Worcester IceCats Weekly

March 26, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


'SCRATCH'-ING AHEAD:

Thurs., Mar. 28 @ Springfield Falcons - Springfield Civic Center
IceCats vs. Springfield: IceCats Lead Series 5-2
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on NewsTalk 580 WTAG
The IceCats and Springfield Falcons meet for the eighth and final time during the regular season on Thursday. The IceCats are 5-2 against their Western Mass foes this season. The last meeting saw the IceCats lose 2-1, with Steve Halko scoring the only goal for Worcester. Springfield has compiled a record of 33-38-1-2 and 69 points through 74 games and is currently seven points out of the playoffs. Twenty-two of their 33 wins have come on home ice. Jean-Guy Trudel leads the Falcons with 66 points, with 45 coming via the assist. Eric Boguniecki leads the IceCats versus Springfield. He has four goals and five assists in the six games.

Fri., Mar. 29 vs. Lowell Lock Monsters - Worcester's Centrum Centre
IceCats vs. Lowell: IceCats Lead Series 4-2-1
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on NewsTalk 580 WTAG
Friday marks the final meeting of the season between these two intra-state rivals. Worcester leads the season series, 4-2-1. The IceCats lost the last meeting, 5-3 on March 23rd in Lowell. Andrei Troschinsky and Justin Papineau both had one goal and one assist for Worcester. The Lock Monsters are the only team in the North Division to have clinched a playoff spot. They have a record of 38-23-10-3, 89 points, in 74 games. Lowell is 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Jeff Heerema leads the charge for Lowell. He has 31 goals and 32 assists in 70 games.

Sat., Mar. 30 vs. Providence Bruins - Worcester's Centrum Centre
IceCats vs. Providence: IceCats Trail Series 3-5-1
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on NewsTalk 580 WTAG
The regular season match-ups between the Bruins and IceCats come to a close on Saturday when Worcester hosts the Providence Bruins. The Bruins currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 78 points, one ahead of Worcester. They lost their last game, 4-0 to the Springfield Falcons on Sunday. Center Andy Hilbert is pacing the team with 51 points, including 24 goals. The former University of Michigan product also has nine power play tallies. They host Lowell tomorrow night.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Worcester & Neighboring Communities

ICECATS PLAYER APPEARANCES

Several IceCats players, including Captain ED CAMPBELL will be appearing at the UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester TOMORROW (Wednesday, March 27th) around 2 PM handing out bags of candy and IceCats goodies to the children. SCRATCH will also accompany the players on this appearance.

SCRATCH

The IceCats All-Star Mascot, SCRATCH, makes his monthly appearance at Rotmans on the first Saturday of each month to promote the IceCats/Rotmans Reading is Rewarding program between 10 AM and 11 AM.

If any member of the media is looking to speak with IceCats players or coaching staff, please contact Mike Thornton or Dave Garabedian at 508-798-5400.

'CAT TAILS:

* Center Justin Papineau leads the American Hockey League with 36 goals. He has also equaled an IceCats franchise record for most goals in a season, tying Fred Knipscheer's record that was established during the 1995-96 season.

* Forward Marc Brown has set a new franchise record for most power play goals in a single season. His 14 power play goals surpassed current IceCat Mark Rycroft and current St. Louis Blues forward Daniel Corso. Both established the mark during the 2000-2001 season.

* Eric Boguniecki has established himself as the IceCats individual season record holder for most points by a Worcester player with 75 points, already holding the record for most assists, 41. Fred Knipscheer previously held the record with 37 assists and 73 points during the 1995-96 season.

* Goaltender Reinhard Divis has set a franchise record for 15 consecutive starts between the Worcester pipes.

* Worcester boasts two of the AHL's top scorers in Eric Boguniecki and Justin Papineau.

* The IceCats earned $12,000 for the 'Learn to Swim Program' at Worcester City Pools during their St. Patrick's Day Charity Jersey Auction.

LOOKING BACK AT WEEK 25: 2 LOSSES

5-3 LOSS - Sat., Mar. 23 @ Lowell Lock Monsters - Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA
ATT: 6,220
GOALS: WOR: Jame Pollock, Justin Papineau, Andrei Troschinsky LOW: 2 Church, Heerema, Drury, Svoboda
NOTES: Saturday night at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, the Worcester IceCats fell to the Lowell Lock Monsters, 5-3. Goaltender Reinhard Divis established a new IceCats franchise record for most consecutive starts with 14. Centers Justin Papineau and Andrei Troschinsky both notched one goal and one assist. Defenseman Barret Jackman added two assists, his first multi-point game as a pro.

5-3 LOSS - Sun., Mar. 24 @ Hartford Wolf Pack - Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
ATT: 6,585
GOALS: WOR: Steve Halko, Darren Rumble, Justin Papineau HAR: Smyth, Lundmark, Kane, Fata, Hollweg
NOTES: The Worcester IceCats lost 5-3 to the Wolf Pack Sunday afternoon in Hartford. AHL All-Star Justin Papineau recorded one goal and one assist, while Marc Brown pitched in with two helpers. Papineau's tally was his League leading 36th of the season.



American Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2002


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