Amerks add Fitzpatrick

Rochester Americans General Manager Jody Gage announced today that the Amerks have signed Irondequoit native Rory Fitzpatrick. The defenseman rejoins Rochester after playing 60 games in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres in 2003-04.

Fitzpatrick, 30, returns for his third stint with the Amerks. He spent parts of the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons in Rochester, playing in 101 games and recording 28 points (9+19). During his two seasons in Rochester, he was twice named the co-winner of the team’s McCulloch Trophy for community service.

In 2002-03, he also served as one of the team’s alternate captains.

The graduate of Rochester Youth Hockey is in his 10th season of professional hockey, and has played 345 career AHL games with Rochester, Hamilton, Worcester and Fredericton, tallying 33 goals and 98 assists for 131 points. He made his pro debut during Fredericton’s run to the Calder Cup Final in 1995, and played in the AHL All-Star Classic in 1997 and 1998.

Originally a second-round selection by Montreal in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Fitzpatrick has played 154 NHL games in his career as well.