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Worcester Sharks Down to Final 7 - Worcester Sharks Weekly

April 3, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Worcester Sharks have 7 games left and are nine points out of a playoff spot in Eastern Conference

Shark Snap Shot:

The Worcester Sharks chomped zero out of a possible eight points in four games last week. The Sharks began the week with a 5-4 loss in Bridgeport on Tuesday to close out a three game road trip 0-3-0-0. The Sharks began a four game home stand on Friday with a 5-3 loss to the Pirates followed by a 4-0 loss to the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday. Worcester concluded their "3-in-3" home weekend with a 3-2 loss to the Falcons at the DCU Center on Sunday and enter the week on a six game skid (0-6-0-0).

The Worcester Sharks player of the week nominee is rookie defenseman Sena Acolatse. Sena broke a personal 46 game goalless drought with a pair of goals in Bridgeport on Tuesday followed by his 5th goal of the season vs. the Pirates on Friday. In four games last week; Acolatse scored three goals, fired nine shots, and had ten penalty minutes to lead the way for Worcester.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Sharks would be on the outside looking in. Worcester is currently in 14th place in the Eastern Conference (67pts in 69gp); nine points behind the 8th place Manchester Monarchs (76pts in 71gp) with two games in hand.

Few things to know....

* The Sharks (69gp) currently sit in 5th place in the Atlantic Division, 21 points behind the first place St. John's IceCaps (69gp), nine points behind the 2nd place Monarchs (71gp), six points behind the 3rd place Pirates (70gp), and four points behind the 4th place Bruins (71gp).

* The Sharks currently have 7 games remaining (4 home, 3 away) in their regular season schedule and hold the 14th spot in the Eastern Conference.

* The Worcester Sharks lead the AHL with 117 fighting majors and 21.79 penalty minutes per game through 69 games shattering the franchise record of 81 fighting majors set last season. Catch a cool YOUTUBE video HERE of the Sharks in action!

* Defenseman Nick Petrecki was named the Worcester Sharks AHL Man of the Year for his work in the central Massachusetts community. Click HERE for the full details.

* Defenseman Matt Tennyson is expected to make his professional debut for the Worcester Sharks this week and will wear #5. Click HERE for more info on Tennyson.

* Tough guy Jimmy Bonneau is one fight away from tying Frazer McLaren's team record of 21 fighting majors (2008-09) in a season.

* "The Sheriff" Frazer McLaren is now the Worcester Sharks all-time penalty minute leader after his fighting major in the first period on March 21 in Albany vs. Myles Stoesz. Frazer now has 486 penalty minutes in 187gp with Worcester surpassing Brad Staubitz's 462 penalty minutes in 162gp.

* Andover, MA native and BU alum, John McCarthy leads the Worcester Sharks with 45 points (19-26-45) in 58 games this season.

* The Sharks hosted the MSCHA All-Star Game on Sunday with Team North defeating Team South 4-2 before the Sharks game on April 1.

Top 3... Last Week!

1. Sena Acolatse scored twice in the Sharks 5-4 loss in Bridgeport on Tuesday!

2. John McCarthy extended his point streak to six games with a goal and an assist in Bridgeport on Tuesday!

3. Matt Irwin scored his 20th goal as a member of the Worcester Sharks in a 5-3 loss to the Pirates on Friday!

Last Week: (0-4-0-0) 0pts, 4gp

Tue., 3/27 L Worcester SHARKS 4 @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5

Fri., 3/30 L Portland Pirates 5 @ Worcester SHARKS 3

Sat. 3/31 L Manchester Monarchs 4 @ Worcester SHARKS 0

Sun. 4/1 L Springfield Falcons 3 @ Worcester SHARKS 2

This week:

Tue., 4/4 Albany Devils @ Worcester SHARKS - 7pm

Fri., 4/6 Worcester SHARKS @ Providence Bruins - 7:05pm

Sat. 4/7 Worcester SHARKS @ Portland Pirates - 7pm

Rewind the Tape:

3.27.12 - Worcester 4 - Bridgeport 5 - L - Webster Bank Arena

Sena Acolatse broke a personal 46 game goalless drought and scored two goals for Worcester but the Sharks allowed the final four goals in the game and lost 5-4 to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Webster Bank Arena on Tuesday night. John McCarthy extended his point streak to six games (4-4-8) with his team leading 19th goal and added an assist while Tim Kennedy added a goal and an assist in the tough loss.

3.30.12 - Worcester 3 - Portland 5 - L - DCU Center

The Sharks broke out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period but could not hold on and dropped their 4th straight game in a 5-3 loss to the Portland Pirates at the DCU Center on Friday night. Brodie Reid, Matt Irwin, and Sena Acolatse scored goals for the Sharks and Tony Lucia added two assists while Harri Sateri made 31 saves in the loss for Worcester.

3.31.12 - Worcester 0 - Manchester 4 - L - DCU Center

The Sharks dropped their season high 5th straight game and fell eight points behind the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after a 4-0 loss to the Manchester Monarchs at the DCU Center on Saturday night. Martin Jones made 28 saves for his first shutout of the season for the Monarchs as the two teams combined for 82 penalty minutes and three sets of fighting majors. With the loss, the Sharks dropped below .500 for the first time all season.

4.1.12 - Worcester 2 - Springfield 3 - L - DCU Center

The Sharks charged out to an early 2-0 lead but dropped their season high 6th straight game and fell nine points behind the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after a 3-2 loss to the Springfield Falcons at the DCU Center on Sunday afternoon. Rookies Brodie Reid and Sebastian Stalberg scored for Worcester and Harri Sateri was sharp with 29 saves on net as the two teams combined for 80 penalty minutes and three game misconducts. With the loss, the Sharks dropped two games below .500 for the first time all season.

Sharks in the Atlantic: The Sharks are swimming in 5th place with 67 points (28-30-4-7) in the Atlantic Division through 69 games, which is 21 points behind the first place St. John's IceCaps (69gp), nine points behind the 2nd place Manchester Monarchs (71gp), six points behind the 3rd place Portland Pirates (70gp) and four points behind the 5th place Bruins (71pts in 71gp), to round out a very choppy Atlantic Division.

Coaching Milestones....

*400 WINS!....With the 4-1 victory vs. Springfield on November 1, 2009, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 400 win plateau.

*1000 GAMES... With the 3-1 victory at Springfield on January 14, 2011, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 1,000 games plateau.

*500 WINS!.... With a 3-2 shootout victory in Hershey on February 11, 2012, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4th coach in AHL history to reach the 500 win plateau.

AHL COACHING WINS - ALL-TIME

1. Fred "Bun" Cook 1937-56 19seasons 1,171GP 636 WINS

2. Frank Mathers 1956-85 18seasons 1,256GP 610 WINS

3. John Paddock 1981-2010 16seasons 1,125GP 589 WINS

4. Roy Sommer 1998-current 14seasons 1,109GP 506 WINS

*Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer, who plays a major role in developing players for the San Jose Sharks, is currently the longest-tenured coach (14th season) in the American Hockey League. His current regular season record is now: 506-463 -49 -47-44. (W-L-T-OTL-SOL)

*In Coach Sommer's first AHL victory.... The Kentucky Thoroughblades defeated the Albany River Rats 6-4 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on October 17th 1998. Coincidentally, Assistant Coach David Cunniff recorded an assist as a member of the River Rats in the hockey game.

*Assistant Coach David Cunniff has joined Coach Sommer in 352 of the 506 victories (70%).

*ECHL... Coach Sommer also has 176 wins in the ECHL coaching in five seasons with Roanoke Valley and Richmond.

Shark Bites:

*Captains for the 2011-12 season: Mike Moore was named the Sharks 4th captain in team history on Feb 11, 2011 and was named captain again before the start of the 2011-12 season. Alternate captains for this season: veteran forward Ben Guite and forward John McCarthy. Tommy Wingels, Jimmy Bonneau, Benn Ferriero, Brandon Mashinter, Mike Connolly, Matt Pelech, and Andrew Murray have also worn the "A" this season.

*From east to west..... The Worcester Sharks have had 8 players (11 call-ups) receive at least one call up this season to San Jose... Currently; James Sheppard, Tommy Wingels, Benn Ferriero, Andrew Desjardins, Justin Braun, Jamie McGinn, Logan Couture, Jason Demers, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edourd Vlasic, and Doug Murray are all former Worcester Sharks that are currently playing with the San Jose Sharks.

*All-Stars... Defenseman Matt Irwin and rookie netminder Tyson Sexsmith represented the Worcester Sharks at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City on Jan 29-30.

All-Star Selections for Worcester through the years:

2007 - Mathieu Darche

2008 - Mike Iggulden

2009 - Derek Joslin and Ryan Vesce

2010 - Logan Couture, Danny Groulx, and Alex Stalock

2011 - Jonathan Cheechoo and Justin Braun

*AWARDS...Tommy Wingels was selected as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 18, 2011. In four games last week Wingels recorded four goals, two assists and a plus-6 rating as the Sharks closed out a seven-game road swing having earned 11 of a possible 14 standings points. Wingels recorded 10 points (seven goals, three assists), including four game-winning goals, and a plus-11 rating during the Sharks' seven-game road stretch from Dec. 4-18, helping Worcester to a 5-1-0-1 mark in that time.

*Tommy Wingels take 2... Tommy Wingels became just the third Worcester Sharks player in franchise history to record 10 goals in a month (joining Mathieu Darche and Graham Mink). Tommy finished the month of December with 10 goals, three assists, and +5 in 14 games. Wingels recorded four game winning goals in the month of December and fired 53 shots on goal. Tommy was rewarded with a NHL call up to San Jose on Jan 4 and scored his first NHL goal on Jan 15 at Chicago.

*Tommy Wingels Take 3... The San Jose chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association announced today that San Jose Sharks forward Tommy Wingels has been selected as its 2012 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Masterton Trophy is awarded each season under the trusteeship of the PHWA to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Wingels has helped promote and support the You Can Play Project, a project that is the legacy of Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke's late son Brendan. Brendan's commitment to create an environment where all athletes are accepted regardless of sexual orientation is the driving force behind the You Can Play. Wingels is one of two NHL players who have provided financial support to get the project under way and sit on its advisory board. More than three dozen other players have signed up to give their support since its launch.

*Breaking down March.... The Sharks finished 4-9-0-1 (9pts in 14gp) in March with 40 GF and 51 GA. PP went 7-for-50 (14.0%), opponents PP went 17-for-67 (25.3%), and Worcester had 22 fighting majors in the month of March.

*Breaking down April... The Sharks are 0-1-0-0 (0pts in 1gp) in April with 2 GF and 3 GA. PP is 1-5 (20%), opponents PP went 1-for-5 (20%), and the Sharks have one fighting major this month.

*Breaking down the last 7... Worcester has 7 games remaining (4 home, 3 away) this season. Opponents: Albany, @ Providence, @ Portland, Manchester, St. John's, @ Adirondack, and Hershey.

*Experience up front... forward Andrew Murray joined the Worcester Sharks on Feb 7 after skating in 39 games with the San Jose Sharks (1-3-4) this season. The 30-year-old native of Selkirk, Manitoba has skated in 220 NHL games in his career (24-16-40) with Columbus and San Jose. He has three 10+ goal seasons with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. Murray scored his first goal with the Worcester Sharks on Feb 12 and has three points (2-1-3) in nine games with Worcester. Murray returned to the lineup on March 25 after missing 12 games due to injury.

*TRADE!... The San Jose Sharks traded Worcester Sharks defenseman Sean Sullivan to Florida in exchange for center Tim Kennedy on Jan 26. Sullivan had suited up in 105 Worcester Sharks games and compiled 59 points (17-42-59) and 53 penalty minutes. Kennedy brings 112 NHL games of experience, was a National Champion with Michigan State in 2007, and was on the AHL All Rookie Team in 2008-09 with the Portland Pirates. Tim has 25 points (8-17-25) in 24gp with Worcester.

*TRADE 2!... The San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche agreed to a trade on Feb 27 sending Jamie McGinn, Mike Connolly, and Michael Sgarbossa to Colorado in exchange for Daniel Winnik, T.J. Galiardi and a 7th round pick.

*Loaned!... Worcester Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock was loaned to the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) on March 3. Stalock posted a 1-1-0 record with a 2.51 GAA and a .909 save % with Worcester this season. The 24-year-old native of South St. Paul, MN had a 5-1-0 record in six starts for the Stockton Thunder along with a 2.83GAA and a .914 save percentage before his call up to Worcester on Feb 13. The Worcester Sharks Team MVP during the 2009-10 season, Stalock has compiled a 59-37-6 all-time record with the Worcester Sharks and a 1-0-0 career record with the San Jose Sharks. Before his 2-1 victory over the Springfield Falcons on Feb 19, 2012, Stalock had not played a game with Worcester since a season ending injury on Feb 4, 2011 vs. the Manchester Monarchs. Alex Stalock was named to the 2009-10 AHL-All Rookie Team and an AHL All-Star in 2010 with Worcester. The Sharks currently has All-Star Tyson Sexsmith and rookie Harri Sateri on their roster as the Sharks continue to battle for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Stalock is 2-0-0 with Peoria.

*First Half... the Sharks finished the first half of the season after a 3-2 loss in Providence on Jan 22. Worcester went 19-12-3-4 with 45 points in 38gp for a .592 win percentage; the 2nd best first half record in franchise history. Worcester had a .639 win percentage with 51pts in 40gp in 2009-10, the year they won the Atlantic Division.

*1 Goal Games... 16 of the last 33 games for Worcester have been decided by a single goal. The Sharks are 13-10-4-7 overall in 1 goal games this season.

*Score 4.... The Sharks were a perfect 16-0-0-0 when scoring at least four goals in a game before dropping two such games in a 6-5 decision in Albany on March 21 and a 5-4 loss in Bridgeport on March 27.

*OT? The Worcester Sharks are 10th in the AHL with 17 games (26.1%) that have gone into overtime. The Sharks are 4-4 in OT and 2-7 in the shootout. The Sharks have the 3rd lowest win percentage in games that end in overtime or the shootout (.353%). Currently, the Sharks have gone 13 straight games without heading into overtime; the longest such streak this season.

*Nice Crowd... the Worcester Sharks had their 2nd biggest crowd in franchise history on Jan 21, 2012 in a 3-2 overtime win over Bruins at the DCU Center. The Sharks welcomed 8,840 fans through the gates in the exciting win. The Sharks have had 12 crowds over 5,000 fans this season, including another sellout crowd (7,787) on March 16.

*Huge Crowd... the Worcester Sharks welcomed a franchise record 10,170 fans at the DCU Center on Feb 24 for the GRONK PUCK SPIKE.

*Worcester/Manchester Rivalry... the Sharks and Monarchs have already slugged it out through 11 of 12 games this season. The two teams have combined for 547 penalty minutes in the 11 games (265WOR, 282 MCH) and 25 sets of fighting major penalties. Worcester is 2-6-2-1 vs. Manchester this season with the final meeting coming in Worcester on April 10.

*Road Warriors... the Sharks have taken a point in 22-of-35 road games this season (13-13-4-5) and finished with a 5-1-0-1 record on their season long seven game road trip. (12/4-12/18/11)

*Streakers!.... the Sharks have dropped six straight games (0-6-0-0).... The Sharks have a fighting major in three straight games (5 FM).

*Leaders among us... Jimmy Bonneau is 5th in the AHL with 20 fighting majors...Curt Gogol is 1st among AHL rookies with 159 penalty minutes and 1st with 19 fighting majors...Nathan Moon is 2nd among rookies with 149 penalty minutes and 3rd with 11 fighting majors...Tyson Sexsmith is 9th in the AHL with a 2.33 GAA... Matt Irwin is 9th with 39 points (10-29-39), 1st in power play goals with 8, and 2nd in shots with 187... Matt Pelech is 3rd among AHL defensemen with 16 fighting majors.

*Penalty Shots.... Sean Sullivan scored a rare penalty shot shorthanded goal by a defenseman vs. Mike McKenna in the 2nd period in a 5-2W at Binghamton on Dec 17. Worcester is now 3-for-8 in franchise history on penalty shots.

*PP Specialist...Matt Irwin's eight power-play goals have put him in good position to set some team records, but he is not there yet. The record for most power-play goals in a season by a Sharks defenseman is nine, done by Garrett Stafford in 2006-07. The career record is 16, done by Derek Joslin. Irwin had six last year, so has 14 for his career.

*Tallest Shark.... Worcester Sharks rookie defenseman Taylor Doherty is the tallest player in team history standing at 6'7" 230lbs. Taylor has added four fighting majors. Doherty recorded his first professional point (assist) in his 37th pro game in Manchester on Jan 28.

*Score first... the Sharks have scored FIRST 31 times in 69 games this season (19-7-2-3); Curt Gogol 3,Benn Ferriero 4, Nathan Moon 2, Mike Moore 2, Tommy Wingels 1, John McCarthy 3, Matt Irwin 1, Sena Acolatse 2, Tony Lucia 1, Brodie Reid 3, Brandon Mashinter 3, Jack Combs 3, Mike Connolly 1, Jimmy Bonneau 1, and Andrew Murray 1.

*First Pro Goals this season... Curt Gogol (Oct 9 @ PRO vs. Khudobin), James Livingston (Oct15 vs. ALB vs. Frazee), Mike Connolly (Oct15 vs. ALB vs. Frazee), Nathan Moon (Oct 21 @ PRO vs. Khudobin), Sena Acolatse (Nov 1 vs. STJ vs. Pasquale), Brodie Reid (Nov 5 vs. STJ vs. Pasquale), Marek Viedensky (Dec 11 at STJ vs. empty net), and Sebastian Stalberg (Mar 18 vs. BRI vs. Poulin).

*100 AHL goals.... Veteran Ben Guite scored his first goal as a member of the Worcester Sharks in a 6-1 win over the Devils on October 15. The goal turned out to be his 100th AHL goal in his career. Ben also has 19 NHL goals in 175 career NHL games.

*Great first impression... Sebastian Stalberg became just the 6th Sharks player to score in his professional debut joining Joe Pavelski, Nate Raduns, Tony Lucia, Cam MacIntyre, and Curt Gogol (Thanks Bill Ballou, Worcester TG)

*Sharks in the Atlantic... Worcester is 14-19-3-4 in the Atlantic Division this season.

*Good when leading... the Sharks are 15-6-1-1 when leading after the 1st period of play and 15-4-0-2 when leading after the 2nd period of play this season.

*Leads tough to come by... The Sharks have had the lead just 21 times in 69 games heading into the third period. The 2nd fewest in the AHL.

*Tied after 2 periods.... The Sharks have been tied 22 times in 69 games heading into the third period, the most in the AHL. Worcester is 11-6-2-3 in those games. (11 wins tied for most in AHL).

*5 National Champions... The Sharks have five players that have won the NCAA Division 1 Championship.... John McCarthy was co-captain for Boston University in 2009, Benn Ferriero and Nick Petrecki with Boston College in 2008, Tim Kennedy with Michigan State University in 2007, and Ben Guite with Maine in 1999.

*These Sharks have teeth!.... Worcester is 1st in the AHL in penalty minutes averaging 21.74 penalty minutes per game and are 1st with 117 fighting major penalties. Manchester is 2nd with 81 fighting majors.

*100 club... The Worcester Sharks are the only team in the AHL with four players with over 100 penalty minutes this season. Curt Gogol (159), Nathan Moon (149), Jimmy Bonneau (146), and Matt Pelech (149) have all hit the century mark already this season for Worcester.

*2 Men Down.... John McCarthy became just the 2nd Worcester Sharks player to score a shorthanded goal while the Sharks were two men down. "JMac" scored at 8:32 of the first period in a 3-2 win over Bridgeport on Nov 11. Steve Zalewski had the other 3-on-5 score in Houston on 11/22/08.

*200/300... Worcester Sharks captain Mike Moore became just the 2nd player in Sharks history to hit 200 games and 300 penalty minutes this season joining Riley Armstrong. #8 has played in 246 games for Worcester accumulating 358 penalty minutes... Moore surpassed Lukas Kaspar on Jan 15 for the most games played by a Worcester Sharks player with 217.

*Sherriff McLaren... Sharks tough guy Frazer McLaren was assigned back to Worcester on Jan 22 from San Jose. #10 ranks 1st all-time in Worcester Sharks history with 486 penalty minutes (47 FM) in 187 games. Brad Staubitz had 462 pims in 162 games.

*Massachusetts!... the Sharks have three players born from Massachusetts (John McCarthy - Andover, Benn Ferriero - Essex, and Brian O'Hanley - Quincy) In addition, assistant coach David Cunniff hails from South Boston.

*Hockey East Alumni!... the Worcester Sharks have nine players from Hockey East Schools (Irwin and Braun - UMass-Amherst, Ferriero - BC, McCarthy - BU, Reid - NU, O'Hanley - BC, Guite - UMaine, Petrecki - BC, Stalberg - Vermont)

*Young Guns... the Sharks have dressed 17 rookies already this season. (Curt Gogol, Nathan Moon, Brodie Reid, James Livingston, Mike Connolly, Taylor Doherty, Tyson Sexsmith, Harri Sateri, Sena Acolatse, Tony Lucia, Marek Viedensky, Brian O'Hanley, Jack Combs, Chad Costello, Ian O'Connor, Sebastian Stalberg, and Thomas Heemskerk)

*Great Start to the Weekend.... The Sharks are 9-5-2-2 on Friday nights this season.... A perfect way to kick off the weekend!

*Super Sunday... the Sharks went 14-4-0-2 on Sunday afternoon games in 2010-11 and are 8-5-0-3 on Sundays this season.

*I'll take a draft... Nine Worcester Sharks players were drafted by the San Jose Sharks. (Braun, Doherty, Lucia, McCarthy, O'Hanley, Petrecki, Sateri, Sexsmith, and Viedensky,)

*NHL Experience.... The Sharks have eight players with NHL experience totaling 622 games led by veteran Andrew Murray with 220... breakdown of the rest... Ben Guite 175, Tim Kennedy 112, John McCarthy 51, Frazer McLaren 39, Mike Moore 6, Matt Pelech 5, Brandon Mashinter 13.

*2 Gordie Howe Hattricks.... Worcester Sharks winger Brandon Mashinter recorded a Gordie Howe Hattrick in the Sharks 4-3W vs. the Whale at the DCU Center on Dec 30th. Mash recorded an assist on Tony Lucia's goal at 5:20 of first period, fighting major vs. Jared Nightingale at 19:54 of the second period, and the game winning goal at 17:04 of the third period. It was the first time a Sharks player had recorded a Gordie Howe Hattrick since Mash did it vs. Lowell on Nov 11, 2009... Mash followed up with another on Feb 4 at St. John's with a fighting major vs. Garth Murray at 18:36 of the first period, an assist on Mike Connolly's goal at 6:15 of the third period, and a empty net goal at 19:54 of the 3rd period. Mash is 2nd on the team with 16 goals.

*10/10.... Worcester Sharks rookie forward Nathan Moon became just the third player in Worcester Sharks history to record at least 10 goals and 10 fights in a season joining Brandon Mashinter (twice) and Dennis McCauley. Moon has 11 goals and 11 fighting majors with 7 games to go this season.

*Like Father, Like Son... Rookie Curt Gogol is 1st on the Sharks with 159 penalty minutes and 2nd with 19 fighting majors through 48 games... his father Brent racked up 892 penalty minutes in 157 professional games in the IHL, CHL, EHL, and the AHL including 380 pims in 1978-79 in 57 games with the Flint Generals.

*Major Bonneau... Worcester Sharks tough guy Jimmy Bonneau has racked up 20 fighting majors in 51 games this season for the Sharks. Bonneau is one fight away from tying Frazer McLaren for the most fighting majors in one season (21 in 2008-09). Jimmy has 90 fighting majors in 238 AHL games along with 699 penalty minutes.

*Acolatse can throw... Worcester Sharks rookie defenseman Sena Acolatse has been quite impressive in his first seven professional hockey fights this season. The 5-11, 205 pounder and native of Hayward, CA native has fought Richard Clune, Brett Hextall, Dane Byers, Stephane Veilleux, Andre Deveaux, J.D. Watt, and Garth Murray so far this season. Sena led the Prince George Cougars in WHL with 15 fighting majors in 66 games last year, and also added 15 goals.

*Worcester record... the Sharks are on pace to surpass the Worcester IceCats team record of 126 fighting majors in 1997-98. A few players from the 97-98 squad include Terry Virtue, Jamal Mayers, Justin Hocking, Tyler Willis, and Reed Low.

*Five for fighting...The Sharks have 117 fighting majors this season (franchise record) good for 1st in the AHL... 18 different players dropped the mitts this season for the Sharks this season: (Jimmy Bonneau 20, Curt Gogol 19, Nick Petrecki 3, Cam MacIntyre 5, Nathan Moon 11, Brandon Mashinter 7, Mike Moore 6, Frazer McLaren 7, Sena Acolatse 7, Taylor Doherty 4, Matt Pelech 16, Tommy Wingels 2, Ryan Del Monte 3, James Livingston 3, John McCarthy 1, Sean Sullivan 1, Tony Lucia 1, and Brodie Reid 1)... The Sharks had 81 fighting majors last season, 73 fighting majors in 2009-10, 78 fighting majors in 2008-09, 68 fighting majors in 2007-08 and 54 in 2006-07.

Season by the numbers...

Record: 28-30-4-7, 67 points - 5th in Atlantic

Win percentage: .486% - 22nd in AHL

Home Record: 15-17-0-2

Away Record: 13-13-4-5

Attendance: 153,868 through 34 games at DCU Center 4,526 average) - 24th in AHL

Goals Scored: 183, 2.65 goals per game, 24th in AHL

Goals Allowed: 200, 2.82 goals against per game, 16th in AHL

Shots per game: 32.99 - 3rd in AHL

Shots allowed per game: 29.57 - 10th in AHL

Score 1st: 19-7-2-3 when scoring first (.694%)

1 goal games: 13-10-4-7 in one goal games

PP: 17.2%, 16th in AHL (50-290)

PK: 82.0%, 17th in AHL (55-305)

SHG - 4 shorthanded goals scored

SHGA - 8 shorthanded goals allowed

PIMS - 21.74 penalty minutes per game, 1st in AHL

Fighting Majors: 117 - 1st in AHL (franchise record)

OT Games - 17 - (4-4 record in OT)

SO Games - 9 - (2-7 record in SO)

Roster Players - the Sharks have used 38 players this season

Goalies - the Sharks have used 5 goaltenders this season

Players receiving call-ups to San Jose - 9 (Sheppard, Sexsmith, Braun, Ferriero, McLaren, Irwin, Niittymaki, Wingels, McCarthy)

NHL debuts - 0 Worcester players made their NHL debuts this season

Call-ups to San Jose - 11 different call-ups to San Jose this season

Coming and goings from the Shark Tank: 04/01/2012

Matt Tennyson (D)

Worcester

ADD Signed to ATO

03/29/2012

Thomas Heemskerk (G)

Worcester

ADD Reassigned by San Jose (NHL) from Stockton (ECHL)

03/26/2012

Thomas Heemskerk (G)

Worcester

DEL Reassigned by San Jose (NHL) to Stockton (ECHL)

Top Worcester Sharks:

o Goals McCarthy (19)

o Game Winners Wingels (4) - currently in San Jose

o Assists Irwin (29)

o Points McCarthy (19-26-45)

o Power play Points Irwin (8-14-22)

o Shots Irwin (187 shots)

o PIM Gogol (159)

o Fighting Pen. Bonneau (20)

o Plus/Minus McCarthy (+8)

o Wins Sexsmith (13)

o G.A.A. Sexsmith (2.33)

o Save % Sexsmith (.916)

o Shutouts Sateri (2)

Sharks in the Pacific:

The San Jose Sharks are 40-29-10 with 90 points with three games remaining in the regular season and currently in 8th place in the Western Conference; just one point ahead of the 9th place Stars. Former Worcester Sharks playing for San Jose: Joe Pavelski (31-27-58), Logan Couture (30-30-60), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (4-18-22), Torrey Mitchell (9-10-19), Douglas Murray (0-4-4), Andrew Desjardins (4-12-16), Jason Demers (3-9-12), Justin Braun (2-9-11), and Tommy Wingels (3-6-9). Thomas Greiss is 8-7-1 with a 2.36 GAA and .914 save %.

Week ahead: (all times EST)

Tue., Apr 3 at 8:30pm at Dallas

Thu., Apr 5 at 10:30pm at Los Angeles

Sat., Apr 7 at 10:30pm vs. Los Angeles

END OF REGULAR SEASON

Sharks in the ECHL:

The Stockton Thunder finished the season with a 34-33-1-4 with 73 points, which was good for 5th place in the Western Conference. The Stockton Thunder will face the 4th seeded Colorado Eagles in a best-of-5 first round series for the Kelly Cup.

Week Ahead: (all times EST)

GAME 1 Tue., Apr 3 at 10pm at Stockton

GAME 2 Wed., Apr 4 at 10pm at Stockton

GAME 3 Fri., Apr 6 at 9:05pm at Colorado

*GAME 4 Sat., Apr 7 at 9:05pm at Colorado

*GAME 5 Mon., Apr 9 at 9:05pm at Colorado

*if necessary

Coming Up:

On Wednesday, the Sharks host the Albany Devils at 7pm to close out a four game road home stand. With every Wednesday game this season, in conjunction with Sharks Charities, FREE tickets for the unemployed for up to four family members will only be available at the DCU Center Box Office on the day of the game. All fans that wish to receive a FREE ticket(s) must present a valid proof of unemployment and a valid form of identification.

On Friday, the Sharks head to Providence to battle the Bruins at 7:05pm for the 12th and final time this season!

On Saturday, the Sharks swim north for a 7pm date with the Pirates in Portland.

Score a family fun pack today for only $74! Four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for a portion of the price! Available only through the Sharks front office for every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games this season!



American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2012


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