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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch to Hold Syracuse Blazers Tribute Night March 8

February 26, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY (February 26, 2008) - The Syracuse Crunch announced today that they will hold a special tribute to the Syracuse Blazers 1972-73 championship season prior to the club's Saturday, March 8 game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Five members of the 1972-73 Syracuse Blazers are scheduled to be on hand to help the Crunch raise an Eastern Hockey League championship banner to the rafters of the War Memorial. The 1972-73 Blazers compiled a record of 63-9-4 and defeated the Roanoke Valley Rebels in six games en route to the EHL Championship.

The Crunch will wear Syracuse Blazers jerseys during the game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that night. Former assistant coach Brian Elwell and players Ray Adduono, Barry Brooks, Al Rycroft and Mike Smith will take part in the banner-raising ceremony.

Brian Elwell spent parts of four seasons as a right wing with the Blazers from 1968-69 to 1971-72, appearing in 217 games and compiling 86 goals, 127 assists and 162 penalty minutes. He was an assistant coach on the 1972-73 championship team.

Center Ray Adduono starred for the Blazers during the 1967-68 season and again from 1969-70 to 1973-74. In 379 career games with the Blazers in the EHL and NAHL, Adduono amassed 222 goals, 521 assists and 429 penalty minutes. The 61-year old native of Fort William, Ontario is the team's all-time leading scorer and was the captain of the 1972-73 championship club. Adduono also sits 18th on the EHL's all-time scoring list with 716 points in just five seasons.

Forward Barry Brooks notched 41 goals, 38 assists and 120 penalty minutes in 1972-73, his only season with the Blazers. The 55-year old native of Kingston, Ontario appeared in 75 regular season games and contributed 14 points (9g, 5a) in 14 playoff games in 1972-73.

Al Rycroft, father of current Syracuse Crunch right wing Mark Rycroft, scored 50 goals, 50 assists and 32 penalty minutes in just 48 games for the Blazers during the 1972-73 regular season. He also tallied 16 points (5g, 11a) in 9 playoff games.

Defenseman Mike Smith spent parts of five seasons with the Blazers from 1972-73 to 1976-77. He registered 4 goals, 24 assists and 106 penalty minutes in 58 games with the Blazers and Long Island in 1972-73.

The Syracuse Blazers competed in the Eastern Hockey League from 1967-68 to 1972-73, winning the Walker Cup in the EHL's final season of operation. The Blazers scored an all-time EHL single season record of 453 goals in 1972-73 en route to an unbelievable 36-0-2 home record and a 21-game consecutive regular season win streak

The Blazers 1972-73 Eastern Hockey League Championship banner will join the 2000-01 AHL Central Division Champion Syracuse Crunch, 1936-37 Calder Cup Champion Syracuse Stars and1954-55 NBA Champion Syracuse Nationals and Crunch right wing John Badduke's fan voted most popular player as the only banners to hang from the rafters of the War Memorial at Oncenter.

The Crunch's next game is Wednesday, February 27 as they travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to take on the Penguins. The Crunch return home on Friday, February 29 vs. Toronto at the War Memorial at Oncenter. 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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