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Sharks Finish Season Long Five Game Road Trip 3-2-0-0

February 18, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Shark Snap Shot:

The Worcester Sharks (23-20-1-5, 52pts) chomped two out of a possible six points in three road games last week to conclude a season long five game home stand with a 3-2-0-0 record. After a nine day layoff, the Sharks dropped a 3-1 decision in Springfield on Friday before another late game winner in a 3-2 victory at Adirondack on Saturday. Worcester ended the five game road trip with a 3-1 loss at Providence to the Bruins on Saturday. Worcester now has 15 wins on the road this season (tied for most in Eastern Conference) and returns home for three games this weekend at the DCU Center (Friday vs. Manchester, Saturday vs. Portland, and Sunday vs. Springfield).

The Worcester Sharks player of the week nominee was rookie Freddie Hamilton. Freddie scored his third game winning goal of the season with 3:26 remaining in the 3rd period in a 3-2 win at Adirondack on Saturday night. Hamilton finished the three game work week with two points (1-1-2) and three shots on goal.

More than a few things to know....

* The Sharks are currently in 3rd place (23-20-1-5, 52pts) in the Atlantic Division and 9th place overall in the Eastern Conference.

* The San Jose Sharks currently have 10 players on their roster that have spent time in Worcester (Couture, Desjardins, Pavelski, Sheppard, Wingels, Braun, Demers, Greiss, Kennedy, and Pelech).

* The San Jose Sharks are currently in 2nd place in the Pacific Division with 17 points and a 7-4-3 record.

* Forward Tim Kennedy was called up by the SJ Sharks on Feb 12. Kennedy has a goal in two games with San Jose and is currently still on re-call. Tim continues to lead the Worcester Sharks with 37 points (13-24-37) in 37 games... Kennedy has a two game point streak (0-5-5) in Worcester.

* Captain John McCarthy became the 5th player in Worcester Sharks history to score 50 career goals with his 8th of the season in 3-2 win at Adirondack on Feb 16.

* Rookie Daniil Tarasov has points in nine of his last 12 games (7-4-11) - which includes two game winning goals.

* All-Star Bracken Kearns leads Worcester with eight power play goals and is second with seven fighting majors.

* The Sharks signed defenseman Adam Comrie to an SPC for the rest of the season. Comrie had 17 goals and 106 penalty minutes in 45 games with Reading (ECHL) this season. Comrie has one assist and is +4 in three games with Worcester.

* Worcester has a 15-10-1-3 record vs. the Atlantic Division this season. - best record within the division.

* The Sharks are tied for 1st in the AHL with 16 one-goal wins. Worcester is 16-6-1-5 in one goal games this season. - Worcester is 12-3-0-2 in one goal games on the road this season - best in AHL.

* The Sharks lead the AHL with 6 wins when trailing after 40 minutes of play this season (6-14-0-4). In addition the Sharks are 8-4-0-1 when tied after 40 minutes of play.

* Coach Roy Sommer currently ranks 4th in the AHL with 532 wins in his career (15th season) and 3rd in games coached in the AHL with 1165. Sommer is six games behind Fred "Bun" Cook (1171 games coached) for 2nd most in AHL history.

* Click HERE to bid on a Worcester Sharks PINK in the RINK jersey to benefit the Cup Crusaders! Auction ends on Wednesday night at 8pm (EST)

* The Sharks will host a "Skate with the Sharks" on Tuesday night at the North Star Youth Forum in Westborough from 6-8pm.

* The Sharks host three games this weekend at the DCU Center

o Friday at 7:30pm vs. Manchester Monarchs

o Saturday at 7pm vs. Portland Pirates

o Sunday at 3pm vs. Springfield Falcons

Top 3... Last Week!

1. Freddie Hamilton scores the GWG and adds an assist in the Sharks 3-2 win at Adirondack on Saturday!

2. John McCarthy fires seven shots and picks up a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win at Adirondack on Saturday!

3. Adam Comie picks up an assist and is +4 in his first three game with the Sharks this past weekend!

Last Week: (1-2-0-0) 2pts, 3gp

Fri. 2/15 L Worcester SHARKS 1 @ Springfield Falcons 3

Sat. 2/16 W Worcester SHARKS 3 @ Adirondack 2

Sun. 2/17 L Worcester SHARKS 1 @ Providence 3

This week:

Fri. 2/22 Manchester Monarchs @ Worcester SHARKS - 7:30pm

Sat. 2/23 Portland Pirates @ Worcester SHARKS - 7pm

Sun. 2/24 Springfield Falcons @ Worcester SHARKS - 3pm

Rewind the Tape:

2.15.13 - Springfield 3 - Worcester 1 - L - Mass Mutual Center

The Worcester Sharks (22-19-1-5, 50pts) kicked off a 3-in-3 road weekend with a 3-1 loss to the Springfield Falcons (29-11-4-3, 65pts) on Friday night in front of 2,966 fans at the Mass Mutual Center. Harri Sateri made 27 saves for Worcester in his 3rd straight start in net and Daniil Tarasov (4-0-4) extended his point streak to three games with the only Worcester score. 15 combined power plays slowed down the game as Worcester fell to 2-1-0-0 vs. the Falcons this season. The Sharks are now 2-1-0-0 on their five game road trip.

2.16.13 - Adirondack 2 - Worcester 3 - W - Glens Falls Civic Center

The Worcester Sharks (23-19-1-5, 52pts) picked up their 12th 1-goal victory on the road this season with a 3-2 win over the Adirondack Phantoms (20-25-2-1, 43pts) on Saturday night in front of 4,442 fans at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Alex Stalock made 26 saves to snap a personal six game skid (0-4-0-2) and Jon Matsumoto scored against his former team while captain John McCarthy made it three goals in his last three games. Freddie Hamilton broke a 2-2 tie late in the third period for the game winner as the Sharks won 3-2. The Sharks are now 3-1-0-0 on their five game road trip.

2.17.13 - Providence 3 - Worcester 1 - L - Dunkin Donuts Center

The Worcester Sharks (23-20-1-5, 52pts) finished off their season long five game road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Atlantic Division leading Providence Bruins (30-17-0-3, 63pts) on Sunday afternoon in front of 11,153 fans at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Sharks finished the road trip 3-2-0-0 and return home for three games next weekend at the DCU Center beginning with a 7:30pm start vs. the Manchester Monarchs on Friday night. Alex Stalock made 27 saves in his second straight start and Yanni Gourde broke a 22 game goalless drought with a late third period goal for the Sharks in the loss.

Sharks in the Atlantic:

The Sharks (23-20-1-5, 52pts in 49gp) are currently in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division; which is 11 points behind the 1st place Bruins (63pts in 50gp), 10 points behind the 2nd place Pirates (62pts in 50gp) and three points ahead of the 4th place Monarchs (49pts in 51gp). The Sharks have a five point edge over the 5th place IceCaps (47pts in 53gp) to round out a very choppy Atlantic Division.

Coaching Milestones....

*1000 GAMES... With the 3-1 victory at Springfield on January 14, 2011, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 1,000 games plateau.

*500 WINS!.... With a 3-2 shootout victory in Hershey on February 11, 2012, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 500 win plateau.

AHL COACHING WINS - ALL-TIME

1. Fred "Bun" Cook 1937-56 19seasons 1,171GP 636 WINS

2. Frank Mathers 1956-85 18seasons 1,256GP 610 WINS

3. John Paddock 1981-2010 16seasons 1,125GP 589 WINS

4. Roy Sommer 1998-current 15seasons 1,165GP 532WINS

*Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer, who plays a major role in developing players for the San Jose Sharks, is currently the longest-tenured coach (15th season) in the American Hockey League. His current regular season record is now: 532-456-49-48-50. (W-L-T-OTL-SOL)

*In Coach Sommer's first AHL victory.... The Kentucky Thoroughblades defeated the Albany River Rats 6-4 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on October 17th 1998. Coincidentally, Associate Coach David Cunniff recorded an assist as a member of the River Rats in the hockey game.

*Associate Coach David Cunniff has joined Coach Sommer in 377 of the 532 victories (71%).

*ECHL... Coach Sommer also has 176 wins in the ECHL coaching in five seasons with Roanoke Valley and Richmond.

Shark Bites:

*Captains for the 2012-13 season: John McCarthy was named the Sharks 5th captain in team history on October 11, 2012. Alternate captains for this season: Home: Danny Groulx and Bracken Kearns. Away: Matt Pelech and Tim Kennedy.... Jimmy Bonneau, Brandon Mashinter, James Livingston, and Jon Matsumoto have also all worn the "A" this season.

*From east to west..... Three Worcester Sharks players from the 2012-13 season are currently on the San Jose Sharks NHL roster (Pelech, Kennedy, and Sheppard)

*February by the numbers.... The Sharks are 3-3-0-1 (7pts in 7gp) in February with 14GF and 15GA. PP is 5-34 (14.7%), opponents PP is 6-38 (15.8%) and the Sharks have 11 fighting majors this month.

*Streakers... Danny Groulx (0-3-3) has a three game point streak and Jon Matsumoto has a two game point streak (1-1-2).

*Tough scoring goals... the Sharks have scored four goals just twice in their last 22 games.... Worcester has scored just 44 goals during that stretch (2.00 goals per game).

*Home Record... the Sharks have lost six straight games at the DCU Center (0-4-0-2) and have scored just eight goals during that stretch... Worcester is 8-9-1-3 at the DCU Center - 8 wins tied for fewest in the AHL.

*Road Warriors... Worcester is 15-11-0-2 on the road this season - 15 wins tied for most in Eastern Conference... the Sharks lead the AHL with 12 1-goal wins on the road this season (12-3-0-2)... and lead the AHL with five wins when trailing after 40 minutes of play on the road.

*Harri likes the Road... Sateri has a 8-4-2 record on the road this season for the Sharks!

*AHL Deal.....Defenseman Denny Urban was signed to a standard AHL player contract on Feb 1... the Pittsburgh, PA native and Robert Morris alum has been impressive in his first AHL action with the Sharks as he has 12 points (3-9-12) in 20 games with Worcester... Urban was named an ECHL All-Star starter as he scored 13 goals with the Reading Royals at the time of his signing with the Sharks to a PTO.

*AHL Deal 2.... Defenseman Adam Comrie was signed to a standard AHL player contract on Feb 6. Comrie was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers with the 80th pick in the 2008 NHL draft. The 6-4 215lb native of Ashburn, Virginia played in 45 games this season for the Reading Royals (ECHL) posting 33 points (17-16-33) and 106 penalty minutes. Adam has played 44 games in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. Comrie has one point (0-1-1) and is +4 in three games for Worcester.

*Score first... the Sharks have scored FIRST 22 times in 49 games this season with a 13-8-0-1 record in those games. (Tim Kennedy 4, Yanni Gourde 1, Freddie Hamilton 2, John McCarthy 1, Brodie Reid 2, Travis Oleksuk 1, Matt Tennyson 2, Jon Matsumoto 3, James Livingston 2, James Sheppard 1, Denny Urban 1, and Daniil Tarasov).

*Points in Bunches... Sharks forward Tim Kennedy leads the team with 12 multi point games this season. Kennedy has 28 points (10-18-28) in those 12 games this season!

*We miss Kennedy.... The Worcester Sharks are 3-8-0-1 when Tim Kennedy is not in the lineup. Worcester has been outscored 20-37 in those 12 games and the power play is just 8.3% (4-48) when #22 is not in the lineup

*AHL Player of the Week!.... for the 3rd time in franchise history the Sharks had the AHL's player of the week awarded on Dec 3 . Tim Kennedy was named the AHL's POW (joining Thomas Greiss and Tommy Wingels) after posting five goals (5-0-5), +5, and a shootout score in three games for the Sharks. Kennedy currently leads the Sharks with 37 points (13-24-37) in 37 games... Kennedy is currently on recall with the San Jose Sharks and has a goal in two games.

*Pro Debut: Forward Daniil Tarasov made his professional debut on Nov 4 vs. the Monarchs. The 21-year-old became the first player born in Russia (Moscow) to suit up for the Worcester Sharks. Daniil scored 47 goals in 60 games last year for the Indiana Ice of the USHL. Tarasov had 14 points (3-11-14) in 17 games with San Francisco in the ECHL and 12 points (7-5-12) in 16 games with Worcester.

*5 National Champions... The Sharks have five players that have won the NCAA Division 1 Championship.... Travis Oleksuk with University Minnesota Duluth in 2011... John McCarthy was co-captain for Boston University in 2009... Nick Petrecki and Mike Brennan with Boston College in 2008... and Tim Kennedy with Michigan State in 2007.

*5 years and counting... Sharks forward Jon Matsumoto has recorded at least 20+ goals (20,29,30,20,23) in five straight seasons in the AHL heading into his first season with Worcester in 2012-13. Jon has 11 goals through 41 games this season for Worcester and currently is tied for the team lead with three game winning goals.

*OT? The Worcester Sharks have played 13 games in OT this season with a .539 point % in those games. The Sharks are 2-1 in overtime and 5-5 in the shootout. - the 10 shootout games are the 3rd most in the AHL.

*Score on the power play and win?... the Sharks are 18-5-0-3 when they score a power play goal this season, 14-3-0-1 on the road when they score on the man advantage. Worcester is 8-1-0-0 when they score at least two power play goals in a game this season!

*Keeping your hat on (Thanks Ballou)... Worcester has gone 232 games since one of its players recorded a hat trick. That is easily the longest active streak in the AHL. The Sharks' last hat trick belongs to Dan DaSilva, who scored three times in Portland during a 5-2 Worcester victory in Portland on Feb. 14, 2010. No Worcester player has recorded a hat trick on home ice in more than three years, or since P.J. Fenton had one on Feb. 28, 2009 in the Sharks' 7-3 victory over Springfield. The home-ice drought has lasted for 146 games. In the meantime, Worcester has had 46 two-goal games, including five each by Benn Ferriero, Brandon Mashinter and T.J. Trevelyan. In all, Worcester players have recorded hat tricks only seven times in the franchise's 525 games. The Sharks are 7-0 in those games and 1-11-3 in the 15 games in which the opposition has had a hat trick.

*Shootout scorers.... The Sharks rank 22nd in the AHL with a .275 scoring percentage (14-for-51) in the shootout. (McCarthy 2-for-4, Sheppard 4-for-7, Matsumoto 3-for-9, Tim Kennedy 1-for-8, Sebastian Stalberg 0-for-2, Travis Oleksuk 0-for-4, Brandon Mashinter 1-for-2, Brodie Reid 0-for-6, Denny Urban 2-for-3, Danill Tarasov (1-for-3), Tommy Grant (0-for-1), Danny Groulx (0-for-1), Patrick Rissmiller (0-for-1)... Sheppard leads the AHL with 4 shootout goals and 2 game winning shootout goals this season.

*Leaders among us... James Sheppard (currently in SJ) leads the AHL with four shootout goals and two game winning shootout goals... Matt Tennyson is 3rd among AHL rookies with 12 power play assists... Matt Pelech is 5th in AHL with 181 penalty minutes.

*Nice Crowd... The Sharks have welcomed eight crowds over 5,000 fans during the 2012-13 season (6,659 on Oct 20 - 5,098 on Nov 17 - 6,621 on Deb 8, 5,008 on Dec 28, 6,503 on Dec 29, 6,959 on Jan 19, 8,189 on Jan 26 and 7,966 fans on Feb 2 )

*1,000,000th fan... The Sharks welcomed their 1,000,000th fan (season ticket holder Peter West) through the DCU Center turnstiles on Oct 28. Currently, the Sharks have had 1,083,262 fans attend a regular season game in the 6+ years in Worcester. (4,182 average in 259 home games).

*Most fans to watch the Sharks... the crowd of 11,152 at the Dunkin Donuts Center to watch the Sharks lose 3-1 to the Bruins was the largest crowd (home or away) ever to watch a Worcester Sharks game.

*Worcester/Manchester Rivalry... the Sharks and Monarchs combined for 567 penalty minutes in the 12 games (275WOR, 292 MCH) and 25 sets of fighting major penalties in 2011-12. Worcester went 3-6-2-1 vs. Manchester last season and the series featured a pre game brawl in the series final at the DCU Center on April 10. The Sharks are 5-3-0-0 vs. Manchester this season with nine sets of fighting majors. The two teams battle on Feb 22 at DCU Center.

*Sharks/Pirates Rivalry... the Sharks and the Pirates had a bench clearing brawl in Portland on April 7, 2012 after the 12th and final meeting between the two teams. The bad blood has carried over this season with the Sharks holding a 3-5-0-1 record so far in the season series that has seen 33 fighting majors penalties and 451 total penalty minutes (219 WOR, 232 POR). The two teams combined for 15 fighting majors and 143 penalty minutes in a 5-1 Sharks victory on Nov 24 at the DCU Center. The two teams meet again on Feb 23 at the DCU Center.

*Crazy 8's - the Sharks set a home ice Worcester hockey record with eight fighting majors vs. the Pirates in a 5-1 win on Nov 24 at the DCU Center.

*PP Specialist...Matt Irwin's 15 career power-play goals have put him in good position to set some team records, but he is not there yet. He tied the record for most power-play goals in a season by a Sharks defenseman with nine in 2011-12, also done by Garrett Stafford in 2006-07. The career record is 16, done by Derek Joslin.... Irwin made his NHL debut with the SJ Sharks on Jan 20 in a 4-1 win at Calgary and scored his first NHL goal on Jan 26 in a 4-0 win vs. Colorado... Irwin is back in Worcester after nine games with the San Jose Sharks (1-1-2).

*Tallest Shark.... Worcester Sharks rookie defenseman Taylor Doherty is the tallest player in team history standing at 6'7" 235lbs.... Doherty scored his first professional goal in game #70 and added an assist in the Sharks 3-2OTL to the IceCaps on Nov 3. Doherty has missed the last 29 games with a leg injury.

*Penalty Shot!.... Brandon Mashinter was denied on a penalty shot late in the 3rd period at Hershey on Dec 15 as Braden Holtby made the save... the Sharks are 3-for-10 in penalty shot situations in franchise history with Mash as the only player ever to take more than one (0-for-2)... Mash was traded to the NY Rangers organization on Jan 16.

*First Pro Goals this season... Travis Oleksuk and Taylor Doherty each scored their first professional goals on Nov 3... Freddie Hamilton scored his first on Nov 9, and Mike Banwell scored his first snipe on Jan 26.

*Sharks in the Atlantic... Worcester is 15-10-1-4 in divisional games in 2012-13 - best record within the division.

*Super Sunday.... the Sharks are 6-4-0-0 on Sunday afternoons this season and 4-1-0-0 on the road this season!

*3rd period Heroes... Worcester is 6-14-0-4 when trailing after two periods of play this season. (6 wins most in AHL).... the Sharks were 5-44-4-7 in that situation the last two seasons combined.

*20 goal scorers?... The Sharks have three players that have scored at least 20+ goals in a season in the AHL... John McCarthy scored 20 goals last year for Worcester, Jon Matsumoto has score 20+ goals in AHL in each of the last five seasons, and Bracken Kearns has scored 20+ goals in each of the last two seasons.

*These Sharks have teeth Take 2?.... Worcester finished 1st in the AHL in penalty minutes averaging 21.32 penalty minutes per game and were 1st with 120 fighting major penalties in 2011-12. Worcester ranks 5th with 21.80 penalty minutes per game this season and 4th with 61 fighting majors.

*90 PIMS... the Sharks recorded a then AHL high 90 penalty minutes in Worcester's 5-4 win at Providence on Dec 21. (15 minors, 2 majors, 3 misconducts, 2 game misconducts)

*Welcome back Groulx... Defensemen Danny Groulx is back with the Sharks after spending the last two seasons in the KHL. With Worcester in 2009-10, Groulx was named the Best Defensemen in the AHL (Eddie Shore Award) and First Team AHL All-Star as he racked up 66 points (14-52-55) in 80 games. Groulx has 13 points (2-11-13) in 23 games this season and is riding a three game point streak (0-3-3). Groulx missed 21 games due to injury before returning on Jan 25.

*Yanni scores shorthanded.... Finally!... Sharks rookie forward Yanni Gourde scored the first Sharks shorthanded goal of the season on Dec 2 in Providence. The Sharks had not scored a shorthanded goal in their previous 70 games spanning 306 shorthanded opportunities.

*Sherriff McLaren... Sharks tough guy Frazer McLaren ranks 1st all-time in Worcester Sharks history with 577 penalty minutes (54 FM) in 217 games. Frazer had an AHL single game high this season with 37 penalty minutes on Dec 21 at Providence. Watch Frazer's marathon fight vs. Joel Rechlicz from Jan 8 by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?veJhIFfNb-n4. Frazer was picked up by the Toronto Maple Leafs on waivers on Jan 31.

*Tennyson chipping in... rookie defenseman Matt Tennyson has been impressive from the blue line this season! The Minneapolis, MN native and former SJ Jr. Shark has 19 points (3-16-19) through 45 games this season. Tennyson has 14 power play points (2-12-14).

*Massachusetts!... the Sharks have had two players that that hail from Massachusetts that suited up for the team this season (John McCarthy - Andover and Patrick Rissmiller - Belmont) In addition, associate coach David Cunniff hails from South Boston.

*Hockey East Alumni!... the Worcester Sharks have seven players from Hockey East Schools (Irwin - UMass-Amherst, McCarthy - BU, Reid - NU, Petrecki and Brennan - BC, Stalberg - Vermont, Banwell - UMaine)

*BC leading the way.... The Sharks signed BC alum Mike Brennan to a PTO on Nov 27. Brennan became the 5th former BC defensemen and 6th player overall that has suited up for the Sharks over the last seven seasons. Brennan has four points (0-4-4) in 24 games for the Sharks and 2 fighting majors.

*Rookies... the Sharks have dressed 12 rookies already this season. (Travis Oleksuk, Sebastian Stalberg, Matt Tennyson, Freddie Hamilton, Yanni Gourde, Mikael Tam, Daniil Tarasov, Mike Banwell, Denny Urban, Sacha Guimond, Andy Bohmbach, Michael Pelech, and William Wrenn)

*I'll take a draft... Eight Worcester Sharks players were drafted by the San Jose Sharks. (McLaren, Hamilton, Stalock, Doherty, McCarthy, Petrecki, Sateri, and Viedensky,)

*NHL Experience.... The Sharks have had 12 players on their roster with NHL experience led by James Sheppard with 224.... Breaking down the rest....Patrick Rissmiller 192, Tim Kennedy 114, John McCarthy 51, Frazer McLaren 39, Jon Matsumoto 14, Bracken Kearns 5, Matt Pelech 5, Brandon Mashinter 13, Alex Stalock 1, Nick Petrecki 1, and Matt Irwin 9.

*Franchise player traded... Sharks forward Brandon Mashinter ranked in the top 10 in many of the Worcester Sharks all-time records.... Mash ranks 4th all time in goals (54), 2nd in games played (236), 7th in points (108), 6th in penalty minutes (320) and 4th in fighting majors with 34.... Brandon is also the only Sharks player to record two seasons of double digits in goals and fighting major penalties (2009-10 and 2010-11).... Mash was traded to the NY Rangers for Tommy Grant and a 7th round conditional pick on Jan 16.

*Whale turned Shark.... Tommy Grant, 26, had posted 16 points (9-716) in 34 games with Connecticut (AHL) this season before getting traded to the Sharks on Jan 16. Last season with Connecticut, the six-foot-two, 195-pound North Vancouver, British Columbia native notched 23 points (11-1223) with 39 penalty minutes in 72 games. Grant has three points (1-2-3) in 11 games with Worcester.

*50 saves... Harri Sateri made an AHL high 50 saves in the Sharks 3-2SOW at Providence on Dec 2. Sateri also went 5-for-5 in the shootout in the victory. The 50 saves was the 2nd most ever by a Sharks netminder. Thomas Greiss holds the record with 51 saves in a 4-1 win vs. Hartford on April 6, 2007.

*First Rounders... the Sharks have three players that were drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft... James Sheppard was the 9th overall pick by Minnesota in 2006, Matt Pelech was the 26th overall pick by Calgary in 2005, and Nick Petrecki was the 28th pick overall by San Jose in 2007.

*No sophomore jinx for Brodie... 2nd year player Brodie Reid continues to impress this season for Worcester... Reid had 25 points (10-15-25) in 66 games last year for Worcester as a rookie but already has 21 points (10-11-21) in 31 games this season for the Sharks... Reid has missed the four games due to injury.

*Sheppard in AHL... with 224 NHL games under his belt before an AHL conditioning stint for four games last year with Worcester, Sharks forward James Sheppard signed an AHL contract at the start of the 2012-13 season. The 9th overall draft selection by the Wild in 2006, has 23 points (8-15-23) and an AHL high 4 shootout goals in 34 games with the Sharks this season. Sheppard is currently on recall with the SJ Sharks and has one assist in nine games.

*Closing in on Greiss.... Sharks netminder Alex Stalock has 72 career wins with Worcester, trailing only Thomas Greiss (74) for the most in franchise history.

*200 games... Sharks defensemen Nick Petrecki is 3rd in Sharks history with 221 games played... Nick also ranks 3rd in penalty minutes with 412.... Nick made his NHL debut in San Jose's 3-2SOW over the Anaheim Ducks on 1/29 and played 11:58... he was returned to Worcester on Feb 3... the 216 games before his first NHL game was the most of any Worcester Sharks graduate to San Jose.

*200/50.... Captain John McCarthy played in his 200th game for the Sharks on Jan 26... J-Mac scored his 50th goal as a member of the Worcester Sharks joining Riley Armstrong, Mike Iggulden, Graham Mink, and Brandon Mashinter as the only five players to score 50+ goals as a member of the Worcester Sharks.

*Younger Brother... Sebastian Stalberg joined Worcester on March 15, 2012 after he signed an NHL contract with San Jose and finished his junior season at the University of Vermont. Sebastian is the younger brother of Viktor Stalberg, who currently plays with the Chicago Blackhawks. Sebastian has 10 points (6-4-10) in 40 games with the Sharks this season. The native of Gothenburg, Sweden finished with 27 goals in 106 games with Vermont.

*Older Brother... Sharks forward Freddie Hamilton made his professional debut with the Sharks on Friday in Norfolk. Freddie recorded 86 points (35-51-86) with Niagara (OHL) in 61 games last season. Freddie is the older brother of the Dougie Hamilton who was drafted by the Boston Bruins with the 9th pick overall in 2011. Dougie is currently attending the Boston Bruins training camp. Freddie has 16 points (7-9-16) in 49 games this season. Freddie is the only skater to appear in all 49 games this season for Worcester.

*Brothers on the same line... for the first time in Worcester's AHL history, two brothers suited up in the same game for the same Worcester team on Jan 19. Matt and Michael Pelech skated on the same line along side Tommy Grant in the Sharks 2-1 loss to Adirondack. Michael picked up an assist and Matt picked up his team leading 10th and 11th fighting majors in the loss.

*Like Father, Like Son... Rookie Curt Gogol finished 3rd on the Sharks with 167 penalty minutes and 2nd with 19 fighting majors through 53 games in 2011-12... his father Brent racked up 892 penalty minutes in 157 professional games in the IHL, CHL, EHL, and the AHL including 380 pims in 1978-79 in 57 games with the Flint Generals. Curt has 6 fighting majors, 118 penalty minutes, and 3 goals through 29 games this season.

*Piling up the PIMS with Pelech... Forward/Defenseman Matt Pelech played in his 300th AHL game on Oct 20 vs. the Devils. The 6-foot-5 bruising defenseman turned forward from Toronto, ONT has accumulated 943 penalty minutes and 72 fighting majors in 333 AHL games. "Pelly" leads the Sharks with 181 penalty minutes this season in 37 games. Pelech has been suspended twice by the AHL this season totaling 7 games. Matt currently leads the Sharks with 12 fighting majors and has one fighting major (Jared Boll) in one game with the SJ Sharks this season.

*Major Bonneau... Worcester Sharks tough guy Jimmy Bonneau racked up 22 fighting majors in 54 games in 2011-12 for the Sharks. Bonneau has set the Worcester Sharks record for most fighting majors in a season surpassing Frazer McLaren (21 in 2008-09). Jimmy has 101 fighting majors in 266 AHL games along with 760 penalty minutes.... Jimmy has 7 fighting majors and 39 penalty minutes through 17 games this season.

*Acolatse can throw... Worcester Sharks rookie defenseman Sena Acolatse has been quite impressive in his first eight professional hockey fights this season. The 5-11, 205 pounder and native of Hayward, CA native fought Richard Clune, Brett Hextall, Dane Byers, Stephane Veilleux, Andre Deveaux, J.D. Watt, and Garth Murray in 2011-12. Sena led the Prince George Cougars in WHL with 15 fighting majors in 66 games in 2010-11, and also added 15 goals. Acolatse added eight goals from the blue line for Worcester in 2011-12. Sena has 4 fights (Hanson, Lane, Louis, Andreoff) this season through 27 games. Sena has missed the last 16 games due to a broken jaw.

*Acolatse can score!..... Dating back to last season, Sena has 10 goals in his last 37 game played; including four goals in 27 games this season!

*Five for fighting... The Sharks finished with 120 fighting majors in 2011-12 (franchise record) good for 1st in the AHL... this season, the Sharks have 61 fighting majors through 49 games and rank 4th in the AHL (Pelech 12, Kearns 7, Bonneau 7, McLaren 7, Banwell 1, Gogol 6, Mashinter 4, Acolatse 4, Reid 1, Gourde 1, Brennan 2, Livingston 4, Tam 3, Petrecki 2). The Sharks had 81 fighting majors in 2010-11, 73 fighting majors in 2009-10, 78 fighting majors in 2008-09, 68 fighting majors in 2007-08 and 54 in 2006-07.

Season by the numbers...

Record: 23-20-1-5, 52 points - 3rd in Atlantic and 9th in Eastern Conference

Win percentage: .531% - 19th in AHL

Home Record: 8-9-1-3

Away Record: 15-11-0-2

Attendance: 92,557 through 21 games (4,470 average)

Goals Scored: 121, 2.47 goals per game, 25th in AHL

Goals Allowed: 138, 2.82 goals against per game, 16th in AHL

Shots per game: 29.57 - 21st in AHL

Shots allowed per game: 30.06 - 14th in AHL

Score 1st: 13-8-0-1 when scoring first (.614%)

1 goal games: 16-6-1-5 in one goal games -16 wins most in AHL

PP: 15.9%, 19th in AHL (36-226)

PK: 82.1%, 19th in AHL (40-224)

SHG - 2 shorthanded goals scored

SHGA - 4 shorthanded goals allowed

PIMS - 21.80 penalty minutes per game, 5th in AHL

Fighting Majors: 61 - 4th in AHL

OT Games - 13 - (2-1 record in OT) - Hamilton and Petrecki OTG

SO Games - 10 - (5-5 record in SO)

Roster Players - the Sharks have used 38 players this season

Goalies - the Sharks have used 2 goaltenders this season

Players receiving call-ups to San Jose - 10

NHL debuts - 2 Worcester players made their NHL debuts this season (Matt Irwin and Nick Petrecki)

Call-ups to San Jose - 11 different call-ups to San Jose this season

Coming and goings from the Shark Tank: 02/18/2013

Matt Pelech (RW)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

02/13/2013

Marek Viedensky (C)

Worcester

ADD Reassigned by San Jose (NHL) from San Francisco (ECHL)

02/13/2013

Matt Pelech (RW)

Worcester

ADD Returned on loan from San Jose (NHL)

02/12/2013

Tim Kennedy (C)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

02/11/2013

Michael Wilson (D)

Worcester

DEL Released from PTO

02/11/2013

Mikael Tam (D)

Worcester

DEL Returned on loan to San Francisco (ECHL)

02/10/2013

Matt Pelech (RW)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

02/10/2013

Nick Petrecki (D)

Worcester

ADD Returned on loan from San Jose (NHL)

Top Worcester Sharks:

o Goals Kennedy (13)

o Game Winners Hamilton and Matsumoto (3)

o Assists Kennedy (24)

o Points Kennedy (13-24-37)

o Power Play Points Kennedy (5-11-16)

o Shots McCarthy (96 shots)

o PIM Pelech (181)

o Fighting Pen. Pelech (12)

o Plus/Minus Kennedy (+8)

o Wins Stalock (12)

o G.A.A. Sateri (2.49)

o Save % Sateri (.915)

o Shutouts Sateri and Stalock (1)

Sharks in the NHL

The San Jose Sharks are 7-4-3 (17pts in 14gp) and currently in 2nd place in the Pacific Division.

Former Worcester Sharks players on the San Jose Sharks roster include; (Couture, Desjardins, Pavelski, Sheppard, Wingels, Braun, Demers, Pelech, Greiss, Kennedy, and Pelech).

Matt Irwin scored his first NHL goal on Jan 26 in the Sharks 4-0 win over the Avalanche in San Jose.

Tim Kennedy scored his first goal with the Sharks on Feb 15 at Chicago

Week ahead for San Jose:

* Mon. Feb 19 at 8pm (EST) at St. Louis

* Fri. Feb 22 at 8:30pm (EST) at Chicago

* Sat. Feb 23 at 8:pm (EST) at Dallas

Sharks in the ECHL:

The San Francisco Bulls are 19-27-1-6 (45pts in 53gp) and currently in 4th place in the Pacific Division.

Sharks players under an AHL contract currently playing in San Francisco include:

* G Taylor Nelson (7-12-4 record) with a 3.61 GAA and a .887 save %.

* G Thomas Heemskerk (12-14-1 record) with a 3.15GAA and a .902 save %.

* D Mikael Tam has 7 points (1-6-7) in 19 games.

Week ahead for the Bulls:

* Tue. Feb 12 at 9:10 (EST) at Idaho

* Wed. Feb 13 at 9:10pm (EST) at Idaho

* Sat. Feb 16 at 10:30pm (EST) at Stockton

* Sun. Feb 17 at 5:05pm (EST) vs. Stockton

Coming Up for the Worcester Sharks:

The Sharks return home and host three games this weekend at the DCU Center!

On Friday, the Sharks host the Manchester Monarchs at 7:30pm on Wachusett Mountain Learn to Turn Night!

On Saturday, the Sharks host the Portland Pirates at 7pm and will wear a specialty jersey to benefit the Autism Research Center of Central Massachusetts.

On Sunday, the Sharks close out the 3-in-3 home weekend with a 3pm start vs. the Springfield Falcons. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Danny Groulx autograph card presented by Enterprise Cleaning Corporation!

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American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2013


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