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Michael Mersch (RW)

Rochester Americans

Biography

TEAM CAPTAIN

ACQUIRED

Signed a two-year American Hockey League contract with the Rochester Americans on August 4, 2021.

LAST SEASON

2021-22: Plotted career-highs in goals (26), assists (28) and points (54) during his second season with the Rochester Americans ...  Also appeared in five Calder Cup Playoff contests during the Amerks’ run to the North Division Finals ... Established a new personal-best with his 25th goal of the season against Hartford on 4/16 and reached the 50-point mark for the first time in his pro career with a pair of assists at Belleville on 4/09 ... Scored his 20th goal of the season in his return to the lineup against Cleveland on 3/18, marking the fifth time in eight years he reached the mark ... Also reached the 20-goal mark in the second-fewest number of games (47) since 2015-16 when he scored 20 in 35 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL) ... Totaled nine points (3+6) over a season and career-long nine-game point streak from 1/15 to 2/02 ... Notched his 300th AHL point with a goal at Cleveland on 1/22 ... Recorded his 300th pro point with an assist against Belleville on 1/15 ... Became the first Amerk and just the second AHL player this season to reach the 30-point mark with an assist against Hartford on 1/07 ... Compiled his third five-game point streak of the season 12/15 to 1/01, totaling 11 points (4+7) and three straight multi-point outings over that span ... Tied a career-high with a four-point effort (2+2) while also reaching the 15-goal mark for the fifth time in eight years against Providence on 12/29 ... Picked up his team-leading seventh multi-point game of the season with two assists in the 4-3 come-from-behind win at Hershey on 12/19 ... Scored his 13th and 14th goals of the season and added an assist at Lehigh Valley on 12/18 ... Had another five-game point streak (5+1) from 11/24 to 12/10 ... Reached the 10-goal mark in just his 17th game of the season at Syracuse on 11/27, becoming the second Amerks player to reach the mark in less than 20 games ... Netted two first-period goals, his first time scoring twice in the same period since March 24, 2017, and second multi-goal game of the season in the 7-3 win over Hershey on 11/26 ... Totaled 11 points (6+5) over a five-game point streak from 10/23 to 11/03, including goals in a career-high five straight games over that span ... Collected his fourth multi-point effort in five games with a goal, the game-winner, and an assist in the 4-3 come-from-behind win over Belleville on 11/03 ... Named team captain

CAREER

2020-21: Tied for second among all Rochester Americans (AHL) skaters with 19 points while scoring the third-most goals (8) in 28 games ... Appeared in his 400th AHL game at Syracuse on 5/01 ... Closed out the month of April with a team-high nine points (5+4) in 11 games ... Tallied a season-high four points on two goals and two assists against Utica on 4/23, marking his first four-point effort since a career-best five-point outing on March 27, 2015 ... Had a four-game point streak (1+4) from 2/20 to 3/03 ... Scored his first goal as an Amerk while appearing in his 400th professional game at Syracuse on 3/01 ... Collected the 250th point of his pro career with his first of two assists at Utica on 2/26 ... Recorded his first point as an Amerk with an assist at Syracuse on 2/20 ... Made his Amerks debut against Syracuse on 2/10

2019-20: During his second and final season with the Texas Stars (AHL), finished third among all Stars forwards in both goals (14) and power-play goals (5) while having the fourth-most points (27) in 61 games ... Tallied three multi-point efforts over the shortened season while two were three-point efforts ... Produced a season-high one goal and two assists versus Rockford (11/23) and then again on 12/06 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

2018-19: Topped all Texas skaters with a career-high 207 shots during his first season with the Stars while ranking second in both goals (23) and power-play goals (9) in 68 games ... He reached the 20-goal mark and 40-point plateau for the fourth time in his pro career ... Registered nine multi-point outings during the campaign, which included a season-high three points on a goal and two assists on 2/12 at Rockford ... Had at one shot on net in all but three games during the slate and posted a season-high seven versus Iowa on 10/19

2017-18: In his third year with the Ontario Reign (AHL), led the team with 21 goals, 10 of which were on the man-advantage, and 49 points in 65 games ... Tallied one goal and two assists for three points in four postseason contests ... Chipped in 11 points (2+9) from 3/17 to 4/04, which included three multi-point performances over a four-game span ... Had a career-high eight shots ... Served as alternate captain

2016-17: During his second season with Ontario, notched 33 points (17+16) in 48 contests ... He also added three assists in five playoff games with the Reign ... Totaled eight points (4+4) from 3/11 to 3/25 ... Began the month of October by producing six points (3+3) over the first six games from 10/15 to 10/30 ... Served as alternate captain

2015-16: Combined for 36 points (17+19) in 69 games between the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) and Ontario ... Also notched two goals and four assists in 13 postseason contests with the Reign ... His six points in the playoffs were tied for second-most among all Ontario skaters ... In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, had a goal and matched a career-high eight shots on goal against Lake Erie on 5/26 ...  Capped off a three-game scoring stretch with two goals and one assist for three points on 5/05 versus San Diego ... Scored one goal while adding two assists in 17 contests with Los Angeles ... Scored his first-career NHL point/goal in Edmonton on 12/29 ... Made his NHL debut on 12/11 at Pittsburgh ... Named to the AHL All-Star team

2014-15: Was one of two Manchester Monarchs (AHL) to appear in all 76 games while tying for the team-lead in goals (22) and fourth in points (45) ... Helped the Monarchs claim the Calder Cup as he topped all Manchester skaters with 13 goals and 22 points in 18 contests ... Recorded seven multi-point games during the playoffs, which included a hat-trick on 5/23 against Harford after posting a pair of tallies on 5/21 ... Posted a career-high five points on three goals and two assists versus Hershey on 3/27 ... It marked his first career three-goal outing ... Was named AHL Rookie of the Month in March as he recorded 14 points (6+8) in 13 games

2013-14: Turned pro after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin (Big-10), where he finished with 115 points on 67 goals and 53 assists in 157 games ... Played in every game during his four-year career ...  Was named an AHCA West Second-Team All-American and an All-Big Ten First Team selection ... Was the Badgers first two-time 20-goal scorer since 2005-06 as he had a team-high 22 goals in 37 games as a senior ... Tied for fourth among Big Ten skaters in all games with 35 points ... Was the first player in school history that led the team in power-play goals (10) for three straight seasons ... In less than a week after making his pro/AHL debut on 4/04 against Harford, he recorded his first-career point on an assist the next night versus Portland and then scored his first goal on 4/09 as part of a two-goal outing in Portland

2012-13 Led all Wisconsin skaters with 23 goals and 36 points in 42 games ... Accounted for 20.5 percent of the team's goals, the fourth player in school history to post at least 20 percent of a team's tallies for a season (Jake Dowell - 2006-07; Rene Bourque - 2002-03; Mark Johnson - 1977-78) ... Had a team-high six power-play goals, four game-winning goals and three game-tying tallies ... Named to the WCHA All-Academic and All-Big Ten Teams

2011-12: Recorded 30 points on 14 goals and 16 goals while appearing in all 37 games during his second season with Wisconsin ... His 14 goals, 16 assists and 30 points were a then a career-high ... His 14 goals were second-most on the team and seven power-play tallies tied for the team-lead

2010-11: As a freshman with the Badgers, led all first-year players with eight goals in 41 contests ... Named team's Dr. Joseph Coyne Most Consistent Player

2009-10: Combined to notched eight points on four goals and four assists in 26 games with the U.S National U18 and U17 teams

2008-09: Finished fourth in both goals (15) and points (28) while skating in all 42 games with the US National Development U18 team ... Also added seven points (5+2) in nine postseason contests ... Notched season-best two goals and two assists on 2/15 versus Motor City

INTERNATIONAL: Competed as a member of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team at the 2008 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Prievidza, Slovakia, where his four points in four games ranked second on the team