in each of the 6 seasons between 2000-01 and 2005-06. A new affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes beginning in the 2006-07 season brought hope of a return to AHL glory not seen in Albany since the late '90s.

On March 22, 2006, the Devils announced that they were cutting ties with the River Rats after the 2005-06 AHL season, as the parent club announced the purchase of the Lowell Lock Monsters. Despite the move, the River Rats were not relocated.ref|Devils|1 In April 2006, The Carolina Hurricanes signed a one year agreement (with the option to renew for two additional) with the River Rats to be their farm affiliate.ref|Canes|2 Later on, Carolina was joined by the Colorado Avalanche in a one-year partnership agreement. On February 22, 2007, the Carolina Hurricanes and Albany River Rats announced that their affiliation agreement had been extended through the 2008-09 season. ref|Canes|3

On April 24, 2008, the River Rats lost 2–3 to the Philadelphia Phantoms in the longest game played in AHL history. The Phantoms Ryan Potulny scored 2:58 into the fifth overtime. Albany gave up 101 shots on goal, and goaltender Michael Leighton made 98 saves.

This market was previously served by:
*Albany Choppers of the IHL (1990-91)

Affiliates

*New Jersey Devils (1993/1994-2005/2006)
*Colorado Avalanche (2006/2007-2007/2008)
*Carolina Hurricanes (2006/2007- present)

eason-by-season results

Regular season

Playoffs

Team records

ingle Season

:Goals: 46 flagicon|CAN Jeff Williams (1998-99) :Assists: 63 flagicon|USA Keith Aucoin (2006-07):Points: 99 flagicon|USA Keith Aucoin (2006-07):Penalty Minutes: 348 flagicon|CAN Matt Ruchty (1994-95):GAA: 2.10 flagicon|CAN Michael Leighton (2007-08):SV%: .931 flagicon|CAN Michael Leighton (2007-08)

Career

:Career Goals: 155 flagicon|CAN Steve Brule:Career Assists: 214 flagicon|CAN Steve Brule:Career Points: 369 flagicon|CAN Steve Brule:Career Penalty Minutes: 1197 flagicon|CAN Rob Skrlac:Career Goaltending Wins: 77 flagicon|POL Peter Sidorkiewicz:Career Shutouts: 8 flagicon|POL Peter Sidorkiewicz:Career Games: 423 flagicon|SVK Jiri Bicek

References

* cite news
url=http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=172983&SecID=33
title=What's next for the River Rats?
publisher=Capital News 9
date=2006-03-22
accessdate=2006-03-23
* cite news
url = http://theahl.com/news/league/index.html?article_id=6566
title = River Rats announce new affiliation, lease
publisher = theahl.com
date = 2006-04-04
accessdate = 2006-04-17
* cite news
url = http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/news/news.asp?articleid=1719
title = River Rats to remain Carolina’s top farm club through 2008-09
publisher = Carolina Hurricanes
date = 2007-02-22
accessdate = 2007-03-06

External links

* [http://www.albanyriverrats.com Albany River Rats Official Website]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=263 The Internet Hockey Database - Albany River Rats]