CRUNCH HOST 25TH HOME OPENER
The Syracuse Crunch play their first home game of the year
in the franchise's 25th season. The Crunch (1-1-0-0) host the
undefeated Charlotte Checkers (3-0-0-0) at the War Memorial
Arena in the first of four head-to-head matches this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Crunch suffered their first loss of the season Wednesday,
falling 6-3 to the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena.
After falling behind in the first period, Syracuse responded
with a goal in the final second of the frame. Alex Barré-Boulet
scored a power-play goal from the right circle for his second
goal in two games.
In the second, the Amerks rattled off three straight goals, one
shorthanded, one even-strength and one power-play goal in a
five-minute span to take a 4-1 advantage.
Crunch forward
Jonne Tammela cut the deficit to two
while finishing off a give-and-go feed with
Brady Brassart.
Rochester would score two straight markers in the first eight
minutes of the third to give the Americans their largest lead.
With 16 seconds remaining in regulation,
Dennis Yan scored
on a rebound for his first goal of the campaign.
Syracuse goaltender
Eddie Pasquale made 27 saves on 33
shots in the 6-3 loss.
DUMONT NAMED CAPTAIN
Gabriel Dumont was named the 21st captain in franchise
history yesterday. The 28-year-old enters his third season with
the Lightning organization after appearing in 18 games for the
Crunch last season.
"I have big shoes to fill, but I'm excited to be selected by the
coaches and the team as captain going into the Crunch's 25th
season," Dumont said. "It's something natural to me, I try to
go out there and lead by example."
Dumont follows
Erik Condra, who served as captain starting
in the middle of the 2016-17 season.
Head coach Ben Groulx also announced his alternate captains
for the season. Forwards
Kevin Lynch,
Andy Andreoff,
Michael Bournival and defenseman
Cameron Gaunce will
shuffle the "A" on their jerseys.
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
The Crunch christen the newly-renovated War Memorial
Arena after splitting two games on the road: a 3-2 win at
Hershey last Saturday, and a 6-3 loss at Rochester Wednesday.
Alex Barré-Boulet scored a goal in each of Syracuse's first
two games, including his professional debut in Hershey.
The 21-year-old spent four years in the QMJHL, in which
he scored 337 points (140g, 197a) in 263 regular-season
games and 60 points (28g, 32a) in 43 playoff games.
Barré-Boulet punctuated his time in the junior league with 116
points (53g, 63a) in 65 games last season, enough to earn him
Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year. Previous winners
of the award—which goes to the most outstanding player
across the CHL's three leagues and 60 teams—include Mario
Lemieux, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
Two players returning to the Crunch this year found the
scoresheet in each of the team's first two games: Gabriel
Dumont and
Alexander Volkov come home with two assists
apiece. Dumont scored 21 points (5g, 16a) in 18 games last season,
making him the only Syracuse player to average a point
per game. Volkov led the team with 23 goals last year; the thenrookie
played in 75 of the Crunch's 76 regular-season games
and all seven playoff games.
Eddie Pasquale started Syracuse's first two games between
the pipes. He stopped 30 of 32 shots en route to the win at
Hershey, then made 27 saves in the loss at Rochester. The veteran
has posted a save percentage of .900 or better in all eight
of his previous AHL seasons, including a .938 mark over 15
games with the Crunch last year after coming to the team from
Bakersfield in a midseason trade.
Connor Ingram saw time in
35 games last season and finished 20-11-2 with a 2.33 goalsagainst
average and .914 save percentage.
SCOUTING THE CHECKERS
Charlotte is 3-0-0-0 to start the year, tying the franchise's
best start in its nine AHL seasons. The Checkers have outscored
their opponents 14-7, including a 4-3 win last night in
Utica. Tonight concludes Charlotte's four-game road trip to
start the season.
Center Nicolas Roy paces the Checkers with four goals and
is tied for the team lead in points (6). Roy, who's entering his
third year with Charlotte, finished last season with 38 points
(11g, 27a) in 70 games played. During the 2015-16 season,
Roy netted a league-high 48 goals in the QMJHL. Last night
against the Comets, Charlotte defenseman Dennis Robertson
buried his first two goals of the season, including the gamewinner
with under two minutes left in regulation.
In between the pipes, Alex Nedeljkovic has started all three
games for the Checkers. He has allowed seven goals this season,
good for a 2.34 goals-against average and a .918 save
percentage. Callum Booth, Charlotte's second goalie, played
in four AHL games last season, posting a 1.60 goals-against
average and a .941 save percentage.
12-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION
Yesterday, the Crunch and Onondaga County announced a
12-year lease. The team will play its home games at the War
Memorial Arena through 2030.
"The Syracuse Crunch are excited to begin our 25th season
on Saturday in a spectacular newly-renovated arena that will
bring an improved experience to fans attending our games
throughout the years," said Crunch owner
Howard Dolgon.
The arena's offseason renovations include suites, a new stateof-
the-art, center-hung scoreboard, ribbon lights and more.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Alex Barré-Boulet scored the only power-play goal of the
game Wednesday, marking his second straight game with a
goal on the man advantage. After the Crunch cashed in on
two of three power-play opportunities in the season opener,
Syracuse converted just once on eight chances against
Rochester.
Charlotte was unable to capitalize on four power-play opportunities
last night against Utica. The Checkers have found the
back of the net four times on 11 chances with the man advantage
through the first three games. Charlotte's 36.4% conversion
rate ranks second in the AHL.
Syracuse successfully killed off all four Hershey power plays
in the season opener, but allowed three power-play goals on
four shorthanded chances against Rochester. The Crunch's
62.5% penalty kill percentage ranks 25th in the AHL.
Last night, the Checkers gave up a goal on the Comets' first
power-play attempt, but they killed off the remaining four opportunities.
After surrendering the power-play goal, Charlotte
responded with its second shorthanded goal of the season. The
Checkers' penalty kill has allowed two goals on 11 man-down
opportunities (84.6%).
