Saint John Flames Weekly
March 3, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Saint John Flames News Release
The Flames enter the week tied for third in the Canadian Division with 52 points and a record of 23 wins, 32 losses, 5 ties and 1 overtime loss.
Saint John faces two Canadian Division rivals in three games this week, hosting the League leading Hamilton Bulldogs on Wednesday and Friday and rounding out the week on Saturday hosting the Manitoba Moose.
THE OPPONENT...
The HAMILTON BULLDOGS enter the week ranked first in the AHL with 100 points and a record of 45- 10-6-4. The Bulldogs, 7-2-1-0 in their last ten games, are coming off a 1-0 win versus Manitoba Sunday.
This week's meetings Wednesday and Friday in Saint John will be the fifth and sixth of eighth meetings between the Canadian Division rivals this year. Saint John is 3-1-0 in the four meetings between the clubs to date this season.
Leading Hamilton are right wings Jason Ward (31g- 40a=71pts) and Michael Ryder (29g-30a=59pts) and centre Benoit Gratton (19g-36a=55pts).
Eric Fichaud and Mike Morrison handle the Bulldogs netminding duties. Fichaud is 13-2-3 through 21 games posting a 2.06 GAA and a .928 save percentage. Morrison, recalled from Columbus due to Mathieu Garon's call-up to Montreal, has yet to appear in a game for Hamilton.
Entering the week, Ward ranked first among AHL scorers (71pts) and was tied for second in goals (31) while Ryder was tied for 10th in League scoring.
Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron leads the AHL with a +34 plus/minus rating. Benoit Gratton is tied for second in the League with 8 game-winning goals.
The MANITOBA MOOSE enter the week ranked second in the Canadian Division with 63 points and a record of 28-29- 7-0. The Moose, 4-4-2-0 in their last ten games, are coming off a 1-0 loss at Hamilton on Sunday.
Saturday's game will be the final meeting between the clubs this season. Leading Manitoba are centre Brandon Reid (14g-28a=42pts), left wing Ryan Ready (18g-22a=40pts) and defencemen Nolan Baumgartner (7g- 26a=33pts) and former Flame Justin Kurtz (9g-24a=33pts).
The duo of Alex Auld and Patrick Couture provide the goaltending for Manitoba. Auld, 15-18-3 through 36 games, posts a 2.60 GAA and .909 save percentage while Couture, called in to backup during Tyler Moss' recall to Vancouver, has yet to appear in active duty for Manitoba.
Entering the week, Auld ranks 18th among League netminders with a 2.60 GAA and Justin Kurtz and Nolan Baumgartner are tied for 13th among League defencemen in scoring.
NOTABLES...
Flames Blair Betts recorded 2 goals and was named First Star Thursday as Saint John defeated Portland 3-2.
Saint John's Matt Lombardi was awarded a penalty shot during the Flames game Wednesday versus Portland. The penalty shot was the second awarded to a Flame this season. Lombardi was unsuccessful in the attempt.
Saint John defenceman Micki DuPont recorded back-to-back multiple point games with 2 assists in the Flames games Thursday at Portland and Friday versus Manitoba.
Flames rookie Matt Lombardi recorded 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) for Saint John on Wednesday, his 8th multiple point game of the season.
MIKE MARTIN'S AUCTION FOR CANCER RESEARCH...
Fans attending the weekend games versus Hamilton, Friday, March 7 and Manitoba, Saturday, March 8, will have the opportunity to bid on several items in Mike Martin's Auction for Cancer Research.
Items that will be up for bid include a Calgary Flames replica jersey signed by the 2002-03 Calgary Flames, Mike Martin's autographed, game-worn 2003 AHL All- Star Jersey and a Saint John Flames tenth anniversary jersey signed by the entire team.
Funds raised during these nights will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society to assist in funding research for a cure.
ALUMNI IN PROFILE...
Flames alumnus Jody Shelley (1997/98-1999/00) leads the National Hockey League in penalty minutes (210) and major penalties (22). Rounding out the NHL's top 20 visitors to the penalty box this season are Krzysztof Oliwa (1994/95), ranked 14th with 125 penalty minutes and Wade Belak (1998/99), ranked 19th with 119 penalty minutes.
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American Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2003
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