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AHL Syracuse Crunch

North Division Race Begins To Take Shape

February 2, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse begins their five-game road trip with two match-ups against their North Division rivals, the St. John's Maple Leafs. The Crunch (44 games – 50 points) enter this week two points behind Rochester (48 games – 52 points) for third place, five points behind Cleveland (48 games – 55 points) for second and 11 points behind Hamilton (50 games – 61 points) for first place. Syracuse is three points ahead of St. John's (49 games – 47 points).

CRUNCH END JANUARY ON A HIGH NOTE: The Crunch finished off the month of January with a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2-0) to improve their record to 8-3-2-1 during the month. The Crunch's .679 winning percentage during the month of January is their best this season. Syracuse finished October with a .611 winning percentage (5-3-1-0) and November with a .500 mark (5-5-1-0). December is the only month the club has posted a below .500 winning percentage, posting a 2-3-3-2 mark (.450 percentage).

KOMARNISKI'S RETURN SPARKS CRUNCH: Defenseman Zenith Komarniski returned to the Crunch line-up this week after missing eight games to a rib injury and three games to a recall to Columbus, helping lead the Crunch to a 1-0-2-0 mark. Komarniski is fourth on the Crunch among defensemen with eight points (1g, 7a), appearing in 23 games after an October 30 trade from Manitoba for Sean Pronger. One of only two players to play for the Crunch as a member of the Vancouver and Columbus organizations, Komarniski has appeared in 123 career games with the Crunch, recording 14 goals, 38 assists and 262 penalty minutes.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Sunday, February 8

Crunch Bowl-a-Thon at Flamingo Bowl: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Flamingo Bowl, announced the details of the Crunch Bowl-a-Thon that will be held on February 8 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Flamingo Bowl.

On February 8, fans will have the opportunity to bowl with Crunch players Trent Cull, Mike Pandolfo, Darrel Scoville and Brandon Sugden at Flamingo Bowl located on Rt. 57, in Liverpool from 11 – 1 p.m.

Registration for the event is $10 per player and includes three (3) games, shoe and lane rental and snacks. In addition, participants are asked to raise money through bowler sponsors. All money raised will be collected at the check-in at Flamingo Bowl, the day of the event and benefits the Crunch Foundation.

Prizes will be given to the top bowler in both a youth and adult category (youth – 15 and under, adult – 16 and up) and the top participant that raises the most money. The top bowlers in each category will receive a team autographed bowling pin, a Crunch t-shirt, a pair of Cosmic Bowl passes, four (4) tickets to an upcoming Crunch home game of their choice and their name and bowling score on the scoreboard during the Crunch's February 13 game vs. Binghamton. The top fundraising participant will receive a team autographed stick, an autographed Crunch game puck, a Crunch hat and t-shirt, a pair of Cosmic Bowl passes, four (4) tickets to an upcoming Crunch home game of their choice and their name and donation amount on the scoreboard during the February 13 game.

All participants will receive a coupon valid for one (1) free ticket to either the Crunch's February 18 game vs. Binghamton or the February 25 game vs. Toronto. Anyone interested in signing-up can call the Crunch office at (315) 473-4444 ext. 138 or by stopping in the Crunch office.

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.

Friday, February 13

New York State Lottery Night Set For February 13: The Syracuse Crunch announced that the New York State Lottery will be on hand February 13, when the Crunch host the Binghamton Senators, to distribute lotto coupons, to the first 500 people in attendance, redeemable for $1 off a New York Lottery's Free Play game.

During the game, fans will be selected at random to participate in the New York State Lottery intermission puck shoot-out. The two shoot-out winners will receive 25 "Money Tree" Instant Game Tickets. "Money Tree" offers players a chance to win a top prize of $25,000 on each ticket.

Taco Bell Night Set For February 13: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Friday, February 13 game against the Binghamton Senators is Taco Bell Night at the Crunch.

Local Taco Bell stores will serve as outlets for vouchers good for discounted tickets to Taco Bell Night at the Crunch, courtesy of Taco Bell.

The Taco Bell discounted vouchers are available at the following locations:

ShoppingTown Mall Dewitt

4081 Route 31 Clay

168 Grant Ave. Auburn

3179 Erie Blvd. E. Syracuse

3500 W. Genesee St. Syracuse

8095 Oswego Rd. Liverpool

3716 Brewerton Rd. Syracuse

7881 Route 11 Cicero

222 Elmira Rd. Ithaca

1164 Erie Blvd. West Rome

#9 River St. Cortland

Carousel Mall Syracuse

Saturday, February 14

Quickway Trading Card Night: The Crunch's Saturday, February 14 game against Rochester will be Quickway Trading Card Night.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance at the Saturday, February 14 game, will receive the first 13 of the 25 2003- 04 trading card set. The remaining 12-card set will be available, beginning that night, at area Quickway locations. The following are participating Quickway locations:

2501 Erie Blvd. East

915 State Fair Blvd.

701 Crouse Ave.

2052 Route 5 (Camillus)

510 State Fair Blvd.

106 E. Molloy Rd.

4464 West Seneca Turnpike (Syracuse)

356 N. Midler Ave.

2640 State Route 3 (Fulton)

Second Annual Bradley's Jewelers Valentine's Day Giveaway Set For February 14: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that Bradley's Jewelers will be giving away a 14K yellow gold ruby/diamond ring as part of the Second Annual Valentine's Day Giveaway at the Saturday, February 14 game against Rochester.

The first 1,000 women (18 and over) in attendance will be entered into a drawing that will be held that night, to win one of seven prizes. In addition, all women in attendance that night that bring their ticket stub from the February 14 game to Bradley's Jewelers, will receive a free charm and a free bracelet with the purchase of three charms.

The prizes, which will be given out during the second intermission, include:

First Prize: 14K yellow gold ruby/diamond ring...$1,200 value

Second Prize: Ladies' Citizen wristwatch... $150 value

Third Prize: One pair of 14K gold heart earrings... $100 value

Fourth through Seventh Prize: Italian charm bracelet with hockey charm

Bradley's Jewelers is located at 212 S. Warren Street, Syracuse. Call 471-4822 for more information.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

ST. JOHN'S (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): Syracuse begins their five-game road trip in St. John's on Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4 for the second and third of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series, after defeating St. John's 2-1 at the War Memorial at Oncenter in their last meeting on December 20. In head-to-head scoring, several players pace both teams with a point each. Karl Goehring appeared in net for the Crunch, recording 26 saves. Mikael Tellqvist made 39 saves in the loss for St. John's. Lifetime, the Crunch are 14-7-0 against the Maple Leafs.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON(PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): Syracuse then heads to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, February 6 for the sixth of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 3-2, after defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4-1 in their last meeting on January 18 at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. Center Brad Moran paces the Crunch in head-to-head scoring with five points (2g, 3a). Center Kris Beech leads the Penguins in head-to-head scoring with five points (4g, 1a). 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 (1-1-0, 1.51 gaa, .938 save percentage) and Jean-Sebastien Aubin (1-1-0, 2.02 gaa, .900 save percentage) have split time in the net for the Penguins. Lifetime, the Crunch are 23-14-6 against the Penguins.

HERSHEY (COLORADO AVALANCHE): Syracuse visits Hershey on Saturday, February 7 for the fourth and final regular season meeting between the clubs. Hershey leads the series 2-0-1, after defeating the Crunch 2-1 in their last meeting on Janaury 9 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Bears right wing Steve Brule leads all players in head-to-head scoring with five points (3g, 2a). Centers Donald MacLean (1g, 2a) and Brad Moran (1g, 2a) and right wing Kent McDonell (3a) pace the Crunch with three points each. Hershey goaltender Peter Budaj has appeared twice between the pipes, with a 1-0-1 record, posting a 2.40 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. Karl Goehring has appeared in two of the three games for Syracuse, with a 0-1-1, posting a 2.91 and .887 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 21-31-11 against the Bears.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (15-27-7-3, 40 points) enter this week in fourth place in the Central Division, 18 points behind St. Louis (58 points) for third place. Left wing Rick Nash leads the NHL with 31 goals and paces Columbus with 40 points (31g, 9a). There are currently four players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Jody Shelley, Duvie Westcott, Jeremy Reich and Anders Eriksson).

INJURY UPDATE: Through 44 games this season the Crunch have lost 56 man-games due to injury (Trent Cull – 16, Zenith Komarniski – 8, Paul Traynor – 7, Brandon Sugden – 7, Sean Connolly – 5, Andrej Nedorost -5, Pauli Levokari – 4 and Shawn Limpright - 4).

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

Tuesday, February 3 11:15 a.m. skate @ Mile One Stadium

6:05 p.m. (EST) game @ St. John's

Wednesday, February 4 11:15 a.m. skate @ Mile One Stadium

6:05 p.m. (EST) game @ St. John's

Thursday, February 5 Travel Day

Friday, February 6 10:0 0 a.m. skate @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

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

Saturday, February 7 7:30 p.m. game @ Hershey

Sunday, February 8 All-Star Break

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Center Brad Moran (23 assists in 42 games) is one assist shy of his AHL career-high of 24 (64 games) set during the 2001-02 season.... Left wing Mike Pandolfo (17 points in 43 games) is one point shy of tying his career high of 18 points, set last season in 74 games.

2003-04 RECORD: 20-14-7-3, 50 points (12-5-5-2 home, 8-9-2-1 road), fourth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Tuesday, February 3 @ St. John's (20-22-5-2), 47 points, fifth place, North Division

Wednesday, February 4 @ St. John's (20-22-5-2), 47 points, fifth place, North Division

Friday, February 6 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (19-18-5-4), 47 points, tied – fifth place, East Division

Saturday, February 7 @ Hershey (24-18-8-3), 59 points, third place, East Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, January 28 CRUNCH 8 Milwaukee 6

Thursday, January 29 Crunch 2 OT TORONTO 2

Saturday, January 31 CRUNCH 1 OT Hamilton 1

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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