AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Minutes

March 27, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


Last Game, Sunday, March 23 at the Verizon Wireless Arena: Monarchs 4, Albany 3, OT: Fan favorite defenseman Joe Rullier scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway with just two tenths of a second remaining on the overtime clock. Rullier's goal gave the Monarchs their sixth win in their last seven games (6-0-1), and more importantly, it gave the Monarchs a five point lead in the race for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and home ice advantage in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Entering weekend play, the Monarchs lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Saturday's opponent) by five points with seven games remaining for each team during the 2002-03 regular season. The Sound Tigers do have a game in hand on the Binghamton Senators, who they trail by four points for the East Division championship. The Monarchs trail the Providence Bruins by nine points in the North Division. Defenseman Chris Aldous, defenseman Jason Holland and Brandon Dietrich also scored for the Monarchs on Sunday, who rallied from a 2-0 second period deficit to take the win. Rullier's goal also gave rookie netminder Jeff Sanger his first AHL win in his first AHL start. Sanger finished with 41 saves.

Monarchs Alumni In The Show:

Czech-import and AHL All-Star defenseman Tomas Zizka collected his second NHL point (an assist) and goaltender Cristobal Huet backstopped his team to a 1-1 tie after regulation as the Los Angeles Kings battled with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at STAPLES Center. Needing two points to stay in playoff contention, the Kings pulled Huet in overtime for an extra attacker, but the strategy backfired when Andrew Cassels shot the puck into the empty cage from center ice for a 2-1 Blue Jackets win. The Kings did not receive a point because they lost with the empty net goal and fell to 0-2-2-1 in their last five games. Tuesday's loss means the Kings will not be advancing to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Huet finished with 21 saves for the Kings, who failed to beat the Blue Jackets in four games this season. Zizka and Sean Avery assisted on defenseman Jaroslav Modry's first period power play goal.

Games This Weekend:

Friday, March 28, Worcester at Manchester (7:35 p.m.)*

Saturday, March 29, Bridgeport at Manchester (7:35 p.m.)*

Sunday, March 30, Manchester at Worcester (4:05 p.m.)*

*Ken Cail broadcasts all Monarchs games on the Monarchs Radio Network (610 WGIR, 930 WGIN, 1540 WGIP, and 1400 WTSL) and on the World Wide Web at www.monarchshockey.com.

Recent Monarchs Transactions:

3/26/03 Delete Pavel Rosa (RW) recalled by Los Angeles (NHL) under emergency conditions

3/26/03 Delete Kent Davyduke (C) released from PTO

3/25/03 Delete Steve Kelly (C) recalled by Los Angeles (NHL) under emergency conditions

3/22/03 Add Jason Holland (D) assigned to Manchester (AHL)

3/21/03 Add Doug Nolan (D) signed to PTO (added under emergency conditions)

Monarchs Injuries:

Forwards Jared Aulin, Scott Barney, Dane Jackson and Greg Koehler are not expected to play this weekend because of current injuries. Defenseman Richard Seeley may return to action.

Two Monarchs Fundraisers Raise Over $76,000 For Area Charities:

The Manchester Monarchs are pleased to announce that Tuesday's "At Your Service" Dinner at C.R. Sparks in Bedford, New Hampshire, netted over $60,000 for charitable partners of the Monarchs Care Foundation, including The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Manchester, Child Health Services, and The Boys & Girls Clubs of New Hampshire. The Monarchs began the week by raising over $16,000 for the New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame. Defenseman Joe Rullier, wearing his throwback Berlin Maroons jersey, scored the game-winning goal with two tenths of a second left in overtime to give the Monarchs a 4-3 victory over the Albany River Rats on Sunday, March 23. After the game, the special jerseys were auctioned off with proceeds going to the NHHHoF. Not surprisingly, Rullier's jersey went for a top bid of $2,750.

Fan Appreciation Night, March 29:

All fans in attendance will receive a free team photo, courtesy of Crowley Foods, when the Monarchs host the Worcester IceCats on Saturday, March 29 (7:35 p.m.) at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The first 5,000 fans will also receive a free water bottle courtesy of Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. In addition, fans will have a chance to win two roundtrip airline tickets to Bermuda if their chuck-a-puck lands in the center circle during the second intermission of Saturday's game. The first intermission will feature teams from area hospitals competing in hospital bed races. Many other prizes will be given away throughout the night as the Monarchs say THANK YOU to the best fans in the AHL.

Shirt Off Our Back Promotion, April 5:

The Manchester Monarchs are still selling entry tickets for their "Shirt Off Our Back" promotion in the Verizon Wireless Arena concourse during Monarchs games. This annual rite of spring is planned for Saturday, April 5 vs. the Providence Bruins. Each ticket costs one dollar with proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics and the Monarchs Care Foundation. Located near the tickets will be a table full of jars, with each jar representing a jersey. After the ticket purchase, fans are encouraged to place their ticket in the jar of the jersey they'd like to win. A total of five road jerseys will also be auctioned off live to the highest bidder after the game.

Monarchs End Of Season Awards, April 5:

The winners of this year's Ace Bailey MVP Award, the Mark Bavis Unsung Hero Award, the Union Leader Fan Favorite Award and the American Specialty/HG Insurance Services/AHL Man of the Year/Monarchs Community Service Award will be unveiled as part of a post-game celebration at center ice following the Monarchs-Providence Bruins game at Saturday, April 5 (7:35 p.m.). Last year's award winners included Joe Corvo (MVP), Jerred Smithson (Unsung Hero), Richard Seeley (Community Service) and Ted Donato (Fan Favorite).

Seeley Honored For Charitable Contributions:

The American Hockey League on Wednesday announced the individual team winners of the American Specialty/HG Insurance Services/AHL Man of the Year awards, given to one player from each AHL member team for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations during the 2002-03 season. The Monarchs Richard Seeley is one of 28 finalists up for the honor. From the list of 28, representatives from American Specialty, HG Insurance Services and the AHL will choose the winner of the 2002-03 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, to be announced during the Calder Cup 2003 Finals later this spring. The AHL's annual Man of the Year award is named after the late Yanick Dupre, who died in August 1997 at the age of 24, following a 16-month battle with leukemia.

Scott Named Sher-Wood Player Of The Week:

Week 24 of the 2002-03 American Hockey League season was a special one for Manchester Monarchs goaltender Travis Scott, who on Monday was rewarded for his remarkable play by being named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week. Scott, 27, went 2-0-1 in three starts last week while stopping 113 of the 116 shots he faced (.972 save percentage). His exceptional week included shutout victories over the Norfolk Admirals (1st in the South Division) on March 19 and the Providence Bruins (1st in the North Division) on March 21. It also included a lengthy scoreless streak (162:58), a franchise-record 50 saves (March 19 vs. Norfolk, 3-0 Win), a franchise record 19th consecutive appearance (March 22 vs. Providence, 3-3 Tie), and a miniscule 0.97 goals against average. Scott, a native of Kanata, Ontario, is 5-0-1 in his last six starts with three shutouts. Signed by the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent in February of 2000, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound backstop is 86-77-13 in 193 career AHL contests. Prior to his stint with the Monarchs, Scott also patrolled the pipes for the Lowell Lock Monsters (1999-01) and the Worcester IceCats (1996-97). Scott, who is one win away from equaling the Monarchs franchise record for wins in a season with 21, was honored as the AHL's Goaltender of the Month in December of 2001. He also represented the Monarchs at the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic played in St. John's, Newfoundland. In recognition of his achievement, Scott will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to the Monarchs game against the Portland Pirates on Wednesday, April 2 (7:05 p.m.). In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Tri-Town Youth Hockey Association in his name.

Monarchs Merchandise On Sale On Line:

Looking to add a little purple and gold Monarchs gear to your wardrobe for the playoffs? Then check out the Monarchs new on-line store at www.monarchshockey.com/merchandise, or visit the Monarchs Pro Shop in person.

How To Buy Monarchs Tickets:

In Person: at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box office, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By Phone: call Ticketmaster at (603) 868-7300. Online: at www.ticketmaster.com.



American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2003


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