| Albany River Rats | |
 | |
| City: | Albany, New York |
|---|---|
| League: | American Hockey League |
| Conference: | Eastern Conference |
| Division: | East Division |
| Founded: | 1990 |
| Home Arena: | Times Union Center |
| Colors: | Red and Black |
| Owner(s): | Walter Robb |
| Head Coach: | Tom Rowe |
| Media: | WTMM-FM 104.5 Times Union |
| Affiliates: | Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) (2006-Present) Colorado Avalanche (NHL) (2006-2007) New Jersey Devils (NHL) (1990-2006) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1990 to 1993: | Capital District Islanders |
| 1993 to present: | Albany River Rats |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | 2 1994-95, 1995-96 |
| Division Championships: | 4 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 |
| 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. 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. 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.
This market was previously served by:
- Albany Choppers of the IHL (1990-91)
Season-by-season results
Regular season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 80 | 38 | 34 | 8 | -- | -- | 84 | 312 | 315 | 3rd, North |
| 1994-95 | 80 | 46 | 17 | 17 | -- | -- | 109 | 293 | 219 | 1st, North |
| 1995-96 | 80 | 54 | 19 | 7 | -- | -- | 115 | 322 | 218 | 1st, Central |
| 1996-97 | 80 | 38 | 28 | 9 | 5 | -- | 90 | 269 | 231 | 3rd, Empire State |
| 1997-98 | 80 | 43 | 20 | 11 | 6 | -- | 103 | 290 | 223 | 1st, Empire State |
| 1998-99 | 80 | 46 | 26 | 6 | 2 | -- | 100 | 275 | 230 | 2nd, Empire State |
| 1999-00 | 80 | 30 | 40 | 7 | 3 | -- | 70 | 225 | 250 | 4th, Empire State |
| 2000-01 | 80 | 30 | 40 | 6 | 4 | -- | 70 | 216 | 262 | 6th, Mid-Atlantic |
| 2001-02 | 80 | 14 | 42 | 12 | 12 | -- | 52 | 172 | 271 | 4th, East |
| 2002-03 | 80 | 25 | 37 | 11 | 7 | -- | 68 | 197 | 235 | 5th, East |
| 2003-04 | 80 | 21 | 39 | 11 | 9 | -- | 62 | 182 | 257 | 7th, East |
| 2004-05 | 80 | 29 | 38 | -- | 6 | 7 | 71 | 198 | 248 | 7th, East |
| 2005-06 | 80 | 25 | 48 | -- | 4 | 3 | 57 | 206 | 278 | 7th, Atlantic |
| 2006-07 | 80 | 37 | 36 | -- | 4 | 3 | 81 | 246 | 258 | 4th, East |
| 2007-08 | See 2007-08 AHL season for up-to-date standings. | |||||||||
Playoffs
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | L, 1-4, PORT | -- | -- | -- |
| 1994-95 | W, 4-0, ADIR | W, 4-2, PROV | bye | W, 4-0, FRED |
| 1995-96 | L, 1-3, CORN | -- | -- | -- |
| 1996-97 | W, 3-1, ADIR | W, 4-3, ROCH | L, 1-4, HAM | -- |
| 1997-98 | W, 3-0, ADIR | W, 4-0, HAM | L, 2-4, PHIL | -- |
| 1998-99 | L, 3-2, HAM | -- | -- | -- |
| 1999-00 | L, 3-2, ROCH | -- | -- | -- |
| 2000-01 | Out of Playoffs | |||
| 2001-02 | Out of Playoffs | |||
| 2002-03 | Out of Playoffs | |||
| 2003-04 | Out of Playoffs | |||
| 2004-05 | Out of Playoffs | |||
| 2005-06 | Out of Playoffs | |||
| 2006-07 | L, 1-4, HER | -- | -- | -- |
| 2007-08 | Regular season in progress. | |||
Affiliates
- New Jersey Devils (1993-2006)
- Colorado Avalanche (2006-2007)
- Carolina Hurricanes (2006 - present)
Team records
Single Season
- Goals: 46
Jeff Williams (1998-99) - Assists: 63
Keith Aucoin (2006-07) - Points: 99
Keith Aucoin (2006-07) - Penalty Minutes: 348 Matt Ruchty (1994-95)
- GAA: 2.31 Richard Shulmistra (1997-98)
- SV%: .918 Richard Shulmistra (1997-98)
Career
- Career Goals: 155 Steve Brule
- Career Assists: 214 Steve Brule
- Career Points: 369 Steve Brule
- Career Penalty Minutes: 1197 Rob Skrlac
- Career Goaltending Wins: 77 Peter Sidorkiewicz
- Career Shutouts: 8 Peter Sidorkiewicz
- Career Games: 423 Jiri Bicek
