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IceCaps game report

RECAP | IceCaps – Crunch: More of the Rough Stuff [with Audio]

Sunday March 20, 2016 
Oncenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, NY

ICECAPS
St. John’s

 St.JohnsIceCaps

2-6

CRUNCH
Syracuse

(Photo by Amy Johnson | Rocket Sports Media, Inc.)

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]McNally – Dumont – Friberg
Bozon – Yogan – Scherbak
Hudon – MacMillan – Holloway
Scott – Ward – Gregoire[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Didier – Lernout
Joyaux – Ellis
Brown – Johnston[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Fucale
Pasquale

Scratches: Shane Bakker, Mac Bennett, Joel Hanley, Alexandre Ranger, Angelo Miceli, Dalton Thrower, Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed)
Injured Reserve: Connor Crisp (undisclosed), Michael Bournival (concussion)

Game Report

The IceCaps meant business at the start of this game. After a close game the previous night which was physical, at times nasty, and closely played, the St. John’s team looked renewed as they blazed down the ice.  They were forechecking hard, skating well, passing cleanly – and got rewarded with a quick goal by Charles Hudon, assisted by Bud Holloway and Mark MacMillan.

Emotions were still running high and it wasn’t long before Jeremy Gregoire dropped the gloves with Jake Dotchin.  Minutes later a massive scrum started after Josiah Didier took on his own fighting bout and many of his teammates joined in with the nearest Crunch players.  Brett Lernout earned a game misconduct for his part in the scrap.

By the end of the first period, the IceCaps started to lose energy – and the lead.  Syracuse scored two consecutive goals in the opening frame and were outshooting the visiting team once again.

Then the game turned truly ugly in the second period when Syracuse scored four more goals, with only one more goal by Hudon coming for the IceCaps.  It was not Zach Fucale’s best night and he did not return in the third period.

Eddie Pasquale kept the Crunch from adding to their tally in the third period, but St. John’s played mostly a dump-and-chase game for the final 20 minutes and couldn’t mount any sort of offensive pressure or scoring.  It was deflating back-to-back loss, making the playoff run that much harder to reach.

Joel Hanley was recalled by Montreal on emergency status earlier in the day, putting Travis Brown back in the lineup.  The IceCaps continue their road trip on Wednesday night with a game in Rochester against the Amerks.

▲     Morgan Ellis, Josiah Didier, Jeremy Gregoire, Charles Hudon, Bud Holloway

▼     Zach Fucale, Gabriel Dumont
 Statistics 
ICECAPS CRUNCH
 24 Shots 28
1 for 4 Power Play 3 for 5
54 Penalty Minutes 42
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 IceCaps (28-27-8-3) 1 1 0 – – 2
 Crunch (27-25-10-3) 2 4 0 – – 6
Scorers Goalies
  • STJ:  Hudon (21), Hudon (22)
  • SYR:  Gourde (11), Tambellini (24), Richard (10), Gourde (12), Drouin (6), Drouin (7)
  • STJ: Fucale (L) 15-16-4
  • SYR: Gudlevskis (W) 11-10-6
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200  

  1. Jonathan Drouin  SYR
  2. Tanner Richard  SYR
  3. Yanni Gourde  SYR
 Video highlights
 Post-game interview
Post-game interview with Sylvain Lefebvre

Post-game interview with Jeremy Gregoire

Post-game interview with Andrew Yogan

Audio from interviews conducted by Amy Johnson for IceCaps Hockey Report | Rocket Sports Media.

Quotes courtesy of IceCaps Hockey Report
 Social Media: Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter
https://twitter.com/IceCapsReport/status/711720625224736768

https://twitter.com/FlyersRule/status/711667000083218432

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter

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IceCaps game report

RECAP | IceCaps – Crunch: A Vital Need for Consistency

Saturday March 19, 2016 
Oncenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, NY

ICECAPS
St. John’s

 St.JohnsIceCaps

2-3

CRUNCH
Syracuse

Photo credit – Amy Johnson | Rocket Sports Media

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Hudon – Dumont – Holloway
McNally – Yogan – Friberg
Bozon – MacMillan – Gregoire
Scott – Scherbak – Bakker[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Hanley – Johnston
Joyaux – Ellis
Didier – Lernout[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Pasquale
Fucale

Scratches: Shane Bakker, Travis Brown, Dalton Thrower, Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed)
Injured Reserve: Connor Crisp (concussion), Michael Bournival (concussion)

Game Report

Some players will say that the games they’re playing right now are like being in the playoffs. In many post-game interviews we’ve heard the phrase, “We’re playing for our lives.”  Every point matters at this time of year, and tonight the IceCaps played against a Crunch team who is chasing St. John’s for that final playoff position.

It was a rough and physical game from the start. Both teams played with a lot of intensity and determination.  But the IceCaps struggled all night to get out of their own end. Syracuse maintained control of much of the game, especially in the second period.

Gabriel Dumont did get his team on the board first, assisted by Brett Lernout and Josiah Didier.  But the opening frame also gave fans a massive fight between Shane Bakker and David Broll.  Bakker didn’t return to the game, injuring a finger in the brawl.

The IceCaps then started taking too many penalties, and although the Crunch didn’t convert any power play opportunities, it kept St. John’s on their heels.  The players also seemed to get frustrated with a number of missed penalty calls against Syracuse.

Eddie Pasquale stood tall in net, facing 39 shots total.  Brandon McNally got one back for his team midway through the third period, but the IceCaps just couldn’t get the puck into the net one more time for the equalizer.  Both benches met at one end of the ice in a massive trash-talking mass after the final horn, providing a likely preview of Sunday’s tilt.

▲     Eddie Pasquale, Morgan Ellis, Josiah Didier, Max Friberg, Jeremy Gregoire, Shane Bakker

▼     Tim Bozon, Christopher Joyaux
 Statistics 
ICECAPS CRUNCH
 23 Shots 39
0 for 3 Power Play 0 for 4
30 Penalty Minutes 28
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 IceCaps (28-26-8-3) 1 0 1 – – 2
 Crunch (26-25-10-3) 1 2 0 – – 3
Scorers Goalies
  • STJ:  Dumont (18), McNally (5)
  • SYR:  Martindale (1), Martindale (2), Tambellini (23)
  • STJ: Pasquale (L) 10-8-3
  • SYR: Gudlevskis (W) 10-10-6
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200  

  1. Jeff Tambellini  SYR
  2. Ryan Martindale  SYR
  3. Anthony DeAngelo  SYR
 Video highlights
 Post-game interview
Post-game interview with Sylvain Lefebvre

Post-game interview with Josiah Didier

Post-game interview with Brandon McNally

Audio from interviews conducted by Amy Johnson for IceCaps Hockey Report | Rocket Sports Media.

Quotes courtesy of IceCaps Hockey Report
 Social Media: Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter
https://twitter.com/AllHabs/status/711586008119300097

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter

Be sure to follow @AllHabs on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube

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IceCaps game report

RECAP | IceCaps – Crunch: The Will to Win

Saturday February 27, 2016 
Oncenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, NY

ICECAPS
St. John’s

 St.JohnsIceCaps

5-1

CRUNCH
Syracuse

(Photo courtesy Eric Payne Photography | The Post-Standard)

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]McNally – Scherbak – Holloway
Hudon – Dumont – Friberg
Bozon – MacMillan – Ranger
Scott – Gregoire – Bakker [/one_half]

[one_half_last]Dietz – Lernout
Hanley – Johnston
Brown – Didier[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Pasquale
Fucale

Scratches: Angelo Miceli, Mac Bennett, Dalton Thrower, Michael Bournival (concussion), Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed)
Injured Reserve: Connor Crisp (undisclosed)

Game Report

They needed a win in a big way. So they won in a big way. Tonight’s final game of the road trip started much like the others before it: the Crunch scored first in the opening frame and the IceCaps found themselves down on the scoreboard.

But with about two minutes remaining in the first period, Joel Hanley potted his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Charles Hudon and Gabriel Dumont.  Then to open the second period, newcomer Travis Brown netted his first of the season with the help of Bud Holloway and Nikita Scherbak.  Taking the lead seemed to give the IceCaps a much-needed jolt of energy and they took the rest of the game handily.

Alexandre Ranger also scored his first of the season before Hudon found mesh on the power play in the third period.  Dumont wrapped things up with an empty-netter late in the third.

So what were the keys to winning tonight, especially with key players like Mike McCarron, Morgan Ellis, Jacob de la Rose, and Sven Andrighetto all called up to Montreal?  Shots on goal and discipline.  The team has recently struggled with their shot count, but tonight dominated in this category 45-30.  They also stayed out of the penalty box, only giving up one power play to the Crunch in the final seconds of the game.

The Icecaps now head back to Newfoundland for some rest and practice before taking home ice at Mile One on Friday night when the Albany Devils come to St. John’s.

▲     Bud Holloway, Eddie Pasquale, Joel Hanley, Charles Hudon, Gabriel Dumont

▼
 Statistics 
ICECAPS CRUNCH
 45 Shots 30
1 for 4 Power Play 0 for 1
9 Penalty Minutes 15
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 IceCaps (24-23-7-3) 1 2 2 – – 5
 Crunch (21-23-9-2) 1 0 0 – – 0
Scorers Goalies
  • STJ:  Hanley (4), Brown (1), Ranger (1), Hudon (18), Dumont (15)
  • SYR:  Erne (11)
  • STJ: Pasquale (W) 7-6-3
  • SYR: Gudlevskis (L) 9-10-6
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200  

  1. Joel Hanley  STJ
  2. Charles Hudon  STJ
  3. Bud Holloway  STJ
 Video highlights
 Post-game interview
 

Quotes courtesy of IceCaps Hockey Report
 Social Media: Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter
https://twitter.com/FlyersRule/status/703769114704109568

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter

Be sure to follow @AllHabs on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube

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IceCaps game report

RECAP | IceCaps – Crunch: Shootout Success in Syracuse

(Photo courtesy of St. John's IceCaps)
Wednesday February 17, 2016 
Oncenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, NY

ICECAPS
St. John’s

 St.JohnsIceCaps

3-2

CRUNCH
Crunch

(Photo courtesy of St. John’s IceCaps)

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Hudon – Scherbak – Holloway
McNally – McCarron – Friberg
Bozon – MacMillan – Bakker
Scott – Miceli [/one_half]

[one_half_last]Bartley – Ellis
Hanley – Lernout
Johnston – Dietz
Didier[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Fucale
Pasquale

Scratches: Mac Bennett, Jeremy Gregoire, Alexandre Ranger, Dalton Thrower, Michael Bournival (undisclosed), Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed), Gabriel Dumont (undisclosed)
Injured Reserve: Connor Crisp (undisclosed)

Game Report

After defeating the Syracuse Crunch twice last week, including the game in which Zach Fucale earned his first professional shutout, the IceCaps looked to repeat history when they came into the War Memorial Arena tonight.

The first period was buzzing with activity, as the Crunch got on the board just under two minutes into the game.  Immediately following their goal, Shane Bakker dropped the gloves with Brian Hart.  Soon afterwards Syracuse took the first penalty of the night and the IceCaps tied the game on the ensuing power play, thanks to a goal by John Scott.

The Crunch managed to get a go-ahead goal before the end of the frame, and the score stalled at 2-1 through the second period as well.  The IceCaps power play units got plenty of ice time as the Crunch continued to take penalties, and another fight broke out – this time between Brett Lernout and Mike Angelidis.

Finally, with just over two minutes left in regulation, Mike McCarron tallied another power play goal to tie the game.  The teams exchanged penalties during the overtime period, but both goaltenders stood strong and forced a shootout.  It took five rounds before a goal was scored, and it was McCarron again to win the game for St. John’s.

The Icecaps continue their road trip by heading to Binghamton for a back-to-back series Friday and Saturday night.

▲     Michael McCarron, Zach Fucale, Brett Lernout, Max Friberg

▼     Nikita Scherbak, Tim Bozon
 Statistics 
ICECAPS CRUNCH
 32 Shots 29
2 for 8 Power Play 0 for 4
18 Penalty Minutes 26
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 IceCaps (23-19-7-3) 1 0 1 0 1 3
 Crunch (19- 21-9-2) 2 0 0 0 0 2
Scorers Goalies
  • STJ:  Scott (1), McCarron (15) Game-deciding goal: McCarron
  • SYR:  Walcott (2), DeAngelo (5)
  • STJ: Fucale (W) 14-11-3
  • SYR: Gudlevskis (L) 8-9-6
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200
  1. Michael McCarron  STJ
  2. Anthony DeAngelo  SYR
  3. John Scott  STJ
 Video highlights
 Post-game interview
 

Quotes and audio courtesy of Rocket Sports Media
 Social Media: Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter
https://twitter.com/FlyersRule/status/700153094391390209

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter

Be sure to follow @AllHabs on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube

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IceCaps game report

RECAP | Crunch – IceCaps: Celebrating Back-to-Back Wins

(Photo courtesy of St. John's IceCaps)
Wednesday February 10, 2016 
Mile One Centre, St. John’s, NL

ICECAPS
St. John’s

 St.JohnsIceCaps

4-3

CRUNCH
Syracuse

(Photo courtesy of St. John’s IceCaps)

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Hudon – Scherbak – Holloway
Friberg – McCarron – Dumont
McNally – MacMillan – Bozon
Bakker – Miceli – Ranger[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Bartley – Ellis
Hanley – Lernout
Johnston – Dietz[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Fucale
Pasquale

Scratches: Mac Bennett, Dalton Thrower, John Scott, Jeremy Gregoire, Josiah Didier, Michael Bournival (undisclosed), Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed)
Injured reserve:  Connor Crisp (undisclosed)

Game Report

The Syracuse Crunch were hungry for payback. They had failed to score a goal in the previous night’s game against the IceCaps, and the St. John’s team wanted to keep them down.  Victor Bartley got things going for the hometown fans at Mile One Centre early in the first period with his first goal of the season, coming to him on the power play.

Then things got really testy on the ice.  A six-player fight broke out, with Michael McCarron, Darren Dietz, and Gabriel Dumont all throwing off the gloves and taking a Crunch player to task.  The IceCaps managed to get a man advantage out of the scrap, and Mark MacMillan capitalized on the power play.

But before the first period could come to an end, Syracuse managed to even the score.  Zach Fucale had to stand tall throughout the second period as he faced more than twice the shots then his opponent at the other end of the ice.  Shane Bakker was ejected from the game on a match penalty for boarding, and things were not looking good for the IceCaps.

Nikita Scherbak, however, did not give up and tallied another power play goal in the third period to knot the score at three-aside.  He, Dumont, and Morgan Ellis would be selected to start the overtime period that followed.  Charles Hudon sped up the ice on a breakaway and fired the puck from the slot to put a stamp on the game and give the IceCaps another win.

Jacob de la Rose was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens prior to the game starting.  The IceCaps return to the ice on Saturday to take on the Toronto Marlies.

▲     Zach Fucale, Nikita Scherbak, Morgan Ellis

▼     Shane Bakker, Angelo Miceli
 Statistics 
ICECAPS CRUNCH
 19 Shots 39
3 for 5 Power Play 1 for 3
39 Penalty Minutes 30
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 IceCaps (21-18-7-3) 2 0 1 1 – 4
 Crunch (19-20-9-1) 2 1 0 0 – 3
Scorers Goalies
  • STJ:  Bartley (1), MacMillan (6), Scherbak (5), Hudon (15)
  • SYR: Koekkoek (4), Blujus (4), Yogan (3)
  • STJ: Fucale (W) 12-11-3
  • SYR: Gudlevskis (L) 8-9-5
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200
  1. Charles Hudon   STJ
  2. Zach Fucale   STJ
  3. Slater Koekkoek   SYR
 Video highlights
 Post-game interview
Coach Sylvain Lefebvre
 Social Media: Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter
https://twitter.com/FlyersRule/status/697597421073911810

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter

Be sure to follow @AllHabs on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube

Categories
IceCaps game report

RECAP | Crunch – IceCaps: Not Just a Win, A Shutout

(Photo courtesy of St. John's IceCaps)
Tuesday February 9, 2016 
Mile One Centre, St. John’s, NL

ICECAPS
St. John’s

 St.JohnsIceCaps

4-0

CRUNCH
Syracuse

(Photo courtesy of St. John’s IceCaps)

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Hudon – Scherbak – Holloway
de la Rose – McCarron – Dumont
Bozon – MacMillan – Friberg
Bakker – Miceli – Ranger[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Bartley – Ellis
Hanley – Lernout
Johnston – Dietz[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Fucale
Pasquale

Scratches: Mac Bennett, Brendan McNally, Dalton Thrower, John Scott, Jeremy Gregoire, Josiah Didier, Michael Bournival (undisclosed), Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed)
Injured reserve:  Connor Crisp (undisclosed)

Game Report

The IceCaps needed a win. They came into tonight’s game having lost their last five consecutive matchups, and only having won three of their last 14 games.  Something needed to change before desperation set in.

It didn’t bode well when St. John’s took a high sticking penalty just 30 seconds into the opening frame. Syracuse, fortunately, didn’t convert their power play opportunity.  Nikita Scherbak potted his fourth of the season to open the scoring, a power play tally assisted by Gabriel Dumont and Bud Holloway.

Zach Fucale had a strong game throughout the night, making a couple of highlight reel saves to keep the Crunch at bay.  In the second period, Michael McCarron snapped his 17-game goalless streak with a power play goal of his own, assisted by Morgan Ellis and Holloway.

Discipline was key for the IceCaps, as they maintained their composure and only took three penalties total.  Despite the fact that it took almost 17 minutes for the IceCaps to get a shot on goal in the third period, Ellis would make it count and blasted one in from the faceoff circle. Dumont potted an empty-netter to shut the door completely at the end of regulation.  It marked Fucale’s first professional shutout.

The IceCaps face the Crunch once again on Tuesday night at Mile One Centre.

▲     Bud Holloway, Zach Fucale, Nikita Scherbak, Morgan Ellis, Michael McCarron

▼
 Statistics 
ICECAPS CRUNCH
 21 Shots 39
2 for 3 Power Play 0 for 2
6 Penalty Minutes 6
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 IceCaps (20-18-7-3) 1 1 2 – – 4
 Crunch (19-20-8-1) 0 0 0 – – 0
Scorers Goalies
  • STJ:  Scherbak (4), McCarron (14), Ellis (11), Dumont (14)
  • SYR:
  • STJ: Fucale (W) 11-11-3
  • SYR: Gudlevskis (L) 8-9-4
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200
  1. Zach Fucale   STJ
  2. Gabriel Dumont   STJ
  3. Bud Holloway   STJ
 Video highlights
 Post-game interview
Coach Sylvain Lefebvre
 Social Media: Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter
https://twitter.com/FlyersRule/status/697231195797639168

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter

Be sure to follow @AllHabs on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube