AHL Syracuse Crunch

MacLean on Scoring Streak

January 19, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


MID-POINT APPROACHES: The Crunch will reach the mid-point of the 2003-04 season on Saturday night in Houston in the middle of a tight North Division race. Entering this week the Crunch (39 games - 44 points) sit in fifth place, trailing Cleveland by one point (41 games - 45 points), St. John's by three points (45 games - 47 points), Rochester by four points (41 games - 48 points) and first-place Hamilton by nine points (44 games - 53 points). The Crunch are 15 points better this season through 39 games than last year. The 2002-03 Crunch team posted a 12-22-4-1 (29 points) record in their first 39 games.

MacLEAN RECORDS POINT IN 12 OF 13 GAMES: Center Donald MacLean continued his torrid play this week recording at least one point in each of the Crunch's four games (2g, 3a). MacLean has tallied a point in 12 of his last 13 games, netting eight goals and seven assists. He is currently tied with Brad Moran for the team lead in scoring with 35 points (14g, 21a). A native of Sydney, Nova Scotia, MacLean led the AHL in scoring (87 points) during the 2001-02 season as a member of the St. John's Maple Leafs. Originally drafted by Los Angeles with their second selection (33rd overall) in the 1995 Entry Draft, Columbus signed MacLean as a free agent on July 17, 2002. In 333 career AHL games with Fredericton, Springfield, St. John's, Lowell and Syracuse, MacLean has 121 goals, 166 assists and 217 penalty minutes.

MORAN TIES SAVAGE FOR SIXTH ALL-TIME: Center Brad Moran moved into a sixth place tie with Reggie Savage last night, scoring once with an assist in the Crunch's 4-1 victory over Wilkes-Barre, to raise his point total to 145 (60g, 85a). Moran now trails Brian Loney (149 points) and Mathieu Darche (149) by four points for fourth all-time. With the two points on Sunday night, Moran extended his current point streak to five games (2g, 5a) and 13 of his last 16 (5g, 12a). He is currently tied with Donald MacLean for the team lead in scoring with 35 points (12g, 23a). Originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 7th round, 191st overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Columbus signed Moran as a free agent on June 5, 2000. A native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Moran has appeared in 221 career AHL games, all with Syracuse, recording 145 points and 121 penalty minutes. He is scoreless in three career NHL games with the Blue Jackets.

POWER PLAY: The Crunch's power play unit is once again ranked second in the AHL after scoring seven goals (7-for-20 - 35%) during the club's four games last week. Syracuse (37-for-200 - 18.5%) trails only Lowell (34-for-176 - 19.3%) for the AHL lead.

JOHNSON ROOKIE SCORING: Defenseman Aaron Johnson enters this week fourth among AHL rookie defenseman in scoring with 18 points (5g, 13a). The Crunch's lone representative at this season's AHL All-Star Classic, Johnson trails Cleveland's Garrett Stafford (26 points) by eight points, Toronto's Doug Lynch (23) by five points and St. John's Carlo Colaiacov (20) by two points for the rookie defenseman scoring lead. Johnson has appeared in 34 games with Syracuse this season, recording 5 goals, 13 assists and 46 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut with Columbus on December 2 against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. On December 4, Johnson recorded his first NHL point, an assist, against Nashville. In three games with Columbus this season, Johnson has one assist and two penalty minutes. Last season, Johnson split time between Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (25gp, 4g, 20a, 41 PIM's) and Quebec (QMJHL) (32gp, 6g, 31a, 41 PIM's). A native of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Johnson was Columbus' fourth pick, 85th overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Monday, January 19:

'Test a Mattress' With a Crunch Player at Sleep City : On Monday, January 19, Crunch players Aaron Johnson, Tyler Sloan and Brandon Sugden will be at Sleep City in Liverpool, from 6-7 p.m. to assist fans in 'testing a mattress.'

During the appearance, fans will have the opportunity to 'test a mattress' with Johnson, Sloan and Sugden. In addition, the players will be available for autograph signings.

Sleep City is located at 7567 Oswego Rd., in Liverpool. For directions call 622-1112.

Wednesday, January 21:

Labatt's Celebrity Bartending at Change of Pace: Crunch players Trent Cull, Aaron Johnson and Darrel Scoville will serve as celebrity bartenders at Change of Pace from 5 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21. Change of Pace is located on 1802 Grant Blvd. in Syracuse. For directions call (315) 472-4409.

All tips generated by the players that night will be donated to the Onondaga Youth Hockey Association.

Thursday, January 22:

Crunch to Sign Autographs at Express Mart: On Thursday, January 22 Crunch players Pascal Leclaire and Paul Traynor will be at Express Mart on Erie Blvd. from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. to sign autographs.

Tuesday, January 27:

Aaron Johnson and Tyler Sloan To Sign Autographs at Coleman's: Crunch players Aaron Johnson and Tyler Sloan will be at Coleman's on Tipperary Hill on Tuesday, January 27 from 4-5 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 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!

Saturday, January 31:

Havoline NASCAR Night at the Crunch: The #42 Havoline NASCAR, driven by Jamie McMurray, the 2003 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, will be at the Crunch game on Saturday, January 31. The Havoline NASCAR will be located in the basement of the War Memorial during the game.

In addition, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Jamie McMurray 8x10 photo. Fans will also have the opportunity to win a four (4) pack of Watkins Glen tickets and participate in a raffle to win a helmet autographed by Jamie McMurray.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

HOUSTON (MINNESOTA WILD): Syracuse travels to Houston for the first time in franchise history on Saturday, January 24 for the second and final regular season meeting between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series, after defeating Houston 5-4 at the War Memorial at Oncenter in their last meeting on November 28. Several Crunch players lead all players in head-to-head scoring with two points. Several Aeros players are tied with one point. Karl Goehring posted the victory for Syracuse, recording 23 saves. Johan Holmqvist appeared in net for Houston, recording 18 saves. Lifetime, the Crunch are 1-0-0 against the Aeros.

SAN ANTONIO (FLORIDA PANTHERS): Syracuse travels to the SBC Center on Sunday, January 25 for their first-ever and first of two regular season meetings between the clubs. Left wing Eric Beaudoin paces the Rampage with 42 points (20g, 22a). Travis Scott has appeared in 33 games with San Antonio, with a 16-11-5-2 record, posting a 2.21 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (12-24-7-3, 34 points) enter this week tied for fourth in the Central Division, 18 points behind Nashville (52 points) for third place. Left wing Rick Nash leads the NHL with 28 goals and paces Columbus with 34 points (28g, 6a). There are currently five players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Jody Shelley, Duvie Westcott, David Ling, Anders Eriksson and Mark Hartigan).

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman Zenith Komarniski is listed as day-to-day with a pulled rib cage muscle. He has missed six games with the injury...Left wing Shawn Limpright is listed as day-to-day with a hip pointer. He has missed four games with the injury... Through 39 games this season the Crunch have lost 54 man-games due to injury (Trent Cull - 16, Paul Traynor - 7, Brandon Sugden - 7, Zenith Komarniski - 6, Sean Connolly - 5, Andrej Nedorost -5, Pauli Levokari - 4 and Shawn Limpright - 4).

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

Tuesday, January 20 Off

Wednesday, January 21 10:30 a.m. skate @ Tsha'Hon'Nonyen'Dakhwa

Thursday, January 22 10:30 a.m. practice @ Tsha'Hon'Nonyen'Dakhwa

Friday, January 23 10:30 a.m. skate @ Tsha'Hon'Nonyen'Dakhwa

Depart for Houston

Saturday, January 24 12:15 p.m. (EST) skate @ Toyota Center

8:00 p.m. (EST) game @ Houston

Sunday, January 25 6:00 p.m. (EST) game @ San Antonio

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Defenseman Trent Cull appeared in his 400th career AHL game (164 - St. John's; 74 - Houston; 71 - Wilkes-Barre; 63 - Syracuse and 28 - Springfield) last night against Wilkes-Barre... Defenseman Paul Traynor is one game shy of his 100th in a Crunch uniform... The Crunch's win last night @ Wilkes-Barre was their third consecutive on the road, a season high.

2003-04 RECORD: 18-13-5-3, 44 points (11-5-4-2 home, 7-8-1-1 road), fifth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Saturday, January 24 @ Houston (14-17-9-3), 40 points, tied - fourth place, West Division

Sunday, January 25 @ San Antonio (17-15-6-0), 40 points, tied - fourth place, West Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, January 14 Crunch 5 BINGHAMTON 3

Friday, January 16 Toronto 7 OT CRUNCH 6

Saturday, January 17 Cleveland 3 CRUNCH 2

Sunday, January 18 Crunch 4 WILKES-BARRE 1

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2004


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