Falcons Host the Sharks Tonight

Published on January 14, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Worcester Sharks meet for the fourth time this season when they get together on Friday night at the MassMutual Center starting at 7:30 pm. The Falcons are 1-1-0-1 against the Sharks this season with the last two head to head meetings going to a shootout with each team recording a win. Springfield won the most recent match up against Worcester on January 9 when the Falcons beat the Sharks 3-2 in a shootout. Tomas Kubalik and Trevor Smith scored in regulation while Nikita Filatov and Cody Goloubef converted in the shootout.

All three games in the season series thus far have been decided by one goal. The season series has also been featured by both teams being able to battle back in games from early deficits. The Falcons built a 3-1 lead against the Sharks in the first meeting on November 21 before Worcester battled back to win 4-3. In the second meeting on December 29, the Falcons battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to earn a point in a 3-2 shootout loss. On January 9, Springfield built a 2-0 lead before Worcester forced another shootout with the Falcons prevailing with a 3-2 win.

FALCONS ALL-STAR NAMED - The Falcons announced Tuesday that rookie defenseman John Moore has been named to the Eastern Conference AHL All-Star Team. Moore will represent the Falcons at the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross to be held on January 30-31 in Hershey PA.

Moore currently leads all Springfield defensemen in scoring with two goals and 14 assists for 16 points playing in 37 of Springfield's 38 games this year. Moore made his pro debut on October 8 at Providence and earned his first pro point on October 29 picking up an assist at Hartford. The 6-2, 200-pound native of Chicago, Illinois scored his first pro goal on October 30 against Hartford. Moore collected one goal and five assists in a stretch of four games from December 12-26. Moore has four multi-point games this year.

Prior to joining the pro ranks, Moore spent the 2009-10 season with the Ontario Hockey league's Kitchener Rangers where he led all Kitchener defensemen in scoring with 47 points (10-37-47) in 61 games. He also added 16 points in 20 post season games helping Kitchener to the OHL's Western Conference Finals.

Moore was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round (21st overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

CALVANESE HONORED WITH ALL-STAR NOMINATION - The Falcons also announced Tuesday that equipment manager Ralph Calvanese will serve his role for the Western Conference AHL All-Star Team at the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross to be held on January 30-31 in Hershey PA.

This season marks Calvanese's 37th year as the equipment manager in Springfield, a role he first held for the AHL's Indians in 1974-75 at the age of 19. The Springfield native has been part of three Calder Cup champions, and has worked nearly 3,000 AHL games through the years.

1,000 AHL GAMES FOR ROY SOMMER - Worcester Sharks President Michael A. Mudd announced that Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer will coach his 1,000th game in the AHL on Friday, January 14 when the Sharks visit the Springfield Falcons. Coach Sommer will become just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach 1,000 games.

Sommer is currently the longest-tenured coach (13th season) in the American Hockey League. His current regular season record is now: 460-416-59-64.

With the Sharks 4-1 victory vs. Springfield on November 1, 2009, Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 400 win plateau.

AHL COACHING WINS - ALL-TIME

1. Fred "Bun" Cook 1937-56 19seasons 1,171GP 636 WINS

2. Frank Mathers 1956-85 18seasons 1,256GP 610 WINS

3. John Paddock 1981-2010 16seasons 1,125GP 589 WINS

4. Roy Sommer 1998-current 13th season 999GP 460 WINS

In Sommer's first AHL victory; The Kentucky Thoroughblades defeated the Albany River Rats 6-4 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on October 17, 1998. Coincidentally, Assistant Coach David Cunniff recorded an assist as a member of the River Rats in the hockey game. Cunniff has joined Sommer in 306 of the 460 victories (66%).

As head coach for San Jose's top development team, Sommer has coached more than 80 players who've spent time in the National Hockey League, including Jason Demers and Logan Couture.

This season, San Jose has already used 18 players who developed under Sommer's tutelage. In fact, 20 players have made their NHL debuts with the San Jose Sharks over the last four seasons - including Justin Braun, Brandon Mashinter, Andrew Desjardins, and Mike Moore this year.

The AHL will honor Sommer before the Sharks game on Saturday, January 22 when the Sharks host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the DCU Center.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2011


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