AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Ring In Second Decade with Stars from Past and Present

Published on October 12, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY (October 12, 2004) – The Syracuse Crunch announced today that former and current stars Adrian Aucoin (NY Islanders defenseman), Doug MacLean (Columbus Blue Jackets President and General Manager) George McPhee (Washington Capitals Vice President and General Manager), Tyson Nash (Phoenix Coyotes left wing) and Reggie Savage (Toledo Storm player/assistant coach) will assist the Crunch in kicking off their second decade of hockey in Syracuse, by participating in a special pregame ceremony during the Crunch's Express Mart Opening Night on October 15 vs. St. John's.

Following the ceremony Aucoin, Nash and Savage will be available, during the first intermission to meet with Crunch fans and sign autographs.

Aucoin is a veteran of 602 career NHL games with the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks, recording 83 goals, 162 assists and 456 penalty minutes. Aucoin appeared in 100 games with the Crunch during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, recording 18 goals and 31 assists and 99 penalty minutes. Originally drafted by Vancouver with their 7th choice, 117th overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Aucoin played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2004. He was a member of the Canadian Olympic team at the 1994 Games. He tied Denis Potvin's all-time single season NHL record for most power play goals by a defenseman during the 1998-99 season, netting 18.

MacLean, has 19 years of experience in the National Hockey League, serving in a variety of administrative, personnel and coaching capacities with the Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings. Under MacLean's guidance the Blue Jackets have established itself as one of the most successful organizations in the NHL. Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, MacLean served as head coach of the Florida Panthers, where he led his teams into the playoffs in both of his full seasons behind the bench (1995-96, 1996-97). In his first full season as head coach, MacLean led Florida to the Stanley Cup Finals. A collegiate player at the University of Prince Edward Island, MacLean graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. Following his playing career, MacLean enrolled at the University of Western Ontario, where he received a master's degree in educational psychology. While attending Western, MacLean began his coaching career as an assistant with London of the Ontario Hockey League.

McPhee is a big reason there is AHL hockey in Syracuse, working with Crunch President and CEO Howard Dolgon on the Crunch acquiring a franchise prior to the 1994-95 season. He served five seasons in the front office of the Vancouver Canucks, serving as vice president of hockey operations and alternate governor, overseeing the Crunch's hockey operations during the 1994-95 – 1996-97 season. He was named the fifth general manager in Washington Capitals history prior to the 1997-98 season, leading the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in club history during his first year on the job. A four-year letter winner from 1978-82 at Bowling Green State University (CCHA), McPhee was awarded the 1982 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to college hockey's top player. Following his seven-year playing career with the NY Rangers and New Jersey Devils, McPhee earned his law degree from Rutgers University on 1992.

Nash is a veteran of 324 career NHL games with St. Louis and Phoenix, recording 27 goals, 31 assists and 589 penalty minutes. On of the most popular players in Crunch history, Nash appeared in 201 games with the Crunch over the course of three seasons (1995-96 – 1997-98), recording 41 goals, 43 assists and 347 penalty minutes. Originally drafted by Vancouver with their 10th choice, 247th overall, in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Nash win two Memorial Cup championships with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL (1994 & 1995).

Savage, one of the most revered players in franchise history, is one of only two players (Zenith Komarniski) to have played for Syracuse as a member of the Vancouver (1995-96 and 1999-00) and Columbus (2000-01) organizations. In his 166 career games with Syracuse, Savage tallied 82 goals (second all-time), 63 assists and 253 penalty minutes. On April 12, 1996, Savage scored the game-winning goal against Rochester to put the Crunch in their first-ever Calder Cup playoff series. A native of Montreal, Quebec, Savage was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round, 15th overall, in the 1988 Entry Draft.

The Crunch's regular season home schedule begins on Friday, October 15, when the St. John's Maple Leafs visit the War Memorial at Oncenter for the Express Mart Opening Night. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a hand-clapper noisemaker; compliment of Express Mart. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Crunch office at (315) 473-4444, at the Oncenter Box Office, located on the State Street side of the War Memorial or by calling TicketMaster at (315) 472-0700.

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