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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Darche Continues Climb Up Crunch Charts

March 17, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


ANOTHER DARCHE PENALTY SHOT: Left wing Mathieu Darche became the first player in franchise history to score two penalty shot goals in a season, accomplishing the feat on Sunday, March 16 against goaltender Ryan Miller and the Rochester Americans. Darche's goal last night went into the record book as a short-handed goal (Syracuse was short-handed when the penalty shot was awarded) while his first was recorded as a power play goal (January 24, 2003 - Robbie Tallas). Darche's goal was the 13th penalty shot attempted by a Crunch player in club history and the fourth successful (in addition to Darche's two, Tyson Nash, April 10, 1998 and Reggie Savage, April 1, 2001 scored for Syracuse). Scott Walker (March 1, 1995 and March 23, 1996), Josh Holden (January 15, 2000 and January 25, 2000) and Tyson Nash (October 20, 1996 and April 10, 1998) are the only other Syracuse players to attempt two penalty shots.

SHORT-HANDED SUCCESS: Both of Syracuse's two-goals in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Rochester Americans came with the team short-handed (Mathieu Darche & Mike Pandolfo), giving the Crunch 18 this season, one behind league leading Chicago (19). The 18 short-handed goals stands as the franchise record, breaking the mark of 15 set during the 1999-00 season. Right wing Matt Davidson leads the club with four short-handed goals, followed by Darche and Kent McDonell with three each.

BELLEFEUILLE HITS CAREER MARKS: With an assist on Mike Pandolfo's goal Sunday night in Rochester, center Blake Bellefeuille extended his current point streak to four games and matched his career high for points in a season with 30. Bellefeuille's 12 goals this season is a career high. A native of Framingham, MA, Bellefeuille has appeared in 63 games for the Crunch this season, recording 12 goals, 18 assists and 40 penalty minutes. In 188 career games with the Crunch, he has tallied 28 goals, 42 assists and 91 penalty minutes. He has appeared in five NHL games with the Blue Jackets with an assist. Columbus signed Bellefeuille as a free agent on May 26, 2000.

NEDOROST GETS THE CALL: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled left wing Andrej Nedorost.

Nedorost, 22, has appeared in 60 games with Syracuse this season, recording 13 goals, 19 assists and 81 penalty minutes. A native of Trencin, Slovakia, Nedorost was Columbus' 10th pick, 286th overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft.

SYRACUSE - COLUMBUS SHUTTLE: Thirteen players have appeared in both a Syracuse and Columbus uniform this season: Blake Bellefeuille, Mathieu Darche, Matt Davidson, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, J.F. Labbe, Pascal Leclaire* (served as back-up to Marc Denis-in three games), David Ling, Paul Manning, Andrej Nedorost, Darrel Scoville, Darren Van Impe, Derrick Walser and Duvie Westcott.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Monday, March 17

Quickway Autograph Signing: On Monday, March 17, Crunch players Karl Goehring and Pascal Leclaire will be on hand at Quickway, located on the corner of Erie Blvd. and Midler Ave. from 4-5 p.m. to sign autographs.

Tuesday, March 18

Quickway Autograph Signing: On Tuesday, March 18, Crunch players Mathieu Darche and Jeremy Reich will be on hand at Quickway, located on Molloy Rd. in Mattydale from 4-5 p.m. to sign autographs.

ShoppingTown Autograph Signing: Tuesday, March 18, Crunch players Jeremy Reich and Kent McDonell will be on hand at ShoppingTown Mall from 6-7 p.m. to sign autographs.

Thursday, March 20

Inkspot Autograph Signing: Thursday, March 20, Crunch players Paul Manning, Tyler Sloan and Matt Dzieduszycki will be on hand at Inkspot from 4:30-5:30 p.m. to sign autographs. Inkspot is located at 22 Ohio St. in Oswego. (Phone: 342- 3450)

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): Syracuse travels to Wilkes-Barre to play the Penguins on Wednesday, March 19 for the sixth of eight regular season meetings. Syracuse leads the series 3-2-0, after defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4-2 on March 10. Center Blake Bellefeuille (2g, 3a) leads all players in head-to-head scoring with five points. Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi (4a) leads the Penguins with four points. Robbie Tallas has appeared in net twice for the Penguins with a 1-1-0 record, 2.54 goals against average and .925 save percentage. Karl Goehring has appeared in four games for Syracuse with a 3-1-0 record, 2.18 goals against average and .935 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 20-10-5 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

CLEVELAND (SAN JOSE SHARKS): Syracuse finishes the week by traveling to Cleveland for the fifth and sixth of six regular season meetings between the clubs. Cleveland leads the series 3-1-0, after defeating Syracuse 5-3 in their last meeting on February 15. Barons center Jeff Nelson (1g, 9a) leads all players in head-to-head scoring with 10 points. Defenseman Radim Bicanek (1g, 3a), center Bran Moran (3g, 1a) and left wing Mathieu Darche (1g, 3a) leads the Crunch with four points. Vesa Toskala has appeared three times between the pipes for Cleveland with a 3-0-0 record, a 2.67 goals against average and .927 save percentage. Pascal Leclaire has appeared four times in net for Syracuse with a 1-2-0 record, a 3.89 goals against average and .835 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 7-6-1 against the Barons.

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman Trent Cull is listed as day-to-day with a groin injury, suffered February 14 vs. St. John's. Cull has missed the last 17 games with the injury.

INJURIES BY THE NUMBERS: Through 71 games this season, Syracuse has lost 181 man-games due to injuries Darrel Scoville - 50, Trent Cull - 32, Brad Moran - 20, Paul Manning & Duvie Westcott - 13, Pauli Levokari - 8, Blake Bellefeuille & Donald MacLean - 6, Ben Knopp - 5, Andrej Nedorost - 4, Radim Bicanek, Trevor Ettinger & Kent McDonell - 3, Matt Dzieduszycki, Martin Paroulek & Dan Watson - 2, Adam Borzecki - 1, represent the Crunch's injury list this season.

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