CRUNCH READY FOR HOME OPENER
 
The Crunch hit the ice for their home opener presented by Upstate University Hospital, tonight against the Belleville Senators.
 
Last night, Syracuse shut out Utica, 5-0, at the Adirondack Bank Center to begin their 31^st season.
 
The Belleville Senators defeated the Rochester Americans, 3-2, at Blue Cross Arena.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Syracuse secured its first win of the season in Utica last night. That game marked the second time the Crunch have opened the season with a shutout (2004-05 season vs. St. John's).
 
Three Crunch players scored their first professional or AHL goals last night. Rookie defenseman Dyllan Gill led Syracuse in scoring with his first two professional goals. His first came in the opening six minutes and his second was with four minutes left in the third period.
 
Niko Huuhtanen tallied his first AHL goal to give the Crunch a 2-0 lead and Dylan Duke scored his first pro goal in the second period for a 3-0 advantage. Second-year forward Max Groshev tallied the fourth goal of the night. Groshev led Crunch rookies last season with 30 points.
 
Goaltender Brandon Halverson stopped all 26 shots he faced. The Michigan native secured his second career shutout in the 5-0 win over the Comets.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
Tonight marks the 31^st home opener in Crunch history. The Crunch are 15-9-1-1 all-time in home openers, posting four ties along the way. 
 
Since affiliating with the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of the 2012-13 season, the Crunch own a 7-4-1-0 record in home openers at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
This is the first time Belleville will serve as the Crunch's home opening opponent. They spoiled Rochester's home opener las night.
 
Syracuse finished last season with an 18-12-3-3 record on home ice; the Crunch were 1-2-1-0 at home against the Senators.
 
GILL JUMPS RIGHT IN
 
Rookie defenseman Dyllan Gill made an instant impact in his professional debut last night in Utica. The 20-year-old, who is the youngest player on the Crunch roster, scored his first pro goal and the Crunch's first goal of the season at 6:51 of the first period. He then tallied his second goal of the night at 15:07 of the third to cap the night with two goals—including the game-winning goal—and a plus-2 rating.
 
The Riverview, New Brunswick native was limited to 12 games due to injury last season with Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL. His last regular season game prior to last night was Nov. 19, 2023.
 
Gill was selected by the Lightning in the seventh round (#223) in the 2022 NHL Draft.
 
WASTING NO TIME
 
In addition to Dyllan Gill, two other Crunch players tallied their first AHL goals last night. 
 
Niko Huuhtanen potted his first in his fifth career AHL game. The Finnish forward made his regular season debut last night after skating in four Calder Cup Playoff games for the Crunch at the end of last season. The final selection of the 2021 NHL Draft, Huuhtanen had two assists in the playoffs for the Crunch after a 46-point season for Jukurit in Finland. The 21-year-old skated in 100 pro games for Jukurit over the last two years and was named Liiga's Rookie of the Year in 2022-23.
 
Dylan Duke potted his first pro goal in his ninth career game. He skated in three regular season games and five playoff games for the Crunch at the end of last season after wrapping up a 49-point campaign for the University of Michigan. Duke was selected by the Lightning in the fourth round (#126) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD  
 
Belleville and Syracuse matched up eight times in 2023-24 and will go head-to-head eight more times this season. The Senators proved to be the Crunch's kryptonite last season, winning seven of eight meetings. They were one of only two teams that the Crunch finished with a below 0.500 record against (also Springfield).
 
Among returners, Lucas Edmonds led the Crunch in goal scoring against Belleville with three goals and four points in only four appearances. Angus Crookshank picked up seven points (4g, 3a) in six games and he scored a goal in all four matches in Syracuse; Crookshank delivered an overtime winner in the final game before the 2024 AHL All-Star Break.
 
Mads Sogaard started seven of the eight meetings and went 6-1-0/2.35/.915 against the Crunch. Brandon Halverson and Matt Tomkins were a combined 0-2-1 in three starts against Belleville.
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS
 
The Senators ended their season in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Belleville earned its first Calder Cup Playoffs win in Game 1 of the first round against the Toronto Marlies. Belleville won its first playoff series against the Marlies to advance the North Division Semifinals. They lost to the Cleveland Monsters in four games. That capped off a 38-28-3-3 regular season in which they finished in fourth place in the division.
 
The Senators welcome several new faces to the roster. Forward Xavier Bourgault—picked in the first round by Edmonton in 2021—joins the Senators after a summer trade for Roby Jarventie. The 21-year-old winger notched his first goal in black and red against the Rochester Americans last night.
 
AHL All-Star Angus Crookshank returns to Belleville after leading the Senators with 24 goals last season. He has reached 20 goals in his two full AHL seasons.
 
Last night, goaltender Leevi Merilainen turned away 22 of 24 shots he faced. The Finland native had 24 appearances for the Senators last season, posting a 10-9-1 record. In turn, Mads Soggard played in 32 games and went 18-9-3/2.45/.916.