Worcester IceCats Weekly

Published on April 2, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


Wed., Apr. 3 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack - Worcester's Centrum Centre
IceCats vs. Hartford: IceCats Trail Series 2-4-1
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on NewsTalk 580 WTAG
The IceCats and Wolf Pack meet for the final time tomorrow night at the Centrum Centre. Hartford has a record of 39-24-10-3 and 91 points and currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind Conference leading Bridgeport. The Pack are 7-3 in their last 10 games...Their power play is ranked sixth overall at 18.3%, or 63 goals on 344 chances. Worcester is ranked third at 19.6%, or 72 goals in 368 chances...Hartford's penalty killing is ranked 20th in the 27 team AHL...Brad Smyth leads the Wolf Pack and is tied for the League lead with 80 points. He has 33 goals and 47 assists in 76 games. Worcester's Eric Boguniecki is just one point behind the leaders, playing in just 59 games.

Fri., Apr. 5 vs. Manchester Monarchs - Worcester's Centrum Centre
IceCats vs. Manchester: IceCats Lead Series 4-3
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on NewsTalk 580 WTAG
The IceCats sit just four points behind the Monarchs in the standings, have a game-in-hand and one final head-to-head match-up. The Monarchs are 36-27-11-3, 86 points, in 77 games. Manchester is 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, including a two game winning streak. Manchester has scored 17 shorthand goals & allowed 10, Worcester has scored 12 & allowed 8...Eric Healey is their leading scorer with 56 points, including 23 goals...They host the Springfield Falcons Wednesday night.

HOME-AND-HOME SERIES
Sat., Apr. 6 @ Portland Pirates - Portland, Maine AND
Sun., Apr. 7 vs. Portland Pirates - Worcester's Centrum Centre
IceCats vs. Portland: IceCats Trail Series 2-4
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on NewsTalk 580 WTAG
The regular season comes to a close with two pivotal games against Division foe, Portland on Saturday and Sunday. Portland is in Quebec on Wednesday night and faces must win situations for their last four games. A loss or a win by either St. John's or Providence tomorrow will eliminate the Pirates from playoff contention. These two games are important for Worcester, as they could possibly secure a fifth or sixth seed, thus avoiding the three game qualifying round.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Worcester & Neighboring Communities

ICECATS PLAYER APPEARANCES

There are no scheduled IceCats player appearances during the final week of the regular season.

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. SCRATCH will be appearing THIS SATURDAY! SCRATCH will also be appearing at the new Multimedia Clubhouse in the food court of the Worcester Common Outlets on Thursday, April 4th from 5-6 PM.

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:

* The IceCats will make their seventh straight appearance in the post-season, only failing to qualify in their first year of play, 1994-95.

* Forward Eric Boguniecki was named a 2002 First Team AHL All-Star and defenseman Barret Jackman was named to the 2002 AHL All-Rookie Team.

* Justin Papineau and Eric Boguniecki lead the American Hockey League with 37 goals. They have also established a new IceCats franchise record for most goals in a season, surpassing Fred Knipscheer's record that was set during the 1995-96 season.

* Forward Marc Brown 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 79 points, already holding the record for most assists, 42. 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 18 consecutive starts between the Worcester pipes. He earned his third shutout of the season with a 5-0 win over Providence on Saturday.

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

LOOKING BACK AT WEEK 26: 2 WINS, 1 TIE

5-2 WIN - Thurs., Mar. 28 @ Springfield Falcons - Springfield, MA
ATT: 4,738
GOALS: WOR: Marc Brown, Ed Campbell, Daniel Tkaczuk, Justin Papineau, Barret Jackman SPR: Abid, Trudel
NOTES: Thursday night at the Springfield Civic Center, the IceCats left with a 5-2 victory. Justin Papineau set a new IceCats franchise record for most goals in a single season with his League leading 37th of the season. Recently named 2001-2002 AHL All-Rookie Team member, Barret Jackman also tallied for Worcester. Ed Campbell, Marc Brown and Daniel Tkaczuk rounded out the scoring for the 'Cats. Thursday night also saw the return of Eric Boguniecki, Eric Nickulas and Joe Hulbig to the 'Cats lineup. Hulbig pitched-in with two assists and was named the number one star of the game.

3-3 TIE - Fri., Mar. 29 vs. Lowell Lock Monsters - Worcester's Centrum Centre
ATT: 6,866
GOALS: WOR: Eric Boguniecki, Darren Rumble, Jame Pollock LOW: Zigomanis, Heerema, Aucoin
NOTES: Friday night at the Centrum Centre, the Worcester IceCats and the Lowell Lock Monsters skated to a 3-3 tie. Forward Justin Papineau recorded two assists and Eric Boguniecki registered his 35th goal of the season. Jame Pollock and Darren Rumble picked up the other two goals for the IceCats.

5-0 WIN - Sat., Mar. 30 vs. Providence Bruins - Worcester's Centrum Centre
ATT: 7,626
GOALS: WOR: 2 Eric Boguniecki, 2 Jeff Panzer, Marc Brown PROV: -NONE-
NOTES: Saturday at Worcester's Centrum Centre, the IceCats clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season, failing to qualify in only their first season of existence, 1994-1995. Eric Boguniecki and Jeff Panzer tallied two goals for Worcester in a 5-0 drubbing of the Providence Bruins. Panzer's first goal was his 3rd shorthand marker of the season and his second tied a rookie record for most goals at 24, tying him with Mark Rycroft (2000-2001) and Stephane Roy (1995-1996). Winger Marc Brown scored his 30th of the season and Darren Rumble and Jame Pollock both picked-up two assists. Goaltender Reinhard Divis earned his 3rd shutout of the season, stopping all 28 shots, including all seven Providence power plays.

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



American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2002


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