Crunch Chronicles: Recent Episodes
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch have been an AHL staple for nearly three decades. Each week on Crunch Chronicles, host Lukas Favale chats with a special Crunch guest to uncover the stories about their time in the Salt City.
On Episode 64 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Nick Riopel.
Riopel signed an AHL contract with the Crunch during the 2015-16 season and remained part of the organization until the 2017-18 campaign. The goaltender split time between the Crunch and the ECHL during his seasons with the organization.
He dressed as the backup goaltender multiple times over the years, but he only appeared in one game - a relief outing on Jan. 20, 2018.
Riopel was later involved in a duo of trades at the end of that month that led to Eddie Pasquale joining the Crunch. Riopel finished his playing career that season with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder.
In total, Riopel appeared in 22 career AHL games with the Adirondack Phantoms and the Crunch. He also played 167 ECHL games for six different teams. Additionally he played one season in England and another in France.
On the show, Riopel discusses his time with the organization and how he transitioned into becoming a player agent.
On Episode 63 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Jeremy Reich.
Reich spent five seasons playing for the Crunch, beginning in 2000 at the start of the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was Reich's rookie season, and he skated in 56 games and compiled 15 points and 108 penalty minutes.
His role continued to evolve during his tenure with the Crunch. He peaked at 195 penalty minutes in 2002-03, while posting 51 points the following season in 2003-04. In total, Reich appeared in 315 career games for the Crunch, a mark that currently ranks third in team history. He holds the franchise record for career penalty minutes (820); he also tallied 118 points for the Crunch from 2000 to 2005.
Reich made his NHL debut and skated in nine games for the Blue Jackets during the 2003-04 season.
After his time in Syracuse, Reich saw AHL action with Houston, Providence and Bridgeport. He also played parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins before finishing his playing career in Germany.
On the show, Reich discusses his time in Syracuse, finding a role on the Crunch and his career since retiring from the game.
On Episode 62 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Ken Klee.
Klee spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Crunch beginning with the 2017-18 season after he was hired in July 2017. A veteran of over 900 NHL games played, Klee was responsible for the team’s defensemen and penalty kill and he helped the team to two of their best regular seasons ever in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
In 2017-18, the Crunch finished fourth overall in the AHL with 100 points and then they topped that with 102 points and a franchise record 0.671 points percentage as they finished second overall in the league and won the North Division in 2018-19.
Under Klee, the Crunch finished top five in goals against per game and in penalty kill in both seasons. Under his tutelage, players like Erik Cernak graduated to the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Klee continues to coach today and he is currently the head coach of PWHL Minnesota.
On the show, Klee discusses the new PWHL, his two seasons in Syracuse and more.
On Episode 61 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Lauren Kochian.
Kochian spent time working in the Crunch's front office, first as a public relations intern in the late 90's, before continuing her career in public relations with the new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
After spending some time working in sports, Kochian parlayed what she learned to move into marketing and development for Arc of Onondaga and Syracuse Stage, before taking a role with the MOST - the Museum of Science and Technology located in Armory Square.
After serving as the executive vice president, she became the MOST’s president in 2018. Under her leadership, the museum has seen significant growth and investment, dramatic increases in attendance, and new strategic partnerships, positioning the museum to flourish well into the future.
On the show, Kochian discusses her start with the Crunch, the success of the MOST, how working in sports helped get her to where she is today and more.
On Episode 60 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Doug MacLean.
MacLean served as the first General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He helped usher the Blue Jackets into the NHL for the inaugural season in 2000-01, and it was his relationship with Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon that led to the affiliation between the two clubs.
MacLean was the Blue Jackets' General Manager through the 2006-07 season. In that span, the Crunch qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs four times and won a division title in 2002.
After his time with Columbus, MacLean transitioned into media, where he spent a decade with Sportsnet as a host for Hockey Central.
Recently, MacLean co-authored a book with Scott Morrison titled "Draft Day" on the history and importance of the NHL Draft. The book became a bestseller and is available here.
On the show, MacLean discusses the origins of the affiliation agreement between Syracuse and Columbus, what he liked about Syracuse and more.
On Episode 59 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Marc Methot.
Methot spent three seasons playing for the Crunch during the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliation. A sixth-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft by Columbus, Methot began his pro career with the Crunch in 2005-06. The defenseman skated in 70 games as a rookie, contributing 13 points.
He spent the majority of his second pro season in Syracuse, skating in 59 Crunch games in 2006-07. He also played in 20 games for the Blue Jackets that season. The 2007-08 campaign saw Methot dress in another 66 games for the Crunch and nine for Columbus. That year, he helped the Crunch to their record 23-game point streak to close the season.
After the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, Methot graduated full-time to the NHL starting with the 2008-09 season. He played in 624 career NHL games for Columbus, Ottawa and Dallas through the 2018-19 season. He retired following that season due to injury and now works as an analyst on TSN.
Methot finished with 195 career Crunch games, totaling 42 points (10g, 32a) from 2005 to 2008.
On the show, Methot discusses his time in Syracuse, retiring from the game and more.
On Episode 58 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Robert Dome.
Dome spent two seasons in Syracuse during the late '90s as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. After being selected in the first round of the 1997 NHL Draft, Dome joined the Crunch as an 18-year-old in the 1997-98 season. He scored 21 goals and added 46 points in 36 games for the Crunch that season, earning a spot in the AHL All-Star Game, hosted by the Crunch, in 1998. Dome also skated in 30 games that season for the Penguins after initially making the NHL roster to start the season.
In his second and final campaign with the Crunch, Dome contributed 18 goals and 35 points over 48 games in 1998-99 before finishing the season in the IHL with the Houston Aeros.
Dome finished with 81 points in 84 Crunch games over his two seasons in Syracuse.
The Slovak continued his playing career through 2008-09; he totaled 243 career AHL games, 132 IHL games and 53 NHL games during his career. He has been coaching in Europe since 2012-13.
On the show, Dome discusses his time in Syracuse, transitioning to coaching and more.
On Episode 57 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Michael Bournival.
Bournival spent three seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch between 2016 and 2019. He joined the Lightning organization as a free agent in the summer of 2016 and split his first season between the Lightning and Crunch. He played a big role in the playoffs in 2017, collecting 15 points (8g, 7a) in 22 games to help the Crunch advance to the Calder Cup Finals.
As a veteran in 2017-18, Bournival was a leader on a young team that finished near the top of the AHL standings. He added 34 points in 57 games for the Crunch that season, while also skating in five games for Tampa Bay. His final season came in 2018-19, a year that was cut short do to an early injury. Bournival was limited to just five games before his injury; his rehab brought to to within days of returning, but the Crunch were eliminated from the playoffs.
Bournival played in 100 career games for the Crunch over his three seasons. He retired following the 2018-19 season and returned to school to earn a degree in kinesiology. He is now pursuing a masters degree.
On the show, Bournival discusses his time in Syracuse, the Calder Cup Finals run, his masters research and much more.
On Episode 56 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Sarah Costello.
Sarah is currently the Sr. Manager, Lightning Foundation & Community Events for the Tampa Bay Lightning. She's in her ninth season in Tampa, and oversees all things community relations and charitable foundation for the Lightning.
She began her journey as an intern with the Syracuse Crunch - first in public relations, then in community relations. She accepted a full-time role with the Crunch as the team's Community Relations Manager ahead of the 2012-13 season, the Crunch's first season as the Lightning's AHL affiliate.
After her time with the Crunch, Sarah spent time working in golf before her path took her to Tampa Bay, where she has seen the Lightning win two Stanley Cups while the organization has become a pillar in the Tampa community.
On the show, Sarah discusses her time in Syracuse, boat parades and much more.
On Episode 55 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Nick Holden.
Holden spent two full seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch during the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his pro career by joining the Crunch at the end of the 2007-08 season, and made his pro debut during the Crunch's incredible win streak. He played the next two seasons with the Crunch, contributing 45 points over 130 games between 2008 and 2010.
After the Crunch's affiliation with Columbus ended, Holden split the next three seasons between Columbus and AHL-Springfield before finally landing a full-time NHL role with Colorado in 2013-14.
Holden went on to play 654 NHL games for Columbus, Colorado, the New York Rangers, Boston, Vegas and Ottawa. After retiring this summer, Holden accepted a position as a player development coach for the Vegas Golden Knights.
On the show, Holden discusses his time with the Crunch, his welcome to Syracuse moment and more.
On Episode 54 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Jared Nightingale.
Nightingale spent one full season and parts of one more in Syracuse at the start of the Tampa Bay Lightning affiliation. Nightingale joined the Crunch for the 2012-13 season after signing an AHL contract with the Crunch as a free agent that summer. It marked his seventh pro season, and the veteran carved out a solid role on a loaded team. He played in 56 games during the regular season, amassing seven points and 121 penalty minutes as the Crunch won the division.
When not dressed for the game, Nightingale remained engaged with the Crunch fans by stepping into the broadcast booth to serve as a color commentator. He returned to Syracuse late in the 2014-15 season, skating in eight regular season games and one game during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Nightingale retired following the 2016-17 season and immediately jumped into coaching. Outside of one game played in 2017-18, Nightingale has been climbing the coaching ranks ever since, and he is currently an assistant coach for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.
He also returns to the Syracuse area every summer for his Great Lakes Hockey Camp, which returns to Cicero in July.
On the show, Nightingale discusses his time with the Crunch, his path into coaching and more.
On Episode 53 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Troy Bodie.
Bodie spent one season in Syracuse with the Crunch in 2011-12, when the team was affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks. An immediate leader on the team, Bodie was an alternate captain for the Crunch and accumulated 15 points and 119 penalty minutes in 69 games. He helped the Crunch earn a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
After playing in both the NHL and AHL for several more seasons, Bodie retired following the 2014-15 season and became a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He remained with the Leafs until May 2021 when he was hired by the Seattle Kraken to help launch their expansion AHL franchise. Bodie was brought in as the Director of Hockey and Business Operations for the newest AHL franchise and he has been there ever since, seeing the birth of the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The Firebirds are near the top of the AHL in their inaugural season.
On the show, Bodie discusses his time with the Crunch, his role in the beginnings of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and more.
On Episode 52 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Cory Conacher.
Conacher spent parts of five seasons in Syracuse over two different stints with the Crunch during their affiliation with Tampa Bay. Conacher was a member of the Crunch's first team during the Lightning affiliation in 2012-13. He produced 28 points in 36 games to begin the season before being recalled to the Lightning when the NHL Lockout was lifted.
After a trade to Ottawa during that season, Conacher spent the next three seasons with several other clubs, including a full season with Bern in Switzerland. He returned to North America starting in 2016-17 when he re-signed with the Lightning. He split time between Syracuse and Tampa Bay, but spent the majority of the season with the Crunch. He led all players in scoring with 28 points during the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs to help power the Crunch to their second Finals appearance.
He remained with the Crunch through the 2019-20 season, helping the Crunch win division titles in 2012-13, 2016-17 and 2018-19 and being named an AHL All-Star in 2018-19.
Conacher currently ranks fifth all time in Crunch scoring with 205 points (72g, 133a) in 224 career Crunch games. He has the second most playoff points all time for the Crunch with 31 in 26 playoff games.
On the show, Conacher discusses his time with the Crunch, the desire to continue his playing career and more.
On Episode 51 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Ayers.
Ayers played one season with the Crunch. He joined the team early in the 2005-06 season on a professional try-out (PTO). He earned a second PTO before eventually signing an SPC (standard player contract) with the Crunch later that season.
In 23 games that season for the Crunch, the Hingham, Massachusetts native posted a 12-8-1 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. He also logged three shutouts as he helped the Crunch win 47 games and notch 102 points.
Following his one season with the Crunch, Ayers played two more seasons before retiring and stepping away from hockey following the 2007-08 season. After a year in retail, Ayers returned to hockey and has been a coach ever since; he has been on the Boston College coaching staff since 2013-14.
On the show, Ayers discusses his season with the Crunch, how he ended up as a coach and more.
On Episode 50 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Jamie Heffernan.
Heffernan is a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning's development staff, focusing on functional movement. He is regularly in Syracuse and constantly working with the players to optimize how their bodies move off the ice, which translates to movements on the ice.
He has been working for the organization for seven years and has had an active role in the development of many players who went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Lightning.
On the show, Heffernan discusses his role with the organization, how his position was created in the first place and more.
On Episode 49 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Matt Thompson.
Thompson was an Account Executive for the Crunch, beginning a month before the 2017-18 season. His role with the organization continued to grow and evolve until the pandemic hit in 2020. With the Crunch unable to welcome fans for the 2020-21 season, Thompson adapted and found a different way to contribute that year.
At the end of the 2020-21 season, Thompson secured a position with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he continues to be today.
On the show, Matt discusses his role with the Lightning, what he learned working for the Crunch and more.
On Episode 48 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mathieu Darche.
Darche spent three seasons as a player in Syracuse at the start of the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliations. He began his pro career with the Crunch in 2000-01, skating in 66 games and logging 40 points. He also skated in nine games for Columbus that season. He split time again in 2001-02, adding another 45 points in 63 Crunch games while notching two points in 14 NHL games with the Blue Jackets. In nearly a full season in Syracuse in 2002-03, Darche capped his time in the organization with 64 points in 76 games.
In total, Darche skated in 205 games for the Crunch and finished with 149 points (70g, 79a), which ranks tied for 12th in franchise history.
His playing career continued through 2011-12 before he retired from hockey. After transitioning into the business world, Darche returned to hockey in May 2019 when he was hired as an Assistant General Manager and the Director of Hockey Operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has since played a big role in the team's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.
On the show, Darche discusses his role with the Lightning, what makes Syracuse the perfect place to develop the Lightning's prospects and more.
On Episode 47 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Sgroi.
Sgroi played parts of two seasons for the Crunch in the mid to late 2000s when the team was affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His first stint came at the tail end of the 2005-06 season, after he was bought out by the Devils organization and signed with the Crunch. Sgroi picked up three points in 16 games down the stretch as the Crunch were heading toward the playoffs. He also had 32 penalty minutes.
After a few seasons away, Sgroi's final stint with the Crunch came with a three-game run in Syracuse during the 2008-09 campaign. He added one goal for the Crunch in a season that saw he dress for six different teams between the AHL and ECHL.
His playing career, which began in the ECHL in 2000-01 continued until 2016-17, when he played in one game for the Orlando Solar Bears.
Following his playing days, Sgroi took up a role in coaching for both mixed martial arts and hockey. He has seen success in both sports, and is a key coach for Fusion X-cel Performance's pro fight team. He is based in the Orlando area.
On the show, Sgroi discusses his admiration for Syracuse, his successes in MMA and hockey and more.
On Episode 46 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Josh Holden.
Holden played two seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch at the beginning of his career. A first-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks, Holden's pro career began with the Crunch in the 1998-99 season. He was up and down between the Canucks and the Crunch that season, and he finished with 29 points in 38 games for the Crunch. He also added six points in 30 games for Vancouver.
He split time between the two clubs against in 1999-00, in the final season of the Crunch's affiliation with Vancouver. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Holden racked up 51 points in 45 games with the Crunch, helping the team qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs. He notched six points in six games for the Canucks too.
Over his two seasons in Syracuse, Holden totaled 80 points (33g, 47a) in 83 games from 1998 to 2000. He would play four more seasons in North America before spending the lockout season (2004-05) in Finland. He has remained in Europe ever since, playing in Switzerland from 2005 through 2018. He ranks 18th in Swiss league history in scoring with 530 points.
He transitioned into coaching after his playing career ended and he is currently an assistant coach in Zug.
On the show, Holden discusses starting his career in Syracuse, raising a family in Switzerland, and much more.
On Episode 45 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Radja.
Radja played parts of two seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch. He first joined the organization at the end of the 2007-08 season, when he signed an amateur try-out contract following the conclusion of his senior season at UNH. Radja jumped into the lineup with the team in the midst of their franchise record setting 23-game point streak and he collected three assists in two games.
After spending his rookie season with Rockford in 2008-09, Radja found his way back to Syracuse in 2009-10. He began that season in Finland, but was claimed off waivers by the Crunch when he returned to the AHL. He added 14 points in 31 games for the Crunch before being traded to Bridgeport at the trade deadline.
Radja would play the rest of his career in North America, Europe and Asia before retiring following the 2016-17 season. He has since transitioned into becoming a skating and skills coach for young hockey players in Central New York. Based out of Ithaca, Radja works with youth hockey players around the region through his program, SpeedSkills Hockey.
On the show, Radja discusses his two stints with the Crunch, how he created his SpeedSkills Hockey program, and much more.
On Episode 44 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Darrel Scoville.
Scoville played three seasons with the Crunch during the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Scoville signed with the Blue Jackets organization ahead of the 2001-02 season, joining the Crunch for his fourth pro season after winning a Calder Cup with the Saint John Flames in 2001. In his first season with the Crunch, Scoville added 21 points in 51 games to help the team clinch its first division championship in franchise history. He skated in 10 playoff games that season too during the Crunch's run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
His 2002-03 season was mired by injuries, limiting Scoville to just 24 Crunch games. He added 13 points in those games, and he also saw action in two games with Columbus. Returning to health in 2003-04, the defenseman was named the Crunch's captain. He responded with 42 points in 70 games with Syracuse. He finished the regular season with the Blue Jackets before returning for the Crunch's playoff series against Rochester.
In his three seasons, Scoville totaled 76 points (19g, 57a) in 145 Crunch games. He led the Crunch to the playoffs in two of his three seasons.
Scoville finished his playing career in Europe, spending time in Austria and Italy before retiring following the 2010-11 season.
On the show, Scoville discusses his time in Syracuse, the two playoff seasons with the Crunch, and much more.
On Episode 43 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Dan Watson.
Watson played three seasons with the Crunch at the beginning of the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Undrafted, Watson joined the Crunch as a rookie in the 2000-01 season, skating in 59 games and contributing seven points from the blueline. The defenseman also appeared in four Calder Cup Playoffs games that season for the Crunch.
Watson returned for his second season in Syracuse in 2001-02, adding four points in 53 games to help the Crunch win their first division championship. The second-year-pro was injured late in the season and missed the team's playoff run that season.
He came back for the final year of his contract in 2002-03, finding his way with nine points in 50 Crunch games. He was traded midseason, and finished the campaign in Cleveland. In total, Watson amassed 20 points in his 162 career Crunch games from 2000 to 2003. He would play four more seasons in the AHL, ECHL and UHL before retiring from playing following the 2006-07 season.
The Ontario native remains in hockey, and began his coaching career as an assistant for the ECHL's Toledo Walleye in 2009-10. He has remained with the Walleye ever since, becoming head coach ahead of the 2016-17 season. Watson has twice led the Walleye to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2019 and 2022.
On the show, Watson discusses his time in Syracuse, how the seeds of his coaching career were planted in Syracuse, and much more.
On Episode 42 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Sean Pronger.
Pronger played one full season with the Crunch, serving as the team's captain in 2001-02. That season, he split time between the Crunch and Columbus Blue Jackets. With the Crunch, Pronger skated in 54 games and logged 49 points (23g, 26a) to help the Crunch win their first ever division championship. He also appeared in 26 games with the Blue Jackets, notching four points (3g, 1a).
Pronger played in eight games during the 2002 Calder Cup Playoffs before suffering an injury during the Crunch's series against the Chicago Wolves.
Pronger remained in the organization and spent the entire 2002-03 season in Columbus. The following season, he saw action in seven games with the Crunch, scoring two goals, before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
On the show, Pronger discusses his time in Syracuse, why that time means so much to him, and much more.
On Episode 41 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Colten Wilson.
Wilson was a vital member behind the scenes for the Crunch, serving as the team's equipment manager for five seasons. He joined the organization ahead of the 2017-18 season and remained with the Crunch through the 2020-21 campaign.
That summer he was promoted to become the head equipment manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he remains today.
On the show, Colten discusses his time in Syracuse, his journey through hockey, and much more.
On Episode 40 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Gary Agnew.
Agnew, the third head coach in franchise history, spent six seasons in that position with the Crunch, starting in the 2000-01 season. He was the first head coach for the Crunch during their affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets, helping the team get off the ground in their first NHL season. Agnew led the Crunch to at least a 0.500 record in five of his six seasons, and he guided the team to the playoffs four times.
After helping the Crunch make the playoffs in his first season (2000-01), Agnew helmed the team to their first division championship in 2001-02 with a 39-23-5 (13 ties) record. They advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals before falling to eventual Calder Cup champion Chicago in seven games. Agnew's final season with the team saw the Crunch post a franchise record 47 wins (47-25-5-3) in 2005-06.
Agnew finished his six-year tenure with the Crunch with a 220-177-33-7 and 43 ties record. His 220 wins stood as the Crunch's franchise record until Ben Groulx surpassed him near the end of the 2021-22 season. Agnew was promoted onto the coaching staff with the Blue Jackets following the 2005-06 season.
He remains active in coaching and is in his sixth season with the Vancouver Canucks organization as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate as of the 2022-23 season.
On the show, Agnew discusses his time in Syracuse, his continued connection to the community, and much more.
On Episode 39 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Brent Walton.
Walton played in just 19 games for the Crunch over the span of two seasons. He joined the Crunch at the end of the 2005-06 season, appearing in six games following his career at Western Michigan. He did not record a point in those six games, but he remained with the organization for the 2006-07 season on an AHL contract with Syracuse. He saw action in 13 Crunch games that year without a point. Walton spent a majority of that season with the ECHL's Dayton Bombers and helped them reach the Kelly Cup Final.
After the season, Walton went to Europe and played the rest of his career in Germany, Denmark and Wales for the next nine years. He retired following the 2015-16 season.
In the aftermath of his playing career, Walton created and hosts the 2 Ales and Hockey Tales with Wally podcast. He has well over 200 episodes, including a chat with Crunch COO Jim Sarosy. His podcast has been ranked as the top hockey podcast in various European countries.
On the show, Walton discusses his podcast, his brief stints in Syracuse and much more.
On Episode 38 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Blunden. Blunden played four seasons for the Crunch, spanning two different affiliations.
Blunden's first stint in Syracuse came when he was acquired by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2008-09 season. He finished that season with the Crunch, producing 21 points in 39 games. After starting the 2009-10 season with the Blue Jackets, Blunden was sent back to the Crunch around Christmas, ultimately playing in 25 games with 16 points. He spent one more season in the Columbus organization before being traded to Montreal.
After splitting the next three seasons between Montreal and AHL-Hamilton, Blunden returned to the Crunch organization for his second stint when he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of the 2014-15 season. He produced 22 points in 33 games in 2014-15 season before tearing his ACL. The Lightning re-signed Blunden for the 2015-16 season and he rewarded them with 38 points in 49 Crunch games; he also saw action in 20 regular season and seven playoff games for the Lightning.
Blunden went on to captain Ottawa's AHL team--first in Binghamton then in Belleville--before finishing his playing career in Europe. He joined the Lightning's hockey operations staff as a pro scout ahead of the 2022-23 season.
In total, Blunden netted 97 points in 146 career Crunch games.
On the show, Blunden discusses his time in Syracuse, his new role with the Lightning and much more.
On Episode 37 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Cameron Gaunce. Gaunce spent two seasons with the club, beginning with the 2018-19 campaign.
Gaunce joined the organization when he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018. The defenseman had a prolific season with the Crunch in 2018-19, producing a career high 46 points (10g, 36a) in 59 games. That ranked sixth on the team in scoring and put him tied for seventh overall among defensemen in the AHL. He quarterbacked the Crunch's power play that ranked fifth in the league. The veteran helped the Crunch ring in their 25th season by capturing the North Division during the regular season. He also skated in two games for the Lightning.
Gaunce returned for his second season in the organization in 2019-20 and he was having another strong year before the season was cut short due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. He had 32 points in 52 games prior to the mid-March shutdown.
In total, Gaunce finished with 78 points (14g, 64a) in 111 career Crunch games. He ranks ninth all time in franchise history in scoring among defensemen.
Gaunce has continued his career after leaving Syracuse, and he enters his third season with the Ontario Reign in 2022-23. He helped the Reign to the third-best record in the league in 2021-22.
On the show, Gaunce discusses his time in Syracuse, being a positive voice in the community and much more.
On Episode 36 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Scott "Wild Thing" Walker to kick off Season 2 of the show. Walker spent two seasons with the Crunch from 1994 to 1996.
Walker was a member of the original Crunch team in 1994-95. As a defenseman that season, Walker compiled 334 penalty minutes, which still stands as the second-most ever in a single season in franchise history. He also added 52 points that season, leading all Crunch defensemen. At the end of the year, Walker was called up to Vancouver, where he played in 11 games and changed from a defenseman to a right wing, the position he would play for the remainder of his career.
The Ontario native spent most of the 1995-96 season with the Canucks, but he ended the year with the Crunch after being demoted near the trade deadline. He took that move in stride, rattling off 15 points in the final 15 games of the regular season and then adding 17 more during the Calder Cup Playoffs as the Crunch advanced to the Conference Finals.
The way he finished the 1995-96 season launched Walker into a full-time NHL role for the remainder of his career. He played in 829 career NHL games with Vancouver, Nashville, Carolina and Washington before retiring in 2010.
Since retiring, Walker has transitioned into coaching; after spending the second half of the 2021-22 season with the Canucks, he returned to a head coach position with the Guelph Storm in the OHL ahead of the 2022-23 season.
On the show, Walker discusses his time in Syracuse, the attitude he brought to the Crunch when he returned in 1995-96, the "Wild Thing" and much more.
In preparation for Season 2 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale takes the listeners back through some of the best moments from Season 1 of the show.
We hear from Pat Maroon, Carter Verhaeghe, Ross Colton, Vance Lederman, John Badduke, Zenon Konopka, Bobby Mac and Yanni Gourde.
After that, we get a taste of what's to come on Season 2 of Crunch Chronicles, which kicks off Monday, October 3.
On the final episode of Season 1 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Ben Groulx. The focus of this final episode of the season is a reflection on the 2021-22 Crunch season, with the conversation taking place on exit day, less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the Crunch's run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Groulx just completed his sixth season as head coach of the Crunch, and near the end of the season he passed Gary Agnew to become the all-time winningest coach in franchise history. He has led the Crunch to the playoffs all four years that the league has held postseason play during his tenure.
Season 2 of Crunch Chronicles will return in September, and it will revert back to it's traditional format of chatting with a Crunch alumni.
On Episode 33 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Eric Neilson. Neilson spent three memorable seasons with the Crunch at the start of the team's affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Neilson was a member of the original team that won a Calder Cup in Norfolk in 2012 before the Lightning's affiliation moved to Syracuse ahead of the 2012-13 season. He was a key part of the group that help the new affiliate immediately connect with the Syracuse community, both on and off the ice. He played in 39 games for the Crunch that season, amassing 135 penalty minutes and scoring one goal. Although he did not appear in any playoff games during the Crunch's run to the 2013 Calder Cup Finals, his infectious personality was a big part of that group's run.
He would remain with the Crunch for two more seasons, through the 2014-15 season. In total, Neilson played in 94 Crunch games during his tenure in Syracuse and registered 297 penalty minutes in that time. He also chipped in with five points.
Neilson's presence off the ice was as important as his role on the ice. He was named the Crunch's Man of the Year in each of his three seasons, and he was awarded the prestigious Yanick Dupré Memorial Award as the AHL's community man of the year. He remains the only Crunch player to ever win the award.
Neilson's playing career ended in 2016-17 and he then moved into coaching before the pandemic shifted his focus.
On the show, Neilson discusses his memories in Syracuse, moments with P.C. Labrie, why he was so invested in the community and much more.
On Episode 32 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Trevor Frischmon. Frischmon spent four seasons with the Crunch at the end of the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Frischmon began his pro career on a two-way AHL contract with the Crunch, and he split his rookie season with the Crunch and ECHL Dayton Bombers. He played in 33 games for the Crunch, adding seven assists in 2006-07. He also dressed in 24 games with the Bombers during the regular season, and then he helped Dayton make a run to the Kelly Cup Finals during the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The Minnesota native followed that up by returning to the Crunch in 2007-08 and carving out a role on one of the top teams in franchise history. He added 16 points in 59 games for the Crunch during the regular season to help them surge to their historic finish at the end of the regular season. In the playoffs, Frischmon became etched in Crunch history by scoring the series-clinching, overtime game-winning goal in Game 6 of their series with the Manitoba Moose.
He closed out his tenure with the Crunch playing two more seasons through the 2009-10 season. In total, he appeared in 247 games for the Crunch, which ranks 11th in franchise history. He produced 73 points (17g, 56a) in that time. He earned his one NHL recall with Columbus during the 2009-10 season, playing three games for the Blue Jackets.
On the show, Frischmon discusses his time as a player with the Crunch, that memorable 2007-08 team, his series clinching goal, and much more.
On Episode 31 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Tampa Bay Lightning Director of Skill Development Mike Ellis.
On the show, Ellis discusses the road which led him to his current role with the Lightning, his philosophies on skill development and working with current players, watching players develop into NHL regulars and much more.
On Episode 30 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Crunch General Manager Stacy Roest.
On the show, Dolgon discusses his path to becoming the Crunch's general manager, his responsibilities within the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, what Syracuse means to the Lightning organization, the current push for the playoffs and much more.
On Episode 29 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon.
On the show, Dolgon discusses the process of bringing an AHL team to Syracuse, the multiple teams he engaged to partner with from the start, the challenges of the last two years during the pandemic and much more.
On Episode 28 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Rob Zettler. Zettler served as a the Crunch's head coach for parts of four seasons.
Zettler joined the Crunch as an assistant coach under Jon Cooper when the Crunch began their affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2012-13 season. He assumed the position of head coach late that season when Cooper was promoted to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Zettler led the Crunch over the final 11 games of the regular season as the team clinched the East Division. He then helped guide the team to consecutive sweeps in the first two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs and a five-game series win against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to earn the Crunch their first ever berth in the Calder Cup Finals.
Zettler continued as head coach through the 2015-16 season and he led the team to a pair of playoff berths. In 239 regular season games, Zettler compiled a 108-90-28-13 record as Crunch head coach. He is one of five head coaches in franchise history to reach 100 wins.
Zettler was reunited with Cooper in Tampa Bay when he was named an assistant coach for the Lightning before the 2020-21 season. He helped the team win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
On the show, Zettler discusses his time in Syracuse and the team's run to the Calder Cup Finals and winning the Stanley Cup.
On Episode 27 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Corey Hirsch. Hirsch played for the Crunch during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons while the team was affiliated with the Vancouver Canucks.
Hirsch was a workhorse in the 1997-98 season, playing in 60 games for the Crunch, which stands as the second-most by a Crunch goaltender in a single season. He finished that season with a 30-22-6 record with a 3.19 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. Among AHL goaltenders, Hirsch ranked second in wins (30), minutes played (3,512) and saves (1,724). He also posted one shutout as he helped the Crunch earn a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The Medicine Hat, Alberta native returned for five games in Syracuse the following season, but spent the majority of that campaign in the NHL with Vancouver.
Hirsch totaled 108 NHL games during his career with Vancouver, the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and Dallas Stars. He also saw AHL action with the Binghamton Rangers, Albany River Rats, Portland Pirates, Philadelphia Phantoms and Utah Grizzlies, in addition to his time with the Crunch.
He also won a Silver Medal at the 1994 Olympics with Team Canada.
Following his career, Hirsch opened up about his struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder while he was a prospect beginning his NHL journey. He is now a public advocate for mental health and hosts Blindsided, a podcast about sports, mental health and life.
On the show, Hirsch discusses his time in Syracuse and the important conversation surrounding mental health.
On Episode 26 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Mike McKenna. McKenna's time in Syracuse was short - lasting just over three months - but it was impactful during the team's run to the 2017 Calder Cup Finals.
McKenna was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade from the Florida Panthers on March 1, 2017. It was the first time in his career he was traded and it brought the journeyman goaltender to the Crunch.
He appeared in 14 games for the Crunch down the stretch and posted a 5-5-3 record to help the team capture the North Division on the final day of the regular season. He seized control of the net heading into the playoffs.
McKenna backstopped the team in all 22 playoff games. He logged a 13-9 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. He was stellar in the North Division Semifinals against St. John's, guided the team through the Toronto Marlies in the North Division Finals and was strong during the Eastern Conference Finals against Providence as the Crunch made their second Calder Cup Finals appearance in franchise history.
McKenna would sign with Dallas the following season and lead Texas to Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals. He played for several teams in 2018-19 after being traded or claimed on waivers multiple times; he retired from playing following that season and transitioned into media.
On the show, McKenna discusses his immediate connection to Syracuse, the run during the Calder Cup Playoffs, his new role in hockey media, and much more.
On Episode 25 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Matt Taormina. Taormina, played four seasons with the Crunch over two stints and he is the only player to play for the team in both the 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup Finals.
Taormina's first stint in Syracuse began in 2012-13 when he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He produced 24 points in 55 regular season games that year for the Crunch and then added 12 more during the playoffs to help lead the Crunch into the Calder Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.
He returned to Syracuse the following season after re-signing with the Lightning and he clocked in with another 18 points in 41 games before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization in a deal that brought Jonathan Marchessault to Syracuse.
After spending the remainder of the 2013-14 season and the 2014-15 season outside of Syracuse, Taormina was reunited with the Crunch after signing with the Lightning ahead of the 2015-16 season. He notched a then career high 41 points that season. In 2016-17, his final season in Syracuse, Taormina became the second Crunch defenseman to win the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's top defenseman. He produced 60 points over 70 games en route to being named an AHL All-Star. He added another 20 points in 22 playoff games to help guide the Crunch back to the Calder Cup Finals in 2017.
Taormina finished his Crunch career with 143 points (38g, 105a) in 227 games. He currently ranks 18th in franchise history in scoring and he is third all-time among Crunch defensemen. He is the all-time Crunch leader in playoff scoring with 32 points (7g, 25a) in a franchise record 40 playoff games
On the show, Taormina discusses his time as a player with the Crunch, being traded and then returning the organization, the two runs to the Calder Cup Finals, and much more.
On Episode 24 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by J.P. Cote. Cote, who is currently the Director of Player Development for the Tampa Bay Lightning, played three seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch from 2012 to 2015.
Cote joined signed a two-year AHL contract with the Crunch ahead of the 2012-13 season after he won the Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals in 2012. A veteran presence, Cote was an assistant captain for the Crunch, providing leadership while dressing in 74 games. The steady defenseman chipped in with 17 points and a career-high 143 PIM as the Crunch won the East Division with a 43-22-6-5 record. He went on to play in all 18 playoff games to help the Crunch roll through the Eastern Conference en route to their first ever berth in the Calder Cup Finals.
The Quebec native returned to the Crunch in 2013-14 and played 33 games with 13 points. He signed an NHL contract with the Lightning during the season and ended up playing 19 games for Tampa Bay in his first NHL action since the 2005-06 season. He played one final season in Syracuse, appearing in 74 games in 2014-15 season to end his tenure in the organization.
Cote totaled 181 games during his Crunch career, putting up 41 points (7g, 34a) and 312 PIM over his three seasons.
Cote's playing career ended with three seasons in Europe, playing in Germany and France. He spent one season as a scout with the San Jose Sharks before returning to the Lightning organization as the team's Director of Player Development on August 1, 2019.
On the show, Cote discusses his time as a player with the Crunch, returning to the organization in his current role, and much more.
On Episode 23 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by David Ling. Ling, a former Crunch captain, played three seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch from 2001 to 2004.
Ling joined the organization in 2001-02 in his seventh pro season. He played in 71 games for the Crunch that season and finished the season with 60 points and 240 PIM. He finished second on the team in scoring to help lead the Crunch to their first ever division championship as the team finished first place in the Western Conference on their way to the Central Division title. Ling added 10 points in 10 playoff games before the Crunch lost to the eventual Calder Cup Champion Chicago Wolves in a seven-game series.
The Halifax, Nova Scotia native spent parts of two more seasons with the Crunch. He served as captain during the 2002-03 season and produced 41 points over 46 games. He also saw action in 46 games with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. In his final season in the organization, Ling contributed 17 points in 14 games for the Crunch and another three in a career-high 50 games with Columbus.
Ling totaled 131 games during his Crunch career, putting up 118 points (33g, 85a) and 394 PIM over his three seasons.
His lengthy playing career continued overseas with stops in Russia, Switzerland, Finland, Italy and England before he finished his career playing in the ECHL with Brampton through 2017-18.
On the show, Ling discusses his time as Crunch captain, the success of the 2001-02 season, and much more.
On Episode 22 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Angelidis. Angelidis is one of the most iconic players in franchise history and he served as captain for four seasons from 2012 to 2016.
Angelidis joined the Crunch as part of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization when the teams began their affiliation ahead of the 2012-13 season. He was immediately named the team's captain that season, a role he maintained during his entire tenure in Syracuse. On the ice, Angelidis contributed 24 points in 71 games in 2012-13 before helping the Crunch capture their first Calder Cup Finals berth during the 2013 playoffs.
The Woodbridge, Ontario native increased his points production over the next two seasons while also seeing action in a handful of games for the Lightning. He matched his career high with 38 points during 2014-15 as the Crunch made the playoffs again. In 2015-16, Angelidis represented the Crunch at the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic, hosted in Syracuse.
In his four seasons with the Crunch, Angelidis amassed 110 points (50g, 60a) in 263 regular season games. He currently ranks eighth in franchise history in games played; he is fourth among players during the Lightning affiliation. His 532 penalty minutes are the sixth-most in franchise history.
Angelidis' impact was just as significant off the ice, where he spearheaded many community initiatives for the Crunch. He helped launch Change for Change, a fundraising initiative that raised money for cancer research at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital and Cancer Center to help improve the odds for patients with cancer.
After his time in Syracuse, Angelidis spent one more season in the AHL with Stockton. He then went to Italy to play for HC Bolzano, where he won a championship in 2018. Angelidis also won a Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals in 2011. He retired after winning the Austrian league in 2018 and then returned to the Lightning organization as a scout.
On the show, Angelidis discusses his impact in Syracuse, his approach to leadership, and much more.
On Episode 21 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Alex Picard. Picard spent parts of five seasons in Syracuse and is one of the top scorers in franchise history.
Picard, the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NH Entry Draft, began his pro career with the Crunch in the 2005-06 season. He logged 30 points (15g, 15a) in 45 games as a rookie for the Crunch, while he also saw action in his first 17 NHL games for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Over the next four seasons, Picard would continue to split time between the Crunch and Blue Jackets. He set a career high in 2007-08 with 116 PIMs and also added 20 points to help the Crunch secure a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He added three points during the 2008 playoffs as the Crunch advanced to the North Division Finals.
Picard's time with the Crunch spanned from 2005 to 2010. In his final season with the organization, Picard played in the first ever AHL outdoor game when the Crunch hosted the Binghamton Senators in the Mirabito Outdoor Classic. Picard scored the first outdoor goal in AHL history to lead the Crunch to a win. He finished with 234 career games for the Crunch, which currently ranks 13th all-time. His 72 goals are tied for seventh in franchise history and his 146 points rank 15th for the Crunch.
Following his time with the Crunch, Picard two more seasons in the AHL with San Antonio and Norfolk. In his final AHL season, Picard won the Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals in 2012, helping many future Crunch players capture the AHL's top prize.
On the show, Picard discusses his experience in Syracuse, the Mirabito Outdoor Classic, winning the Calder Cup and more.
On Episode 20 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Karl Goehring. Goehring is one of the most popular players in Crunch history, spending parts of five seasons in Syracuse.
Goehring is the winningest goaltender in Crunch history, earning 78 wins while appearing in 177 games in a Crunch sweater. His career began in Syracuse during the 2001-02 season, playing in 15 games for the Crunch as a rookie; he also played in the ECHL that season and helped the Dayton Bombers advance to the Kelly Cup Final.
Over the next three years, The North Dakota product played in 49, 38 and 49 games, culminating with his first career 20-win season in 2004-05. He helped the Crunch make the playoffs during the 2003-04 season and he appeared in five playoff games for the Crunch in 2004. After spending over two seasons away from the organization, Goehring returned to the Crunch during the 2007-08 season. He won 15 games for the Crunch as the team went on a miracle run in the second half of the season, collecting points in 23 straight games and winning their final 15 to make the playoffs. Karl played 13 playoff games for the team, which defeated Manitoba in the first round before losing to Toronto in the Division Finals.
Goehring posted a 78-71-15 record in 177 career Crunch games. He had a 2.58 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in his time with the Crunch; Goehring is tied for the franchise lead with 11 shutouts.
Goehring returned to Syracuse as the Crunch goaltending and video coach during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, helping the team post their two best regular seasons in franchise history, including the 2018 North Division championship. He returned to North Dakota as an assistant coach following the 2018-19 season.
On the show, Goehring discusses his two hockey homes, his experience in Syracuse, returning as a coach for the Crunch and more.
On Episode 19 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Bob McElligott. Bobby Mac is radio play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
McElligott spent 10 seasons as the voice of the Crunch, joining the team in 1999 and staying with the organization until his promotion to the Blue Jackets broadcast team in 2009. His first season in Syracuse was the team's last campaign as an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and the final nine years in the Salt City were spent with the Crunch serving as the Blue Jackets' affiliate.
Over the years he saw the Crunch set their franchise record with a 15-game winning streak in the 2007-08 season, while describing the action for six playoff-bound teams. Bobby Mac helped create "The Shootout Show" which was an extended postgame show following Crunch home games that has continued to this day. McElligott was also on hand in 2010 to call the Mirabito Outdoor Classic and he called several games during the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs.
On the show, Bobby Mac discusses how he ended up in Syracuse, his growth with the Crunch, some great moments during his time with the organization and much more.
On Episode 18 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Yanni Gourde. Gourde is one of the great success stories of the Crunch's affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gourde's time with the organization began late in the 2013-14 season when he contributed eight points in 18 games with the Crunch. His first full season with the organization was in 2014-15 when he skated in all 76 Crunch games and produced a career-high 57 points, helping the Crunch make the playoffs. In 2015-16, Gourde followed up with a 44-point campaign over 65 games, and he also made his NHL debut for the Tampa Bay Lightning that year. He culminated his Crunch career in 2016-17, powering his way to 48 points in 56 regular season games. He then went on to add 27 points in 22 games during the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs to help the Crunch advance to their second Calder Cup Finals appearance in franchise history.
Gourde finished his Crunch career with 215 games played and 157 points (67g, 90a), which ranks eighth all-time in franchise history. He ranks second among Crunch players during the Lightning affiliation.
Gourde graduated to the NHL full time in the 2017-18 season and remained with the Lightning through the 2020-21 season. He was a key part of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships for the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He was then selected by the Seattle Kraken in the Seattle Expansion Draft and was named an assistant captain for the new team.
On the show, Gourde discusses his time with the Crunch, his Toyota Frozen Dome Classic memories, the team's memorable run to the 2017 Calder Cup Finals and much more.
On Episode 17 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Brent Sopel. Sopel began his pro career with the Crunch and played three full seasons in Syracuse during the Vancouver Canucks affiliation.
Sopel totaled three regular season games for the Crunch during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons before beginning his pro career in earnest as a rookie during the 1997-98 campaign. The defenseman piled up 43 points in 76 games for the Crunch before adding on seven points in five playoff games. He followed that with 31 points in 53 games in 1998-99, while also making his NHL debut with the Canucks that season. He ended his tenure with the Crunch in 1999-00, producing another 31 points in 50 games to help the Crunch return to the playoffs.
Sopel ended his Crunch career having played in 182 games, recording 105 points (26g, 79a). He is one of five Crunch defensemen to reach 100 points in a Crunch sweater.
Sopel went on to play 658 NHL games for Vancouver, the New York Islanders, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Montreal. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010. Sopel spent three seasons in the KHL before returning to North American for one season with the Chicago Wolves in 2014-15.
Sopel, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, founded the Brent Sopel Foundation, which is dedicated to providing financial and educational assistance to help students with dyslexia fulfill their potential through early detection and intervention. More information is available at www.brentsopelfoundation.org/.
On the show, Sopel discusses his time with the Crunch, his work away from hockey and much more.
On Episode 16 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Brown. Brown played one season for the Crunch at the end of their affiliation with the Vancouver Canucks.
Brown played his rookie season with the Crunch in 1999-00 and appeared in 71 games. He 31 points (13g, 18a) while amassing a team-high 284 penalty minutes over the course of the season, helping the Crunch make the playoffs. He dressed in all four playoff games for the Crunch too to close out his time in Syracuse before Vancouver's affiliate moved to the IHL with the Kansas City Blades.
A native of Surrey, British Columbia, Brown made his NHL debut with Vancouver in the 2000-01 season. The former first round pick went on to play 34 NHL games with Vancouver, Anaheim and Chicago. He also played in 309 AHL games for Syracuse, Manitoba, Cincinnati, Binghamton and Norfolk.
On the show, Brown discusses his time with the Crunch, the trade that brought him to the Vancouver organization, Stan Smyl and much more.
On Episode 15 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Joe Motzko. Motzko saw action in five different seasons for the Crunch during their affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets and is one of the most prolific scorers in team history.
After playing in two games at the end of the 2002-03 season, Motzko embarked on his rookie campaign in Syracuse during the 2003-04 season, amassing 41 points in 70 games. He added four more points during the playoffs before the Crunch lost a heartbreaking Game 7 against Rochester. He also made his NHL debut with Columbus that season.
The Minnesota native followed that up with a strong sophomore season, producing 66 points in 79 games during the 2004-05 season. He was a point-per-game player the rest of his tenure with the Crunch, finishing the 2005-06 season with 61 points in 61 games and adding 36 in 33 games before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks organization in the 2006-07 season. Motzko finished his Crunch career with 204 points, which ranks fifth in franchise history, while his 85 goals rank fourth.
After his time with the Crunch, Motzko went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, appearing in three playoff games for Anaheim. The following season, he captured the 2008 Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves.
On the show, Motzko discusses his time with the Crunch, his connection to the city and much more.
On Episode 14 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Cedrick Desjardins. Desjardins spent one and a half seasons with the Crunch and backstopped the team to their first Calder Cup Finals appearance in 2013.
Acquired in a mid-season trade during 2012-13 campaign, Desjardins stabilized the Crunch's goaltending and provided a strong veteran presence as the team was in a battle for the East Division. In 14 regular season games down the stretch, Desjardins posted an 8-5-1 record with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage, best among Crunch goaltenders. He helped the team clinch the East Division championship in the penultimate game of the regular season, giving the Crunch their first division title in a decade.
He carried that strong play into the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs, appearing in all 18 playoff games for Syracuse. He went 11-1 over the course of the first three rounds of the playoffs, leading the Crunch to sweeps of Portland and Springfield before they easing past the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to advance to the Finals. 'Ceddy' picked up three shutouts along the way, including two in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Desjardins returned for one more season with the Crunch in 2013-14 before moving on to finish his career across three different leagues.
On the show, Desjardins discusses his the Valentine's Day trade, fitting in with the Crunch and the team's extended playoff run.
On Episode 13 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Reggie Savage. Savage spent three seasons in Syracuse and was tabbed by the Crunch as the player to bridge the organization to a new NHL affiliate, playing for the Crunch during both the Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets eras.
Acquired in a trade late in the 1995-96 season, Savage helped the Crunch make the playoffs in their second season in Syracuse. He scored the playoff clinching goal for the Crunch and tallied nine goals and 14 points in 10 games to close out the regular season. In the playoffs, he added another 15 points in 16 games to lead the Crunch to the Conference Finals.
After spending a few years away from the organization, Savage returned for two more seasons from 1999 to 2001. During the 1999-00 season, the Crunch's final season as the affiliate of the Canucks, Savage ripped off 70 points to guide the team back to the playoffs after they missed out the previous season. He was then retained by the organization as they welcomed in the Blue Jackets in 2000-01 and he responded with another 61 points and a trip to the playoffs.
During his time with the Crunch, Savage played in 166 games and logged 145 points. His 82 goals rank fifth in franchise history.
On the show, Savage discusses his reaction to the trade that brought him to Syracuse, his love of Syracuse and the Crunch organization and much more.
On Episode 12 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Zenon Konopka. One of the most popular players in Crunch history, Konopka made a lasting impression on the organization despite spending parts of just two seasons in Syracuse from 2006 to 2008.
Acquired in a trade during the 2006-07 season, Konopka joined the Crunch and produced 20 points in 20 games. He was instrumental in changing the culture of the team, joining the Crunch when they were seven games below 0.500, but helping the group finish 34-34-4-8, narrowly missing the Calder Cup Playoffs.
In his second season in the organization, the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario native was named the Crunch's captain and he produced 55 points in 62 games, despite breaking his hand. The club went on a 20-0-0-3 run to end the regular season before advancing to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs; Konopka added 10 points in 13 games.
After leaving Syracuse, Konopka played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres. He totaled 346 NHL games and 350 AHL games in his career, before retiring as a member of the Crunch.
On the show, Konopka discusses his welcome to the Crunch moment, his belief in that 2007-08 team and much more.
On Episode 11 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Tyson Nash. Nash played three seasons for the Syracuse Crunch to begin his pro career from 1995 to 1998.
A 10th round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1994 NHL Draft, Nash dressed in 50 games as a rookie for the Crunch in 1995-96, when he produced 11 points. He also saw action in the playoffs as the Crunch advanced to the Southern Conference Finals. Nash played in over 70 games in each of his final two seasons with the Crunch, culminating in a 20-goal, 40-point campaign in 1997-98. He finished his Crunch career with 201 games played and 85 points (41g, 44a) to go with 347 PIMs.
Nash joined the St. Louis Blues organization following the 1997-98 season and eventually made his NHL debut with the Blues in 1998-99. He went on to play 374 NHL games with St. Louis and the Phoenix Coyotes. After retiring from playing, Nash jumped into the broadcast booth to serve as an analyst on Coyotes broadcasts, a role he still holds today.
On the show, Nash discusses his experience with the Crunch, reaching the 20-goal plateau in Syracuse and more.
On Episode 10 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Vance Lederman. Lederman is the Chief Financial Officer for the Syracuse Crunch and has been with the organization since the very beginning of the franchise.
A childhood friend of Crunch owner Howard Dolgon, Lederman was involved during the process of bringing the Crunch to Syracuse in the leadup to the 1994-95 AHL season. Over the years, he has become one of the beloved members of the organization and is a staple in the Syracuse community.
On the show, Vance discusses the process of building an AHL franchise, getting through the pandemic, what continues to motivate him and more.
On Episode 9 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Brent Tully. Tully played three seasons for the Syracuse Crunch at the very start of the Crunch franchise. A fourth-round draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks organization, Tully's rookie season coincided with the first season for the Crunch in 1994.
The Peterborough, Ontario native dressed in 63 games for the Crunch during the 1994-95 season and tallied nine points to go with 106 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in points (16), assists (13) and PIM (114) over 52 games during the 1995-96 season. His Crunch career came to an end following the 1996-97 season, during which he had six points in 26 games. He totaled 141 games in a Crunch sweater over the course of his three seasons.
After his time in Syracuse, Tully played the rest of his career in Germany from 1997 to 2002, retiring following one season with Frankfurt.
On the show, Tully discusses his experience with the Crunch, what it was like to grow up as a young adult in Syracuse and more.
On Episode 8 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by John Badduke. Badduke played three seasons for the Syracuse Crunch at the very start of the Crunch franchise. He was a member of the Vancouver Canucks organization and a part of the original Crunch team in 1994.
Badduke became an instant fan favorite with the Crunch as the team's original enforcer. In the Crunch's inaugural season, Badduke logged 334 penalty minutes in 44 games played; that ranks as the second-most PIM in a single season in franchise history. He followed that with 245 penalty minutes in 1995-96 and he ranks fourth all-time in franchise history with 649 PIM in his 114 career Crunch games.
Badduke had his jersey raised to the arena rafters after winning a fan vote in the 1998-99 season. He has been a fixture at Crunch milestone nights, including the team's 25th anniversary night during the 2018-19 season.
On the show, Badduke discusses his experience with the Crunch, the penalty box incident and more.
On Episode 7 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Brian Loney. Loney played three seasons for the Syracuse Crunch at the very start of the Crunch franchise. He was a member of the Vancouver Canucks organization and a part of the original Crunch team in 1994.
Loney played in the very first Crunch game on September 30, 1994 and totaled 191 games for the Crunch from 1994 to 1997. He ranks 11th all-time in franchise history with 149 points (76g, 74a) in those 191 games while his 76 goals rank sixth. He netted 34 goals in just 48 games during the 1995-96 season before adding 11 points in 14 playoff games to help the Crunch advanced to the Conference Finals in just their second season.
After his three seasons in Syracuse, Loney played the vast majority of the remainder of his career in Europe, spending time in Germany, Finland and Italy.
On the show, Loney discusses his experience with the Crunch, what the buildup was like before the very first Crunch game and what it meant to return during the team's 25th anniversary celebration.
On Episode 6 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Joey Mormina. Mormina played three seasons for the Syracuse Crunch at the end of his career. He joined the organization starting with the 2013-14 season and totaled 140 games with the Crunch through the 2015-16 season. In that time, Mormina served as an assistant captain and produced 36 points and 180 PIM.
Mormina totaled 670 career AHL games during his 11-year playing career. He played for Manchers, Albany, Adirondack, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester and Syracuse during. In 2012-13, he captained the Penguins to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Crunch in five games. Following his retirement, Mormina began coaching and he spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
On the show, Mormina discusses what brought him to the Crunch organization, playing at Upstate Medical University Arena as a member of both the Crunch and as an opponent and his life after hockey.
On Episode 5 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Ross Colton. Colton played parts of three seasons for the Syracuse Crunch starting as a rookie in 2018-19. In his first pro season, the New Jersey native played in 66 games and added 31 points to help the Crunch win the North Division. He followed that up by being named an alternate captain in his second season (2019-20) while he tallied 42 points in 62 games before the AHL season was cut short due to Covid. He started the 2020-21 season with the Crunch, appearing in three games, before he earned his call up to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As an NHL rookie, Colton chipped in 12 points in 30 regular season games. He then added six more points during the Lightning's run to their second straight Stanley Cup. Colton's playoff moment came in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final; he scored the lone goal in the Lightning's 1-0 cup-clinching win over the Montreal Canadiens. He became just the seventh rookie in NHL history to score a cup-clinching goal. He signed a new two-year contract extension with the Lightning during the offseason.
On the show, Colton discusses how he grew as a player in Syracuse, his relationship with Crunch head coach Ben Groulx, his dream NHL season and more.
We also referenced a story about J.T. Brown. That story can be found here.
On Episode 4 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Eddie Pasquale. Pasquale played two seasons for the Syracuse Crunch in 2017-18 and 2018-19 after he was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade on February 1, 2018. Eddie posted a 10-1-3 record with the Crunch after joining the team that season and he helped them advance to the North Division Finals. He returned for a second season in the organization and grabbed the number one goaltender spot, going 27-12-6 in 2018-19. He guided the Crunch to the North Division title in the regular season and earned the Harry 'Hap' Holmes Memorial Award as the Crunch led the AHL in goals against per game.
Over the course of two seasons, Pasquale recorded a 37-13-9 record with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. His 37 wins are tied for sixth all time in Crunch history. His 2.20 goals-against average is the best among Crunch goalies who have played a minimum of 25 games and his .921 save percentage ranks fourth among that group.
The Toronto native also made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning during his time in the organization and he went 2-1-0 in three appearances in 2018-19. Following his time in Syracuse, Pasquale has spent the last three seasons in the KHL; he won the KHL's goaltender of the year award in 2020-21.
On the show, Pasquale discusses how he enjoyed playing in Syracuse, both as a visitor and as a member of the Crunch, making his NHL debut with the Lightning and his new venture in the KHL.
On Episode 3 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Carter Verhaeghe. Verhaeghe played two seasons for the Syracuse Crunch in 2017-18 and 2018-19 after he was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade during the summer of 2017. After forcing his way into the lineup a few weeks in the season, Verhaeghe ended up second on the Crunch with 48 points over 58 games in 2017-18. He followed that with a franchise-record 82 points in 2018-19 to lead the Crunch to the North Division title. He became the first Crunch player to win the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL's top scorer and he also shared the Willie Marshall Award with teammate Alex Barre-Boulet as they led the AHL with 34 goals apiece.
After spending two seasons in Syracuse, Verhaeghe earned his spot on the Lightning at the start of the 2019-20 season. He played in 52 games and added 13 points during the regular season before adding two assists during the Lightning's run to the Stanley Cup. He joined the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2020-21 season and posted 36 points in 43 games, leading to a three-year contract extension during the offseason.
On the show, Verhaeghe discusses how his career blossomed in Syracuse, winning a Stanley Cup with the Lightning and what the future looks like with the Florida Panthers.
On Episode 2 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by J.T. Brown. Brown played parts of two seasons for the Syracuse Crunch in 2012-13 and 2013-14 during the first two years of the team's affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a rookie in 2012-13, Brown had 28 points in 51 regular season games. He then added nine points in 18 playoff games to help the Crunch earn their first berth in the Calder Cup Finals. He started the 2013-14 season in Syracuse, where he formed a dominant line with Nikita Kucherov and Vlad Namestnikov, before earning his NHL call-up in November.
After leaving Syracuse, Brown played for the Lightning into the 2017-18 season. He was ticketed for a return to the Crunch during that season, but was claimed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks. He spent his last two seasons (2018-20) in North America playing in the Wild organization, then spent the 2020-21 season in Sweden. After retiring this summer, Brown was hired by the Seattle Kraken as their first television color analyst.
On the show, Brown discusses his new role in Seattle, his experience with the Crunch and his life-changing moment in Syracuse.
On Episode 1 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Pat Maroon. Maroon played two seasons for the Syracuse Crunch in 2010-11 and 2011-12 during the Crunch's affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks. He is tied for 24th in franchise history with 122 points (53g, 69a) in 132 games in Syracuse and he helped push the Crunch into the playoffs in 2012. His 74 points that season are the seventh-most in a single season in franchise history and only one player--Carter Verhaeghe in 2018-19--has produced more in a season for the Crunch since then.
Since leaving Syracuse, Maroon has gone on to win three consecutive Stanley Cups. He won with his hometown St. Louis Blues in 2019 and has captured back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Crunch's NHL affiliate Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He is the first player since the 1980's New York Islander dynasty to win three straight Stanley Cups and only the fourth in NHL history to do so with two different teams.
On the show, Maroon discusses winning three straight Cups, his time in Syracuse and how his career turned around when he joined the Crunch.
The Syracuse Crunch have been an AHL staple for nearly three decades. Each week on Crunch Chronicles, host Lukas Favale chats with a special Crunch guest to uncover the stories about their time in the Salt City.