Red Hot Worcester Sharks Host Three Games This Weekend At DCU Center

Published on January 25, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Top 3!

#1 Logan Couture extends goal scoring streak to three games with two tallies in win over Crunch in Syracuse on Saturday!

#2 Nick Petrecki goes coast to coast for his first professional goal on Saturday!

#3 Jamie McGinn nets his third game winning goal of season with a shorthanded goal in Syracuse!

Last Week: (1-0-0-0) 2pts, 1gp

Sat. 1/23 W Worcester SHARKS 5 @ Syracuse Crunch 4

Next Week:

Wed. 1/27 Manitoba Moose @ Worcester SHARKS - 7:05 p.m.

Fri. 1/29 Manitoba Moose @ Worcester SHARKS - 7:05 p.m.

Sun 1/31 Lowell Devils @ Worcester SHARKS - 3:05 p.m.

Rewind the Tape:

1.23.10 - Worcester 5 - Syracuse 4 - W - Onondaga County War Memorial at OnCenter

The Worcester Sharks grabbed their 11th road win of the season and their third straight victory overall in a 5-4 victory over the Crunch in Syracuse on Saturday night to kick-off the unofficial second half of the AHL season. Worcester's Logan Couture had two goals, Nick Petrecki scored his first professional goal and added an assist, and Benn Ferriero added two assists for the Sharks in AHL leading 16th one-goal victory of the season. Alex Stalock made 24 saves in his AHL leading 24th win of the season. Jamie McGinn's shorthanded goal proved to be the game winner.

Sharks in the Atlantic:

The Sharks are currently swimming in 3rd place with 57 points (27-14-1-2) in the Atlantic Division through 44 games trailing the first place Manchester Monarchs by three points (Sharks have three games in hand) and the 2nd place Devils by one point (Sharks have four games in hand). The Sharks lead the 4th place Wolf Pack by five points and the 5th place Sound Tigers and Pirates by eight points. Worcester has a 12 point advantage over the 7th place Bruins (45 points) and a 17 point edge over the 8th place Springfield Falcons (40 points) in a very choppy Atlantic Division. The Sharks have played the fewest games in the division.

400 WINS!

*400 WINS!....With the 4-1 victory vs. Springfield on November 1st, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 400 win plateau.

AHL COACHING WINS - ALL-TIME

1. Fred "Bun" Cook 1937-56 19seasons 1,171GP 636 WINS

2. Frank Mathers 1956-85 18seasons 1,256GP 610 WINS

3. John Paddock 1981-2009 15seasons 1,107GP 585 WINS

4. Roy Sommer 1998-current 12th season 924GP 420 WINS

*Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer, who plays a major role in developing players for the San Jose Sharks, is currently the longest-tenured coach (12th season) in the American Hockey League. His current regular season record after the win is now: 420-391-55-58.

*In Coach Sommer's first AHL victory.... The Kentucky Thoroughblades defeated the Albany River Rats 6-4 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on October 17th 1998. Coincidentally, Assistant Coach David Cunniff recorded an assist as a member of the River Rats in the hockey game.

*Assistant Coach David Cunniff has joined Coach Sommer in 263 of the 420 victories (62%).

Shark Bites:

*Captains for the 2009-10 season: Captain Ryan Vesce (2nd year), Assistant Captains Derek Joslin (2nd year) and Mike Moore (1st year).... T.J. Trevelyan, Joe Callahan, Steven Zalewski, Frazer McLaren, and Dwight Helminen have also worn the "A" on their jerseys.

*From east to west..... The Sharks already have ELEVEN players that heave seen action to both the AHL and NHL this season (McLaren, Zalewski, Vesce, Joslin, McGinn, Couture, Callahan, Ferriero, Mitchell, Demers, and McCarthy). The Sharks had 11 players accomplish that feat last season. Logan Couture, Ryan Vesce, Benn Ferriero, Jason Demers, and Frazer McLaren have each recorded their first NHL goals this season. Torrey Mitchell is currently (Jan 25) on recall to San Jose. The Worcester Sharks have had 49 CALL-UPS this season to San Jose.

*You always remember your first..... Dennis McCauley (10/10), John McCarthy (10/9), Brandon Mashinter (10/9), Logan Couture (10/10), Dean Strong (10/30), and Nick Petrecki (1/23) have all scored their first professional regular season goals this season.

*25.... Since a 3-1 loss in Portland on November 20th, the Sharks are 19-4-1-1 in their last 25 games with 40 of a possible 50 points. (.800)

*55 shots... the Sharks set an AHL high this season with 55 shots on goal vs. the Bruins on Saturday, January 9th... the highest total in Sharks history... The Sharks had 21 shots in the 1st, 15 in the 2nd, and 19 in the 3rd...Danny Groulx had ten shots in the game and Benn Ferriero had eight.

*The Comeback.... The Sharks trailed 5-1 with just over 23 minutes left against the Pirates on Sunday, January 10th before scoring FIVE unanswered goals to win in overtime.... The four goal deficit victory tied a Sharks record.

*Road Warriors!.... the Sharks are 8-2-0-1 in their last ELEVEN road games.

*Home Cooking!.... the Sharks are 11-2-1-0 in their last 14 games at the DCU Center.

*Sharks rule the Atlantic... the Sharks have 23 WINS in Atlantic Division games (23-12-1-2) to lead all AHL clubs with wins against their own division.

*4th BEST in AHL... the Sharks have the 3rd best winning percentage in the AHL with a.648 clip; trailing the Bears (.778), and the Bulldogs (.663).

*Firsts this Week... the Sharks defeated the Crunch in their first ever meeting on Saturday...Nick Petrecki scored his first pro goal on Saturday in Syracuse... Joe Loprieno recorded his first pro point (assist) on Saturday.

*Desjardins likes going FIRST... Andrew Desjardins leads the Sharks with SIX first goals this season... Andrew has 12 goals this season to surpass his eight goal total last season, his first in the AHL.

*Point per game.... The Sharks have FOUR players averaging a point per game.... Couture (1.37pts per game), Benn Ferriero (1.17), Ryan Vesce (1.14), and Jamie McGinn (1.00).

*First period advantage.... Worcester is outscoring their opponents 42-32 in the first period, but has been outscored 45-48 in the 2nd and 49-53 in the third period. The Sharks are 15-2-0-1 when leading after twenty minutes of play this season.

*OT Killers.... The Sharks are 3-1 in OT this season (McGinn, Couture, and Helminen) after going 7-1 last year in the overtime period.

*Young Guns....The average age of the Sharks roster is 23 (4th youngest team in the AHL on opening night) which includes 13 rookies, five 2nd year players and two third year players. At the age of 28, Danny Groulx is the oldest while Nicholas Petrecki at 20 years old and six months is the youngest.

*Massachusetts... The Sharks have FIVE players born and raised in Massachusetts (John McCarthy - Andover, Corey Quirk - Brockton, Dennis McCauley - Billerica, Joe Callahan - Brockton, and Benn Ferriero - Essex)

*Everyone is Streaking... Ryan Vesce has a FIVE game point streak (3-6-9)...Couture THREE games (4-1-5)....Groulx THREE games (0-6-6).... Stalock THREE game win streak...McGinn TWO game point streak (2-2-4)... the Sharks have won THREE straight games.

*Logan is the MAN... The Sharks have scored 117 goals in 32 games with Couture in the lineup (3.65 goals per game), but have scored just 23 goals in 12 games without him (1.91 goals per game).... Logan leads the AHL with EIGHT game winning goals in just 32 games played. Couture leads the AHL in rookie scoring with 44 points (18-26-44).

*Logan is the MAN part 2... Couture is 8th in the AHL in points scored (18-26-44)... 1st among rookies with 18 goals....2nd among rookies with 26 assists.

*Between the pipes.... Rookie Alex Stalock leads the AHL with 24 wins and 2nd in minutes played with 2050 and 5th in saves with 829.

*Need to score 1st... Worcester is 19-3-0-1 in 23 games they have scored the first goal of the game... the Sharks are just 8-11-1-1 when allowing the first goal.

*All four years....Defenseman Derek Joslin is the only Sharks player to suit up in all four seasons in Worcester.

*Can't score if you don't shoot.... The Sharks are 1st in the AHL with 36.16 shots per game, including a franchise record 55 shots on goal against the Bruins on Saturday, January 9th.... Danny Groulx is 2nd among AHL defensemen with 132 shots on goal....Worcester has outshot their opponents in 20 of their last 23 games.

*Keep it close... the Sharks are 16-3-1-2 in one-goal hockey games good for 35 of their 57 points... the sharks are 11-11-0-0 in games decided by two or more goals.... The Sharks lead the AHL with 16 one-goal victories with seven of those coming on the road.

*Follow the leaders.... Danny Groulx is 1st in the AHL among d-men with 27 assists, 2nd in shots with 132, and 2nd in points (4-27-31).... Logan Couture leads the AHL with eight game winning goals, 1st in rookie scoring (18-26-44), 1st among rookies with 18 goals scored, and 8th in the AHL point scoring race in just 32 games played... Rookie Alex Stalock is 1st in the AHL with 24 wins and 2nd in minutes played (2050).... Benn Ferriero leads all AHL rookies with TWO shorthanded goals and is 8th in rookie scoring with 27 points (10-17-27) in just 23 games played, and John McCarthy is 5th among rookies with a +14 rating... Steven Zalewski is 15th in the AHL point scoring race (16-24-40) in 43 games... Brandon Mashinter is 6th among AHL rookies with TEN fighting majors and 7th among rookies with 84 pims.

*Mr. Dependable.... Sharks defenseman Danny Groulx has played in 152 straight games... he dressed in all 80 games last season in Rockford.... Andrew Desjardins has dressed in 118 straight games for Worcester breaking the record held by Derek Joslin (114 games).

*10-10 Vision.... Sharks rookie forward Brandon Mashinter has 12 goals and ELEVEN fighting major penalties.... The only Sharks player every to have double digits in both categories over the course of a season.

*Five for fighting...The Sharks have 40 fighting major penalties this season through 43 games... (Brandon Mashinter 11, Dennis McCauley 7, Frazer McLaren 5, Nicholas Petrecki 5, Joe Loprieno 3, John McCarthy 1, Mike Moore 1, Steven Zalewski 1, Joe Callahan 1, Andrew Desjardins 1, Dan DaSilva 2, Jamie McGinn 1, and Derek Joslin). The Sharks had 78 fighting majors last season, 68 fighting majors in 2007-08 and 54 in 2006-07.

*All-Stars!....

Logan Couture, Danny Groulx, and Alex Stalock have been selected to play for the 2010 AHL All-Star Team in the 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic being held January 18th and 19th at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. Couture was named a starter for the Canadian All-Star Team.....Former AHL All-Stars for the Worcester Sharks include: Mathieu Darche (2007), Mike Iggulden (2008), Derek Joslin (2009), and Ryan Vesce (2009).

Coming and goings from the shark tank:

01/24/2010

Jason Demers (D)

Worcester

ADD Returned on loan from San Jose (NHL)

01/23/2010

Jason Demers (D)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

01/22/2010

Dean Strong (F)

Worcester

DEL Loaned to Kalamazoo (ECHL)

01/22/2010

Jason Demers (D)

Worcester

ADD Returned on loan from San Jose (NHL)

01/20/2010

Benn Ferriero (C)

Worcester

ADD Returned on loan from San Jose (NHL)

01/20/2010

Jason Demers (D)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

01/19/2010

Benn Ferriero (C)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

01/17/2010

Benn Ferriero (C)

Worcester

ADD Returned on loan from San Jose (NHL)

Top Worcester Sharks:

o Goals Couture (18)

o Game Winners Couture (8)

o Assists Groulx (27)

o Points Couture (18-26-44)

o Power play Points Couture (5-8-13), Zalewski (6-7-13)

o Shots Groulx (132)

o PIM Mashinter (84)

o Fighting Pen. Mashinter (11)

o Plus/Minus McCarthy (+14)

o Wins Stalock (24)

o G.A.A. Stalock (2.55)

o Save % Stalock (.905)

o Shutouts Stalock (1)

Sharks in the Pacific:

The San Jose Sharks are 35-10-8 with 78 points this season and are currently in 1st place in the Pacific Division and have the most points in the NHL. The Sharks have a 15 point lead over the 2nd place Phoenix Coyotes in the Pacific.

Brad Staubitz has two goals and three assists along with 65 penalty minutes through 24 games.... Former Worcester Shark Devin Setoguchi has 20 points (13-7-20) through 41 games... Torrey Mitchell has a goal and an assist in 27 games... Thomas Greiss is 5-3-0 with 2.58 GAA and a.915 save%.

Sharks in the ECHL:

The Kalamazoo Wings are 23-13-4-1 with 51 points this season in the ECHL and currently tied for 1st place in the North Division with the Cincinatti Cyclones

Matt Jones has 25 points (17-8-25) in 28 games along with two hat tricks.... Louis Liotti has five points (0-5-5) in 27 games.... Will Colbert has seven points (3-4-7) in 20 games.... Mitch Versteeg hasten points (1-9-10) in 32 games... Dean Strong has two goals and two assists in three games played.

Coming Up:

The Sharks play FIVE of their next six games including three this weekend at the DCU Center in Worcester!

On Wednesday, The Sharks host the Manitoba Moose for the first of two consecutive meetings. With every Wednesday game, Sharks fans that have lost their jobs will receive up to four tickets for their family with proof of unemployment and valid state ID. It's also Dollar Dog Wednesdays.... Hot dogs are only $1.00!!! Puck drop is 7:05p.m.

On Friday, the Sharks host the Moose at 7:05p.m. and GUARANTEE a victory! Purchase your Family Fun Pack today, which includes 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs & 4 sodas for only $65! Each addition person is just $16.25 per person. College students are just $9 when purchased at the Box Office the day of the game with a student ID! The game will be shown live on Charter TV3. If the Sharks do not win, everyone will be invited back to a future Sharks game for FREE!

On Sunday, January 31st, Chaske Spencer, who plays Sam Uley in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, will appear and sign autographs at the Sharks game vs. the Lowell Devils at the DCU Center at 3:05p.m. Chaske will be signing autographs for fans throughout the Sharks game. Order the Werewolf Pack today which includes 4 tickets and 2 photos of Chaske for only $60. The ONLY way to guarantee your autograph is with a bracelet, for only $5 more per person.

Now midway through their fourth season in Worcester, the Sharks look forward to another exciting season highlighted by the improvements of the ice surface at the DCU Center and the reduction of season ticket prices! Sharks fans may secure their 2009-10 season tickets today by calling 508-929-0500. Some of the exclusive benefits for full season ticket holders will include:

* Guaranteed same seat for all 40 home dates and playoff home games at the DCU Center

* Significant savings off box office ticket prices

* Priority access to purchase tickets to DCU Center events (subject to availability)

Season ticket packages, group tickets, and individual tickets for the 2009-10 season are on sale now by contacting the Worcester Sharks Office at 508.929.0500 or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.

All games can be heard live on 580AM and 94.9FM WTAG, as well as online through AHL Live, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.SharksAHL.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2010


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