AHL Syracuse Crunch

Fritsche and Zherdev Among Seven Assigned to Crunch

December 2, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY (December 2, 2005) - The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned center Dan Fritsche and Nikolai Zherdev to Syracuse and reassigned right wing Steven Goertzen, goaltender Pascal Leclaire, right wing Joe Motzko, center Geoff Platt and defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen to the Crunch. The team also announced that defenseman Mark Flood and center Tyler Kolarik have been reassigned by Columbus to Dayton (ECHL). Syracuse also announced that they have returned centers Brian Gornick and Brett Nowak to Dayton and left wing Wes Rypien has been recalled from the Bombers

Fritsche, 20, has appeared in 22 games with Columbus this season, tallying two goals, one assist and two penalty minutes. In four games with Syracuse during the 2003-04 season, Fritsche recorded two goals. In 44 career NHL games with Columbus, he has registered 3 goals, 1 assist and 14 penalty minutes. A native of Parma, Ohio, Fritsche was selected by Columbus in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Zherdev, 21, has played in 25 games with Columbus this season, recording 4 goals, 7 assists and 20 penalty minutes. In 82 career NHL games, all with Columbus, Zherdev has tallied 17 goals, 28 assists and 74 penalty minutes. Last season Zherdev played for CSKA Moscow (Russia), appearing in 51 games registering19 goals, 21 assists and 62 penalty minutes. A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Zherdev was selected by Columbus in the first round, 4th overall, in the 2003 Entry Draft.

Goertzen, 21, has appeared in 20 games with Columbus this season, recording 24 penalty minutes. In three games with Syracuse earlier this season, Goertzen recorded five penalty minutes. In 68 career AHL games all with Syracuse, Goertzen has tallied 2 goals, 10 assists and 109 penalty minutes. A native of Stony Plain, Alberta, Goertzen was selected by Columbus in the third round, 225th overall, in the 2002 Entry Draft.

Leclaire, 23, has appeared in six games with Columbus (1-5-0 record, 3.77 gaa and .893 save percentage) and six games with Syracuse this season (2-3-0 record, 2.99 gaa and a .910 save percentage.) He recorded his first NHL win on November 30 @ Minnesota, k=making 32 saves. A native of Repentigny, Quebec, Leclaire was selected by Columbus in the first round, 8th overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft.

Motzko,25, was called up by Columbus on December 1, but did not dress for a game. He has appeared in 15 games with Syracuse this season, tallying 3 goals, 9 assists and 12 penalty minutes. In 166 career AHL games, all with Syracuse, Motzko has recorded 48 goals, 71 assists and 122 penalty minutes. A native of Bemidji, Minnesota, Motzko was signed as a free agent by Columbus on May 15, 2003.

Platt, 20, made his NHL debut on Thursday, December 1 against St. Louis, registering two penalty minutes. He has appeared in 19 games this season, tallying a team-high 23 points and 14 goals. In the American Hockey League, Platt is third with eight power play goals, fifth in goals scored, seventh with two short-handed goals and eleventh in points. He is third among rookies in scoring. A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Platt signed an NHL contract with Columbus on November 23, 2005.

Tollefsen, 21, has appeared in five games with Columbus this season, recording two penalty minutes. In 15 games with Syracuse, Tollefsen has tallied 2 assists and 45 penalty minutes. In 79 career AHL games with Syracuse, Tollefsen has tallied 5 assists and 160 penalty minutes. A native of Oslo, Norway, Tollefsen was selected by Columbus in the third round, 65th overall, in the 2002 Entry Draft.

Flood, 21, appeared in five games with Syracuse this season, recording one goal. In 11 games with Dayton this season, Flood has tallied three goals, three assists and six penalty minutes. A native of Charlottetown, PEI, Flood was signed as a free agent by Columbus on August 22, 2005.

Gornick, 25, has appeared in six games with Syracuse this season, tallying one goal and two penalty minutes. In 10 games with Dayton this season, Gornick has registered 6 goals, 8 assists and 16 penalty minutes. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Gornick re-signed an AHL contract with Syracuse on August 24, 2005.

Kolarik, 24, has appeared in 13 games with Syracuse this season, recording 1 goal, 1 assist and 30 penalty minutes. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kolarik was selected by Columbus in the fifth round, 150th overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft.

Nowak, 24, has appeared in 13 games with Syracuse this season, recording one goal, 3 assists and 15 penalty minutes. A native of New Haven Connecticut, Nowak was signed to an AHL contract with Syracuse this off season.

Rypien, 23, has appeared in eight games with Dayton this season, recording 43 penalty minutes. A native of Coleman, Alberta, Rypien was signed to an AHL contract by Syracuse this off season.

The Crunch travel to Hershey on Saturday, December 3 for a 7 p.m. match-up with the Bears. Crunch action with play-by-play announcer Bob McElligott can be heard on SportsRadio 620 WHEN or through the B2 Networks on www.syracusecrunch.com.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2005


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.

OurSports Central