AHL Syracuse Crunch

Week Nineteen: Everybody Loves Ray

Published on February 16, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


The Anaheim Ducks signed goaltender Ray Emery to a one-year, two-way contract and assigned him to Syracuse on February 8. After practicing with the club this week, he will likely make his Crunch debut on Friday vs. San Antonio. Emery is trying to work his way back after learning he suffered from a disease known as avascular necrosis, which affects the hip. The condition ended his season last year and he has been rehabbing to get back to playing shape after surgery.

Emery, 28, has appeared in 157 combined AHL contests with Binghamton and Adirondack, going 77-50-18 with a 2.52 goals against average. In his first AHL season in 2002-03, he earned All-Rookie Team honors, while ranking second in the AHL in wins (27), tied for first in shutouts (7) and fourth in minutes (2924). Emery has also appeared in 163 career NHL games with Ottawa and Philadelphia since the 2002-03 season, going 87-51-15-11 with a 2.70 goals against average .907 save percentage and 11 shutouts. He skated in 29 games with the Flyers last season, going 16-11-1-3 with a 2.64 goals against average and .905 save percentage before getting sidelined with a hip injury.

A native of Cayuga, Ontario, Emery was selected by Ottawa in the fourth round, 99th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning pro, Emery appeared in 127 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) games with Sault Ste. Marie from 1999-2002. He was named the OHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year in 2001-02 after going 33-17-9 with a 2.73 goals against average and .914 save percentage for the Greyhounds.

ANAHEIM REASSIGNS GOALTENDER MARCO COUSINEAU: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Anaheim Ducks have reassigned goaltender Marco Cousineau from Syracuse to Elmira (ECHL). Cousineau, 21, has been reassigned by Anaheim to the Crunch twice this season, but has yet to make an appearance. He has skated in 26 games with Elmira this season, going 12-8-4 with a 3.40 goals against average and .891 save percentage. Prior to turning pro, Cousineau spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2006-10 with Baie-Comeau, Drummondville, Prince Edward Island and Saint John. A native of St. Lazare, Quebec, Cousineau was selected by Anaheim in the third round, 83rd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

UPCOMING GAMES:

ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS (PHILADELPHIA FLYERS): The Crunch travel to Glens Falls, NY to battle the Adirondack Phantoms on Wednesday, February 16 for the seventh of eight meetings between the two clubs this season. Adirondack won the first five games of the season series until the Crunch broke the Phantom hex with a 5-0 shutout win on February 4 at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Kyle Palmieri (3g, 4a), Josh Green (1g, 4a) and Nate Guenin (0g, 5a) lead the Crunch in scoring against Adirondack this season, while the Phantoms' Michael Ryan leads his club and all players with eight points (4g, 4a) against the Crunch this season.

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE (PHOENIX COYOTES): The Crunch start a weekend of back-to-back home games with a Friday night tilt against the San Antonio Rampage. This is the first of two games between these two clubs this year, as they will play again on March 5 when the Crunch travel down to the Lone Star State. Crunch fans will see a familiar face, as left wing Alexandre Picard will make his return to The Oncenter War Memorial Arena after spending parts of five seasons in a Crunch uniform from 2005-10. Picard ranks on the Crunch's all-time list in a number of categories, including games played (234-7th), goals (72-7th), penalty minutes (459-10th), power play goals (32-t-5th), and game-winning goals (8-t-6th). San Antonio boasts an impressive offense, with seven players currently having at least 30 points. Matt Climie has also been strong in goal for the Rampage this season, going 19-13-0 with a 2.38 goals against average and .923 save percentage.

ROCHESTER AMERICANS (FLORIDA PANTHERS): The Crunch welcome Rochester to The Oncenter War Memorial Arena on Saturday for the sixth of 10 overall meetings between these I-90 rivals this year. The Crunch have won two of the first six games against the Amerks this season, including two of the last three. Patrick Maroon leads the Crunch against Rochester this year with six points (4g, 2a), while Chris Taylor leads the Americans and all players in the season series with eight points (1g, 7a).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18

RIUNITE WINE SAMPLING: Fans 21 and over will have the opportunity to sample Riunite Lambrusco and Riunite D'Oro, America's all-time favorite wine. Sampling will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. when doors open through the second intermission, outside of Memorial Hall located on the first floor of The Oncenter War Memorial Arena

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

HAAGEN DAZS DOLLAR CUPS AVAILABLE: Haagen Dazs 3.6 oz. ice cream cups will be available for just $1 at the Crunch's Saturday, February 19 game vs. Rochester.

INTERSTATE BATTER CENTER OF CNY 'FAITH AND FAMILY NIGHT':

Tickets for Interstate Battery Center of CNY 'Faith and Family Night' presented by Mars Hill Network are only $12 and can be obtained by bringing a church bulletin to the Crunch office or the Oncenter box office, or by calling the Crunch office at (315) 473-4444 ext. 33. In addition, fans who order tickets for Interstate Battery Center 'Faith and Family Night' presented by Mars Hill Network will be invited to attend pre-game performances by the Christian-based musical group, The West Point Cadets, and guest speaker Duche Bradley, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the basement-level Crunch Club of The Oncenter War Memorial Arena.

'MYSTERY AUTOGRAPHED' PUCK FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT PRISCILLA MAHAR ANIMAL WELFARE FOUNDATION: For $10 fans will have the opportunity to purchase a bag that contains a puck with a mystery autograph. The bags will be sold by CNY's Meteorologist Wayne Mahar and staff outside the Crunch's main office located on the Montgomery Street side of The Oncenter War Memorial Arena.

Ten (10) Anaheim Ducks autographed pucks, including pucks signed by Todd Marchant, Curtis McElhinney, Matt Beleskey and Dan Sexton, as well as all of the current Crunch players are among those available. Foundation t-shirts will also be for sale. In addition, all proceeds from the Crunch Foundation prize wheel that night will be donated to the Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation.

FIREFIGHTER NIGHT TO BENEFIT BURN FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL NEW YORK: On Saturday, February 19, the Syracuse Fire Department and the Rochester Fire Department will play each other in a charity hockey game at The Oncenter War Memorial Arena at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased for $15, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Burn Foundation of Central New York. To purchase tickets, please contact Jim Ennis with the Syracuse Firefighters Association at (315) 475-0766 or Mark Hayes in the Syracuse Crunch office at (315) 473-4444 ext. 33. The Burn Foundation of Central New York is a non-profit organization dedicated to burn prevention, support for burn survivors and their families, and enhancing the treatment of burn survivors.

FIRST 3,000 FANS TO RECEIVE COMMEMORATIVE MIRABITO OUTDOOR CLASSIC POSTER GIVEAWAY, COURTESY OF POWERADE: In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Mirabito Outdoor Classic, the Crunch will give away a commemorative Mirabito Outdoor Classic poster to the first 3,000 fans at their Saturday, February 19 game vs. Rochester, courtesy of Powerade. The 28 x 18-inch poster depicts a collage of photos from the game, highlighted by a panoramic view of the rink and grandstand.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23:

LABATT'S CELEBRITY BARTENDING SERIES CONTINUES AT ALE 'N' ANGUS: Crunch players Stefan Chaput, Josh Green and Matt Kennedy will serve as celebrity bartenders at Ale 'n' Angus Pub from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23. Ale 'n' Angus Pub is located at 238 Harrison Street in Syracuse, kitty-corner to The Oncenter War Memorial Arena. Please call (315) 426-9672 for directions. Players are subject to change.All proceeds generated from the event will benefit the Central New York Chapter of the Autism Society of America (CNY ASA).

TULLY'S GOOD TIMES BILLIARDS TOURNAMENT: Fans will have the opportunity to compete against Crunch players Matt Beleskey, John Kurtz, John Mitchell and Leigh Salters, as well as members of the local media and other fans in an elimination pool tournament (players and media members subject to change). Anyone interested in competing can email the Crunch at asusko@syracusecrunch.com (please include your name, email address and phone number). Fans can also sign up at the guest services table at the Crunch's Friday, February 18 game vs. San Antonio and Saturday, February 19 game vs. Rochester. The randomly selected fans will be notified by phone or email. The winning team will receive a prize pack compliments of Tully's Good Times and the Crunch.

CRUNCHABLES: The Crunch have now been shut out nine times this season and have been blanked in back-to-back games on three separate occasions.J.P. Levasseur has started five straight games for the Crunch.After tonight's contest at Adirondack, the Crunch will play 16 of their final 27 games at home.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2011


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