AHL Syracuse Crunch

Hartigan's Strong Play Continues With Columbus

January 12, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Center Mark Hartigan carried his hot play from Syracuse to Columbus last week, recording a point in all three of the Blue Jackets games. Four days after being named American Hockey League Player of the Week, Hartigan scored his first goal as a member of the Blue Jackets in Columbus' 3-2 overtime victory at San Jose on Thursday night. He added an assist on Anders Eriksson's goal in the Blue Jackets 2-2 tie at Los Angeles on Saturday night and set up Rick Nash's game-tying goal late in the third period of the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-2 tie with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Hartigan was named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week, for the period ending January 4, after recording seven goals and one assist along with a plus-8 rating, as the Crunch went 3-0-1-0 in four games. In recognition of his achievement, Hartigan will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Fort St. John (B.C.) Minor Hockey Association in Hartigan's name. Hartigan has appeared in 32 games with Syracuse this season, with a team-leading 14 goals. He is third on the team with 26 points. The first player from St. Cloud State University ever named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award (2002), Hartigan split his rookie season between the Chicago Wolves and the Atlanta Thrashers in 2002-03, recording 15 goals and 31 assists in 55 AHL games. The native of Fort St. John, British Columbia, has six goals and four assists in 29 career NHL matches.

LECLAIRE SETS HIGH: Goaltender Pascal Leclaire made a season high 45 saves, leading the Crunch to a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans on Saturday night. The 45 saves were two short of his career high of 47 set on November 30, 2002 @ Hershey. With the victory, Leclaire eclipsed his season-high win total of eight, set during his rookie season last year. Leclaire enters this week with a 9-7-1 record, a 2.74 goals against average and a .923 save percentage for the season.

WHAT WAS HIS NAME?: The Crunch have already had 35 different players suit up for them through their first 35 games this season. Last season 46 players appeared in a game for the Crunch.

McDONELL EXTENDS STREAK TO FOUR: Right wing Kent McDonell scored once and added two assists in the Crunch's two-games this past weekend to extend his point scoring streak to four games (January 3 - January 10). In 12 games with the Crunch this season, McDonell has recorded 13 points (5g, 8a) and 6 penalty minutes. McDonell has also appeared in 24 games with the Blue Jackets this season with two points (1g, 1a) and 34 penalty minutes. Acquired by Columbus in August 16, 2000 trade with Detroit for a sixth round draft choice in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

TRANSACTIONS: Through January 11 the Crunch have had 74 player transactions. Through the same time frame last season Syracuse had 59 player moves.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Monday, January 12:

Autograph Signing at Saturn: On Monday, January 12, Crunch players Karl Goehring and Donald MacLean and the Crunch's mascot, Al will be at Saturn on W. Genesee Street, from 5-6 p.m. to sign autographs.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

January

Coleman's 'Dinner and a Game' Program: During the month of January any party that orders two (2) dinner entrees will receive a Crunch ticket voucher valid for two (2) tickets to a future Crunch home game, of the customer's choice.

Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub and Restaurant is located on the corner of Tompkins Street and Lowell Avenue on Syracuse's Tipperary Hill. For directions call 476-1933. At this Irish Pub, atmosphere is just as important as flavor. Here you'll find custom crafted stained glass windows with intricate designs from the Book of Kells, paintings from the Irish National Gallery, and a dark oak bar patterned after the original Jury's in Dublin.

Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub - Celebrating 70 years of business.

CellBucks In-Game Auction: During each Crunch home game for the 2003-04 season the Crunch and CellBucks will hold an in-game auction featuring a special Crunch item.

To participate in the auction, fans must be registered with CellBucks. Registration is free and can be done by visiting www.CellBucks.com and completing a quick start sign-up form. After you are a registered user, you will be eligible to participate in CellBucks in-game auctions and order food delivered directly to your seat!

Each month during the regular season, the Crunch will feature the CellBucks in-game auction items on the front page of their website, encouraging people to sign up and bid prior to the game.

January 16 - Syracuse Crunch Navy Hooded Sweatshirt

January 17 - Autographed Uncut 2002-03 Trading Card Sheet

January 28 - Crunch Cheer Pack (includes foam finger, megaphone and four tickets)

January 31 - Autographed Tully's Large Trading Cards #1-5

CellBucks continues to provide Crunch fans with wireless food and beverage in-seat service. Fast, convenient and safe, this service allows fans to order and pay for food and beverages at the press of button - and have it delivered right to your seat. Visit www.CellBucks.com to register now!

Friday, January 16:

Empire Vision Poster Night Returns Friday, January 16: One of the most popular giveaways in team history returns on Friday, January 16, when each fan in attendance will receive the tenth-annual Empire Vision Centers Crunch poster.

This year's poster depicts the team, dressed in tuxedo's, celebrating the franchises 10th anniversary in Clinton Square at night, wearing Empire Vision sunglasses.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

BINGHAMTON (OTTAWA SENATORS): Syracuse travels to Binghamton on Wednesday, January 14 for the fourth of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. Binghamton leads the series 2-1, after defeating Syracuse 2-1 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in their last meeting on November 29. Right wings Josh Langfeld (2g, 1a) and Chris Kelly (1g, 2a) and left wing Denis Hamel (1g, 2a) lead all players in head-to-head scoring with three points. Several Crunch players are tied at two points. Karl Goehring appeared in all three games for Syracuse, posting a 2.67 goals against average. Ray Emery has appeared in two games with Binghamton, recording both victories, posting a 1.00 goals against average and .969 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 3-7-1 against the Senators.

TORONTO (EDMONTON OILERS): The Roadrunners visit the War Memorial at Oncenter on Saturday, January 16 for the third of six regular season meetings between the clubs. The series is tied at one, after Syracuse defeated Toronto 3-2 in their last meeting on December 6 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Defenseman Darrel Scoville leads the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with two points (2a). Left wing Jani Rita leads Toronto with two points (1g, 1a). Karl Goehring and Pascal Leclaire have split time in net, with Goehring posting the victory. Michael Morrison has appeared in both games for Toronto, posting a 1.96 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 1-1 against Toronto.

CLEVELAND (SAN JOSE SHARKS): Syracuse hosts the Cleveland Barons on Saturday, January 17 for the fifth of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 3-1, after defeating the Barons 6-4 in their last meeting on January 4 in Syracuse. Defenseman Garrett Stafford leads all players in head-to-head scoring with seven points (3g, 4a). Center Mark Hartigan leads the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with six points (5g, 1a). Karl Goehring (1-1) and Pascal Leclaire (2-0) have split time in net. Dimitri Patzold has appeared in all four games for Cleveland, posting a 1-2-0 record, a 2.22 goals against average and .925 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 12-7-1 against the Barons.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): Syracuse concludes the week at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday, January 18 for the fifth of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. The series is tied at two a piece, after Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated Syracuse 3-1 in their last meeting on November 8 at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. Several Penguins players lead all players in head-to-head scoring with four points. Centers Donald MacLean (2g, 1a) and Brad Moran (1g, 2a) lead the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with three points. Pascal Leclaire has appeared in three games posting a 2-1-0 record, a 2.33 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. Andy Chiodo (1-1) and Jean-Sebastien Aubin (1-1) have split time net for the Pengiuns. Lifetime, the Crunch are 22-14-6 against Wilke-Barre/Scranton.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (10-22-4-3) enter this week fifth in the Central Division, four points behind Chicago (31 points). Left wing Rick Nash leads the NHL with 23 goals and paces Columbus with 27 points (23g, 4a). There are currently seven players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Jody Shelley, Duvie Westcott, David Ling, Todd Rohloff, Anders Eriksson, Tim Jackman and Zenith Komarniski).

INJURY UPDATE: Left wing Brandon Sugden suffered a separated shoulder on Sunday, January 4 vs. Cleveland. He is expected to miss two-to-four weeks with the injury. Through 33 games this season the Crunch have lost 42 man-games due to injury (Trent Cull - 16, Paul Traynor - 7, Sean Connolly - 5, Brandon Sugden - 5, Andrej Nedorost -5 and Pauli Levokari - 4).

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch's weekly schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 6 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Wednesday, January 7 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Thursday, January 8 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Friday, January 9 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Hershey

Saturday, January 10 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Rochester

Sunday, January 11 Off

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Center Donald MacLean had his eight-game point streak snapped on Saturday night vs. Rochester. MacLean scored six goals and added four assists during the streak (12/20 – 1/9)... With two assists in the Crunch's 3-2 victory over Rochester on Saturday, center Brad Moran (10g, 20a) tied Donald MacLean (12g, 18a) for the club lead in scoring with 30 points... Defenseman Darrel Scoville is one assist away from 100 in his AHL career... With Saturday's victory over Rochester the Crunch improved to 6-1-2-1 at home against North Division opponents.

2003-04 RECORD: 16-12-5-2, 39 points (11-4-4-1 home, 5-8-1-1 road), tied - fifth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, January 14 @ Binghamton (16-16-4-2), 38 points, tied - fifth place, East Division

Friday, January 16 vs. Toronto (12-19-6-2), 32 points, seventh place, North Division

Saturday, January 17 vs. Cleveland (16-13-4-5), 41 points, fourth place, North Division

Sunday, January 18 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (17-14-4-4), 42 points, fourth place, East Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Friday, January 9 Hershey 2 CRUNCH 1

Saturday, January 10 CRUNCH 3 Rochester 2

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2004


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