AHL Syracuse Crunch

Leclaire Makes NHL Debut

Published on February 23, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


LECLAIRE'S NHL DEBUT: Goaltender Pascal Leclaire made his National Hockey League debut Friday night @ Phoenix, recording 31 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Coyotes. He is the 18th player to appear in both a Crunch and Blue Jackets game this season. A native of Repentigny, Quebec, Leclaire has appeared in 31 games with the Crunch this season, posting a 15-10-3 record, with a 2.85 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. Drafted by the Blue Jackets with the 8th overall pick in the 2001 Entry Draft, Leclaire has appeared in 67 career games with the Crunch with a 23-31-6 record and a 3.22 goals against average.

PLAYOFF RACES BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE: Syracuse (55 games – 64 points) enters this week tied with Cleveland (56 games – 64 points) for second place in the North Division, eight points behind Hamilton (58 games – 72 points) for first place. The Crunch are six points ahead of Rochester (57 games – 58 points), six points ahead of Toronto (58 games – 58 points), ten points ahead of St. John's (58 games – 54 points) and eleven points ahead of Manitoba (59 games – 53 points). Twenty of the Crunch's 25 remaining games will be against the North Division rivals. Syracuse is 11-7-4-2 against North Division opponents this season.

COLUMBUS/SYRACUSE SHUTTLE: Entering this week 18 different players (Fred Brathwaite, Anders Eriksson, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Mark Hartigan, Tim Jackman, Aaron Johnson, Espen Knutsen, Pascal Leclaire, David Ling, Kent McDonell, Brad Moran, Joe Motzko, Andrej Nedorost, Sean Pronger, Jamie Pushor, Jeremy Reich, Todd Rohloff, Derrick Walser) have appeared in a Columbus and Syracuse uniform this season and 19 players (Zenith Komarniski – recalled but did not dress) have spent time on both rosters.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Tuesday, February 24

Cull and Traynor to Sign Autographs at Quickway: Crunch players Trent Cull and Paul Traynor will be at Quickway, in Mattydale, on Tuesday, February 24 from 4-5 pm to sign autographs.

Labatt's Celebrity Bartending Series Continues on Tuesday, February 24 at Dodesters: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Labatt's has announced that the Labatt's celebrity bartending series will continue on Tuesday, February 24 at Dodesters.

Crunch players Ben Knopp, Zenith Komarniski and Mike Pandolfo will serve as celebrity bartenders at Dodesters from 5 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24. Dodesters is located on 2426 South Ave. For directions call (315) 478-9371.

All tips generated by the players that night will be donated to the Central New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Since its founding in 1891 the CNYSPCA has been on a mission to alleviate suffering, prevent cruelty and promote kindness to all animals.

Thursday, February 26:

Jackman and Reich to Sign Autographs at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo: On Thursday, February 26 Crunch players Tim Jackman and Jeremy Reich will be at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo from 3 – 4 p.m. to sign autographs by the Elephant Exhibit. The signing will be moved to the top of the lobby, if inclement weather.

Moran and Scoville to Sign Autographs at Quickway: Crunch players Brad Moran and Darrel Scoville will be at Quickway, on North Midler, on Thursday, February 26 from 4-5 pm to sign autographs.

For directions call 432-0152.

Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at All Sports Collectors Gallery: Crunch players Donald MacLean, Tyler Sloan and Paul Traynor will be at All Sports Collectors Gallery in ShoppingTown Mall on Thursday, February 26 to sign autographs from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

February

Anheuser-Busch Bring Your ‘Bud'dy to the Game Program: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Anheuser-Busch, announced the details of the Bring Your ‘Bud'dy to the Game Program.

During the month of February any person that brings a proof of purchase from an Anheuser-Busch product to the Crunch's box office will receive a buy one, get one free ticket.

Wednesday, February 27:

Coca-Cola Presents Dasani Glass Night: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Coca-Cola and Dasani announced that the Crunch's Friday, February 27 game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will be Dasani Glass Night.

The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Crunch glass, courtesy of Coca-Cola and Dasani.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

TORONTO (EDMONTON OILERS): Syracuse hosts Toronto on Wednesday, February 25 for the fifth of six regular season meetings between the clubs. Toronto leads the series 2-1-1. In head-to-head scoring, left wing Nate DiCasmirro (3g, 1a) and center J.J. Hunter (2g, 2a) pace all players with four points. Right wings Joe Motzko (2g, 1a) and Kent McDonell (3a) lead Syracuse with three points. Pascal Leclaire has appeared in three games for the Crunch, posting a 0-2-1 record, a 3.55 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Michael Morrison has appeared in four games for Toronto, posting a 2-1-1 record, a 2.88 goals against average and .890 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 1-2-1 against the Roadrunners.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): Wilkes-Barre/Scranton travels Syracuse on Friday, February 27 for the eighth and final regular season meeting between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 4-3, after Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated Syracuse 2-1 in overtime in their last meeting on February 21 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Center Brad Moran paces all players in head-to-head scoring with eight points (5g, 3a). Center Kris Beech (4g, 1a) and defenseman Patrick Boileau (5a) lead the Penguins in head-to-head scoring with five points. Pascal Leclaire has appeared in four games, posting a 3-1-0 record, with a 2.00 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. Andy Chiodo has appeared in three games for the Penguins, posting 1-2-0 record, a 3.02 goals against average and a .883 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 24-15-6 against the Penguins.

HAMILTON (MONTREAL CANADIENS): Syracuse heads to Hamitlon on Saturday, February 28 for the fifth of six regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 1-0-3, after tying Hamilton 1-1 in their last meeting on January 31 at War Memorial at Oncenter. Right wing Alexandre Perezhogin paces all players in head-to-head scoring with five points (3g, 2a). Centers Mark Hartigan (2g, 2a) and Donald MacLean (2g, 2a) lead the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with four points. Karl Goehring has appeared in three games, posting a 1-0-2 record, with a 2.21 goals against average and a .940 save percentage. Jean-Francois Damphousse has appeared in two games for the Bulldogs, posting a 0-1-1 record, a 2.91 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 22-24-10 against the Bulldogs.

ROCHESTER (BUFFALO SABRES): The Crunch finish the week in Buffalo, when they play Rochester on Sunday, February 29 in the HSBC Arena for the eighth of 12 regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 4-3, after Rochester defeated Syracuse 5-1 in their last meeting on February 20 at Blue Cross Arena. Right wing Tim Jackman paces all players in head-to-head scoring with seven points (5g, 2a). Defenseman David Cullen leads the Amerks in head-to-head scoring with six points (1g, 5a). Pascal Leclaire has appeared in six games, posting a 4-1-0 record, with a 2.06 goals against average and a .945 save percentage. Ryan Miller has appeared in six games, posting 2-4-0 record, a 2.50 goals against average and a .897 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 21-53-13 against the Amerks.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (17-32-8-4, 46 points) enter this week tied for fourth place with Chicago in the Central Division, 21 points behind St. Louis (67 points) for third place. Left wing Rick Nash is tied for the NHL lead with Ilya Kovalchuk with 33 goals and paces Columbus with 44 points (33g, 11a). There are currently six players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Jody Shelley, Duvie Westcott, Aaron Johnson, David Ling, Pascal Leclaire and Anders Eriksson).

INJURY UPDATE: Through 55 games this season the Crunch have lost 69 man-games due to injury (Trent Cull – 16, Paul Traynor – 12, Brandon Sugden – 9, Zenith Komarniski – 8, Sean Connolly – 5, Andrej Nedorost -5, Pauli Levokari – 4, Shawn Limpright – 4, Brad Moran – 3, David Ling – 2 and Tyler Sloan - 1 ).

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

Tuesday, February 24 10:30 a.m. practice @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

Wednesday, February 25 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:00 p.m. game vs. Toronto

Thursday, February 26 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Friday, February 27 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Saturday, February 28 7:00 p.m. game @ Hamilton

Sunday, February 29 6:00 p.m. game @ Rochester (at HSBC Arena in Buffalo)

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Defenseman Darrel Scoville leads the Crunch with 21 power play points (3g, 18a)... Center Donald MacLean is one game shy of 350 in the American Hockey League... With 10 penalty minutes in Friday night's game against Rochester defenseman Trent Cull surpassed the 1,000 penalty mark (1,004) in his American Hockey League career... Center Mark Hartigan appeared in his 100th AHL contest Friday in Rochester... Left wing Jeremy Reich is 66 penalty minutes shy of tying John Badduke for the franchise mark of 649 career penalty minutes.

2003-04 RECORD: 26-17-8-4, 64 points (14-6-6-3 home, 12-11-2-1 road), tied-second place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, February 25 vs. Toronto (24-24-8-2), 58 points, tied-fourth place, North Division

Friday, February 27 vs. Wilkes-Barre (22-21-7-5), 56 points, sixth place, East Division

Saturday, February 28 @ Hamilton (30-16-8-4), 72 points, first place, East Division

Sunday, February 29 @ Rochester (in Buffalo) (23-22-8-4), 58 points, tied-fourth, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Monday, February 16 San Antonio 6 CRUNCH 3

Wednesday, February 18 CRUNCH 0 OT BINGHAMTON 0

Friday, February 20 ROCHESTER 5 Crunch 1

Saturday, February 21 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2 OT CRUNCH 1

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

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American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2004


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