When the Syracuse Crunch ended its affiliation with the Columbus Bluejackets at the end of last season, the NHL franchise moved its top farm club to Springfield, Mass.
So this year, 10 former Crunch players now play for the American Hockey League’s Springfield Falcons, a team that visits the Onondaga County War Memorial for the first time this year at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20.
Led by a starting line of three former Crunch men – Tom Sestito, Michael Blunden and Chad Kolarik – the Falcons narrowly bested this season’s Crunch Nov. 5 at the MassMutual Center.
Blunden scored the game’s first goal. Tallying for Syracuse that night were rookie winger Nick Deschamps and center Rob Bordson.
This Saturday night at the War Memorial, Crunch fans will root against former hometown heroes such as Maksim Mayorov, Steve Goertzen, Brent Regner and Trevor Frischmon. Other returning players include Grant Clitsome, Tomas Kana and Jonathan Sigalet.
Just two players from the Crunch’s 2009-10 roster now play for the Crunch in the team’s first year as the top affiliate of the NHL Anaheim Ducks – enforcer Jon Mirasty and left winger John Kurtz.
At the end of last weekend’s play, including a lackluster Syracuse home loss to the Hershey Bears on Saturday, the Falcons had eight wins and five losses while the Crunch stood at 6-5.
Before the Crunch face off against its former players Saturday, Coach Mark Holick’s skaters hope to cool down the Albany Devils here at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19.
Ticket prices range between $13 and $22; 473-4444; syracusecrunch.com.
