AHL Syracuse Crunch

Week Seven: Paetsch Producing

Published on November 22, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Last updated: November 22, 2010
Source: Syracuse Crunch News Release


Crunch defenseman Nathan Paetsch has been on quite a ride over the last few months. A trade deadline deal at the end of last season sent him from Buffalo to Columbus. He then signed with the Florida Panthers as a free agent over the summer, but was traded again by Florida to the Vancouver Canucks on October 7. After starting the season in Rochester, Paetsch was reassigned by Vancouver to Syracuse on November 1.

After being held scoreless in his first six games as a member of the Crunch, Paetsch has picked it up recently, appearing in all four games this past week, leading the team in scoring with four points (3g, 1a). In addition, Paetsch, a natural defenseman, has had to deal with switching back and forth between playing defense and forward. He was held scoreless on Wednesday night vs. Binghamton, but scored his first goal as a member of the Crunch on Friday vs. Albany, helping Syracuse earn a point in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss.

After being kept off the score sheet on Saturday, Paetsch exploded for three points (2g, 1a) on Sunday at Rochester against his former team. He assisted on Maxime Macenauer's goal to tie the game at 1-1 at the 15:01 mark of the second period, then got in on the scoring himself with 44 seconds left in the middle stanza after he beat Jacob Markstrom on a shorthanded try, the Crunch's first of the season. Paetsch then added his second goal of the game at the 7:41 mark of the third period, converting a 2-on-1 opportunity with Nicolas Deschamps to put the Crunch up 4-2 in an eventual 5-4 loss. Paetsch's three points and eight shots on goal against his former team both tied Crunch individual season highs.

PALMIERI RIDING POINT STREAK: Things have gone very well this season for 19-year old Crunch rookie right wing Kyle Palmieri. Although he was held to just one goal in his first four professional games, it didn't take long for the offensively gifted Palmieri to figure out the American Hockey League. Since tallying an assist in a 3-1 win over Norfolk back on October 22, Palmieri has gone on to record at least a point in six straight games, stretching his scoring streak to seven.

The streak was interrupted with a 10-game call-up to the Ducks, where he made his NHL debut and scored his first NHL goal in Anaheim's 3-2 win over Tampa Bay on November 3. Since being assigned back to Syracuse on November 20, Palmieri picked up right where he left off, scoring three points (1g, 2a) in his last two games. Prior to being recalled by Anaheim, Palmieri was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 31 after registering six points (5g, 1a) in three games, including netting his first career hat trick on October 27 at Hamilton.

A native of Smithtown, New York, Palmieri appeared in 33 games during his freshman season at the University of Notre Dame (CCHA) in 2009-10, recording 17 points (9g, 8a). In addition, Palmieri won a gold medal with the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships. He was selected by Anaheim in the first round, 26th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

ANAHEIM ACQUIRES DAVID LALIBERTE AND PATRICK MAROON FROM PHILADELPHIA AND ASSIGNS THEM TO SYRAUCSE: The Anaheim Ducks acquired left wing Patrick Maroon and right wing David Laliberte from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Danny Syvret and center Rob Bordson on Sunday, November 21. Both Laliberte and Maroon have been assigned to the Crunch.

Laliberte, 24, has appeared in 18 games with Adirondack this season, scoring 8 points (2g, 6a) with 20 penalty minutes. The 6-1, 198-pound right wing played in 11 NHL games (2g, 1a) and one Stanley Cup playoff game (scoreless) last season with the Flyers. Laliberte scored a goal in his first NHL game on October 30, 2009 vs. Carolina. A native of St. Liboire, Quebec, Laliberte, was drafted by the Flyers in the fourth round, 124th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2002-07 before making his AHL debut with the Phantoms in 2007-08. He scored 98 points (50g, 48a) in 68 games with Prince Edward Island (QMJHL) in 2006-07.

Maroon, 22, has played in nine games with Adirondack this season, scoring 8 points (5g, 3a) with 30 penalty minutes. The 6-4, 225-pound left wing scored 44 points (11g, 33a) with 125 penalty minutes in 2009-10 with Adirondack. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Maroon was drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round, 161st overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2007-08, scoring 90 points (35g, 55a) in 64 games.

CRUNCH RETURN LEFT WING RYAN HILLIER TO ELMIRA: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that they have returned left wing Ryan Hillier to Elmira. Hillier made his Crunch debut last night at Rochester and was held scoreless. He has also appeared in 11 games with Elmira this season, recording five points (2g, 3a). A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Hillier was selected by the New York Rangers in the third round, 84th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Anaheim along with Aaron Voros from the New York Rangers in exchange for Steve Eminger on July 9, 2010.

UPCOMING GAMES:

HERSHEY BEARS (WASHINGTON CAPITALS): Hershey makes its way to The Oncenter War Memorial Arena on Friday night for the third and final meeting in Syracuse and third of six overall games between the two clubs this season. The Crunch are 0-1-1-0 against the Bears in 2010-11, earning a point in a 4-3 overtime loss on October 29 and dropping a 3-0 decision on November 13. Luca Sbisa (1g, 1a) and Nick Bonino (0g, 2a), who are both currently on recall with Anaheim and Trevor Smith (0g, 2a), all have two points against Hershey this season. Brian Willsie (2g, 1a), AHL second overall leading scorer Andrew Gordon (1g, 2a) and AHL leader in scoring among defensemen Lawrence Nycholat (1g, 2a), all have three points against the Crunch this year. Hershey goaltender Dany Sabourin has started both games against Syracuse this season, going 2-0-0 with a 1.48 goals against average and .953 save percentage

TORONTO MARLIES (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): The Crunch travel north of the border to take on former North Division foe Toronto on Saturday in the first of four meetings against the Marlies this season. Toronto is led in scoring by rookie Nazem Kadri, who has 14 points (5g, 9a) in 14 games and is currently on recall to the Maple Leafs. Justin Hodgman (6g, 7a) and Greg Scott (4g, 8a) are also among the team leaders in scoring, while rookie goaltender Jussi Rynnas has seen the bulk of the action in net, going 3-5-2 with a 1.87 goals against average and .939 save percentage.

HAMILTON BULLDOGS (MONTREAL CANADIENS): The Crunch return home on Sunday to face Hamilton for the second of four meetings this season. Hamilton won the first contest between the two teams back on October 27 on a late goal from Yannick Weber with 40 seconds left in regulation. Max Pacioretty, who is tied for fifth in the AHL in scoring with 21 points (8g, 13a), had three points (1g, 2a) in the game, while Kyle Klubertanz and JT Wyman added two points (1g, 1a) each. Kyle Palmieri netted a hat trick for the Crunch in the loss, with defenseman Brett Festerling adding two assists. This will be the 100th all-time meeting between the Crunch and Hamilton, with Syracuse going 44-42-13 against the Bulldogs during the first 99 contests.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

JON MIRASTY, JAKE NEWTON AND LEIGH SALTERS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT TULLY'S GOOD TIMES ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22: Jon Mirasty, Jake Newton and Leigh Salters are scheduled to be at Tully's Good Times on Erie Blvd. to sign autographs on Monday, November 22. Mirasty, Newton and Salters will be signing autographs from 5 - 7 p.m. Tully's Good Times is located at 2943 Erie Blvd. For directions, please call 315-449-9339. Players are subject to change.

CRUNCH PLAYERS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT "HERB" PHILIPSON'S ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23: Brett Festerling, John Kurtz and Brandon McMillan will be at "Herb" Philipson's in the Western Lights Plaza on Tuesday, November 23. Festerling, Kurtz and McMillan will be signing autographs from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. "Herb" Philipson's is located in the Western Lights Shopping Center at 4671 Onondaga Blvd. # 175. For directions, please call (315) 671-2200. Players are subject to change.

CRUNCHABLES: Jake Newton's assist on Sunday vs. Rochester was his first professional point.In the last three games, the Crunch have scored three goals within 55 seconds after allowing a goal by the opposing team.The first of Mark Mitera's two goals on Saturday was his first AHL tally.Nicolas Deschamps broke a four-game scoring draught with his two assists Sunday at Rochester.The Crunch have given up five power play goals over the last two games. With his 12 penalty minutes Saturday vs. Springfield, Jon Mirasty is now 10 penalty minutes away from tying Brandon Sugden for second on the Crunch's all-time list (754).

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American Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2010


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