Mersch has been the ideal veteran leader for Amerks
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
The American Hockey League has billed itself as the world’s best development league for better than two decades, and the accomplishments of the young stars are front-and-center when it comes to showcasing talent.
But the veteran leaders remain a critical part of the development process, which is why Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert is so happy to have
The seventh-year veteran forward has been the Amerks most consistent player, is one point off the team scoring lead (7-8-15) and is unquestionably the veteran to emulate.
“He’s unbelievable; I absolutely love him and I consider it a real privilege to get to coach in my first year of coaching pro hockey,” Appert said Friday night following a 7-5 loss to the Utica Comets, when Mersch scored two goals and set up two others.
We all have heroes. It could be Nelson Mandela or Dan Crenshaw, Donald Trump or Abraham Lincoln, Tom Brady or Muhammad Ali, Julius Ceasar or Joan of Arc, Lady Di or Socrates, or all, or some other figure entirely who inspires, who gives hope that our better self will rise. One of my heroes is Marc Ratner.
For 35 years he has run the shot clock for UNLV basketball home games. For over 20 years he’s been a Div I football official. He’s also been the UFC’s Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for 15 years, and before that was the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for 24 years, and helped found the Association of Boxing Commissions. He’s an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, among others.