CRUNCH OPEN 33RD REGULAR SEASON
 
The Syracuse Crunch begin their 33rd season in franchise history tonight versus the Laval Rocket at Place Bell.
 
It marks the sixth straight season since 2021-22 that the Crunch are beginning on the road. Syracuse is 4-0-0-1 in those games.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com
 
LAST SEASON
 
The Crunch ended the 2025-26 regular season with a 41-24-3-4 record. Their 89 points were good for second place in the North Division, one point behind the Rocket for first. It was the Crunch's ninth 40-plus win season in team history and their first since the league went to a 72-game schedule in 2022-23.
 
The Crunch finished with winning records both at home (23-11-1-1) and on the road (18-13-2-3).
 
Syracuse was ousted in the playoffs by the Cleveland Monsters in the North Division Semifinals, losing three games to one.
 
CORE GROUP RETURNS 
 
A large portion of the Crunch's 28-man opening night roster features players who spent time in Syracuse last season. Eighteen players — seven defensemen and 11 forwards — saw action for the Crunch in 2025-26.
 
Reigning AHL scoring champion Jakob Pelletier highlights the group of returners for the Crunch. Pelletier enters the second year of a three-year contract with the Lightning after posting a league-leading 77 points (28g, 49a) in 63 games. The 25-year-old has produced at over a point-per-game in his AHL career, collecting 207 points (79g, 128a) in 202 games.
 
Dylan Duke is back for his third season with the Crunch after leading the team and finishing third in the AHL with 32 goals. He ended the campaign with an AHL-leading 18 power-play goals. The Strongsville, Ohio native has 99 career AHL points (52g, 47a) in 137 games.
 
YOUNGSTERS READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT
 
The Crunch roster features a group of promising youngsters ready for their first full AHL action. 
 
Twenty-year-old Sam O'Reilly highlights the group of newcomers after finishing one of the most decorated careers in CHL history. He enters the pro ranks after winning three OHL championships and collecting two Memorial Cups. Last season he became the fourth CHL player ever to win the OHL's regular season MVP, playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP. O'Reilly was the 32nd overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 NHL Draft and was acquired in a trade by Tampa Bay in 2025.
 
Noah Steen looks to hit the ground running in his first full AHL season after playing the previous two years in Sweden. The Oslo, Norway native joined the Crunch for five regular season games at the end of last season, scoring one goal.
 
Tomas Kralovic also readies for his first season in North America. A 2026 Lightning draft pick, Kralovic played at the pro level in Slovakia last season. The defenseman helped Bratislava Slovan advance to the league finals.
 
SCOUTING THE ROCKET
 
The Rocket look to continue their run atop the North Division in 2026-27. Laval finished first in the North with a 41-23-3-5 record, becoming the first team to win the North Division in consecutive seasons since Toronto from 2011 to 2014.
 
After winning consecutive division titles with the Rocket, former head coach Pascal Vincent was hired as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken. In his place, the Rocket promoted Daniel Jacob. The former Crunch assistant coach (2023-24) is in his second stint with the Rocket and becomes a head coach for the first time. 
 
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
 
The Crunch unveiled their leadership group for the 2026-27 season before practice yesterday. Steven Santini returns for his second season as captain. He is supported by four assistant captains.
 
Jarred Tinordi and Clark Bishop are slated to be assistant captains on the road. Dylan Duke and Jakob Pelletier will serve as assistant captains during home games.
 
Those five players have a combined 2,227 games of NHL and AHL experience at the start of the season.
 
NEW TANDEM
 
After being backstopped by Brandon Halverson over the previous two and a half seasons, the Crunch have two new goaltenders to begin this season. Their goalie tandem features Mads Sogaard and Olivier Rodrigue.
 
Sogaard, 25, has split time between the Ottawa and Belleville Senators during his career. He has 131 games of AHL experience with Belleville, posting a 57-51-11 record.
 
Rodrigue missed most of last year with an injury, but he finished the season with the Rockford IceHogs. In 141 AHL games, the Chicoutimi, Quebec native is 65-55-16.