Falcons Host Wolf Pack Tonight

Published on March 31, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Hartford Wolf Pack will meet for the ninth time this season and fifth time at the MassMutual Center Friday night. These two teams last met on March 24 when the Falcons traveled to Hartford. The Wolf Pack won that contest 6-1 with goals from Brad Smyth, Craig Weller, Chad Wiseman, Colby Genoway, and Dwight Helminen. Springfield's lone goal came unassisted from Zdenek Blatny, his 19th of the season. Rookie goaltender Jonathan Boutin made 31 saves while Robert Gherson stopped 28 of 29 shots on goal. Hartford has already clinched a playoff spot and has a record of 42-21-2-6, good for second place in the Atlantic Division standings. The Falcons post a 25-36-3-6 record and are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Springfield is 3-4-0-1 against Hartford this year.

The last game for the Falcons was against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this past Sunday afternoon. The game was tied after two periods, but the Sound Tigers scored three goals in the final period, making it a 5-2 game. Jason Jaspers and Marek Kvapil both tallied for the Falcons.

The Wolf Pack traveled to Providence this past Sunday to face the Bruins in their last game played. Jarrko Immonen and Helminen scored for Hartford in regulation time, sending the game into overtime and finally into a shootout. Successful shootout attempts by Immonen, Wiseman, and Immonen again gave the Wolf Pack the 3-2 victory. Immonen and Wiseman received the first and second stars of the game, respectively.

COLEMAN BACK WITH FALCONS: The Springfield Falcons announced Thursday that goaltender Gerald Coleman has been reassigned to Springfield by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coleman has played in 36 games for the Falcons this season collecting a 13-17-3 record with a 3.54 goals against average and .890 save percentage. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Romeoville, Illinois continues to lead all Falcons goaltenders in games played and wins. Coleman made his professional debut on October 15 at Manchester and earned his first professional win on October 30 against the Philadelphia Phantoms. Coleman made his NHL debut on Friday, November 11 at Atlanta stopping three of four shots on goal in a relief appearance.

Coleman spent the previous three seasons with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), helping them to capture the 2005 OHL championship and the 2005 Memorial Cup. In his three seasons in the OHL Coleman recorded many notable achievements, including a 169-minute scoreless streak in February, 2004 that earned him OHL and CHL Player of the Week honors as well as OHL Goaltender of the Month honors. He led the OHL in save percentage (.931) and shutouts (5) in 2003-04. Last season, Coleman posted an astounding record of 32-2-2 with a goals against average of 1.70 and a .941 save percentage during the regular season, ranking first in the CHL in each category.

FIRST-EVER GOLDEN STRIPES AWARD: The Falcons will host their 1st Annual "Referee Appreciation Night" tonight at the MassMutual Center. On this special evening, the very first recipient of the "Golden Stripes Award" will be honored prior to the game. The "Golden Stripes Award" will be presented this year to Mr. Alfred "Fred" Zanetti.

Zanetti, a 1952 graduate of American International College, was a referee within the Western MA Ice Hockey Officials Organization from 1950-1982, including the organization's commissioner from 1955-1988. Zanetti started his officiating career while attending American International College in 1951 and continued as a referee until the age of 60. Throughout his officiating career, Zanetti demonstrated a strong passion for all levels of hockey including: youth, high school and college levels.

CALLED UP: One of Hartford's leading scorers, Alexandre Giroux, was recalled by the New York Rangers last weekend after 34 goals and 25 assists in 64 games with Wolf Pack. He saw action in his first NHL game on Saturday in Tampa Bay before being reassigned back to Hartford on March 31. Falcons defensemen Doug O'Brien and Timo Helbling are both currently on recall to the Lightning as well.

FRESH FACES: The Falcons have three new players in uniform tonight. Right wing Kevin Croxton signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement on March 24. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound RPI senior earned 143 points in 147 college games. Defenseman P.J. Atherton, a University of Minnesota senior, was signed to an ATO on Tuesday, March 28. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Edina, Minnesota collected 17 points (5g, 12a) in his 106-game college career. Defenseman Jared Nightingale signed an ATO on Wednesday, March 29 after finishing his college hockey career at Michigan State University. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Cheboygan, Michigan served the last two years as an assistant captain. Hartford has signed Marvin Degon, a UMass senior, to an ATO on March 16. The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman collected 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 36 games this season, bringing his college career totals to 83 points (27g, 46a).

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American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2006


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