AHL Syracuse Crunch

Motzko Extends Streak

March 7, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Right wing Joe Motzko enters this week on a six-game point streak, matching both his and the Crunch's season high. Motzko enters this week leading the Crunch with 26 assists and second with 43 points. A native of Bemidji, Minnesota, Motzko has appeared in 131 career AHL games, all with Syracuse, recording 34 goals, 50 assists and 100 penalty minutes. He was signed as a free agent by Columbus on May 15, 2003 after four years at St. Cloud State (WCHA).

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Syracuse enters this week six points behind the Edmonton Road Runners for fourth place in the North Division. Edmonton (66 points) has 20 games remaining (8 home, 12 road), compared to Syracuse's 20 games remaining (11 home, 9 road). Cleveland (60 points), currently tied with the Crunch for sixth, has 19 games remaining (8 home, 11 road). Hamilton (63 points) is three points ahead of both Syracuse and Cleveland with 19 games remaining (11 home, 8 road).

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

EDMONTON (EDMONTON OILERS): Edmonton visits Syracuse for the fourth and final regular season meetings between the teams this season on Wednesday, March 9. Edmonton leads the series 3-0 after defeating Syracuse 2-1 in overtime at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin (3a) leads all Crunch players with three points in head-to-head scoring. Right wing Brad Winchester (2g, 1a) and center Mike Bishai (1g, 2a) lead the Road Runners with three points in head-to-head scoring. Andrew Penner appeared in one game for Syracuse, recording 25 saves. Tyler Moss appeared in all three games for Edmonton, posting a 3-0-0 record, a 1.61 gaa and a .937 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 2-6-1 against Edmonton.

HERSHEY (COLORADO AVALANCHE): Syracuse hosts Hershey on Friday, March 11 for the fourth and final regular season meeting between the teams this season. Syracuse leads the series 2-1, after defeating Syracuse 3-1 on February 20 in Hershey. Center Chris Ferraro (2g) leads all players with two points in head-to-head scoring. Several Hershey players have one point each in head-to-head scoring. Andrew Penner has appeared in two games for Syracuse, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 1.52 gaa and a .945 save percentage. Peter Budaj has appeared in two games for Hershey, posting a 2-0-0 record, a 0.48 gaa and a .986 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 23-33-11 against the Bears.

ROCHESTER (BUFFALO SABRES): Syracuse and Rochester play a home-and-home series on Saturday, March 12 at the War Memorial at Oncenter and Sunday, March 13 in Rochester for the eighth and ninth of 12 regular season meeting between the teams this season. Rochester leads the series 5-1-1, after beating Syracuse 5-2 on February 27 in Rochester. Center Derek Roy (2g, 7a) leads all players with nine points in head-to-head scoring. Left wing Mike Pandolfo (2g, 2a) leads the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with four points. Karl Goehring has appeared in four games for Syracuse, posting a 1-3-0, a 2.72 gaa and a .913 save percentage. Ryan Miller has appeared all seven games for Rochester, posting a 5-1-1 record, a 1.54 gaa and a .953 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 42-57-13 against the Amerks.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Crunch Announce Details of Score with P&C Promotion: Syracuse Crunch fans that purchase any of the designated Acosta brand products noted below from P&C will be eligible to purchase up to four Adult or Child tickets for only $10 a ticket (up to $8 savings on each ticket) until April 15, 2005.

Customers must purchase any of these Acosta Products at P&C to receive the Syracuse Crunch Ticket Discount:

Minute Maid

Hershey's

Campbell's

Ocean Spray

Duncan Hines

Once customers purchase these products with their P&C Wild Card they will receive a checkout coupon with their receipt. They simply need to bring the checkout coupon to the Crunch box office to receive their Syracuse Crunch ticket discount.

Just one more way P&C and the Syracuse Crunch have teamed up to save Crunch fans more!

Crunch Announce Details of Arrow Fence ‘Straight as an Arrow' Promotion: The Syracuse Crunch announced the details of the Arrow Fence ‘Straight as an Arrow' promotion.

During the month of March, fans can sign-up at the Advance Auto Parts Guest Service Center for a chance to win a swing set, compliments of Arrow Fence. Following the March 30 games two fans will be randomly selected to participate in the Arrow Fence ‘Straight as an Arrow' on-ice competition at a select April home game (TBD).

Each of the winning fans will select a family member to compete with them. One member of each team will be blindfolded and spun around ten times and be asked to walk from the center red line to the goal line, through a fence and back. While walking, the contestants' teammate and Al will help guide the contestant. After completing the course, the second team member will repeat the ‘Straight as an Arrow' walk. The first team to complete the course will receive swing set, complements of Arrow Fence.

Tuesday, March 8:

Beauchemin and Moran to Sign Autographs at Advance Auto Parts March 8: The Syracuse Crunch announced that Crunch players Francois Beauchemin and Brad Moran will be at the Advance Auto Parts on 1802 Teall Ave. on Tuesday, March 8 from 5-6 p.m. to sign autographs.

For directions call 432-0400.

Wednesday, March 9:

Labatt's Dollar Beer Night Returns March 9: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Onondaga Beverage and Labatt's, announced that the popular Labatt's Dollar Beer Night will return on March 9 when they host the Edmonton Road Runners.

Labatt's draft beer and Coca-Cola soda products on March 9 will cost one dollar at all Oncenter concession stands.

Friday, March 11:

Crunch Announce Details of Turning Stone Fan Appreciation Night: The Syracuse Crunch announced that Friday, March 11 will be Turning Stone Fan Appreciation Night at the Crunch.

All fans, over the age of 18, can bring their ticket stub from the Crunch's home game on Friday, March 11 to the Diamond Card Registration desk for a choice of a $10 Meal Voucher, $10 Free Play Card, $10 Match Play Coupon or a Level 1 Bingo Coupon. Fans can redeem their March 11 ticket stub for up to five days after the game.

INJURY UPDATE: Goaltender Pascal Leclaire is list as indefinite with a groin injury. He has missed 39 games with the injury... Right wing Brandon Sugden is expected to miss one-to-two weeks with a thumb injury. He has missed 23 games with the injury... Center Chris Ferraro is expected to miss four weeks with a hand injury. He has missed 10 games with the injury... Left wing Mike Pandolfo is expected to miss four weeks with an ankle injury. He has missed one game with the injury... Defenseman Andre Lakos is listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury. He has missed six games with the injury... Through 60 games this season, Syracuse has lost 156 man-games due to injuries. Pascal Leclaire – 39, Brandon Sugden – 28, Andre Lakos – 15, Zenith Komarniski – 12, Jamie Pushor – 10, Chris Ferraro – 10, Jeff Panzer – 8, Francois Beauchemin – 7, Prestin Ryan – 7, Raffaele Sannitz – 7, Greg Mauldin - 6, Tim Jackman – 6, Mark Hartigan – 3, Peter Ferraro - 3, Aaron Johnson – 2, Mike Pandolfo – 1, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen – 1, Jeremy Reich - 1 and Joe Motzko – 1 represent the Crunch's injury list this season.

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

Tuesday, March 8 10:30 a.m. @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Wednesday, March 9 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7 p.m. game vs. Edmonton

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

Friday, March 11 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Hershey

Saturday, March 12 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Rochester

Sunday, March 13 6:05 p.m. game @ Rochester

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Left wing Mike Pandolfo is expected to miss four-weeks with an ankle injury suffered March 4 against Albany. Prior to the March 5 game, Pandolfo has not missed a game due to injury since turning professional following his 2001-02 season at Boston University... Right wing Steven Goertzen has recorded an even or plus rating in 28 consecutive games. The last time he finished a game minus was November 13... Both the Crunch's four penalty minutes for and 16 combined penalty minutes on March 5 vs. Edmonton, were season lows... Right wing Joe Motzko leads the Crunch with 26 power play points this season.

2004-05 RECORD: 26-26-5-3, 60 points (13-12-3-1 home, 13-14-2-2 road), tied-sixth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, March 9 vs. Edmonton (27-21-4-8), 66 points, fourth place, North Division

Friday, March 11 vs. Hershey (32-27-1-1), 66 points, fifth place, East Division

Saturday, March 12 vs. Rochester (44-10-3-5), 96 points, first place, North Division

Sunday, March 13 @ Rochester (44-10-3-5), 96 points, first place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Friday, March 4 Albany 5 CRUNCH 3

Saturday, March 5 Edmonton 2 OT CRUNCH 1

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2005


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