Young Sharks Continue to Show Bite - Worcester Sharks Weekly

Published on October 24, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Shark Snap Shot:

The Worcester Sharks chomped three out of a possible four points last week highlighted by a come from behind 4-2 victory at the DCU Center over the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday. The Sharks grabbed a point in a 4-3 shootout loss in Providence and finished the week 1-0-0-1. The Worcester Sharks player of the week nominee is rookie forward Mike Connolly as he scored three goals, added one assist, was +3, and fired nine shots on goal in the two games.

Top 3... Last Week!

#1 Mike Connolly scores two goals, adds an assist, and was #1 star in 4-2 victory over the Monarchs on Saturday.

#2 Nathan Moon scores a goal, an assist, and scores the only Sharks goal in the shootout in a 4-3 shootout loss in Providence on Friday.

#3 Matt Irwin nets the game winner on the power play in 4-2 win over the Monarchs on Saturday!

Last Week: (1-0-0-1) 3pts, 2gp

Fri. 10/21 SOL Worcester SHARKS 3 @ Providence Bruins 4

Sat. 10/22 W Manchester Monarchs 2 @ Worcester SHARKS 4

This week:

Fri. 10/28 Worcester SHARKS @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers - 7:00pm

Sat. 10/29 Connecticut Whale @ Worcester SHARKS - 7:00pm

Rewind the Tape:

10.21.11 - Worcester 3 - Providence 4 - SOL - Dunkin Donuts Center

Rookie Nathan Moon scored his first professional goal, added an assist, and added a shootout tally but it wasn't enough as the Sharks were downed by the Providence Bruins in a shootout 4-3 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI. Worcester also received goals from Curt Gogol and Mike Connolly along with 32 saves in net by Tyson Sexsmith in the first blemish of the season by the Sharks (2-0-0-1). Worcester led 2-0 and 3-1 before the Bruins barreled back to force overtime and eventually won in the shootout.

10.22.11 - Worcester 4 - Manchester 2 - W - DCU Center The Sharks continued their undefeated streak in regulation to begin the 2011-12 season as they defeated the Manchester Monarchs, 4-2, at the DCU Center Saturday night. Mike Connolly scored twice with Matt Irwin and Nathan Moon adding tallies. Harri Sateri made 25 saves in his first start of the season for Worcester as the Sharks improved to 3-0-0-1 this season.

Sharks in the Atlantic: The Sharks are swimming in 3rd place with seven points (3-0-0-1) in the Atlantic Division through four games, which is two points behind the first place St. John's Ice Caps (6gp) and Providence Bruins (8gp). The Sharks have a one point edge over the Manchester Monarchs (8gp) and a two point advantage over the 5th place Portland Pirates (6gp) 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.

500 WINS!.... Coach Roy Sommer is just 19 wins away from 500 in his AHL coaching career.

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.

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 1,044GP 481 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: 481-433 -48 -44 -38. (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 327 of the 481 victories (68%).

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.

From east to west..... The Worcester Sharks have had 2 players (2 call-ups) receive at least one call up this season to San Jose... Currently; Andrew Desjardins, Benn Ferriero, Justin Braun, Jamie McGinn, Logan Couture, Jason Demers, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edourd Vlasic, Frazer McLaren, and Doug Murray are all former Worcester Sharks that are currently playing with the San Jose Sharks.

Nice Win Percentage... the Sharks have the 2nd best winning percentage in the entire AHL (.875) trailing only the Milwaukee Admirals (.900)

Season Openers... The Sharks improved to 4-1-0-1 in season openers after their 4-1 win on Oct 9!

Home Openers... Worcester improved to 3-1-1-1 in home openers at the DCU Center after 6-1 victory on October 15 vs. the Devils.

Great Start.... The Sharks are 3-0-0-1 to start the season for the 2nd best record in franchise history. The Sharks opened the season 4-0-0-0 in 2007-08 but eventually did not make the playoffs.

Games'... The Sharks have played the fewest amount of games in the AHL (4gp), while six team have already played eight games this season.

Leaders among us... Mike Connolly ranks 5th in the AHL among rookies with seven points (4-3-7), 3rd in rookie goals (4) and 3rd in rookie +/- (+5)... Curt Gogol leads all AHL rookies with 26 penalty minutes... Tyson Sexsmith is 4th in the AHL with a 1.63GAA... Matt Irwin leads all AHL defensemen with two game winning goals.

Score first... the Sharks have scored FIRST 4 times in 4 games last season (3-0-0-1); Curt Gogol 2,Benn Ferriero 1, Nathan Moon 1.

First goal of the season goes to... Curt Gogol scored the first Worcester Sharks goal of the season on Sunday at Providence, joining: Mathieu Darche in 2006, Graham Mink in 2007, Cory Larose in 2008, Andrew Desjardins in 2009, and Jonathan Cheechoo in 2010.

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) and Nathan Moon (Oct 21 @ Providence vs. Khudobin)

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.

Starting Goalies... Tyson Sexsmith allowed just one goal on 21 shots on Sunday in Providence to become the first goaltender to allow less than two goals in a Sharks opener. Dimitri Patzold 3GA in 2006, Thomas Greiss 2GA in 2007, Thomas Greiss 5GA in 2008, Alex Stalock 2GA in 2009, and Alex Stalock 5GA in 2010.

Great first impression... Curt Gogol became just the 5th Sharks player to score in his professional debut joining Joe Pavelski, Nate Raduns, Tony Lucia, and Cam MacIntyre. (Thanks Bill Ballou, Worcester TG)

We like Providence... Worcester is 9-4-0-1 in their last 14 meetings at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Sharks in the Atlantic... the Sharks had a 29-20-4-7 record against Atlantic Division prey this season and are 2-0-0-1 in the division this season.

Streakers!... Ben Guite has a four game point streak (1-3-4), Mike Connolly has a three game goal scoring streak (4-3-7), and Nathan Moon a two game point streak (2-1-3).

Team Streakers... the Sharks have a four game point streak (3-0-0-1), a four game power play goal streak (7-for-23), have at least one fight in four straight games (7 FM), and has scored the first goal in four straight games.

Multiple Points... the Sharks had six players with multiple points on Oct 15 in 6-1 win vs. the Devils!

Good when leading... the Sharks area 2-0-0-1 when leading after the 1st period of play and 2-0-0-1 when leading after the 2nd period of play this season.

Pro Debuts: Five players made their professional debuts in the Sharks 4-1 victory in Providence on Sunday; Curt Gogol, Nathan Moon, Brodie Reid, James Livingston, and Mike Connolly.

5 National Champions... The Sharks have five players that have won the NCAA Division 1 Championship.... Mike Connolly was co-captain for Minnesota-Duluth in 2011, John McCarthy was co-captain for Boston University in 2009... Benn Ferriero (currently in SJ) and Nick Petrecki with Boston College in 2008... and Ben Guite with Maine in 1999.

Young Guns... the Sharks have dressed ten rookies already this season. (Curt Gogol, Nathan Moon, Brodie Reid, James Livingston, Mike Connolly, Taylor Doherty, Tyson Sexsmith, Harri Sateri, Sena Acolatse, and Tony Lucia)

Super Sunday... the Sharks went 14-4-0-2 on Sunday afternoon games in 2010-11 and are 1-0-0-0 on Sundays this season.

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

NHL Experience.... The Sharks have eight players with NHL experience totaling 335 games led by veteran Ben Guite with 175... breakdown of the rest... John McCarthy 41, Mike Moore 6, Benn Ferriero 59, Matt Pelech 5, Justin Braun 29, Brandon Mashinter 13, and Tommy Wingels 8.

Heard it from Ballou.... The Sharks are 7-1-1-1 in their last nine games when Jamie Koharski is the lone referee.

Five for fighting...The Sharks have seven fighting majors this season good for 9th in the AHL... Six different players dropped the mitts this season for the Sharks this season: (Jimmy Bonneau 1, Curt Gogol 2, Nick Petrecki 1, Cam MacIntyre 1, Nathan Moon 1, and Brandon Mashinter)... 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: 3-0-0-1, 7 points - 3rd in Atlantic

Home Record: 2-0-0-0

Away Record: 1-0-0-1

Attendance: 10,164 through two games at DCU Center (5,028 average) - 16th in AHL

Goals Scored: 17, 4.25 goals per game, 3rd in AHL

Goals Allowed: 8, 2.00 goals against per game, 3rd in AHL

Shots per game: 35.00 - 2nd in AHL

Shots allowed per game: 24.75 - 2nd in AHL

Score 1st: 3-0-0-1 when scoring first (1.000 win %)

1 goal games: 0-0-0-1 in one goal games

PP: 30.4%, 3rd in AHL (7-23)

PK: 94.4%, 1st in AHL (1-18)

SHG - 0 shorthanded goals scored

SHGA - 0 shorthanded goals allowed

PIMS - 26.50 penalty minutes per game, 1st in AHL

Fighting Majors: 7 - 9th in AHL

OT Games - 1 - (0-0 record in OT)

SO Games - 1 - (0-1 record in SO)

Roster Players - the Sharks have used 24 players this season

Goalies - the Sharks have used 2 goaltenders this season

Players receiving call-ups to San Jose - 2 (Braun and Ferriero)

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

Call-ups to San Jose - 2 different call-ups to San Jose this season

Coming and goings from the Shark Tank: Date

Player

Team

Transaction

10/22/2011

Justin Braun (D)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

10/22/2011

Tommy Wingels (RW)

Worcester

ADD Loaned from San Jose (NHL)

10/20/2011

Benn Ferriero (RW)

Worcester

DEL Recalled from loan by San Jose (NHL)

10/20/2011

Tony Lucia (LW)

Worcester

ADD Loaned from San Jose (NHL)

10/19/2011

Ian O'Connor (F)

Worcester

DEL Released from PTO

10/19/2011

Thomas Heemskerk (G)

Worcester

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

10/18/2011

Harri Sateri (G)

Worcester

ADD Loaned from San Jose (NHL)

Top Worcester Sharks:

o Goals Connolly (4)

o Game Winners Matt Irwin (2)

o Assists several players with 3

o Points Connolly (4-3-7)

o Power play Points Irwin (2-1-3) and Connolly (1-2-3)

o Shots Connolly (14 shots)

o PIM Gogol (26)

o Fighting Pen. Gogol (2)

o Plus/Minus Connolly (+5)

o Wins Sexsmith (2)

o G.A.A. Sexsmith (1.63)

o Save % Sateri (.930)

o Shutouts N/A

Sharks in the Pacific:

The San Jose Sharks are 3-3-0 with six points through 6 games and currently six points behind the first place Dallas Stars. The Sharks have won two straight games to kick-off their six game road trip. Logan Couture and Benn Ferriero each scored their first NHL goals on the season in Boston on Saturday.

Week ahead:

Tue., Oct 25 at 8pm at Nashville

Fri., Oct 28 at 7:30pm at Detroit

Sat., Oct 29 at 7pm at NY Islanders

Sharks in the ECHL:

The Stockton Thunder are 1-2-0-1 in four games this season with three points. Worcester Sharks training camp invite, Gabriel Levesque, leads the Thunder with seven points (3-4-7) in four games and Thomas Heemskerk is 1-0-0 with a 4.00GAA and a .871 save %.

Week Ahead:

Fri., Oct. 28 at 10:00pm at Ontario

Sat., Oct. 29 at 10:30pm vs. Idaho

Coming Up:

The Sharks travel to Bridgeport on Friday for a 7:00pm tilt vs. the Sound Tigers before returning home to host the Connecticut Whale at 7pm on Saturday, October 29 at the DCU Center! Celebrate Halloween with the Sharks and enjoy family friendly trick-or-treating in the concourse and participate in the annual costume parade on the ice during the intermission!

Spook yourself into buying 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!

Starting now, the Sharks are offering groups to partake in a Sharks hockey experience with many interactive activities; including friends and family skates on the DCU Center ice before or after a game, the high FIN tunnel (high-fiving players as they take the ice), singing the National Anthem, intermission performances, and more.

Marina Riva, Jonathan Forsberg, Jason Jones, Chris Curtis, and Kristyn Galante are ready to take your orders and answer your questions today! Jump in today and save up to 35% off box office prices! Some of the exclusive benefits for full season ticket holders will include:

Guaranteed same seat for all 38 home dates and playoff home games at the DCU Center

Priority access to purchase tickets to other DCU Center events (subject to availability)

Seven FREE friends and family vouchers

Exclusive events with Sharks players

Merchandise discounts and much, much, more!

Season ticket packages and group tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now by contacting the Worcester Sharks Office at 508.929.0500 or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.

All games can be heard live on 580AM and 94.9FM WTAG, as well as online through AHL Live, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.SharksAHL.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2011


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