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AHL Rochester Americans

Brian Chapman and Rick Mrozik Sign with Sabres

August 22, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Buffalo Sabres announced today the signing of defensemen Brian Chapman and Rick Mrozik. Both players will help solidify the Rochester Americans' defense.

Chapman agreed to a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. The veteran defenseman enters his 16th season of professional hockey this year. In his career, he has played in 1,087 games and notched 80 goals, 351 assists and 2,646 penalty minutes. He has played for AHL teams in Binghamton, Springfield and Manitoba. Chapman won his only Calder Cup as a member of the Springfield Indians, who defeated Rochester four games to two in 1991.

The native of Brockville, Ontario, spent the last six seasons with the Manitoba Moose, four of those were as the team's captain. He left the organization as the all-time leader in games played with 447 and as the longest reigning captain in team history.

The 35-year-old defenseman was originally drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the 1986 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He spent three games with Whalers during the 1990-91 season. After leaving the Whalers organization, he spent the next eight seasons (1993-2001) in the now defunct International Hockey League with Phoenix, Long Beach and Manitoba. During the 2000-01 season, he was voted Manitoba's best defenseman and won the IHL's Ironman Award, given to the league's top two-way player who played in all 82 games.

Mrozik comes to Rochester after playing with the Saint John Flames for the past three seasons (2000-03). In 2000-01, he was a member of the Calder Cup winning team, along with current Amerk Jason Botterill.

Last season, he registered two goals and 10 assists in 68 games with Saint John. He also appeared in two games with the Calgary Flames. Mrozik captured three team awards during the 2002-03 season. He was voted the Aliant Top Defenseman and received the Bank of Nova Scotia Plus/Minus award for having a team-best plus-9. In addition, Mrozik won the American Specialty/HG Insurance Services/AHL Man of the Year award for Saint John.

The Duluth, Minn., native played his college hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He spent his first two seasons of pro hockey with the Portland Pirates in 1997-98 and 1998-99. He has also played in Pee Dee (ECHL) and with AHL teams in Worcester and Syracuse. In his AHL career, Mrozik has played in 348 games and registered 15 goals and 49 assists.

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