Falcons Weekly Notes

January 31, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS

--FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2006 AT MANCHESTER MONARCHS--

The Springfield Falcons will travel to Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday night to face the Monarchs. The Falcons last played the Monarchs on January 8th in Manchester with Manchester winning that contest 5-3 despite Springfield outshooting the Monarchs 38-25. The Falcons have a 2-3-1-1 record against the Monarchs this season, including a record of 1-1-1-0 in Manchester this year. The Monarchs (27-14-1-4) are ranked third in the AHL's Atlantic Division. Manchester right wing Brad Smyth is 10th in the league in scoring with 21 goals and 28 assists. He also leads the Monarchs in games played (46), goals (21), assists, (28), and points (49). Left wing Petr Kanko is third in the league in shorthanded goals with three, while left wing Jeff Tambellini is third in the league in rookie scoring with 21 goals and 24 assists. Goaltender Adam Hauser has posted a 15-9-2 record while fellow goalie Barry Brust (10-4-1) has a 2.61 goals against average and .917 save percentage this season. Manchester defenseman Denis Grebeshkov will be playing for Planet USA alongside Springfield forward Ryan Vesce in this week's AHL All-Star game.

LAST WEEK'S GAME RECAPS

---Game 1 - Springfield at Hartford, January 25 - L 6-3---

The Springfield Falcons lost to the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-3 Wednesday night at the Hartford Civic Center. The goals came fast and furious to start the game's action. Hartford jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 2:07 of the first period when Nigel Dawes scored his 22nd goal of the season on the power play. Jason Jaspers tied the score at 1-1 for the Falcons when he converted at 2:42, but Hartford took a 3-1 advantage when Hugh Jessiman and Chad Wiseman scored 35-seconds apart less than six minutes into the opening period. Dennis Packard cut Springfield's deficit to 3-2 when he scored shorthanded with 43-seconds remaining in the first period. In the second period, Timo Helbling tied the score at 3-3 when his slap shot beat Hartford goaltender Al Montoya at 4:20 of the middle period. Hartford regained a one-goal lead when Thomas Pock scored on the power play at 8:31 of the second period. Colby Genoway furthered the Wolf Pack's lead to 5-3 just 55-seconds into the third period.

---Game 2 - Springfield at Portland, January 27 - W 4-3 (OT)---

The Springfield Falcons used a combination of determination and hard work to pull out a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Portland Pirates Friday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The Falcons used a pair of third period goals erasing a 3-1 deficit and sending the game into overtime. Just 20 seconds into the extra session, Jason Jaspers recorded the game-winning marker, his second goal of the game and team leading 19th goal of the season. He received the first star of the game while Chris Dingman, who added a goal for the Falcons, received the game's second star. Springfield's Jonathan Boutin turned away 19 shots and Nathan Marsters made 21 saves in the loss for the Pirates.

---Game 3 - Springfield vs. Providence, January 28 - L 4-3 (SO)---

The Falcons earned a point in Saturday's contest against the Providence Bruins. Newly acquired left wing Travis Brigley scored his first goal as a member of the Falcons, while Marek Kvapil and Jay Rosehill also scored for the Falcons. Goaltender Gerald Coleman was steady between the pipes making 36 saves for the Falcons and earned the game's first star. In an eventful first period, the Falcons racked up 44 penalty minutes while Providence received 43 penalty minutes.

---Game 4 - Springfield vs. Portland, January 29 - L 3-2 (SO)---

For the third straight game, the Falcons earned a point in the standings battling the Pirates to a shootout. Nick Tarnasky and Timo Helbling each scored for the Falcons. Jonathan Boutin earned the second star of the game for his 42 saves and Nick Tarnasky earned the game's third star.

PLAYER / TEAM NOTES:

Goaltender Jonathan Boutin was reassigned to the Falcons from the Johnstown Chiefs on January 26th. The following day, he won his first AHL game in Springfield's 4-3 OT win in Portland with 21 saves. Boutin was also in the net for Sunday's home game against Portland. He made an impressive 42 saves earning the second star of the game.

Left wing Travis Brigley was reassigned to the Falcons by the New York Islanders on January 27 and he made his Falcons debut on January 28th and earned two points with one goal and one assist.

Defenseman Doug O'Brien was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 28 and was in the Tampa Bay lineup on January 29th in Washington, making his National Hockey League debut.

Center Jason Jaspers leads the team in scoring with 42 points and in goals with 19. Jaspers was also recalled by the Lightning on January 28th, but was reassigned back to the Falcons on January 29.

Chris Dingman has points in three straight games collecting one goal and four assists in that span. Dingman collected one goal and two assists earning the game's second star on January 27 in Portland.

Falcons defenseman Timo Helbling has points in five straight games, including goals in three of his last four contests. Helbling scored goals on Wednesday in Hartford, Friday in Portland, and Sunday against Portland and had an assist in Saturday's game against Providence.

INJURY REPORT

Falcons forward Steve McLaren, right wing Darren Reid and defenseman Todd Rohloff missed games due to injury.

TRANSACTION REPORT

1-26-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning reassign Jonathan Boutin from Johnstown to Springfield Falcons.

1-27-06 - NY Islanders reassign Travis Brigley from Bridgeport to Springfield Falcons.

1-28-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning recall Jason Jaspers from the Springfield Falcons.

1-28-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning recall Doug O'Brien from the Springfield Falcons.

1-29-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning reassign Jason Jaspers to the Springfield Falcons.

ON THE FARM - JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

The Johnstown Chiefs (17-17-8) went 2-0-0 last week, featuring a pair of road wins. The Chiefs beat Dayton on Friday, 8-6, and Wheeling on Saturday, 4-2. The wins improved the Chiefs to .500. The Chiefs play host to Trenton on Wednesday, followed by a home and home series with Dayton, beginning Friday in Dayton. The Chiefs are now in a fourth place tie with Trenton, though the Titans have three games in hand.

FALCONS NEW TICKET PLANS:

A new ticket plan the Falcons unveiled was a Five-Game Flex Pack, offering fans even more flexibility to attend Springfield home games. The Five-Game Flex Pack is a block of five vouchers that can be redeemed for tickets to any remaining Falcons home game. Vouchers may be redeemed at the MassMutual Center Box Office either in advance or the day of the game. Seat locations are subject to availability.

Five-Game Flex Pack Pricing and Benefits:

- Sideline Seating - $65 for adults and $45 for youth/students/seniors

- Goal Zone Seating - $62.50 for adults and $40 for youth/students/seniors

- Savings off the box office price

- Chance to win autographed Falcons goalie stick

- Playoff Priority

- Falcons Team Store discount (10%)

COMMUNITY

BLEED FALCON BLUE: The Springfield Falcons are proud to announce that they will be hosting a Blood Drive to benefit the American Red Cross Blood Services on Tuesday, February 7th from 12-7 p.m. at the Blood Services Center, 3500 Main St., Springfield. #29 Mitch Fritz, Screech and friends will be on hand to give tickets to donors for the Thursday, February 23rd game v. Lowell at 7:05 p.m. (February vacation week game)

FAMILY FUN NIGHTS AT FRIENDLY'S RETURN: Friendly Ice Cream is proud to announce "Family Fun Nights at Friendly's" to benefit Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc. Falcons players and Screech meet and greet fans at area Friendly's Restaurant throughout the Pioneer Valley:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH 6-8 P.M. 1811 Boston Rd., Springfield

#18 David Spina & #39 Darren Reid

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH 6-8 P.M. 1094 Riverdale Rd., West Springfield

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH 6-8 P.M. 430 Cooley St., Springfield

MONDAY, MARCH 13th 6-8 P.M. TBD

MONDAY, MARCH 27th 6-8 P.M. TBD

PINK RIBBON POWER PLAY: This program was started by #9 Ryan Vesce, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. For each power play goal scored by the Falcons starting with the December 9th game, sponsors will donate funds that will benefit area breast cancer centers. We are looking for sponsors, both from an individual and corporate level, to pledge any amount. For example, if Screech pledged $1 for each

power play goal and the Falcons score 20 power play goals for the rest of the season, Screech will donate $20 to the breast cancer cause. To join the Pink Ribbon Power Play, contact Carole Appleton at 413-739-3344 x.112.

FALCONS' KITCHEN CUPBOARD: - #10 Jim Campbell may have been reassigned to Philadelphia, but his unique food collection program will continue. Fans will be encouraged to bring a canned good to any remaining Falcons home games and receive a raffle ticket to win autograph items from Campbell and the Falcons throughout the season. A grand prize winner will be chosen to have lunch with Campbell in the off-season. The Falcons will donate all food to local area food banks during the course of the season. Special thanks to ConAgra Foods (400 cases of food) & J&H Transport (transportation assistance) for their help with our Kickoff at the Food Bank of Western Mass. Also thanks to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen in Chicopee, the recipient of our most recent delivery. .

USED EQUIPMENT COLLECTION: Time to clean out those closets of used athletic equipment? Bring it to a Falcons game to benefit Sport-2-Sport. The Falcons, Reminder Publications, and Sport-2-Sport have teamed up to collect used athletic equipment and deliver it to local children organizations in need.

Collection dates run from January 28th v. Providence to February 18th v. Wilkes-Barre. Sport-2-Sport is a non-profit organization that was created by East Longmeadow teenager, Jon Tremblay, to assist children-related organizations that need assistance in obtaining athletic equipment.

HOCKEY 101: Attention all Falcon Fans!!!! Ever enjoy a hockey game but wanted to learn more about AUTOMATIC ICING? THE TAMPA BAY "SYSTEM"? Enroll in HOCKEY 101 brought to you by Appleton Corporation and Advance Auto Parts. Enroll today for our first HOCKEY 101 session! Dates are being finalized next week. Falcons 101 is a three-night study session for fans who want to learn more about the COOLEST GAME ON EARTH! Students of FALCONS 101 will be taught skating and ice hockey fundamentals, learn the rules and regulations of hockey and take home assignments, all in order to complete the course and receive their diploma!!! Our professors have years of experience in the hockey business. Whether a former player now a coach or General Manager and Owner, we have the staff that will truly teach you all the nuances of the game. It's never too late to go back to school! Cost is $60 and includes a t-shirt, ticket and food to Falcons game, diploma, and course manual.

"IT CAN BE YOU": #37 Gerald Coleman and #62 Andre Deveaux are launching a program that exposes the game of hockey and its ideals to area community centers of Springfield. "It Can Be You" promotes the game of hockey with concepts of work ethic and following the right path to success by staying in school and away from gangs and drugs. Coleman and Deveaux will also talk to them about coming from similar backgrounds. Floor hockey equipment will be provided by the Falcons to outfit the children.

WEEK IN REVIEW

JANUARY 25 Springfield-3, Hartford-6

JANUARY 27 Springfield-4, Portland-3 (OT)

JANUARY 28 Springfield-3, Providence-4 (SO)

JANUARY 29 Springfield-2, Portland-3 (SO)

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

FEBRUARY 3 Springfield at Manchester Monarchs 7:35 PM Verizon Wireless Arena

*Radio Broadcasts on WMAS 1450 AM

*Watch Live on the B-2 Network



American Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2006


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