I've been impressed with Kiel (pronounced "Kyle") McLeod in his brief time with the River Rats and couldn't understand why he was out of the AHL for so long, so today I endeavored to find out. The result is Wednesday's game advance.
When McLeod first showed up, I asked him if he knew anyone on the team from previous stops, other than Marc Cavosie, who he was with in Philadelphia. First name that came out of his mouth? "Trevor Gillies." Seems to be a common theme around the locker room. Gillies laughed. "I guess that means I've been around," he said.
The longer the season goes, the clearer it gets that it is Gillies' room. Cavosie mentioned him by name as taking him and the other newcomers under his wing, introducing them to the guys and knitting them into the fabric of the team -- an important and unseen factor to the success of any club.
One of the reasons coach Tom Rowe wanted to bring in a guy like McLeod is his poise, which she showed in his first group interview over the weekend. Asked about his attempt in a shootout win over Worcester -- his shot sailed high and wide -- McLeod said, "I don't know what happened there. I think the caddy must have passed me a nine-iron. It went pretty high. I just had to laugh it off."
From today's practice:
* - Rookie Jerome Samson will be out up to two weeks with a "lower body injury." It's uncertain if it is related to the same "lower body injury" he had earlier this season that cost him half a dozen games. Chris Blight takes his spot at forward with McLeod and Jakub Petruzlek.
* - Defenseman Steve Ward missed practice for a doctor's visit to check out an old facial fracture not related to the injury he suffered when hit in the head by a deflected puck two weeks ago. He continues to wear a full face shield for protection.
* - It has been more than 10 years since a Rats team put together more than seven straight wins, their current streak, but that is of little importance to the coaches or players. More relevant is continuing to play well and maintain its standing in the East Division.
"We've got to keep them focused on the game at hand and not let them get too far ahead of themselves," Rowe said. "It's great that we haven't lost (in regulation play) in eight games and we're in second place. That's all wonderful. The only way you can win every night is to work hard. The second we stop working we're in a heapload of trouble because we're not skilled enough to just throw our sticks out there."
* - Albany will debut its third sweater for Saturday's "home" game at the Glens Falls Civic Center against Binghamton. The uniforms are primarily white with red and black piping down the sides. A basic, yet sharp, look. Maybe that will help end the North Country Drought.
* - Goalie Mike Leighton is wearing his new mask, one he said he's had for a bit but is just breaking in. It's a tad more elaborate than his old lid but still classic and understated, much like Leighton himself. He continues to make a case for AHL MVP, in the truest form: take him out of the Rats lineup, and where are they?
* - Was told after a second calculation that the amount raised by Sunday's postgame sweater auction was actually $22,955, not $22,995 as originally thought. No matter how you look at it, a nice chunk of change for charity.
* - Forgot to ask Rowe which of the veterans is taking over the captaincy this week from Jamie Johnson. Have to check on it tomorrow, but my money's on Pat Dywer.
