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'Scratch-ing Ahead

December 30, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


Fri., Jan. 3 @ Saint John Flames - Harbour Station IceCats vs. Saint John: IceCats Trail Season Series 0-1
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com & Sat., Jan. 4 @ Saint John Flames - Harbour Station
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com

The IceCats and the Saint John Flames meet for two games this weekend in Saint John, New Brunswick. The Flames are currently in the fourth and final spot in the Canadian Division with a record of 10-18-2-1, 23 points. Only the Lowell Lock Monsters have less overall points at this stage of the season. The Flames are 5-10-2-1 at home and are 2-8 overall in their last 10 games. Right Wing Robert Dome is pacing the club with 24 points through 24 games: 24(10/14/24). The Flames have used three netminders this season. They have combined for a team goals against average of 3.10 and a .885 save percentage. Their opponents have compiled a 2.52 GAA and a .930 save percentage. Center Darcy Verot leads the club with 129 penalty minutes through 29 games. The Flames host the Portland Pirates on Wednesday.

Sun., Jan. 5 @ Portland Pirates - Cumberland County Civic Center
IceCats vs. Portland: IceCats Lead Season Series 3-0
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com

Worcester takes on the Portland Pirates Sunday afternoon in the third game of a three-in-three weekend. The Pirates have a record of 14-13-3-4 in 34 games. Their 35 points is six behind Worcester and they have three games-in-hand. Portland is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, having lost to Providence in their last tilt. Goaltenders Maxime Ouellet and Sebastien Charpentier rank first and third with a .930 and a .924 save percentage, respectively. Portland has the AHL's second best power play at 23.5%. Worcester is ranked sixth. Center Trent Whitfield leads the Pirates with 28 points in 25 games: 25(12/16/28). Two of his goals have come shorthanded.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Worcester & Neighboring Communities

ICECATS PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES: SCRATCH:

* PETERSON OIL'S SUPER TICKET TUESDAYS!!- On the first Tuesday of every month, stop by any of the three Peterson Oil Service gas stations, fill-up with 8 or more gallons of gas and get a FREE ticket to an upcoming IceCats game. The stations are located on W. Boylston St., Millbury St. and in Linwood, MA. Scratch will be at the W. Boylston St. location Tuesday, January 7th from 3-4 PM.

* Scratch is slated to appear at the South Grafton Elementary School on Thursday, January 2nd at 10 AM.

* On Friday, January 3rd at 1:30 PM, Scratch will be appearing at the St. Bernadette's School in Framingham.

'CAT TAILS:

* Worcester is unbeaten in their last three games, 2-0-1.

* Worcester has two players in the top 10 for League scoring. John Pohl ranks third with 38 points and Sergei Varlamov is 10th with 33 points.

* Rookie center John Pohl is first among AHL leading rookie scorers. He has recorded 38 points in 36 games. He has 15 goals and 23 assists: 36(15/23/38). Pohl's 15 goals are second and his 23 assists are third among all first-year skaters.

* The IceCats Sergei Varlamov is fifth in the AHL with a 'plus 19' rating.

* Mark Rycroft has a three-game points streak, recording one goal and three assists, 4 points, in that span.

* Goaltender Curtis Sanford earned his first AHL shutout on Saturday night.

* Worcester ranks 6th overall on the power play. The team has clicked on 39 of 214 advantages or 18.2%.

* The IceCats are averaging 3.41 goals per-game, fourth overall in the AHL.

* PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Worcester IceCats nominated goaltender CURTIS SANFORD for the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week. Sanford started all three games for the IceCats this past weekend, helping Worcester to an undefeated weekend, 2-0-1. Curtis stopped 79 of 81 shots for a .975 save percentage and had a 0.64 goals against average. He also allowed no goals on 18 power play opportunities. Friday night, he stopped 20 of 21 shots in the IceCats 4-1 win over Albany. Sanford assisted on Jason Dawe's game-winning goal and did not allow a power play goal on three chances. Saturday night in Springfield, the 23 year-old goalie earned his first career AHL shutout in the 'Cats 3-0 win. Sanford shutdown the Springfield offense, stopping all 32 shots, including 18 in the third stanza. The Owen-Sound, Ontario native denied the Falcons on all 10 man-advantages and was subsequently named 'The Number One Star of the Game'. Sunday in Worcester, Curtis stopped 27 of 28 Springfield shots, helping the IceCats to a 1-1 tie. The 'Cats backstop denied the Falcons on all five power play chances. He was again named the 'Number One Star of the Game'.

LOOKING BACK AT WEEK 12: 2 WINS, 1 TIE

4-1 WIN - Fri., Dec. 27 vs. Albany River Rats - Worcester's Centrum Centre
ATT: 6,442
GOALS: WOR: John Pohl, Jason Dawe, Mark Rycroft, Jeff Panzer ALB: Crozier
NOTES: The IceCats erupted for three third period goals on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Albany River Rats Friday night at Worcester's Centrum Centre. Rookie John Pohl, Jason Dawe, Jeff Panzer and Mark Rycroft all scored for Worcester. Pohl, Rycroft and Panzer also registered an assist. Left Winger Marc Brown registered three assists. Goaltender Curtis Sanford, stopped 20 shots and picked-up his first assist of the year on Dawe's game-winning tally.

3-0 WIN - Sat., Dec. 28 @ Springfield Falcons - Springfield, MA ATT: 3,870
GOALS: WOR: Eric Nickulas, Jason Dawe, Marc Brown SPR: -none-
NOTES: Saturday night in Springfield, the IceCats earned their second shutout of the 2002-2003 season with a 3-0 blanking of the Falcons. Captain Eric Nickulas and Jason Dawe both recorded one goal and one assist. The 'Cats Captain now has twelve points in 14 games: 14(7/5/12). Marc Brown had the other goal for Worcester. Netminder Curtis Sanford stopped all 32 shots he faced, earning his first shutout of the season. Sanford was subsequently named the 'Number One Star of the Game'.

1-1 TIE - Sun., Dec. 29 vs. Springfield Falcons - Worcester's Centrum Centre
ATT: 4,616
GOALS: WOR: Mike Van Ryn SPR: Bonsignore
NOTES: The Worcester IceCats and the Springfield Falcons finished the back-end of the home-and-home series with a 1-1 tie at Worcester's Centrum Centre Sunday afternoon. Goaltender Curtis Sanford faced 28 shots, including three spectacular saves in overtime, again earning the 'Number One Star of the Game'. Defenseman Mike Van Ryn notched the only goal for Worcester, his first of the season.

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