AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Takes One of Two

Published on November 12, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


CRUNCH TAKES ONE OF TWO: The Crunch took one of two home games this past weekend at the War Memorial. On Friday, the West Division leading Chicago Wolves came to town for the first of two meetings this season. Syracuse jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Derek MacKenzie and Derick Brassard.

Chicago bounced back quickly, tying the score 2-2 before the end of the first period on the strength of tallies from Andre Deveaux and Alexandre Giroux. The Wolves would add three more the rest of the way with Brett Sterling scoring two and Alexandre Giroux picking up his second of the game. Former Crunch goaltender Fred Brathwaite was strong in the net for Chicago, stopping 38 of 40 shots. The Crunch ended up on the wrong end of a 5-2 final.

On Saturday the Crunch welcomed their long-standing rivals, the Rochester Americans as they played each other for the fourth time this season. Syracuse came out with a better overall effort in this one from the get-go. The first period ended scoreless. Phillipe Dupuis started the offense for Syracuse in the second period when he took a great feed from Duvie Westcott, came in alone on Rochester goaltender Adam Dennis and beat him with a beautiful backhand deke and roofed it top shelf for the goal.

Derek Dorsett scored at 3:08 of the third period, Kris Beech added an empty-netter at 19:01 and to add insult to injury, Derek MacKenzie put home his sixth of the season with just 22 seconds remaining to give the Crunch a 4-0 shutout win.

COLUMBUS RECALLS BEECH AND WESTCOTT: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled center Kris Beech and defenseman Duvie Westcott.

Beech, 26, has appeared in 16 games this season for the Crunch, tallying 5 goals, 10 assists and 22 penalty minutes. A native of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Beech was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1st round, 7th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Beech was signed by Columbus as a free agent on August 7, 2007.

Westcott, 30, appeared in 2 games with the Crunch this past weekend, registering 3 assists and 2 penalty minutes while down on a conditioning loan from Columbus. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Westcott was signed as a free agent by Columbus on May 7, 2001.

DORSETT TALLIES FIRST PROFESSIONAL GOAL: Syracuse Crunch rookie Derek Dorsett tallied his first professional goal on Saturday, playing in just his second game of the season. Dorsett had missed the first 14 games with a stress fracture in his foot. The goal came on a nice play when Rochester was making a change and Derick Brassard picked up a loose puck at the center red line. Brassard took the biscuit and streaked down the left wing boards. Dorsett drove hard to the net, took a beautiful saucer feed from Brassard and re-directed it past Rochester netminder Adam Dennis.

Dorsett, 20, appeared in 61 games with Medicine Hat (WHL) last season tallying 19 goals, 45 assists and 206 penalty minutes. A native of Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Dorsett was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 7th round, 189th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

POPPERLE RECORDS FIRST SHUTOUT OF THE SEASON: Crunch goaltender Tomas Popperle recorded his first shutout of the season Saturday in a 4-0 win over the Rochester Americans. Popperle was very sharp, turning aside all 22 shots he faced. He was named the game's third star.

Popperle, 23, has appeared in 12 games this year for the Crunch posting a 5-6-0-0 record with a 3.08 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. A native of Broumov, Czech Republic, Popperle was drafted by Columbus in the 5th round, 131st overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

TORONTO MARLIES (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): The division-leading Toronto Marlies come to town for their first visit of the season on Friday night. It is the second of eight meetings between the two clubs this season. These two teams collided in Toronto back on October 28 with the Marlies pulling out a 5-2 victory on the strength of 3 points (2g, 1a) from former Crunch right wing, David Ling.

ROCKFORD ICE HOGS (CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS): The Rockford Ice Hogs visit Syracuse and play the Crunch for the first time ever this Saturday. This is the first of two meetings between these two clubs. The second meeting will take place December 5 in Rockford. Center Petri Kontiola currently leads the Ice Hogs in scoring with 15 points (3g, 12a) in 14 games.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Crunch Announce Details of Turning Stone Playing Card Giveaway Night: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Turning Stone Resort & Casino, announced today that their Saturday, November 17 game vs. Rockford will be Turning Stone Playing Card Giveaway Night.

The first 2,500 fans, 18 and over, in attendance at the November 17 game will receive a Syracuse Crunch playing card deck, compliments of Turning Stone Resort & Casino. The cards feature both the Syracuse Crunch and Turning Stone logos in a casino style design.

Each deck also includes the following four (4) monthly offers from Turning Stone:

- December 2007 - Free Level 1 Admission for Oneida High Stakes Bingo Hall

- January 2008 - Buy one get one free at any outlet at the Corner Market

- February 2008 - $25 Match Play, good for table game play only

- March 2008 - $25 Free Play, good for multi-game play only

Turning Stone is conveniently located only minutes off Interstate 90 at exit 33 in Verona, New York.

CRUNCHABLES: The Crunch gave up five unanswered goals Friday, matching a season-high set on October 5 @ Rochester...Rookie center Derick Brassard had 3 points (1g, 2a) this weekend and is currently tied for first in the league in scoring with 20 points (5g, 15a)...The Crunch power play went 3-for-16 this weekend and is now 19-for-98 (19.4%) on the season, good for sixth in the league...The Crunch penalty killing has also been stellar lately, killing off 14 of 16 penalties this past weekend, and 96 of 112 (85.7%) on the season, good for ninth in the league.

2007-08 RECORD: 6-10-0-0, 12 points, (3-3-0-0 home, 3-7-0-0 road), fourth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, November 16 vs. Toronto (10-0-0-2), first place, North Division

Saturday, November 17 vs. Rockford (8-3-2-1), second place, West Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULT

Friday, November 9 Chicago 5 CRUNCH 2

Saturday, November 10 CRUNCH 4 Rochester 0

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central