Falcons weekly update
November 16, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2OO5 VS. ALBANY RIVER RATS
The Falcons will host the Albany River Rats for the first time this season. The last time these two teams met was on November 2nd when the Falcons traveled to Albany. The Falcons scored two goals in the third period for the come from behind 4-3 win. Dennis Packard scored the winning goal for the Falcons. Darren Reid, Norm Milley and Ryan Vesce each scored for the Falcons as well. Krisjanis Redlihs, Ryan Murphy and Tuomas Pihlman each scored for the River Rats. Springfield goaltender Gerald Coleman had 29 saves in the win. The Rats are in last place in the Atlantic Division with an overall record of 4-9-0-0 and have lost five straight games. Most recently, they were shut out at home for the first time all season when the Syracuse Crunch defeated the Rats 3-0 on Saturday night. Albany is ranked ninth in the AHL with a penalty killing percentage of 86.7%. Game time has been changed and the puck will drop at 8:05 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2005 AT BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS
The Falcons will travel to Bridgeport for their second match up of the season against the Sound Tigers. The Falcons will look for redemption as the Sound Tigers defeated the Falcons 2-1 at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, November 12th. Darren Reid scored the lone goal for the Falcons and he was assisted by Jason Jaspers and Harlan Pratt. Jonathan Boutin registered 19 saves for the Falcons in his second AHL start. Former Falcons center Wyatt Smith scored both of Bridegport's goals in the win. The Sound Tigers enter this week having won five straight games. The Sound Tigers (7-6-1-0) are third in the East Division. Bridgeport forward Rob Collins is ranked 10th in the league with 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) in 14 games and leads the Sound Tigers in scoring.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2005 VS. BINGHAMTON SENATORS
The Falcons will host the Binghamton Senators for the first and only time this season. The Senators recently lost to the Philadelphia Phantoms, 5-2, on Sunday, November 13th. Denis Hamel and Charlie Stephens each scored for the Senators. Hamel ranks ninth in the AHL in power play goals with 5 power play goals in 13 games. Hamel leads Binghamton in scoring with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 13 games played. The Senators are in last place in the East division. These two teams will meet one more time after this game. The Falcons will travel to Binghamton on January 13th. The Senators are fifth in the league in power plays having scored 20 goals in 89 power play opportunities for a success rate of 22.5%. Former Falcons center Steve Martins is second on the team in scoring with five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 13 games.
LAST WEEK'S GAME RECAPS
Game 1 - Manchester at Springfield, November 10 - L 6-5 (SO)
The Falcons had a 4-1 lead going into the third period ,but lost to Manchester for the second time this season, this time 6-5 in a shootout. Jason Jaspers, Ryan Craig, Norm Milley, Nick Tarnasky and Mitch Fritz each had a goal for the Falcons. Ryan Vesce and Milley each notched two assists in the game as well. Goaltender Brian Eklund, in his first game back after making his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, November 8th, made 29 saves for the Falcons.
Game 2 - Springfield at Portland, November 11 - L 5-1
Portland started strong as they defeated the Falcons, 5-1, in Portland. This was the second match up between these two teams this season. The defeated the Pirates, 4-2, in their home opener on October 8th. The Pirates scored early, four straight goals in the first two periods building a four goal cushion. Jim Campbell scored the lone goal for the Falcons in the third period. He was assisted by Norm Milley.
Game 3 - Bridgeport at Springfield, November 12 - L 2-1
The Falcons could not overcome a 2-0 deficit as they were defeated, 2-1, by the Sound Tigers at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, November 12th. Darren Reid scored the lone goal for the Falcons on a power play during the second period and he was assisted by Jason Jaspers and Harlan Pratt. Sound Tigers' goalie Chris Madden had 22 saves in the win. Wyatt Smith scored both goals for the Sound Tigers.
PLAYER NOTABLES:
Goalie Jonathan Boutin has a save percentage of 94.5% through two starts.
Brian Eklund made his NHL debut on Tuesday, November 8th in Montreal for the Tampa Bay Lighting. Eklund stopped 16 of 19 shots on goal.
Jason Jaspers recorded three points over the weekend with one goal and two assists.
Norm Milley notched four points over the weekend with one goal and three assists.
Jaspers and Milley now lead the team with 15 points each (seven goals and eight assists).
Milley is ranked ninth in the AHL in power play goals with five in 13 games.
Ryan Vesce notched two assists over the weekend and leads the team in assists with nine.
TEAM NOTES:
17 players who are currently active for the Falcons have recorded a point this year.
The Falcons have collected a point in five of their six road games this season (3-1-1-1).
INJURY REPORT
Falcons defensemen Brad Bombardir and Todd Rohloff and forward Steve McLaren missed games due to injury.
TRANSACTIONS
11/9/05: Tampa Bay reassigns Brian Eklund and Nick Tarnasky to the Falcons.
11/9/05: Tampa Bay recalls Gerald Coleman from the Falcons.
COMMUNITY
FRIENDLY'S FAMILY FUN NIGHTS RETURN - The Springfield Falcons are pleased to announce Family Fun Nights at Friendly's. Falcons' players and Screech will be meeting with fans at area Friendly's restaurants. A portion of the event's sales will benefit Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc, the Official Charity of the Springfield Falcons. The dates are as follows:
Monday, November 14 19 Springfield Street, Agawam, MA - Players TBD
Monday, November 28 65 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA - Players TBD
Monday, December 12 430 Cooley St., Springfield, MA - Players TBD
SPRINGFIELD SLIDERS HOCKEY TEAM HITS THE ICE! - Starting Tuesday, October 18th, Assistant Coach Phil Russell and players will be attending the Springfield Sliders Sled Hockey Practice at Amelia Park in Westfield from 6-7 p.m. every Tuesday. The Sliders Hockey Team is a program through Shriners Hospital that allows children with orthopedic issues the opportunity to experience the game of hockey.
USED EQUIPMENT COLLECTION - The Falcons, #28 Brad Tiley, Reminder Publications and Sport-2-Sport have teamed up to collect used athletic equipment and deliver it to local children organizations in need. Please bring any used athletic equipment to the following games:
Friday, November 18, 2005 vs. Albany
Wednesday, November 23, 2005 vs. Lowell
In appreciation for your donation, the Falcons will give you a discount coupon for the November 28 game. Brad Tiley is the ambassador for this program and will be delivering the equipment and assisting in future collections during the season.
TEDDY BEAR TOSS - Teddy Bear Pools and Spas is proud to sponsor the 2nd annual Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday, Dec. 10 against Manchester. Bring a bear and throw it on the ice during the first intermission. All bears will be donated to the American Red Cross Emergency Services.
HOLIDAY TOY COLLECTION - Kraft is once again sponsoring the Falcons Toy Collection to be collected at the Community Relations table behind Section 31 at the following Falcons games:
Sunday, December 4, 2005 vs. Albany
Friday, December 9, 2005 vs. Hartford
Saturday, December 10, 2005 vs. Manchester
Friday, Decemeber 16, 2005 vs. Portland
ON THE FARM - JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS
Morgan Cey made his professional debut for the Chiefs on Friday night as they lost in a shootout to Trenton in a 3-2 at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. Cey will try to lead the Chiefs (0-5-4) to their first win this season. Cey had 38 wins for Notre Dame during his four year career. He was signed by Tampa Bay on August 26, 2005. The Chiefs will host South Carolina on Friday night and travel to Toledo on Saturday night.
NEXT HOME GAMES
11/18/05: Albany at Springfield 8:05 PM, MassMutual Center
11/20/05: Binghamton at Springfield 4:05 PM, MassMutual Center
American Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2005
- Admirals Extend Win Streak to Seven - Milwaukee Admirals
- Aucoin Shines as Monsters Drown River Rats, 4-1 - Albany Devils
- Phantoms can't solve Sound Tigers - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bulldogs Fall to Admirals, 1-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sound Tigers Make It A Half Dozen - Bridgeport Islanders
- Stars collecting books - Iowa Chops
- Rivermen plan Girl Scout Night for December 10 - Peoria Rivermen
- Penguins weekly - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Stars announce TV broadcasts - Iowa Chops
- Wolves Try to Can Hunger - Chicago Wolves
- Hockey 101: For Women Only A Huge Success - Manchester Monarchs
- Verbeek returned to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Moose Sign Bayda to PTO - Manitoba Moose
- Insana returns to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Spend the holidays with the Aeros - Houston Aeros
- Cassivi returns to Hershey, two home games this weekend - Hershey Bears
- Bulldogs announce exciting upcoming promotional plans - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Canucks recall Green - Manitoba Moose
- Hamilton Bulldogs game notes - Hamilton Bulldogs
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Blackhawks recall Shawn Thornton - Norfolk Admirals
- Bulldogs game notes - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons make addition to roster - Springfield Falcons
- Moose reassign Engman to Columbia - Manitoba Moose
- Falcons weekly update - Springfield Falcons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
