AHL Syracuse Crunch

Scoville Has Big Weekend

December 1, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Crunch captain Darrel Scoville scored three goals in the Crunch's two games this past weekend, including two on Friday night against Houston to help spark one of the greatest comebacks in Crunch history. Scoville leads all Crunch defensemen in scoring through 20 games this season with nine points (5g, 4a). A native of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Scoville has appeared in 296 career AHL games with Saint John and Syracuse, recording 41 goals, 93 assists and 405 penalty minutes. He has appeared in eight career NHL games, six with Calgary and two with Columbus. Originally signed by the Calgary Flames on June 12, 1999 following three years at Merrimack University (HE), Columbus signed Scoville as a free agent on July 10, 2001.

JACKMAN'S EMERGENCE: With an assist on the Darrel Scoville's goal Saturday night in Binghamton, right wing Tim Jackman matched his entire assist total from last season, recording his seventh helper in his 20th game. Last season, Jackman had seven assists in 77 games. A native of Minot, ND, Jackman has appeared in 97 career games with the Crunch, recording 14 goals, 14 assists and 59 penalty minutes. Jackman was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with their second choice, 38th overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft.

COMEBACK: Syracuse mounted one of the greatest comeback's in franchise history on Friday night, overcoming a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Houston Aeros 5-4. Houston scored the games first four goals in the first 10:31 of the first period. The Crunch, on the strength of goals by Darrel Scoville (18:26 of the first), Donald MacLean (11:06 of the second), Scoville (17:02 of the second) and Brad Moran (1:09 of the third) chipped away at the Houston lead, setting up MacLean's game-winner with 4:36 remaining in the game.

TEAM PENALTY MINUTES: Syracuse enters this week the second most penalized team in the AHL, averaging 25.40 penalty minutes a game. Philadelphia leads the League with 28.26 penalty minutes a game.

TRANSACTIONS: Through November 30 the Crunch have had 31 player transactions. Through the same tie frame last season Syracuse had 29 player moves.

GAMES PLAYED MILESTONES: Left wing Jeremy Reich moved into sole possession of fourth place on the Crunch's all-time games played list, appearing in his 213 career contest Saturday night against Binghamton...Center Brad Moran moved into seventh place on the Crunch's all-time list, appearing in his 202nd career game Saturday night against Binghamton... Defenseman Jamie Pushor appeared in his 200th AHL game, Friday night against Houston... Defenseman Zenith Komarniski appeared in his 250th AHL game Wednesday night against Cleveland... Defenseman Darrel Scoville is four games shy of 300 AHL games and right wing Tim Jackman is three games shy of 100 as a professional.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Tuesday, December 2:

Tully's Billiards Challenge: On Tuesday, December 2 Crunch players Zenith Komarniski, Brad Moran, Jeremy Reich and Brandon Sugden will be at Tully's on Erie Boulevard at 7 p.m. to participate in the Tully's Billiards Challenge.

Fans will have the opportunity to compete against a team of Crunch players, the media and other fans in an elimination pool tournament. A total of nine teams will be selected, seven fan teams, one Crunch team and one media team.

Monday, December 8:

Bradley's Autograph Signing: Crunch players Karl Goehring, Donald MacLean, Brandon Sugden and Paul Traynor will be on hand at Bradley's Jewelers on Monday, December 8 from 11am -12 pm to sign autographs.

Tuesday, December 9:

Kinney's Drugs Autograph Signing: On Tuesday, December 9, Tyler Sloan and Brandon Sugden will be on hand at Kinney Drugs in Auburn from 5-6 p.m. to sign autographs.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

TORONTO (EDMONTON OILERS): The Crunch play a home and home series with Toronto at the Ricoh Coliseum on Friday, December 5 and at the War Memorial at Oncenter on Saturday, December 6 for the first and second of six regular season meetings. Left wing Jamie Wright leads the Roadrunners with 16 points (10g, 6a). Goaltender Stephen Valiquette has played in nine games for Toronto, posting a 2-5-1 record, a 2.80 goals against average and .905 save percentage. Friday marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

HERSHEY (COLORADO AVALANCHE): Syracuse travels to Hershey on Sunday, December 7 for the second of four regular season meetings. The teams tied in their first meeting 4-4, on October 11 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Center Brad Moran leads all players with three points (1g, 2a). Several Bears players are tied at two points each. Karl Goehring appeared in net for Syracuse recording 26 saves, while Peter Budaj appeared between the pipes for Hershey making 32 saves. Lifetime, the Crunch are 21-29-11 against the Bears.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (7-12-3-1) enter this week fifth in the Central Division, one point behind Chicago (19 points). Left wing Rick Nash (15g, 2a) leads Columbus with 17 points. Nash is tied for second in the NHL with 15 goals. There are currently eight players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Jody Shelley, Kent McDonell, Duvie Westcott, Derrick Walser, David Ling, Todd Rohloff, Anders Eriksson and Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre).

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman Trent Cull is expected to miss another two to three weeks recovering from a broken foot that he suffered in practice on October 28. Cull has missed 13 games with the injury... Left wing Brandon Sugden is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury that he suffered on November 21 against Rochester. He has missed four games with the injury... Left wing Andrej Nedorost is out indefinitely until further testing with a concussion he suffered on November 29 against Binghamton... Through 20 games this season the Crunch have lost 33 man-games due to injury (Trent Cull – 13, Paul Traynor – 7, Sean Connolly – 5, Pauli Levokari – 4, and Brandon Sugden – 4).

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

Tuesday, December 2 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Wednesday, December 3 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Thursday, December 4 10:30 p.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

1:00 p.m. depart for Toronto

Friday, December 5 11:15 a.m. skate @ Ricoh Coliseum

7:00 p.m. game @ Toronto

Saturday, December 6 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Toronto

Depart for Hershey after game

Sunday, December 7 5:00 p.m. game @ Hershey

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Entering this week left wing Jeremy Reich is 111 penalty minutes shy of the Crunch's all-time mark of 649 career minutes held by John Badduke... Right wing Tim Jackman matched his assists total from last season (7a) with an assist against Binghamton on Saturday, November 29... Left wing Tyler Sloan broke a 12-game point drought with an assist on Saturday, November 29 against Binghamton.

2003-04 RECORD: 10-8-2-0, 22 points (6-2-1-0 home, 4-6-1-0 road), tied for fourth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, December 5 @ Toronto (6-12-3-1), 16 points, seventh place, North Division

Saturday, December 6 vs. Toronto (6-12-3-1), 16 points, seventh place, North Division

Sunday, December 7 @ Hershey (13-5-3-2), 31 points, first place, East Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, November 16 Crunch 3 CLEVELAND 1

Friday, November 28 CRUNCH 5 Houston 4

Saturday, November 29 BINGHAMTON 2 Crunch 1

HOME TEAM IN CAPS




American Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central