AHL Syracuse Crunch

Syracuse Announces Roster Changes

March 29, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


COLUMBUS RECALLS MacLEAN: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled center Donald MacLean. The only player to appear in all 72 Crunch games this season, MacLean leads the Crunch with 26 goals, 40 assists and 66 points. MacLean is a veteran of 366 career AHL games with Fredericton, Sprinfield, St. John's, Lowell and Syracuse, recording 318 points (133g, 185a). A native of Sydney, Nova Scotia, MacLean was signed as a free agent by Columbus on July 17, 2002.

JOHNSON RETURNED TO SYRACUSE: The Crunch also announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have returned defenseman Aaron Johnson to Syracuse. Johnson has appeared 41games with the Crunch this season, recording five goals, 14 assists and 65 penalty minutes. In 29 games with Columbus, Johnson has two goals, six assists and 32 penalty minutes. A native of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Coumbus selected Johnson with their fourth pick, 85th overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft.

MORAN INTO SECOND PLACE: Center Brad Moran moved into second place on the Crunch's all-time points list, recording his 165th and 166th points last night @ Cleveland. Moran also moved into sole possesion of fourth place on the Crunch's all-time goals list with his 71st goal. Moran (166 points – 71 goals) trails Lonny Bohonos (230 points) by 64 points for the franchise lead in points and Brian Loney (76 goals) by five goals for third on the all-time goals list. A native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Moran has appeared in 66 games with the Crunch this season, recording 23 goals, 33 assists and 34 penalty minutes.

STREAKS ALL AROUND: Entering this week the Crunch have four players on point streaks of five or more games. Center Donald MacLean (5g, 6a) and defenseman Darrel Scoville (3g, 6a) are on seven-game point streaks and right wing Kent McDonell (4g, 5a) and left wing Jeremy Reich (3g, 6a) have points in their last five games.

CRUNCH SIGN VAN ABEL TO A.T.O.: The Crunch announced this morning that they have signed defenseman Brian Van Abel to an amatuer try-out agreement. A native of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Van Abel appeared in 29 games with Dartmouth (ECAC), recording 1 goal, 8 assists and 16 penalty minutes.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Syracuse (72 games – 87 points) enters this week three points behind Hamilton (75 games – 90 points) for first place in the North Division. The Crunch are seven points ahead of Cleveland (73 games – 80 points), eight points ahead of Toronto (74 games – 79 points) and Rochester (73 games – 79 points).

ZINGONI MAKES PRO DEBUT: Center Peter Zingoni made his professional debut on Sunday night @ Cleveland, recording an assist. A native of Newtown, Conneticut, Zingoni was signed by Syracuse to an amatuer try-out contract after appearing in 36 games with Providnce (HE). Columbus selected Zingoni with their 8th pick, 231st overall, in the 2002 Entry Draft.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Saturday, April 3:

Minute Maid Mouse Pad Night: The Syracuse Crunch announced that their last regular season home game on Saturday, April 3 will be Minute Maid Mouse Pad Night at the Crunch. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Crunch mouse pad, courtesy of Minute Maid and Coca-Cola.

Fan Appreciation Night: On Saturday, April 3, fans will be able to visit designated areas on the Montgomery Street and State Street sides (second level – by merchandise stands and first level - under the bleachers) following the game to pick up Syracuse Crunch give-away items, compliments of the Crunch.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

CLEVELAND (SAN JOSE SHARKS): Syracuse hosts Cleveland on Wendesday, March 31 and travels to Gund Arena on Sunday, Arpil 4 for the final two of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 4-2, after defeating Cleveland 5-4 in their last meeting on March 28 at Gund Arena. Defenseman Garrett Stafford paces all players in head-to-head scoring with nine points (4g, 5a). Center Donald MacLean leads Syracuse in head-to-head scoring with eight points (5g, 3a). Karl Goehring has appeared in four games, posting a 2-2-0 record, with a 3.02 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. Dimitri Patzold has appeared in four games for Cleveland, posting a 1-2-0 record, a 2.22 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 13-8-1 against the Barons.

ROCHESTER (BUFFALO SABRES): Syracuse plays a home-and-home with Rochester on Friday, April 2 at the War Memorial on Oncenter and on Saturday, April 3 at BlueCross Arena for the 10th and 11th of 12 regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse leads the series 5-4, after defeating Rochester 3-1 in their last meeting on March 20 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Right wing Jason Pominville paces all players in head-to-head scoring with eight points (5g, 3a). Right wing Tim Jackman leads Syracuse in head-to-head scoring with seven points (5g, 2a). Pascal Leclaire has appeared in seven games, posting a 4-2-0 record, with a 2.68 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. Ryan Miller has appeared in eight games for Rochester, posting a 3-5-0 record, a 2.26 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 42-54-13 against the Amerks.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets (24-42-8-4, 60 points) enter this week in fourth place in the Central Division, 25 points behind Nashville (85 points) for third place. Left wing Rick Nash leads the NHL with 40 goals and paces Columbus with 55 points (40g, 15a). There are currently seven players on the Columbus roster that have appeared in a Crunch jersey (Fred Brathwaite, Mike Pandolfo, David Ling, Jody Shelley, Duvie Westcott, Donald MacLean and Anders Eriksson).

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

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

Wednesday, March 31 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:00 p.m. game vs. Cleveland

Thursday, April 1 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Friday, April 2 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:35 p.m. game @ Rochester

Saturday, April 3 10:00 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Rochester

Sunday, April 4 5:00 p.m. game @ Cleveland

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Right wing Kent McDonell moved into a ninth place tie with David Ling on the Crunch's all-time points list, recording his 118th point Sunday night @ Cleveland.

2003-04 RECORD: 35-20-10-7, 87 points (20-7-6-5 home, 15-13-4-2 road), second place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, March 31 vs. Cleveland (33-26-7-7), 80 points, third place, North Division

Friday, April 2 @ Rochester (33-27-9-4), 79 points, tied-fourth place, North Division

Saturday, April 3 vs. Rochester (33-27-9-4), 79 points, tied-fourth place, North Division

Sunday, April 4 vs. Cleveland (33-26-7-7), 80 points, third place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, March 24 CRUNCH 5 St. John's 3

Friday, March 26 CRUNCH 6 Binghamton 3

Saturday, March 27 St. John's 7 OT CRUNCH 6

Sunday, March 21 Crunch 5 CLEVELAND 4

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



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