Sharks Prepare for 3-in-3 at DCU this Weekend

Published on November 7, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


The Worcester Sharks chomped zero out of a possible four points last week in two games vs. the St. John's IceCaps at the DCU Center. Worcester fell 6-3 in a rare Tuesday night affair at home to the IceCaps followed by a hard fought 3-1 loss to St. John's on Saturday. The Worcester Sharks player of the week nominee is rookie defenseman Sena Acolatse as he scored his first professional goal, added an assist, and fired seven shots on goal in two games. Worcester continues their season long six game home stand with three games this weekend vs. Bridgeport, Manchester, and Providence.

Top 3... Last Week!

#1 Sena Acolatse scores his first pro goal, adds an assist, and was #2 star in 6-3 loss to St. John's on Tuesday.

#2 Brodie Reid scores his first pro goal and was #2 star in 3-1 loss to the IceCaps on Saturday.

#3 Matt Irwin continued his hot streak, scoring his AHL leading 4th goal from the blue line in the Sharks loss to the IceCaps on Tuesday!

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

Tue. 11/1 L St. John's IceCaps 6 @ Worcester SHARKS 3

Sat. 11/5 L St. John's IceCaps 3 @ Worcester SHARKS 1

This week:

Fri. 11/11 Bridgeport Sound Tigers @ Worcester SHARKS - 1:00pm

Sat. 11/12 Manchester Monarchs @ Worcester SHARKS - 7:00pm

Sun. 11/13 Providence Bruins @ Worcester SHARKS - 3:00pm

Rewind the Tape:

11.1.11 - Worcester 3 - St. John's 6 - L - DCU Center

Matt Irwin scored his AHL leading 4th goal from the blue line for Worcester but the Sharks sunk for the first time in regulation, 6-3, to the visiting St. John's IceCaps to kick off the month of November at the DCU Center on Tuesday night. Mike Connolly extended his point streak to six games with as assist (5-6-11) and Harri Sateri made28 saves for Worcester as the Sharks fell behind 3-0 in the opening 12 minutes and were never able to recover.

11.5.11 - Worcester 1 - St. John's 3 - L - DCU Center

Brodie Reid scored his first professional goal for Worcester and the Sharks outshot the IceCaps 31-20, but lost 3-1 to St. John's at the DCU Center on Saturday night. Edward Pasquale made 30 saves in net for the Ice Caps for their third straight victory. Tyson Sexsmith was solid in goal for Worcester making 17 saves as the Sharks fell to 0-2-0-1 on their season long six game home stand which continues on Friday afternoon vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Sharks in the Atlantic: The Sharks are swimming in 4th place with 10 points (4-2-0-2) in the Atlantic Division through eight games, which is 11 points behind the first place St. John's Ice Caps (14gp), three points behind the 2nd place Providence Bruins (14gp), and one point behind the 3rd place Manchester Monarchs (14gp). The Sharks have a one point edge over the 5th place Portland Pirates (10gp) to round out a very choppy Atlantic Division.

Coaching Milestones....

400 WINS!....With the 4-1 victory vs. Springfield on November 1, 2009, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 400 win plateau.

500 WINS!.... Coach Roy Sommer is just 18 wins away from 500 in his AHL coaching career.

1000 GAMES... With the 3-1 victory at Springfield on January 14, 2011, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 1,000 games 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 1981-2010 16seasons 1,125GP 589 WINS

4. Roy Sommer 1998-current 14seasons 1,048GP 482 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 (14th season) in the American Hockey League. His current regular season record is now: 482-435 -48 -44 -39. (W-L-T-OTL-SOL)

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 328 of the 482 victories (68%).

Shark Bites:

Captains for the 2011-12 season: Mike Moore was named the Sharks 4th captain in team history on Feb 11, 2011 and was named captain again before the start of the 2011-12 season. Alternate captains for this season: veteran forward Ben Guite and forward John McCarthy.

From east to west..... The Worcester Sharks have had 2 players (2 call-ups) receive at least one call up this season to San Jose... Currently; Andrew Desjardins, Justin Braun, Jamie McGinn, Logan Couture, Jason Demers, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edourd Vlasic, Frazer McLaren, and Doug Murray are all former Worcester Sharks that are currently playing with the San Jose Sharks.

Outstanding October!... The Sharks finished the month of October 4-0-0-2 and outscored their opponents 22-13!

Games'... The Sharks have played the fewest amount of games in the AHL (8gp), while four teams have already played 14 games already this season.

Leaders among us... Mike Connolly ranks 3rd in the AHL among rookies with 11 points (5-6-11), 4th in rookie goals (5), and 5th in rookie +/- (+7)... Curt Gogol leads all AHL rookies with 33 penalty minutes... Tyson Sexsmith is 3rd in the AHL with a 1.75GAA... Matt Irwin and Sean Sullivan lead all AHL defensemen with two game winning goals each... Matt Irwin is 7th in the AHL defensemen scoring race with seven points (4-3-7), leads the AHL d-men with four goals, and is 1st in shooting percentage at 22.2%.

Atlantic Road Warriors.... It has been tough going for home teams in the Atlantic Division this season... Atlantic Division teams are a combined 10-18-2-2 on home ice... however, Atlantic Division teams have a combined record of 18-6-2-2 on the road so far this season.

Movember... currently the entire Worcester Sharks hockey team is growing moustaches for Movember to raise awareness for HP4K and men's health. For more information please click HERE.

Scoring D... Eight of the Sharks 26 team goals have been scored by defensemen this season,, accounting for 30.7% of the Sharks offense. (Irwin 4, Sullivan 2, Moore 1, Acolatse 1)

Tallest Shark.... Worcester Sharks rookie defenseman Taylor Doherty is the tallest player in team history standing at 6'7" 230lbs.

Score first... the Sharks have scored FIRST 5 times in 8 games last season (4-0-0-1); Curt Gogol 2,Benn Ferriero 1, Nathan Moon 1, Mike Moore 1.

First goal of the season goes to... Curt Gogol scored the first Worcester Sharks goal of the season on Sunday at Providence, joining: Mathieu Darche in 2006, Graham Mink in 2007, Cory Larose in 2008, Andrew Desjardins in 2009, and Jonathan Cheechoo in 2010.

First Pro Goals this season... Curt Gogol (Oct 9 @ PRO vs. Khudobin), James Livingston (Oct15 vs. ALB vs. Frazee), Mike Connolly (Oct15 vs. ALB vs. Frazee), Nathan Moon (Oct 21 @ PRO vs. Khudobin), Sena Acolatse (Nov 1 vs. STJ vs. Pasquale), and Brodie Reid (Nov 5 vs. STJ vs. Pasquale)

100 AHL goals.... Veteran Ben Guite scored his first goal as a member of the Worcester Sharks in a 6-1 win over the Devils on October 15. The goal turned out to be his 100th AHL goal in his career. Ben also has 19 NHL goals in 175 career NHL games.

Great first impression... Curt Gogol became just the 5th Sharks player to score in his professional debut joining Joe Pavelski, Nate Raduns, Tony Lucia, and Cam MacIntyre. (Thanks Bill Ballou, Worcester TG)

We like Providence... Worcester is 9-4-0-1 in their last 14 meetings at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Sharks in the Atlantic... the Sharks had a 29-20-4-7 record against Atlantic Division prey last season and are 2-2-0-1 in the division this season.

Streakers!... the Sharks currently do not have any players with point streaks.

Good when leading... the Sharks are 3-0-0-1 when leading after the 1st period of play and 2-0-0-1 when leading after the 2nd period of play this season.

5 National Champions... The Sharks have five players that have won the NCAA Division 1 Championship.... Mike Connolly was co-captain for Minnesota-Duluth in 2011, John McCarthy was co-captain for Boston University in 2009... Benn Ferriero (currently in SJ) and Nick Petrecki with Boston College in 2008... and Ben Guite with Maine in 1999.

Young Guns... the Sharks have dressed ten rookies already this season. (Curt Gogol, Nathan Moon, Brodie Reid, James Livingston, Mike Connolly, Taylor Doherty, Tyson Sexsmith, Harri Sateri, Sena Acolatse, and Tony Lucia)

Super Sunday... the Sharks went 14-4-0-2 on Sunday afternoon games in 2010-11 and are 1-0-0-0 on Sundays this season.

I'll take a draft... Eight Worcester Sharks players were drafted by the San Jose Sharks. (Braun, Doherty, Lucia, McCarthy, Petrecki, Sateri, Sexsmith, and Viedensky,)

NHL Experience.... The Sharks have eight players with NHL experience totaling 341 games led by veteran Ben Guite with 175... breakdown of the rest... John McCarthy 41, Mike Moore 6, Benn Ferriero 63, Matt Pelech 5, Justin Braun 31, Brandon Mashinter 13, and Tommy Wingels 8.

Heard it from Ballou.... The Sharks are 7-1-1-1 in their last nine games when Jamie Koharski is the lone referee.

Like Father, Like Son... Rookie Curt Gogol leads the Sharks with 33 penalty minutes through six games... his father Brent racked up 892 penalty minutes in 157 professional games in the IHL, CHL, EHL, and the AHL including 380 pims in 1978-79 in 57 games with the Flint Generals.

Five for fighting...The Sharks have 11 fighting majors this season good for 11th in the AHL... Seven different players dropped the mitts this season for the Sharks this season: (Jimmy Bonneau 1, Curt Gogol 3, Nick Petrecki 1, Cam MacIntyre 2, Nathan Moon 2, and Brandon Mashinter 1, Mike Moore 1)... The Sharks had 81 fighting majors last season, 73 fighting majors in 2009-10, 78 fighting majors in 2008-09, 68 fighting majors in 2007-08 and 54 in 2006-07.

Season by the numbers...

Record: 4-2-0-2, 10 points - 4th in Atlantic

Win percentage: .625% - 11th in AHL

Home Record: 2-2-0-1

Away Record: 2-0-0-1

Attendance: 18,401 through three games at DCU Center 3,680 average) - 22nd in AHL

Goals Scored: 26, 3.25 goals per game, 10th in AHL

Goals Allowed: 22, 2.75 goals against per game, 11th in AHL

Shots per game: 33.13 - 5th in AHL

Shots allowed per game: 27.25 - 4th in AHL

Score 1st: 4-0-0-1 when scoring first (.900 win %)

1 goal games: 1-0-0-2 in one goal games

PP: 23.1%, 7th in AHL (9-39)

PK: 81.6%, 17th in AHL (7-38)

SHG - 1 shorthanded goals scored

SHGA - 0 shorthanded goals allowed

PIMS - 21.50 penalty minutes per game, 2nd in AHL

Fighting Majors: 11 - 11th in AHL

OT Games - 3 - (1-0 record in OT)

SO Games - 2 - (0-2 record in SO)

Roster Players - the Sharks have used 25 players this season

Goalies - the Sharks have used 2 goaltenders this season

Players receiving call-ups to San Jose - 2 (Braun and Ferriero)

NHL debuts - 0 Worcester players made their NHL debuts this season

Call-ups to San Jose - 2 different call-ups to San Jose this season

Coming and goings from the Shark Tank:

ADD - Benn Ferriero returned on loan to Worcester from San Jose on 11/6/11.

Top Worcester Sharks:

o Goals Connolly (5)

o Game Winners Matt Irwin and Sean Sullivan (2)

o Assists Connolly (6)

o Points Connolly (5-6-11)

o Power play Points Irwin (4-1-5)

o Shots Livingston (24 shots)

o PIM Gogol (33)

o Fighting Pen. Gogol (3)

o Plus/Minus Connolly (+7)

o Wins Sexsmith and Sateri (2)

o G.A.A. Sexsmith (1.75)

o Save % Sexsmith (.924)

o Shutouts N/A

Sharks in the Pacific:

The San Jose Sharks are 7-4-1 with 15 points through 12 games and currently five points behind the first place Dallas Stars with one game in hand. Former Worcester Sharks playing for San Jose: Joe Pavelski (9-6-15), Logan Couture (5-5-10), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (1-2-3), Torrey Mitchell (0-3-3), Douglas Murray (0-3-3), Andrew Desjardins (2-0-2), Jamie McGinn (1-1-2), Jason Demers (0-2-2), and Justin Braun (0-0-0).

Week ahead:

Mon., Nov 7 at 10:30pm vs. Los Angeles

Thu., Nov 10 at 10:30pm vs. Minnesota

Sat., Nov 12 at 10:30pm vs. Phoenix

Sharks in the ECHL:

The Stockton Thunder are 3-3-0-2 in eight games this season with eight points which is four points behind the first place Las Vegas Wranglers (11gp) in the Pacific Division. Worcester Sharks training camp invite, Gabriel Levesque, leads the Thunder with seven points (4-4-8) in seven games and Ian O'Connor with five points (3-2-5) through six games to lead the way offensively for the Thunder. Thomas Heemskerk is 3-0-0 with a 3.00GAA and a .901 save %.

Week Ahead:

Fri., Nov. 12 at 10:05pm at Las Vegas

Sat., Nov. 13 at 5:05pm at Las Vegas

Coming Up:

The Sharks continue their season long six game home stand with three games in three days this weekend at the DCU Center!

On Friday, the Sharks host a special Veteran's Day matinee game at 1pm as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to town! All active military members and veterans will receive a FREE ticket with ID. The first 500 fans will receive a mini American Flag! To celebrate 11/11/11, click HERE for a special $11 ticket offer! As with every Friday night game this season; enjoy $2 hot dogs, $2 pop corn, and $2 sodas all game long!

On Saturday, the Sharks host the Manchester Monarchs at 7pm! The first 2,000 fans will receive a Worcester Sharks movie poster featuring Alex Stalock, Harri Sateri, and Tyson Sexsmith in the movie "Iron Men" presented by WTAG!

On Sunday, the Sharks close out the weekend with the first of six home meetings vs. the Providence Bruins at 3pm! Boston Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton will sign autographs from 2:30-4pm in the DCU Center concourse! ARRIVE EARLY! It's also the 6th annual Worcester County Sherriff's Canned Food Drive to benefit the Friendly House. Everyone that makes a donation will receive a free Sharks ticket to a future game compliments of Price Chopper!

Score a family fun pack today for only $74! Four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for a portion of the price! Available only through the Sharks front office for every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games this season!

Starting now, the Sharks are offering groups to partake in a Sharks hockey experience with many interactive activities; including friends and family skates on the DCU Center ice before or after a game, the high FIN tunnel (high-fiving players as they take the ice), singing the National Anthem, intermission performances, and more.

Marina Riva, Jonathan Forsberg, Jason Jones, Chris Curtis, and Kristyn Galante are ready to take your orders and answer your questions today! Jump in today and save up to 35% off box office prices! Some of the exclusive benefits for full season ticket holders will include:

Guaranteed same seat for all 38 home dates and playoff home games at the DCU Center

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

Seven FREE friends and family vouchers

Exclusive events with Sharks players

Merchandise discounts and much, much, more!

Season ticket packages and group tickets for the 2011-12 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 November 7, 2011


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