AHL American Hockey League

Syracuse Crunch Year In Review

Published on April 23, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


2009-10 RECORD: 34-39-4-3, 75 points, (19-18-2-1 home, 15-21-2-2 road), sixth place, East Division, 13th place, Eastern Conference, 27th overall, American Hockey League

FIRST HALF RECORD: 15-19-3-3, 36 points, (9-5-1-1 home, 6-14-2-2 road)

SECOND HALF RECORD: 19-20-1-0, 39 points, (10-13-1-0 home, 9-7-0-0 road)

RECORD VS. DIVISIONS:

Record vs. East Division...42 GP...21-20-0-1

Record vs. Atlantic Division...16 GP...6-8-0-2

Record vs. Eastern Conference...58 GP...27-28-0-3

Record vs. North Division...16 GP...4-9-3-0

Record vs. West Division...6 GP...3-2-1-0

Record vs. Western Conference...22 GP...7-11-4-0

SPECIAL TEAMS BREAKDOWN:

PP: 57-for-336 (17.0% - 18th)

PK: 67 power play goals against on 393 times shorthanded (83.0% - 13th)

PENALTY MINUTE RECORD BREAKDOWN:

80 GP...1,771 PIM (2nd)...22.14 PIM/G (2nd)...458 MINORS (6th)...97 MAJORS (t-2nd)...20 10-MIN MISC. (3rd)...17 GAME MISC. (1st)

OVERTIME STATS AND SHOOTOUT STATS:

13 GP...1 OTW, 4 OTL, 5 SOW, 3 SOL....462 WIN%

8 SOGP...11 GF, 35 ATT - .314 %

8 SOGP...10 GA, 33 ATT - .303%

THE CRUNCH WHEN...

Leading after one period...14-3-1-1

Leading after two periods...21-0-1-1

Tied after one period...13-7-2-2

Tied after two periods...9-10-1-1

Trailing after one period...7-29-1-0

Trailing after two periods...4-29-2-1

Outshooting opponent...12-12-0-0

Outshot by opponent...21-24-3-3

CRUNCH INDIVIDUAL TEAM LEADERS:

Games played - Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman (78)

Goals - Derek MacKenzie, Maksim Mayorov and Alexandre Picard (17)

Assists - Derek MacKenzie (30)

Points - Derek MacKenzie (47)

Penalty minutes - Jon Mirasty (269)

Plus/minus - Dylan Reese (plus-12)

Power play goals - Brendan Bell (8)

Power play assists - Derek MacKenzie (13)

Power play points - Brendan Bell (20)

Shorthanded goals - Derek MacKenzie (5)

Shorthanded assists - Dan Fritsche, Nick Holden and Derek MacKenzie (2)

Shorthanded points - Derek MacKenzie (7)

Game-winning goals - Jared Aulin (5)

Shots - Dan Fritsche (161)

Shooting percentage - Tom Sestito (21.7%)

Wins - Kevin Lalande (25)

Goals against average - Kevin Lalande (2.86)

Save percentage - Kevin Lalande (.912)

Shutouts - Kevin Lalande (3)

Shootout wins - Kevin Lalande (5)

CRUNCH PLAYERS FINISH AMONG AHL LEAGUE LEADERS:

Jon Mirasty - penalty minutes (269 - 4th)

Jon Mirasty - major penalties (27 - 2nd)

Derek MacKenzie - shorthanded goals (5 - t-1st)

Derek MacKenzie - shorthanded points (7 - t-2nd)

Tom Sestito - shooting percentage (21.7% - t-4th)

Kevin Lalande - saves (1,511 - 5th)

Kevin Lalande - shootout wins (5 - 2nd)

Kevin Lalande - losses (24 - t-3rd)

*Brendan Bell - points by a defenseman (52 - 5th)

*Brendan Bell - power play goals by a defenseman (12 - 1st)

*Brendan Bell - power play points by a defenseman (32 - t-1st)

*Brendan Bell - shootout goals by a defenseman (4 - t-2nd)

*Brendan Bell - assists by a defenseman (38 - t-4th)

*Reflects combined 2009-10 statistics with the Crunch and Peoria

SWEET 16: The Syracuse Crunch competed in their 16th American Hockey League season in 2009-10. In 16 years, the Crunch have compiled an overall record of 554-542-96-61-27 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL), good for a .505 winning percentage. Syracuse has made the playoffs in nine of its 16 seasons. In 2009-10, the Crunch compiled 34 wins and 75 points, which ranks as the 11th-best season in team history. The following is a breakdown of the club's seasons in order of most points. If points were tied, number of wins was used to determine a higher ranking.

1. 2005-06 (47-25-5-3, 102 pts.)...Lost in round 1

2. 2007-08 (46-26-2-6, 100 pts.)...Lost in round 2

3. 2001-02 (39-23-13-5, 96 pts., Central Division Champions)...Lost in round 2

4. 2003-04 (38-25-10-7, 93 pts.)...Lost in round 1

5. 2008-09 (40-32-5-3, 88 pts.)...Did not qualify

6. 2004-05 (36-33-7-4, 83 pts.)...Did not qualify

7. 1997-98 (35-32-11-2, 83 pts.)...Lost in round 1

8. 2000-01 (33-30-12-5, 83 pts.)...Lost in round 1

9. 1999-00 (35-35-9-1, 80 pts.)...Lost in round 1

10. 2006-07 (34-34-4-8, 80 pts.)...Did not qualify

11. 2009-10 (34-39-4-3, 75 pts.)...Did not qualify

12. 1996-97 (32-38-10-0, 74 pts.)...Lost in round 1

13. 1995-96 (31-37-5-7, 74 pts.)...Lost in round 3

14. 1994-95 (29-42-9, 67 pts.)...Did not qualify

15. 2002-03 (27-41-8-4, 66 pts.)...Did not qualify

16. 1998-99 (18-50-9-3, 48 pts.)...Did not qualify

*1994-95 record indicates W-L-T. 1995-96 through 2003-04 records indicate W-L-T-OTL. 2004-05 through 2009-10 records indicate W-L-OTL-SOL.

CRUNCH MAKE HISTORY IN MIRABITO OUTDOOR CLASSIC: On February 20, 2010, the Syracuse Crunch made history. Not only did they become the first team to host the American Hockey League's first-ever outdoor game in the Mirabito Outdoor Classic, but they also set the AHL all-time single-game attendance record, packing 21,508 fans into the New York State Fairgrounds. The game was exciting and the atmosphere was electric, as the Crunch edged the Binghamton Senators by a score of 2-1.

A booming rendition of the national anthem by Mercury recording artist Jessie James, complete with a fly-by from the 174th Fighter Wing New York Air National Guard and introductions of Crunch all-time greats J.F. Labbe and Dan Smith and NHL legends Danny Gare, Bobby Nystrom and Rob Ray set the tone for a memorable afternoon.

If that wasn't enough, skydiver Ray Maynard proceeded to float down from above to deliver a puck to New York State Governor David Paterson from the first-ever NHL outdoor exhibition game that featured Wayne Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers facing off in 88-degree weather in Las Vegas on September 27, 1991.

A long-time member of the Crunch, Alexandre Picard, scored the game's first goal after taking a pass from Mike Blunden while racing in down the left side and shooting the disk past Binghamton starter Mike Brodeur at the 6:47 mark of the opening frame, sending the packed house into a frenzy.

Fans had plenty of attractions to keep themselves busy with VIP and fan zone tents, a live band, hot tub and an ice sculpting contest.

The game continued to ebb and flow back and forth after Binghamton's Josh Hennessy tied the game with just over five minutes into the second period until the Crunch re-took the lead with just 12 seconds left in the middle stanza. David Liffiton corralled a touch pass from Dan Fritsche and rifled a wrister from the slot to the top right corner past Brodeur to make it 2-1.

Liffiton's marker stood up as the game-winner, while Blunden notched two assists and Kevin Lalande shut the door on a flurried Binghamton power play attack in the final minutes, finishing with 36 saves and first star of the game honors.

CRUNCH AND COLUMBUS PART WAYS AFTER 10-YEAR AFFILIATION: On April 10, 2010, the Syracuse Crunch played their final game of the 2009-10 season and the last game in franchise history as the American Hockey League affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 10 seasons under Columbus, the Crunch went 374-308-43-48-27 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL), good for a .548 winning percentage. In addition, the Crunch made the playoffs in five of 10 seasons as the Blue Jackets' top affiliate.

Over the 10-year span, the Crunch played in 800 games, scoring 2,328 goals (2.91 GPG) while allowing 2,366 goals (2.96 GAPG). Six (6) of Columbus' 10 first-round draft picks played in a total of 434 regular season games for the Crunch, including Derick Brassard (42gp, 15g, 36a), Gilbert Brule (16gp, 5g, 5a), Nikita Filatov (39gp, 16g, 16a), Pascal Leclaire (101gp, 3.11 GAA, .909 sv%), Alexandre Picard (234gp, 72g, 74a) and Nikolai Zherdev (2gp, 1g, 0a).

92 players played for the Crunch and Blue Jackets under the 10-year affiliation, ranging alphabetically from Serge Aubin to Nikolai Zherdev. 11 players saw time with both the Crunch and Blue Jackets this past season, with four of those players making their NHL debuts (Grant Clitsome, Trevor Frischmon, Tomas Kana and Chad Kolarik).

Scott Hollis was the first player to score a goal for the Crunch in the Columbus era with his first period marker at the 18:29 mark in an 8-2 loss to Quebec on October 6, 2000. Nick Holden scored the last goal for the Crunch in the Columbus era with an empty-netter with 36 seconds remaining to close out a 5-2 win over Rochester on April 10, 2010.

Only two men served as head coach in the Crunch's history during the Columbus era (Gary Agnew 2000-06 and Ross Yates 2006-10). Agnew guided the Crunch for the first six seasons under Columbus and has gone on to become an assistant coach with the Blue Jackets, while Yates served as the Crunch's bench boss for the past four years. Yates served as Agnew's assistant during his tenure as head coach before being promoted, and was with Syracuse for all 10 seasons under the Columbus affiliation. Former Crunch players Trent Cull (2006-10) and Karl Goehring (2009-10) also served as assistant coaches during that span.

Agnew ranks first all-time in wins (220) and is the winningest coach in team history with a 220-177-43-33-7 record (W-L-T-OTL-SOL), good for a .554 winning percentage. Yates ranks second all-time in wins (154) and is the second-winningest coach in team history with a 154-131-15-20 record (W-L-OTL-SOL), good for a .540 winning percentage.

Almost every leader of every major statistical category in the Crunch's history has played for both the Crunch and Columbus, including Brad Moran (games played - 334, assists - 143 and points - 241), Mark Hartigan (goals - 107, power play goals - 47 and game-winning goals - 18), Jeremy Reich (penalty minutes - 820), Derek MacKenzie (shorthanded goals - 11) and J.F. Labbe (goals against average - 2.48, shutouts - 11 and save percentage - .925).

DUCK CALL: On March 25, 2010, the Syracuse Crunch announced a multi-year affiliation agreement with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, starting with the 2010-11 season.

Since the 2005-06 season, Anaheim's AHL affiliates have posted a record of 168-109-17-26, good for a .620 winning percentage. In addition, since the start of the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Ducks' AHL affiliates have advanced to the Conference Finals twice.

An impressive list of players have graduated from Anaheim's AHL affiliates over the past five years to make their NHL debuts with the Ducks, including Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Ryan Carter, Matt Beleskey, Troy Bodie, Brett Festerling, Dustin Penner, Drew Miller, Andrew Ebbett, Shane O'Brien, Curtis Glencross, Kent Huskins, Zenon Konopka, Ryan Shannon and Aaron Rome.

The Syracuse Crunch are tied for the sixth longest tenure of any AHL team and have the league's longest current independent ownership group.

Anaheim represents the third primary affiliate in the Crunch's history (Vancouver - 1994-2000 and Columbus 2000-2010). Syracuse had a split affiliation with Vancouver and Pittsburgh during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons.

MILESTONES REACHED THIS SEASON:

Players that made their professional debut:

Patrick Cullity - April 2 @ Adirondack

Alex Curran - March 26 vs. Toronto

Chris Higgins - October 3 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

John Kurtz - March 31 vs. Hershey

Tyler Murovich - April 2 @ Adirondack

Kyle Neuber - March 24 @ Bridgeport

Brent Regner - October 3 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Mike Blunden:

Appeared in 200th AHL game and tallied his 100th AHL point - February 24 @ Adirondack

Simon Ferguson:

Appeared in 300th AHL game - December 26 @ Hershey

Trevor Frischmon:

Appeared in 200th AHL game - December 12 @ Binghamton

Moved into fifth place on the Crunch's all-time list in games played (247)

Dan Fritsche:

Selected as the Crunch's lone representative at the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic

Kevin Harvey:

Appeared in 100th AHL game - February 28 vs. Norfolk

Moved into eighth place on the Crunch's all-time list in penalty minutes (479)

Nick Holden:

Appeared in 100th AHL Game - February 3 vs. Albany

Kevin Lalande:

Moved into sixth place on the Crunch's all-time list in games played by a goaltender (70)

Moved into sixth place on the Crunch's all-time list in wins (34)

Moved into fourth place on the Crunch's all-time list in goals against average (2.73)

Moved into a tie for sixth place on the Crunch's all-time list in shutouts (3)

Moved into a tie for fourth place on the Crunch's all-time list in save percentage (.915)

Became the first winning goaltender in an AHL outdoor game - February 20

Became the fifth goaltender in club history to record 25 wins in a season (Mike Fountain, Corey Hirsch, J.F. Labbe and Tomas Popperle)

David Liffiton:

Appeared in 200th AHL game - November 25 @ Albany

Scored game-winning goal in the AHL's first-ever outdoor game - February 20

Derek MacKenzie:

Recorded 300th AHL point - December 30 @ San Antonio

Moved into first place on the Crunch's all-time list in shorthanded goals (11)

Moved into tenth place on the Crunch's all-time list in goals (64)

Maksim Mayorov:

Appeared in 100th AHL game - January 16 vs. Rochester

Named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 11, 2010

Jon Mirasty:

Moved into third place on the Crunch's all-time list in penalty minutes (677)

Pascal Pelletier:

Appeared in 300th AHL game - November 29 vs. Rochester

Alexandre Picard:

Appeared in 200th AHL game - October 24 vs. Rochester

Moved into a fifth place tie on the Crunch's all-time list in power play goals (32)

Moved into a sixth place tie on the Crunch's all-time list in game-winning goals (8)

Moved into tenth place on the Crunch's all-time list in penalty minutes (459)

Moved into seventh place on the Crunch's all-time list in goals (72)

Moved into seventh place on the Crunch's all-time list in games played (234)

Mike Ratchuk:

Appeared in 100th AHL game - February 3 @ Albany

Tom Sestito:

Moved into sixth place on the Crunch's all-time list in penalty minutes (508)

TEN TO REMEMBER - Ten standout games from the 2009-10 season

October 10 vs. Adirondack - The Crunch open up at home in front of a sellout crowd of 6,237 fans after starting the year 0-2-0-0 and tally their first win of the season by scoring six unanswered goals in a 6-1 rout of Adirondack, the first of five victories the Crunch recorded against the Phantoms in 2009-10. Pascal Pelletier notches three points (1g, 2a) and Kevin Lalande picks up the win, stopping 25 of 26 shots.

October 30 @ Norfolk - After starting the season with a 0-4-0-1 record away from the War Memorial at Oncenter, the Crunch finally pick up their first road victory of the season in a 2-0 shutout win over Norfolk. Alexandre Picard and Pascal Pelletier each tally a goal, Derek MacKenzie posts two assists and Dan LaCosta stops all 32 shots in his only shutout of the season.

December 29 @ Texas - The Crunch pull out a wild shootout win in Texas after losing leads of 2-0 and 3-2, finally defeating the Stars by a 4-3 margin. Jared Aulin scores twice in regulation and adds the shootout game-winner and Bates Battaglia notches two assists in the contest. The win sparks the Crunch to a 5-1-0-1 run over the club's next seven games.

January 24 @ Toronto - Tomas Kana catapults the Crunch to a 4-3 shootout win with two goals in regulation and the shootout game-winner, snapping a four-game losing streak and sending Syracuse on its way to the first of a season-high six straight wins. Derek MacKenzie registers two points (1g, 1a) and Bates Battaglia adds three helpers in what would turn out to be his final game as a member of the Crunch.

February 6 vs. Adirondack - The Crunch cruise to their sixth straight win with a 5-0 thrashing of Adirondack, moving the club just two points behind Norfolk for third place and the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. Jared Aulin and Jonathan Sigalet each score twice and Kevin Lalande turns away all 22 shots en route to his first shutout of the season and his sixth straight win in six straight starts.

February 20 vs. Binghamton - The Crunch pull out a 2-1 victory over Binghamton in the Mirabito Outdoor Classic, the AHL's first-ever outdoor game. Played in front of an AHL all-time record crowd of 21,508 at the New York State Fairgrounds, Alexandre Picard and David Liffiton each score a goal and Kevin Lalande stops 36 of 37 shots to earn the victory and first star honors.

February 24 @ Adirondack - The Crunch come back from two goals three different times and rally for three goals in the third period to squeak by the Phantoms by a 6-5 score. Derek MacKenzie's goal with just over four minutes left in regulation ties the game and Maksim Mayorov's second goal of the game, which came shorthanded just 1:27 later, stood up as the game-winner.

March 7 @ Binghamton - After giving up the tying goal with 29 seconds left in regulation, David Liffiton scores 2:26 into overtime to seal a 4-3 win for the Crunch. Newcomers Greg Moore (2 goals) and Chad Kolarik (1g, 2a) each factor in heavily in the victory, which keeps the club's playoff hopes alive by moving them within five points of the East Division's final playoff berth.

April 6 vs. Hershey - The Crunch match a season-high by scoring three power play goals in a 3-1 win over league-leading Hershey, who set the AHL all-time record with 60 wins during the 2009-10 season. Dan Taylor makes 41 saves as the Crunch receive goals from Maksim Mayorov, Tom Sestito and Tyler Murovich en route to the victory.

April 10 vs. Rochester - The Crunch end their season on a high note, defeating arch-rival Rochester for the first time in 10 tries with a 5-2 win in front of a standing-room only crowd of 6,317 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Maksim Mayorov (2g, 1a) records his third straight three-point game, Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman tallies three assists and Kevin Lalande stops 37 of 39 shots in the final game played by the Crunch as the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

2009-10 SYRACUSE CRUNCH TEAM AWARD WINNERS:

RE/MAX Masters Most Valuable Player - DEREK MacKENZIE

Supercuts Rookie of the Year - TOMAS KANA

Arrow Fence De'Fence'Man of the Year - BRENDAN BELL

Eastern Shore Associates Most Improved Player - BRENT REGNER

Davis-Ulmer Crunch Protector Award - DAVID LIFFITON

Change of Pace Wing of the Year - DAN FRITSCHE

Gannon Pest Control Pest of the Year - KEVIN HARVEY

Outdoor Power Power Player of the Year - BRENDAN BELL

Lamacchia Honda Power Forward of the Year - CHAD KOLARIK

Bryant & Stratton Smart Player of the Year - TREVOR FRISCHMON

Team winner of American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - JORDAN LaVALLEE-SMOTHERMAN

Metalico Scrappiest Player of the Year - JON MIRASTY

Ray Schultz Memorial Trophy (Booster Club award) - BRENDAN BELL

Unsung Hero (Booster Club award) - TOMAS KANA

Golden Cowbell Award (Section 7 fans award) - TREVOR FRISCHMON

CRUNCHABLES: Syracuse finished the season with 16 shorthanded goals, ranking fourth in the league in that category...The Crunch were outscored 86-59 in the first period this season...Syracuse went 18-7-4-3 in one-goal games...Derek MacKenzie tallied 17 points during a season-high 11-game point streak from January 15 - February 6, which was tied for the fourth-longest point streak in the AHL this season...The Crunch used 48 players this season from five different countries (United States (17), Canada (28), Czech Republic (1), England (1) and Russia (1))...Syracuse's 57 power play goals was the fewest single-season total in franchise history...The Crunch tied a franchise record for least shots in a period with one shot in the first period at Adirondack on April 2.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2010


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