AHL Syracuse Crunch

Week Twenty Six: Bonino Bolstering Offense

Published on April 5, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Crunch center Nick Bonino continues to impress as the season winds down. He appeared in all five games for the Crunch last week, tallying a team-leading seven points (2g, 5a) while helping his club to a 3-2-0-0 record. Bonino notched two assists and earned third star of the game honors on Wednesday in a 4-3 win at Toronto, and added three more helpers and was named the game's first star on Friday in a 6-4 win at home vs. Binghamton.

The native of Hartford, Connecticut then scored twice and was a plus-2 in a 5-3 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday. Over his last 10 games, the rookie center has recorded 14 points (4g, 10a) and is currently tied for third on the team in scoring with 42 points (12g, 30a) in 49 games. Originally selected by San Jose in the sixth round, 173rd overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, he was acquired by Anaheim along with Timo Pielmeier from the Sharks in exchange for Kent Huskins and Travis Moen on March 9, 2009.

ROOKIES ON THE RISE: Along with Nick Bonino, the Crunch are seeing many of their first-year players blossoming as the regular season approaches its final week. Recently-named Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month Kyle Palmieri is one of those players that keep getting better. Over his last 11 games, the Smithtown, NY native has recorded 16 points (13g, 3a), all scored during a nine-game point streak from March 18 - April 3. In addition, fellow AHL rookie Maxime Macenauer has picked up seven points (5g, 2a) over his last eight contests and registered a personal season-high four game point streak from March 23 - 28.

Left wing John Mitchell recorded six points (2g, 4a) in an eight-game span from March 19 - April 1 before missing the last two contests with an injury and Rick Schofield has impressed with five points (3g, 2a) in eight games since being signed by the Crunch to an amateur tryout contract. Overall, the Crunch have three (3) players currently among the top-scoring AHL rookies, including Palmieri (27g, 20a - 8th), Bonino (12g, 30a - 10th) and Nicolas Deschamps (13g, 27a - 15th). Palmieri leads all AHL rookies in goals (27) and shots (207).

UPCOMING GAMES:

NORFOLK ADMIRALS (TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING): The Crunch welcome the visiting Norfolk Admirals to town this week for a pair of home games on Thursday and Saturday. This will mark the final two games of the season series between the two clubs and will conclude the Crunch's home schedule for the 2010-11 season. The Crunch took three of the first four games between the two teams, but were shut out in the last two contests back on February 11 and 12 in Norfolk. Nicolas Deschamps leads all Crunch players with four points (2g, 2a), while the Admirals' Marc-Antoine Pouliot leads his club and all players in the season series with seven points (6g, 1a).

HERSHEY BEARS (WASHINGTON CAPITALS): The Crunch make the trek south to Central Pennsylvania to face the two-time defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey Bears in their final game of the 2010-11 season on Sunday, April 10. The Crunch have won the last two games against Hershey, both at Giant Center, the most recent victory coming just a few weeks ago on March 20. Patrick Maroon leads the Crunch in points against the Bears this year with six (2g, 4a) in five combined games with Syracuse and Adirondack, while Josh Green has picked up four points (1g, 3a) in the season series. For Hershey, Andrew Gordon leads his club and all players in the season series with nine points (3g, 6a), while Brian Willsie has notched six points (2g, 4a).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

LABATT'S CELEBRITY BARTENDING SERIES CONCLUDES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 AT DODESTER'S: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Labatt and Onondaga Beverage, announced that the Labatt's Celebrity Bartending series will conclude on Wednesday, April 6 at Dodester's. Crunch players Nigel Williams, Jake Newton and Timo Pielmeier will serve as celebrity bartenders at Dodester's from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. Dodester's is located at 120 St. Marks Ave. (at the very end of Fayette St. by Strathmore paints). For directions, call (315) 488-2411. Players are subject to change. All proceeds generated by the players that night will be donated to the Central New York Cat Coalition. CNYCC is an all-volunteer run organization whose objective is to help reduce the feral, stray cat overpopulation in CNY by non lethal means.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch's weekly schedule is as follows (practice locations and times subject to change):

Wednesday, April 6 Practice @ War Memorial - 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 7 Morning Skate @ War Memorial - 10:00 a.m.

Game vs. Norfolk - 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 8 Practice @ War Memorial - 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 9 Morning Skate @ War Memorial - 10:00 a.m.

Game vs. Norfolk - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 10 Game @ Hershey - 5:00 p.m.

CRUNCHABLES: The Crunch had their season-high five game win streak snapped Saturday and season-high five game home win streak snapped Sunday.Patrick Maroon has 17 points (5g, 12a) over his last 10 games.The Crunch are 12-5-0-0 over their last 17 games.The Crunch have 11 shorthanded goals, tied for the fourth-most in the AHL.Syracuse is also tied for first in the AHL in shorthanded goals against (4).The Crunch have the most wins of any AHL team when trailing after two periods (9).

###

Contact:

John Neenan, Public Relations Manager

(315) 473-4444 ext. 10

http-equivContent-Type>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bonino Bolstering Offense

Rookies on the Rise

Labatt's Celebrity Bartending Series Concludes April 6 at Dodester's

April 5, 2011

2010-11 RECORD: 32-38-3-4, 71 points, (18-16-2-2 home, 14-22-1-2 road), sixth place, East Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Thursday, April 7 vs. Norfolk (37-24-8-6, 88 points) third place, East Division

Saturday, April 9 vs. Norfolk (37-24-8-6, 88 points) third place, East Division

Sunday, April 10 @ Hershey (45-24-3-5, 98 points) second place, East Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, March 30 Crunch 4 TORONTO 3

Friday, April 1 CRUNCH 6 Binghamton 4

Saturday, April 2 ADIRONDACK 3 Crunch 0

Sunday, April 3 W-B/Scranton 5 CRUNCH 3

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

BONINO BOLSTERING OFFENSE: Crunch center Nick Bonino continues to impress as the season winds down. He appeared in all five games for the Crunch last week, tallying a team-leading seven points (2g, 5a) while helping his club to a 3-2-0-0 record. Bonino notched two assists and earned third star of the game honors on Wednesday in a 4-3 win at Toronto, and added three more helpers and was named the game's first star on Friday in a 6-4 win at home vs. Binghamton.

The native of Hartford, Connecticut then scored twice and was a plus-2 in a 5-3 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday. Over his last 10 games, the rookie center has recorded 14 points (4g, 10a) and is currently tied for third on the team in scoring with 42 points (12g, 30a) in 49 games. Originally selected by San Jose in the sixth round, 173rd overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, he was acquired by Anaheim along with Timo Pielmeier from the Sharks in exchange for Kent Huskins and Travis Moen on March 9, 2009.

ROOKIES ON THE RISE: Along with Nick Bonino, the Crunch are seeing many of their first-year players blossoming as the regular season approaches its final week. Recently-named Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month Kyle Palmieri is one of those players that keep getting better. Over his last 11 games, the Smithtown, NY native has recorded 16 points (13g, 3a), all scored during a nine-game point streak from March 18 - April 3. In addition, fellow AHL rookie Maxime Macenauer has picked up seven points (5g, 2a) over his last eight contests and registered a personal season-high four game point streak from March 23 - 28.

Left wing John Mitchell recorded six points (2g, 4a) in an eight-game span from March 19 - April 1 before missing the last two contests with an injury and Rick Schofield has impressed with five points (3g, 2a) in eight games since being signed by the Crunch to an amateur tryout contract. Overall, the Crunch have three (3) players currently among the top-scoring AHL rookies, including Palmieri (27g, 20a - 8th), Bonino (12g, 30a - 10th) and Nicolas Deschamps (13g, 27a - 15th). Palmieri leads all AHL rookies in goals (27) and shots (207).

UPCOMING GAMES:

NORFOLK ADMIRALS (TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING): The Crunch welcome the visiting Norfolk Admirals to town this week for a pair of home games on Thursday and Saturday. This will mark the final two games of the season series between the two clubs and will conclude the Crunch's home schedule for the 2010-11 season. The Crunch took three of the first four games between the two teams, but were shut out in the last two contests back on February 11 and 12 in Norfolk. Nicolas Deschamps leads all Crunch players with four points (2g, 2a), while the Admirals' Marc-Antoine Pouliot leads his club and all players in the season series with seven points (6g, 1a).

HERSHEY BEARS (WASHINGTON CAPITALS): The Crunch make the trek south to Central Pennsylvania to face the two-time defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey Bears in their final game of the 2010-11 season on Sunday, April 10. The Crunch have won the last two games against Hershey, both at Giant Center, the most recent victory coming just a few weeks ago on March 20. Patrick Maroon leads the Crunch in points against the Bears this year with six (2g, 4a) in five combined games with Syracuse and Adirondack, while Josh Green has picked up four points (1g, 3a) in the season series. For Hershey, Andrew Gordon leads his club and all players in the season series with nine points (3g, 6a), while Brian Willsie has notched six points (2g, 4a).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

LABATT'S CELEBRITY BARTENDING SERIES CONCLUDES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 AT DODESTER'S: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Labatt and Onondaga Beverage, announced that the Labatt's Celebrity Bartending series will conclude on Wednesday, April 6 at Dodester's. Crunch players Nigel Williams, Jake Newton and Timo Pielmeier will serve as celebrity bartenders at Dodester's from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. Dodester's is located at 120 St. Marks Ave. (at the very end of Fayette St. by Strathmore paints). For directions, call (315) 488-2411. Players are subject to change. All proceeds generated by the players that night will be donated to the Central New York Cat Coalition. CNYCC is an all-volunteer run organization whose objective is to help reduce the feral, stray cat overpopulation in CNY by non lethal means.

CRUNCHABLES: The Crunch had their season-high five game win streak snapped Saturday and season-high five game home win streak snapped Sunday...Patrick Maroon has 17 points (5g, 12a) over his last 10 games...The Crunch are 12-5-0-0 over their last 17 games...The Crunch have 11 shorthanded goals, tied for the fourth-most in the AHL...Syracuse is also tied for first in the AHL in shorthanded goals against (4)...The Crunch have the most wins of any AHL team when trailing after two periods (9).

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central