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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Reach Half-Way Point

January 26, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


CRUNCH HALF-WAY HOME: The Crunch reached the mid-point of the 2003-04 season on Saturday night in Houston in the middle of a tight North Division race. Entering this week the Crunch (41 games - 46 points) sit in fifth place, trailing St. John's by one point (45 games - 47 points), Rochester by four points (45 games - 50 points), Cleveland by five points (45 games - 51 points) and first-place Hamilton by 10 points (46 games - 56 points). The Crunch are 17 points better this season through 41 games than last year. The 2002-03 Crunch team posted a 12-24-4-1 (29 points) record in their first 41 games.

DAVID LING RETURNS!: Fan favorite David Ling made his Crunch season debut on Saturday night in Houston and scored his first goal of the season the following night in San Antonio. Ling is the 37th player to suit up for the Crunch this season. Ling, who was assigned to Syracuse by Columbus on January 20, appeared in 35 games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season, recording one assist and 51 penalty minutes. Ling has appeared in 119 career games with the Crunch, recording 27 goals, 75 assists and 373 penalty minutes. A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ling was signed as a free agent by Columbus on July 7, 2001.

DONALD MacLEAN'S FOUR-POINT NIGHT LEADS THE WAY: Center Donald MacLean continued his torrid play on Sunday night, becoming the third Crunch player this season to record four points in a game, scoring twice and adding two assists in the Crunch's 5-3 victory over the San Antonio Rampage. MacLean enters this week 11th in the American Hockey League in scoring after recording 19 points (10g, 9a) in his last 15 games. He has tallied at least one point in 13 of his last 15 games. He currently leads the team in scoring with 39 points (16g, 23a). A native of Sydney, Nova Scotia, MacLean led the AHL in scoring (87 points) during the 2001-02 season as a member of the St. John's Maple Leafs. Originally drafted by Los Angeles with their second selection (33rd overall) in the 1995 Entry Draft, Columbus signed MacLean as a free agent on July 17, 2002. In 335 career AHL games with Fredericton, Springfield, St. John's, Lowell and Syracuse, MacLean has 123 goals, 168 assists and 217 penalty minutes.

McDONELL CRACKS TOP TEN: Right wing Kent McDonell moved into 10th place on the Crunch's all-time goals list Sunday night @ San Antonio, scoring his 42nd career Syracuse goal. McDonell (194 games) is one game shy of tying Bert Robertsson (195) for 10th on the franchise's all-time games played list. McDonell has appeared in 18 games with the Crunch this season, recording 7 goals, 11 assists and 25 penalty minutes. In 24 games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season, McDonell recorded one goal, one assist and 34 penalty minutes. A native of Williamstown, Ontario, McDonell was acquired by Columbus in an August 16, 2000 trade with Detroit for a sixth round draft choice in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

DARCHE VISITS WAR MEMORIAL: Left wing Mathieu Darche, the Crunch's fourth leading scorer of all-time, returns to the War Memorial on Wednesday night for the first time as a visitor. Darche, who signed with the Nashville organization this

off-season, is currently second on the Admirals in scoring with 28 points (17g, 11a) in 41 games. Darche has also appeared in two games with Nashville this season without recording a point. A member of the Crunch for three seasons (2000-01 - 2002-03), Darche appeared in 205 games for Syracuse, recording 149 points (70g, 79a).

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Tuesday, January 27:

Coleman's Autograph Signing: Crunch players Aaron Johnson and Tyler Sloan will be at Coleman's on Tipperary Hill on Tuesday, January 27 from 4-5 p.m. to sign autographs.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

January

Coleman's 'Dinner and a Game' Program: During the month of January any party that orders two (2) dinner entrees will receive a Crunch ticket voucher valid for two (2) tickets to a future Crunch home game, of the customer's choice.

Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub and Restaurant is located on the corner of Tompkins Street and Lowell Avenue on Syracuse's Tipperary Hill. For directions call 476-1933. At this Irish Pub, atmosphere is just as important as flavor. Here you'll find custom crafted stained glass windows with intricate designs from the Book of Kells, paintings from the Irish National Gallery, and a dark oak bar patterned after the original Jury's in Dublin.

CellBucks In-Game Auction: During each Crunch home game for the 2003-04 season the Crunch and CellBucks will hold an in-game auction featuring a special Crunch item.

To participate in the auction, fans must be registered with CellBucks. Registration is free and can be done by visiting www.CellBucks.com and completing a quick start sign-up form. After you are a registered user, you will be eligible to participate in CellBucks in-game auctions and order food delivered directly to your seat!

Each month during the regular season, the Crunch will feature the CellBucks in-game auction items on the front page of their website, encouraging people to sign up and bid prior to the game.

January 28 - Crunch Cheer Pack (includes foam finger, megaphone and four tickets)

January 31 - Autographed Tully's Large Trading Cards #1-5

CellBucks continues to provide Crunch fans with wireless food and beverage in-seat service. Fast, convenient and safe, this service allows fans to order and pay for food and beverages at the press of button - and have it delivered right to your seat. Visit www.CellBucks.com to register now!

Saturday, January 31:

Havoline NASCAR Night at the Crunch: The #42 Havoline NASCAR, driven by Jamie McMurray, the 2003 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, will be at the Crunch game on Saturday, January 31. The Havoline NASCAR will be located in the basement of the War Memorial during the game.

In addition, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Jamie McMurray 8x10 photo. Fans will also have the opportunity to win a four (4) pack of Watkins Glen tickets and participate in a raffle to win a helmet autographed by Jamie McMurray.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

MILWAUKEE (NASHVILLE PREDATORS): Syracuse hosts Milwaukee on Wednesday, January 28 for the second and final regular season meeting between the clubs. Milwaukee leads the series, after shutting out Syracuse 2-0 at the Bradley Center in their last meeting on October 31. Right wing Darren Haydar leads the Admirals with two points (2a). Pascal Leclaire appeared in net , recording 32 saves. Brian Finley posted the win for Milwaukee, recording 19 saves. Lifetime, the Crunch are 0-3-0 against the Admirals.

TORONTO ( EDMONTON OILERS): Syracuse travels to Toronto on Thursday, January 29 for the fourth of six regular season meetings between the clubs. Toronto leads the series 2-1, after defeating Syracuse 7-6 in their last meeting on January 16 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Roadrunners left wing Nate DiCasmirro paces all players in head-to-head scoring with 4 points (3g, 1a). Right wing Joe Motzko leads the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with three points (2g, 1a). Michael Morrison has appeared in net for all three games, posting a 2-1-0 record, with a 3.25 goals against average and a .880 save percentage. Karl Goehring posted Syracuse's victory, stopping 26 Roadrunner shots. Lifetime, the Crunch are 2-1-0 against Toronto.

HAMILTON (MONTREAL CANADIENS): Hamilton visits the War Memorial at Oncenter on Saturday, January 31 for the fourth of six regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 1-0-2, after defeating the Bulldogs 3-2 in their last meeting on January 2 at Copps Coliseum. Bulldogs right wing Alexander Perezhogin leads all players in head-to-head scoring with five points (3g, 2a). Center Donald MacLean paces the Crunch with four points ( 2g, 2a). Hamilton goaltender Jean-Francois Damphousse has appeared twice between the pipes, with a 0-1-1 record, posting a 2.91 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. Karl Goehring has appeared in net all three games, with a 1-0-2, posting a 2.21 and .940 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 22-24-9 against Hamilton.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (14-25-7-3, 38 points) enter this week in fourth place in the Central Division, 18 points behind Nashville (56 points) for third place. Left wing Rick Nash leads the NHL with 30 goals and paces Columbus with 36 points (30g, 6a). There are currently five players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Jody Shelley, Duvie Westcott, Jeremy Reich, Anders Eriksson and Mark Hartigan).

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman Zenith Komarniski is listed as day-to-day with a pulled rib cage muscle. He has missed eight games with the injury... Through 41 games this season the Crunch have lost 56 man-games due to injury (Trent Cull - 16, Zenith Komarniski - 8, Paul Traynor - 7, Brandon Sugden - 7, Sean Connolly - 5, Andrej Nedorost -5, Pauli Levokari - 4 and Shawn Limpright - 4).

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

Tuesday, January 27 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Wednesday, January 28 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:00 p.m. game vs. Milwaukee Admirals

Depart for Toronto

Thursday, January 29 11:15 a.m. practice @ Ricoh Coliseum

7:00 p.m. game @ Toronto

Friday, January 30 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Saturday, January 31 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Hamilton

Sunday, February 1 Depart for St. John's

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Syracuse has won four of their last five road games to improve to 8-9-1-1 away from the War Memorial this season. The Crunch have posted a 11-5-4-2 mark at home... Left wing Brandon Sugden set a season-high with 31 penalty minutes in Saturday night's game at Houston... Defenseman Paul Traynor appeared in his 100th Crunch game on Saturday night at Houston...Right wing David Ling is two goals away from 100 in the AHL.

2003-04 RECORD: 19-15-5-3, 46 points (11-5-4-2 home, 8-9-1-1 road), fifth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, January 28 vs. Milwaukee (20-13-6-2), 48 points, third place, West Division

Thursday, January 29 @ Toronto (15-21-7-2), 39 points, seventh place, North Division

Saturday, January 31 vs. Hamilton (24-14-6-2), 56 points, first place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Saturday, January 24 HOUSTON 4 Crunch 1

Sunday, January 25 Crunch 5 SAN ANTONIO 3

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

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