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Hodgson shines before AHL Rochester’s record crowd

Buffalo Sabres v Anaheim Ducks

ANAHEIM, CA - FEBRUARY 29: Cody Hodgson #19 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on prior to the start of the game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on February 29, 2012 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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As anticipated, Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate the Rochester Americans set a franchise attendance record on Friday night - and they got a 4-1 win over the Lake Erie Monsters in the process. A crowd of 19,070 fans were on hand for the action at the First Niagra Center, normally the Sabres’ home.

Amerks team president Ted Black thinks that the turnout is a testament to the game’s presence in both Buffalo and Rochester.

“This record is a result of the tremendous support from the fans throughout Western New York,” Black said. “Rochester and Buffalo are both great hockey cities, and the Amerks organization is extremely appreciative of the continuing support of the fans in both markets.”

The cherry on top is the fact that recent Sabres addition Cody Hodgson scored two goals in the game, pushing him to five goals and 18 points in 15 AHL games this season.

Friday’s crowd was the biggest in team history by a considerable margin, but Dec. 28 has been a big date for the franchise:

The previous Amerks record for the largest crowd was 17,898, which was set exactly eight years ago on Dec. 28, 2004, when Rochester defeated the Edmonton Road Runners at the then-HSBC Arena in Buffalo.