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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Wraps Up Five-Game Road Trip

November 5, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


The Crunch finished up a five-game road trip Saturday as they fell to the Binghamton Senators, 4-3. It was the seventh game in nine nights for Syracuse. The Crunch picked up four out of a possible ten points on the week-long excursion, going 2-3-0-0. Fresh off a 9-2 win last Saturday, October 27 at home against Rochester, the Crunch looked to carry that momentum into Toronto on Sunday but fell to the division-leading Marlies, 5-2.

Tuesday the team headed west to take on the Houston Aeros and picked up the victory in a nail-biter, 3-2. The next night Syracuse traveled over to San Antonio and played a strong game. Unfortunately, it was not a Happy Halloween for the Crunch as the Rampage pulled out the win, 5-3. The Crunch came back east to take on the Hamilton Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum Friday night and put together a solid effort in a 3-2 shootout win. It was the first game beyond regulation time this year for Syracuse. The road trip concluded Saturday in Binghamton.

BRASSARD NAMED RBK EDGE/AHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: The Syracuse Crunch announced on Thursday, November 1 that the American Hockey League has named center Derick Brassard as the Rbk Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month for October.

Brassard appeared in all 12 games during the month of October for the Crunch, recording 16 points (4g, 12a). Brassard had a 6-game point-scoring streak from October 5 to October 24 to start the season. He has scored at least one point in 11 of 14 games this season. He has recorded two assists on three separate occasions to date. In recognition of his achievement, Brassard will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Crunch home game.

A native of Hull, Quebec, Brassard, 20, finished October tops in the AHL in both assists (12) and points (16). He was the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets and spent four seasons with Drummondville (QMJHL), earning first team league all-star honors in 2005-06 when he recorded 44 goals and 72 assists for 116 points in 58 games.

Brassard becomes the third player in team history to win the AHL Rookie of the Month award (Jarkko Ruutu, January, 2000; Steve Kariya, February, 2000).

SESTITO, MIRASTY TALLY FIRST AHL GOALS: It was a milestone weekend for AHL Rookies Tom Sestito and Jon Mirasty, as they both notched their first American Hockey League goals.

Sestito picked up his first AHL and professional goal Friday night in Hamilton, as he tipped in a point-shot from Derick Brassard past Jaroslav Halak on the power play. He tallied his first point by picking up an assist on Brassard's first goal of the year in the opener October 5 in Rochester. Sestito (Utica, NY) is the first home-grown player in the Crunch's 14-year history.

Sestito, 20, appeared in 60 games with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season, registering 42 goals, 22 assists and 135 penalty minutes. Sestito was drafted by Columbus in the 3rd round, 85th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Mirasty scored his first AHL goal Saturday night in Binghamton as he tipped in a point-shot from Darcy Campbell. Mirasty was in the lineup for just the second game this season.

Mirasty, 25, appeared in 41 games with Sorel-Tracy of the LNAH last season, tallying 2 goals, 6 assists and 304 penalty minutes. A native of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Mirasty was signed by the Crunch to a professional try-out contract on October 3, 2007.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

CHICAGO WOLVES (ATLANTA THRASHERS): The Chicago Wolves come to town for their only visit of the season on Friday night. It is the first of two meetings between these two clubs this season. The Crunch went 0-2-0-0 against the Wolves last year. Center Steve Martins currently leads Chicago in scoring with 11 points (3g, 8a) in 8 games. Former Crunch netminder Fred Brathwaite has posted a 1.93 goals against average and .931 save percentage in six games for Chicago this season.

ROCHESTER AMERICANS (BUFFALO SABRES/FLORIDA PANTHERS): The Rochester Americans visit Syracuse for the second time this season Saturday night. This is the fourth of twelve meetings between these two clubs. The Crunch are 1-2-0-0 against the Amerks so far this year. In their last meeting on Saturday, October 27, the Crunch dominated Rochester in a 9-2 victory at the War Memorial. Rochester left wing Clarke MacArthur currently leads the AHL in scoring with 18 points (8g, 10a) in 14 games.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Crunch Announce Details of Turning Stone Playing Card Giveaway Nights: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Turning Stone Resort & Casino, announced today that their Saturday, November 10 game vs. Rochester and Saturday, November 17 game vs. Rockford will be Turning Stone Playing Card Giveaway Nights.

The first 2,500 fans in attendance at each the November 10 and November 17 games 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: Joakim Lindstrom's 11-game point-scoring streak came to an end Saturday night in Binghamton...During that stretch Lindstrom tallied 12 points (6g, 6a)...Center Kris Beech has 10 points (3g, 7a), in his last 6 games and is now tied for sixth in the AHL in scoring with 14 points (4g, 10a) in 14 games overall...The Crunch has three players in the top ten in scoring in the AHL; Derick Brassard with 17 points (4g, 13a), Kris Beech with 14 points (4g, 10a), and Joakim Lindstrom with 13 points (7g, 6a).

2007-08 RECORD : 5-9-0-0, 10 points, (2-2-0-0 home, 3-7-0-0 road), sixth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, November 9 vs. Chicago (7-0-1-0), second place, West Division

Saturday, November 10 vs. Rochester (6-7-1-1), third place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULT

Tuesday, October 30 Crunch 3 HOUSTON 2

Wednesday, October 31 SAN ANTONIO 5 Crunch 3

Friday, November 2 Crunch 3 HAMILTON 2

Saturday, November 3 BINGHAMTON 4 Crunch 3

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

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