AHL Syracuse Crunch

Pushor's Return Gives Crunch Offense A Boost

Published on January 29, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


PUSHOR CELEBRATES RETURN WITH BACK-TO-BACK GAME-WINNERS: Defenseman Jamie Pushor returned to action this weekend after missing 23 games with a stomach injury and tallied the game-winning goal on both Friday and Saturday night. He registered his first goal of the season on Friday night in Syracuse's 1-0 overtime win over division rival Manitoba. He followed suit on Saturday night, tallying midway through the third period to lift Syracuse 5-4 over San Antonio. In 390 career AHL games with Adirondack, Hartford and Syracuse, Pushor has tallied 14 goals, 80 assists and 675 penalty minutes. In 521 career NHL games with Detroit, Anaheim, Dallas, Columbus, Pittsburgh and NY Rangers, Pushor has registered 14 goals, 46 assists and 646 penalty minutes. A native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Pushor was signed a free agent by Columbus on October 7, 2005.

POPPERLE GETS THE CALL; LaCOSTA REASSIGNED TO DAYTON: The Syracuse Crunch announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets have added goaltender Tomas Popperle to the roster on emergency recall and have reassigned goaltender Dan LaCosta to Dayton (ECHL).

Popperle, 22, has gone 13-13-3 with a 2.96 goals-against average, .900 save percentage and three shutouts in 29 games with Syracuse this season, which is his first playing in North America. Columbus' fifth pick, 131st overall, in the 2005 Entry Draft spent last season playing in Germany, where he posted a 2.18 goals against average in 33 regular season games and a 2.11 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 11 playoff games with Eisbaren Berlin. The Broumov, Czech Republic native split the 2004-05 season between the Czech Elite and the Czech-1 League. In the Elite League, he appeared in 25 games with Sparta Praha and posted a 15-9-1 record, 1.58 goals against average, and .949 save percentage. He led the league in goals against average and save

percentage and ranked sixth in shutouts (four).

LaCosta, 20, has appeared in nine games with Syracuse this season, posting a 1-2-1 record, 3.13 goals against average and a .879 save percentage. In five games with Dayton earlier this season, LaCosta posted a 1-3-1 record and 4.13 goals against average. A native of Labrador City, New Foundland, LaCosta, was drafted by Columbus in the third round, 93rd overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets walked away with two wins this week beating both Buffalo and Minnesota by the same score of 3-2. Former Crunch Dan Fritsche tallied a goal in each of Columbus' victories. Former Crunch goaltender Ty Conklin came in for Fredrik Norrena on Saturday, January 27 after Norrena suffered a groin injury in the

second period.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

SPRINGFIELD (TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING): The Crunch host the Springfield Falcons on Friday, February 2 for the second and final regular season meetings between the two clubs. Springfield won the previous meeting, defeating Syracuse 4-1 at the MassMutual Center on December 15. Former Crunch defenseman Andy Delmore (1g, 1a) and left wings Justin Keller (1g, 1a) and Marek Kvapil (1g, 1a) lead all players in head-to-head scoring with two points. Defenseman Andy Canzanello tallied Syracuse's long goal. Goaltender Jonathan Boutin posted the win for the Falcons, recording 21 saves. Goaltender Tomas Popperle was credited with the loss, recording 19 saves. Lifetime, the Crunch are 8-14-5 against the Falcons.

ROCHESTER (BUFFALO SABRES/FLORIDA PANTHERS): On Saturday, February 3, the Rochester Americans visit the War Memorial at Oncenter for the sixth of 12 regular season meetings between the clubs. The Crunch are 2-1-0-2, despite losing 5-2 on January 13 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Defenseman Filip Novak leads all players in head-to-head scoring with 7 points (1g, 6a). Center Janis Sprukts leads all Amerks players with five points in head-t-head scoring (1g, 4a). Goaltender Tomas Popperle has appeared in net four times for Syracuse posting a 2-1-1 record, a 2.26 goals against average and .918 save percentage. Goaltender Craig Anderson has appeared in net three times for Rochester posting a 2-1-0 record, a 2.60 goals against average and .922 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 55-69-17 against Rochester.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Crunch Announce Details of Syracuse University - University College Part-Time Al Program: The Syracuse Crunch announced the details of the Syracuse University - University College Part-Time Al Program.

During the month of February, Syracuse University - University College and the Crunch are offering one (1) fan an opportunity to serve as a 'part-time' Al at an upcoming Syracuse Crunch game. Fans interested in serving as a 'part-time' Al can register at Crunch home games, by visiting the Crunch office or by emailing Sarah Scott at sscott@syracusecrunch.com. Fans will need to include their name, address, phone number and age when registering. One (1) winner will be selected to work parts of two (2) Crunch home games during the month of February.

February 3:

Quickway Trading Card Night Set For February 3: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Quickway, announced that their Saturday, February 3 game against Rochester will be Quickway Trading Card Night.

The first 1,500 fans in attendance at the Saturday, February 3 game, will receive the first 13 of the twenty- seven 2006-07 trading card set. The remaining 14-card set will be available, beginning that night, at area Quickway locations.

The following are participating Quickway locations:

365 N. Midler Ave.

915 State Fair Blvd., Lakeland

106 E. Molly Rd., Mattydale

701 S. Crouse Ave.

512 State Fair Blvd.

2501 Erie Blvd. East

2052 Route 5W - Genesee Turnpike, Camillus

4464 West Seneca Turnpike

2640 State Route 3, Fulton

2926 State Route 49, West Monroe

682 N. Main St., Central Square

28 US Route 37, Central Square

2877 E. Main St., Parish

5600 Bartel Rd., Brewerton

Route 37 & 42, Watertown

February 5

Celebrity Bartending Series Continues at McNamara's Pub on February 5: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Labatt's, announced that the Labatt's Celebrity Bartending series will continue on Monday, February 5 at McNamara's Pub.

Crunch players Ryan Caldwell, Andy Canzanello and Joe Motzko will serve as celebrity bartenders at McNamara's Pub from 5 - 7 p.m. on Monday, February 5. McNamara's Pub is located at 5600 Newport Road in Camillus. For directions call 672-8872.

All tips generated by the players that night will be donated to Camillus Youth Hockey and Diamond Blackfan Anemia, in honor of local two year old Zachary Shaw from Baldwinsville.

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

Tuesday, January 30 All-Star Break

Wednesday, January 31 2:00 p.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Thursday, February 1 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Friday, February 2 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Springfield

Saturday, February 3 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Rochester

Sunday, February 4 Off Day

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Syracuse has recorded points in four of their last five games (3-1-0-1), despite not scoring a power play goal in four of the five games... The Crunch finished the month of January with a 5-3-0-3 record. It is the first time this season the team has finished a month with a winning record... In his rookie season last season, defenseman Marc Methot tallied 13 points (2g, 11a) in 71 games. He currently is three points shy of matching that total this season, have registered 10 points, all assists, in 44 games.

2006-07 RECORD: 16-24-1-5, 38 points (8-11-1-2 home, 8-13-0-3 road), sixth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, February 2 vs. Springfield (22-25-0-1), 45 points, seventh place, Atlantic Division

Saturday, February 3 vs. Rochester (32-12-1-0), 65 points, first place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULT

Wednesday, January 24 ALBANY 4 Crunch 2

Friday, January 26 CRUNCH 1 OT Manitoba 0

Saturday, January 27 CRUNCH 4 San Antonio 3

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2007


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