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AHL Syracuse Crunch

AHL All-Stars Take Center Stage

February 14, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


The 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Game begins tonight at 7 p.m. and will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 in the United States and on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. The game will take place at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H., home of the AHL's Manchester Monarchs. Center Alexander Svitov will represent Syracuse as a member of the PlanetUSA Team. Of the 328 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 92 percent have competed in the NHL, including 14 of the Crunch's 17 representatives.

SVITOV SHOWS OFF HIS SKILLS: Syracuse was represented last night by center Alexander Svitov in the AHL All-Star Skills Competition. Svitov competed in two events, helping PlanetUSA to a 17 – 13 victory over the Canadian All-Stars. Svitov, along with Binghamton's Brandon Bochenski and Springfield's Craig Darby scored once on three attempts against Grand Rapids Joey MacDonald in the Coors Light Pass and Score. Svitov also scored on his one attempt in the RepeatSeat Breakaway Relay.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Syracuse returns from the All-Star break this weekend eight points behind the Edmonton Road Runners with one game in hand. Edmonton (61 points) has 28 games remaining (10 home, 18 road) compared to Syracuse's 29 games (16 home, 13 road). Hamilton (53 points), currently tied with the Crunch for fifth, has 27 games remaining (16 home, 11 road). Cleveland (51 points) trails both Syracuse and Hamilton by two points with 27 games remaining (12 home, 15 road).

LIBBY RELEASED FROM P.T.O.: The Syracuse Crunch announced on Sunday that they released defenseman Matt Libby from his professional try-out contract. Libby appeared in five games with the Crunch this season, recording six penalty minutes.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

BINGHAMTON (OTTAWA SENATORS): Syracuse begins the teams' first-ever six games in seven nights stretch when they host Binghamton at the War Memorial at Oncenter on Friday, February 18 for the seventh of eight regular season meeting between the teams this season. Binghamton leads the series 5-0-0-1, after Syracuse defeated Binghamton for the first time this season 3-2 in a shootout on January 30 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Center Jason Spezza (3g, 8a) leads all players with 11 points in head-to-head scoring. Right wing Joe Motzko leads the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with six points (1g, 5a). Karl Goehring has appeared in three games for Syracuse, posting a 0-3-0 record, a 3.28 gaa and .894 save percentage. Ray Emery has appeared in net four times for Binghamton, posting a 3-0-1 record, a 1.93 gaa and .942 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 7-12-3 against the Senators.

CLEVELAND (SAN JOSE SHARKS): Cleveland travels to the War Memorial at Oncenter on Saturday, February 19 for the fifth of eight regular season meetings between the teams this season. The series is tied 2-2, after Syracuse shutout Cleveland 2-0 on February 3 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Center Jeff Panzer (1g, 3a) leads all Crunch players in head-to-head scoring with four points. Left wing Josh Prudden (2g, 2a) leads the Barons with four points in head-to-head scoring. Karl Goehring has appeared in four games for Syracuse with a 2-2-0 record, a 2.21 gaa and .925 save percentage. Dimitri Patzold has appeared in net three times for Cleveland posting a 1-2-0 record, 1.68 gaa and .953 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 17-10-1 against the Barons.

HERSHEY (COLORADO AVALANCHE): Syracuse begin their three-game road trip in Hershey on Sunday, February 20 for the third of four regular season meetings between the teams this season. The series is tied 1-1, after Syracuse shutout the Bears 3-0 on December 19 at the GIANT Center. Center Chris Ferraro (2g) leads all players in head-to-head scoring with two points. Hershey has yet to score a goal in regulation. Andrew Penner (1-0-0 record, 0.00 gaa and 1.000 save percentage) and Pascal Leclaire (0-0-1 record, 0.00 gaa and 1.000 save percentage) have each appeared in one game for Syracuse. Peter Budaj (1-0-0 record, 0.00 gaa and 1.000 save percentage) and Tom Lawson (0-1-0 record, 2.02 gaa and .941 save percentage) have split time in net for Hershey. Lifetime, the Crunch are 23-32-11 against the Bears.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Thursday, February 17:

Crunch Players to Appear at Kinney Drugs February 17: The Syracuse Crunch announced that Crunch players Steven Goertzen, Zenith Komarniski and Brad Moran will appear at Kinney Drugs in East Syracuse on Thursday, February 17 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The Kinney Drugs ValueCard offers 10% off Kinney Brand products everyday. Save big on hundreds of National Brand Items throughout the store. Once enrolled, local Kinney customers can use their ValueCard for check writing privileges and more.

Kinney Drugs is located at 7065 Manlius Center Road. Call for directions 656-9925.

Friday, February 18:

Survivor: Vanuatu's Eliza Orlins to Appear at February 18 Crunch Game: The Syracuse Crunch, along with WTVH, announced that Survivor: Vanuatu's Eliza Orlins will be at the Crunch's Friday, February 18 game against Binghamton.

Orlins, 22, recently participated on the CBS reality show Survivor: Vanuatu, where she finished fourth out of 18 castaways. Orlins is currently a senior at Syracuse University, where she is working on a dual major in international relations and political science, with a minor in Chinese. She will graduate from Syracuse University in May 2005 and is in the process of applying to law school and intends to be a public defender after graduation.

Eliza Orlins will participate in a ceremonial puck drop prior to the game and be available during the first and second intermission in Memorial Hall to sign autographs.

Kinney Drugs Puck Night Set For Friday, February 18: The Syracuse Crunch announced that Friday, February 18 will be Kinney Drugs Puck Night at the Crunch.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance that night will receive a Crunch puck, courtesy of Kinney Drugs.

In addition, any person that stops by a Kinney Drugs location will receive a discount coupon good for a $10 ticket (savings of up to $6) for the February 18 game against Binghamton, while supplies last.

Taco Bell Night Set For Friday, February 18: The Syracuse Crunch announced that the Friday, February 18 game against the Binghamton Senators is Taco Bell Night at the Crunch.

Local Taco Bell stores will serve as outlets for vouchers good for discounted tickets to Taco Bell Night at the Crunch, courtesy of Taco Bell.

The Taco Bell discounted vouchers are available area Taco Bell locations.

Thursday, February 24:

Winnie the Pooh Visits the War Memorial at Oncenter February 24: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Time Warner announced that Winnie the Pooh will visit the War Memorial at Oncenter during their Thursday, February 24 game vs. Manitoba.

Winnie the Pooh will be available between the first and second intermissions to take pictures and sign autographs in Memorial Hall. During the Crunch's February 19 game, fans will be able to register at the Advance Auto Parts Guest Service Center to win four (4) tickets and a special family VIP Pass for a meet and greet with Winnie the Pooh on February 24.

INJURY UPDATE: Goaltender Pascal Leclaire is list as day-to-day with a groin injury. He has missed 30 games with the injury... Defenseman Andre Lakos is listed as day-to-day with a back injury. He has missed eight games with the injury... Defenseman Zenith Komarniski is listed as day-to-day with a back injury. He has missed seven games with the injury... Right wing Brandon Sugden is expected to miss four-to-five weeks with a thumb injury. He has missed 13 games with the injury... Center Chris Ferraro is expected to miss six weeks with a hand injury. He has missed one game with the injury... Through 51 games this season, Syracuse has lost 126 man-games due to injuries. Pascal Leclaire – 30, Brandon Sugden – 19, Zenith Komarniski – 11, Andre Lakos – 9, Jeff Panzer – 8, Francois Beauchemin – 7, Prestin Ryan – 7, Raffaele Sannitz – 7, Greg Mauldin - 6, Tim Jackman – 5, Jamie Pushor – 4, Mark Hartigan – 3, Peter Ferraro - 3, Aaron Johnson – 2, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen – 1, Joe Motzko - 1 and Chris Ferraro – 1 represent the Crunch's injury list this season.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch's weekly schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, February 15 All-Star Break

Wednesday, February 16 4:30 p.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Thursday, February 17 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Friday, February 18 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Binghamton

Saturday, February 19 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Cleveland

Sunday, February 20 5:00 p.m. game @ Hershey

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Left wing Mike Pandolfo moved into 10th on the Crunch's all-time games played list Saturday night, appearing in his 200th Syracuse game. Pandolfo enters the weekend trailing Tyson Nash (201 games played) by one game for ninth all-time and trailing Mathieu Darche (205 games played) by five for eighth all-time... Right wing Joe Motzko enters the All-Star break on a team season high five-game assist streak (2/3 – 2/12).

2004-05 RECORD: 23-21-4-3, 53 points (11-10-2-1 home, 12-11-2-2 road), tied-fifth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, February 18 vs. Binghamton (28-18-4-4), 64 points, first place, East Division

Saturday, February 19 vs. Cleveland (23-25-1-4), 51 points, seventh place, North Division

Sunday, February 20 @ Hershey (28-23-1-0), 57 points, fifth place, East Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, February 9 CRUNCH 4 San Antonio 1

Friday, February 11 CRUNCH 6 Cincinnati 1

Saturday, February 12 Cincinnati 3 CRUNCH 1

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

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