AHL Syracuse Crunch

Battle For Home Ice Takes Center Stage

April 3, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


RACE FOR HOME ICE: With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Syracuse and Manitoba are still fighting for second place in the North Division. Manitoba (94 points, six games remaining) leads Syracuse (93 points, eight games remaining) by one point with the Crunch playing two less games. Seven of Syracuse's eight remaining games are against division rivals (Toronto - 2, Rochester - 2, Manitoba -1, Hamilton - 1, Grand Rapids - 1 and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 1). Manitoba's six remaining games are all against division rivals (Cleveland - 2, Syracuse - 1, Rochester - 1, Toronto - 1 and Hamilton - 1).

FRITSCHE RECALLED: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled center Dan Fritsche.

Fritsche, 20, has appeared in 18 games with Syracuse this season, recording 3 goals, 4 assists and 12 penalty minutes. In 51 games with Columbus this season, Fritsche has tallied 4 goals, 5 assists and 22 penalty minutes. A native of Parma, Ohio, Fritsche was selected by Columbus in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2003 Entry Draft.

2006 CALDER CUP PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE: The Syracuse Crunch announced that tickets for Games "A" and "B" of the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs North Division Semifinals will go on sale Monday, April 3 at 10 a.m. Opponent, game dates and times will be announced at a later date.

Tickets that are labeled Game A are to be used for Game One. Tickets labeled Game B are to be used for Game Two. Tickets prices are $16, $14 and $12. (Day of game ticket prices are $17, $15 and $13).

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

MANITOBA (VANCOUVER CANUCKS): Syracuse hosts Manitoba on Tuesday, April 4 for the fourth and final regular season game. The Crunch lead the series 2-1-0-0, after defeating the Moose 5-3 on January 28 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Left wing Jason Jaffray leads all players in head-to-head scoring with seven points (3g, 4a). Defenseman Andy Delmore (6a) leads all Syracuse players in head-to-head scoring with six points. Goaltender Andrew Penner has appeared in two games for Syracuse, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 7.12 goals against average and .829 save percentage. Manitoba goaltender Wade Flaherty has appeared in all three games for the Moose posting a 1-2-0 record, 4.36 goals against average and .859 save percentage against Syracuse. Lifetime, the Crunch are 5-5-1 against the Moose.

HAMILTON (MONTREAL CANADIENS/EDMONTON OILERS): On Friday, April 7, Syracuse hosts Hamilton for the eighth and final regular season game. The Crunch lead the series 4-1-1-1, after defeating the Bulldogs 3-2 on March 25 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Center Mark Hartigan leads all players in head-to-head scoring with 10 points (7g, 3a). Right wing Andrei Kostitsyn (4g, 3a) leads the Bulldogs in head-to-head scoring with seven points. Goaltender Andrew Penner has appeared in five games for Syracuse, posting a 2-1-0 record, a 3.70 goals against average and .880 save percentage. Hamilton goaltender Yann Danis has posted a 0-3-0 record, 3.04 goals against average and .893 save percentage against Syracuse. Lifetime, the Crunch are 28-31-12 against the Bulldogs.

GRAND RAPIDS (DETROIT RED WINGS): Grand Rapids visits Syracuse on Saturday, April 8 for the sixth and final regular season game. Grand Rapids leads the series 5-0-0-0, after defeating Syracuse 5-4 in a shootout on February 25 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Left wings Jiri Hudler (1g, 8a) and Kent McDonell (6g, 2a) lead all players in head-to-head scoring with nine points. Defensemen Andy Delmore (1g, 4a) and Aaron Johnson (5a) lead all Syracuse players in head-to-head scoring with five points. Goaltender Andrew Penner has appeared in two games for Syracuse, posting a 0-1-0 record, 3.45 goals against average and .923 save percentage. Grand Rapids goaltender Jimmy Howard has posted a 3-0-0 record, 2.27 goals against average and .925 save percentage against Syracuse. Lifetime, the Crunch are 1-4-0-1 against the Griffins.

TORONTO (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): Syracuse travels to Toronto on Sunday, April 9 for the seventh of eight regular season games. Syracuse has a 3-3-0-0 record against Toronto in the series, despite losing 4-2 on March 11 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Center John Pohl leads all players in head-to-head scoring with nine points (5g, 4a). Center Mark Hartigan (2g, 4a) leads all Syracuse players in head-to-head scoring with six points. Goaltender Andrew Penner has appeared in three games for Syracuse, posting a 2-1-0 record, 2.30 goals against average and .913 save percentage. Toronto goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin has posted a 3-1-1 record, a 1.98 goals against average and .939 save percentage against Syracuse. Lifetime, the Crunch are 3-3-0-0 against the Amerks.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Crunch Announce Details of Score with P&C Promotion: The Syracuse Crunch announced the details of the Score with P&C Promotion.

Beginning March 25, Syracuse Crunch fans that purchase any of the designated Acosta brand products noted below from P&C will be eligible to purchase up to four adult or child tickets for only $10 a ticket (up to $8 savings on each ticket) until April 15, 2006.

Customers must purchase any of these Acosta Products at P&C to receive the Syracuse Crunch Ticket Discount:

Hershey's Campbell's Duncan Hines

Heinz

Once customers purchase these products with their P&C Wild Card they will receive a checkout coupon with their receipt. They simply need to bring the checkout coupon to the Crunch box office to receive their Syracuse Crunch ticket discount.

Just one more way P&C and the Syracuse Crunch have teamed up to save Crunch fans more!

Crunch Game-Worn Jersey Auction: The Crunch's 2005-06 game-worn jersey auction is currently ongoing.

Available for the auction this year are the teams' home jerseys (white color), road jerseys (blue color), third jerseys (red color), theme jerseys, St. Patrick's Day jerseys and warm-up jerseys. All of the available Crunch jerseys can be viewed on the Crunch's official website (www.syracusecrunch.com) beginning Friday, March 17

Fans can bid on Syracuse's 2005-06 game-worn jerseys at remaining Crunch home games or on the Crunch's official website www.syracusecrunch.com/shop/jersey_auction_new.cfm.

Bids must be made in $20 increments (for example - if current bid is $500, bids of $520, $540, $560, etc... will be accepted).

All winning bids will be notified within 48 hours of the conclusion of the auction. The auction will conclude Wednesday, May 3 at 5 p.m.

Winners are responsible for shipping and handling costs. Jerseys are not autographed.

Friday, April 7

Kinney Drugs ‘Mark Hartigan Puck Night' Set for April 7: The Syracuse Crunch announced that their Friday, April 7 game against Hamilton will be Kinney Drugs ‘Mark Hartigan Puck Night' at the Crunch.

For the first time in team history, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Crunch puck featuring a Syracuse Crunch player, courtesy of Kinney Drugs. The puck features center Mark Hartigan, with the Syracuse city skyline and Crunch logo in the background and the Kinney Drugs logo on the back side of the puck. (Discount coupons are available at area Kinney Drugs locations.)

Saturday, April 8

Crunch Announce Details of Vault Water Bottle Night Presented by Coca-Cola: The Syracuse Crunch announced that their Saturday, April 8 game against the Grand Rapids Griffins will be Vault Water Bottle Night, presented by Coca-Cola.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Crunch and Vault water bottle, compliments of Vault and Coca-Cola. The water bottle is white in color with a red top and features the Crunch and Vault logos.

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

Tuesday, April 4 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:00 p.m. game vs. Manitoba

Wednesday, April 5 10:30 a.m. practice @ Cicero Twin Rinks

Thursday, April 6 10:30 a.m. practice @ Cicero Twin Rinks

Friday, April 7 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Hamilton

Saturday, April 8 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Grand Rapids

Sunday, April 9 5:00 p.m. @ Toronto

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Goaltender Martin Prusek posted a 5-0-0 record in the month of March... Center Peter Sarno appeared in his 400th career AHL game on Friday, March 17 vs. Albany... Western Michigan graduate and right wing Brent Walton made his professional debut on Saturday, April 1 vs. Rochester... Rochester's nine goals against Syracuse on Friday, March 31 is the most goals the Crunch have allowed this season... Defenseman Andy Delmore is one point shy of tying Chris O'Sullivan (1999-00) and Radim Bicanek (2000-01) for most points by a defenseman in at season with 65.

2005-06 RECORD: 43-22-4-3, 93 points (24-7-2-2 home, 19-12-2-1 road), third place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Tuesday, April 4 vs. Manitoba (41-21-7-5), 94 points, second place, North Division

Radio: SportsRadio 620 WHEN, Internet: B2 Networks (www.syracusecrunch.com)

Friday, April 7 vs. Hamilton (31-39-0-4), 66 points, sixth place, North Division

Radio: SportsRadio 620 WHEN, Internet: B2 Networks (www.syracusecrunch.com)

Saturday, April 8 vs. Grand Rapids (53-17-1-4), 111 points, first place, North Division

Radio: SportsRadio 620 WHEN, Internet: B2 Networks (www.syracusecrunch.com)

Sunday, April 9 @ Toronto (38-27-6-2), 84 points, fourth place, North Division

Radio: 570WSYR, Internet: B2 Networks (www.syracusecrunch.com)

*Radio station subject to change.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Friday, March 31 ROCHESTER 9 Crunch 4

Saturday, April 1 Rochester 3 SO CRUNCH 2

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2006


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