| Syracuse Crunch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Syracuse, New York |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Home arena | Upstate Medical University Arena (Capacity: 5,800) |
| Colors | Blue, white, silver, black |
| Owner(s) | Howard Dolgon |
| General manager | Joel Bouchard |
| Head coach | Joel Bouchard |
| Captain | Steven Santini |
| Media | Syracuse Post-Standard ESPN Radio 97.7 &100.1 AHL.TV (Internet) CW 6 (Televised home games) |
| Affiliates | Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1992–1994 | Hamilton Canucks |
| 1994–present | Syracuse Crunch |
| Championships | |
| Division titles | 4 (2001–02,2012–13,2016–17,2018–19) |
| Conference titles | 2 (2012–13,2016–17) |
 Current season | |
TheSyracuse Crunch are a professionalice hockey team based inSyracuse, New York. They are theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of theNational Hockey League'sTampa Bay Lightning.[1] They play their home games at theUpstate Medical University Arena.
The franchise originated in 1992 as theHamilton Canucks, which was an affiliate of the NHL'sVancouver Canucks. The Canucks played inHamilton, Ontario, for two seasons, before relocating toupstate New York in 1994. They were then renamed the "Crunch" from a public vote that included five names. The Crunch played their first game in Syracuse on September 30, 1994, against theAlbany River Rats to a 7–7 tie with Lonny Bohonos scoring the first Crunch goal. The Crunch recorded their first win in Syracuse on October 2, 1994, as they defeated theHershey Bears 4–1. The Crunch finished their first season 29–42–9–0, fifth place in the division, and outside the playoffs. The Crunch made the playoffs in the following season after finishing 31–37–5–7 and made it to the 1996 conference finals before losing to the eventualCalder Cup championRochester Americans. The team led the league in sellouts in1996–97 and1997–98 seasons.[2] In 1997, the Crunch added a second NHL affiliate with thePittsburgh Penguins.[3]
The1998–99 season was the Crunch's worst season in franchise history. The Crunch would finish the season with a league-worst record of 18–50–9–3.[3] On November 25, 1998, the Crunch suffered their worst loss in team history to theProvidence Bruins, with a 14–2 final score. They allowed an AHL record of 10 goals in the first period.[4] Goalie Craig Hillier allowed seven goals before being pulled for Mike Valley, who also allowed seven. The Penguins' affiliation ended after this season when they launched theWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[5]
On October 30, 1999, while playing against Rochester, goaltenderChristian Bronsard scored the first and only Crunch goalie goal. Bronsard became the fourth goaltender in AHL history to score a goal.[6]
The Crunch qualified for the playoffs following the1999–2000 season, their last season as Vancouver's AHL affiliate, but lost in the first round to theHamilton Bulldogs.
The Crunch became the affiliate of the newly formedColumbus Blue Jackets following the1999–2000 season. They made the playoffs in their first season under the Jackets, but lost in five games to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the first round. In the following2001–02 season, the Crunch won their first division title in franchise history behind goaltenderJean-Francois Labbe. In addition to the division title, they also were regular season Western Conference champions, with a conference-leading 96 points. However, they were two points shy of tying theBridgeport Sound Tigers for the AHL lead, and three points shy of winning theMacgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for top team in the regular season. After receiving a bye in the Conference Qualifiers round, the Crunch swept thePhiladelphia Phantoms in three games, but lost to the eventual Calder Cup championChicago Wolves in the next round in seven games.
On March 17, 2002, the Crunch played against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This game was infamously named the "St. Patrick's Day Massacre". The Crunch accumulated 124 penalty minutes, 80 of which were fighting-related, while the Penguins had 162 penalty minutes with 102 for fighting. The Crunch won the game 4–0.[7] The Crunch would miss the playoffs the following season, their second-worst season in franchise history, finishing 27–41–8–4.
In the2004 Calder Cup playoffs, the Crunch became the twelfth team to blow a 3–1 series lead when they lost to the Rochester Americans in the first round. The Crunch were on home ice for game seven and forward Kent McDonnell missed an empty net when the Americans' goalieRyan Miller was caught out of position. Rochester then recovered with an odd-man rush andNorm Milley beat Crunch goalieKarl Goehring to win the game in overtime.[8]
The2005–06 season was the best season the Crunch had during the 80-game schedule format. They scored a team record of 272 goals, but they also allowed 251 goals, and ended the regular season second in their division, 13 points behind Grand Rapids. They also had 47 wins, which is tied with their2018–19 season record, albeit in four fewer games with the 76-game schedule.Andy Delmore won theEddie Shore Award, scoring 72 points in 66 games, while also making the AHL First All-Star team at the end of the season.Mark Hartigan also scored 75 points in 49 games, averaging over a point and a half per game. They then lost in the first round of the2006 Calder Cup playoffs to theManitoba Moose in six games.
During the2007–08 season, the Crunch went on a 15-game winning streak at the end of the season from March 8 to April 13, 2008, to make the playoffs. The Crunch also went without losing a game in regulation for the final 23 games of the season, spanning from February 22 to April 13, 2008. They defeated the Manitoba Moose in six games, where five of them went to overtime. They advanced to the second round to face theToronto Marlies, but blew another 3–1 series lead.
The Crunch played the first outdoor game in AHL history on February 20, 2010, against theBinghamton Senators. TheMirabito Outdoor Classic took place at the Grandstand at theNew York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The game set a then AHL attendance record of 21,508. Syracuse won the game 2–1, with goals scored byAlexandre Picard andDavid Liffiton. GoaltenderKevin Lalande made 36 saves en route to the Syracuse victory.
The Crunch missed the playoffs in their final two seasons as the affiliate of the Blue Jackets, as they switched their affiliation to theSpringfield Falcons in 2010.[9]
The Anaheim affiliation lasted two seasons, resulting in one playoff appearance in the2011–12 season. They lost in the first round to theSt. John's IceCaps in four games. The affiliation produced future NHL players such asKyle Palmieri,Nick Bonino andPatrick Maroon.
The Crunch signed a multi-year affiliation deal with theTampa Bay Lightning beginning with the2012–13 season.[10][11] Due to the2012–13 NHL lockout, the Crunch were able to initially roster many future NHLers before the start of the NHL season, such asTyler Johnson,Alex Killorn,Radko Gudas, andOndrej Palat. Head coachJon Cooper was the first head coach during the Tampa Bay affiliation, but was promoted mid-season following the firing of Lightning head coachGuy Boucher.Rob Zettler was named as head coach, a role he would hold until the end of the2015–16 season. This helped the affiliation to bring in immediate success, resulting in the team's first division championship in 11 years. The offense surged, scoring a league-leading 247 goals. At the end of theseason, Tyler Johnson won theLes Cunningham Award,Willie Marshall Award, and thePresident's Award. He was the first MVP in Crunch history. He totaled 65 points, scoring 37 goals and assisted on 28 goals.
The team won seven consecutive games to open the playoffs, including two consecutive round sweeps of thePortland Pirates in the conference quarterfinals, and another sweep of theSpringfield Falcons in the conference semifinals, before losing the opening game of the eastern conference finals to theWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Crunch were able to win the following four games, advancing to the 2013Calder Cup finals, their first ever Calder Cup appearance. The Crunch faced off against theGrand Rapids Griffins, but lost to the Griffins in six games.[12]
The Crunch could not replicate the success of the previous season, finishing last place in the division, while missing the2014 Calder Cup playoffs entirely. The Crunch were able to initially roster future NHLers, such asNikita Kucherov,Brett Connolly, andVladislav Namestnikov. The team also addedYanni Gourde andJonathan Marchessault as late season additions.
On November 22, 2014, the Syracuse Crunch set a new United States indoor professional hockey attendance record with 30,715 fans at theCarrier Dome for the "Toyota Frozen Dome Classic".[13] Syracuse defeated theUtica Comets 2–1.
The Crunch won their second division title under the Tampa affiliation in the2016–17 season. They advanced to their second Calder Cup appearance, again against the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Griffins took the series in six games and won the series 4–2. They also lost an AHL record eight road games during the playoffs.
On May 5, 2018, the Syracuse Crunch played their longest game in team history,[14] which the Crunch lost 2–1 in double overtime to the Toronto Marlies. The game lasted 95 minutes and 10 seconds. The Crunch previously played two double-overtime games, both in the2017 Calder Cup playoffs. They played a double-overtime game in the first round against theSt. John's IceCaps, resulting in a 4–3 double-overtime win. That game lasted 90 minutes and 37 seconds, their previous record. They also played another double-overtime game in the 2017 Calder Cup Finals, a 6–5 loss in double overtime to the Grand Rapids Griffins, lasting 87 minutes and 2 seconds.
The2018–19 season was the best season the Crunch has had during the 76-game schedule format. The Crunch tied a team record in points with 102, and tied a franchise record in wins with 47.Edward Pasquale won theHarry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award,Carter Verhaeghe won theJohn B. Sollenberger Trophy and Verhaeghe andAlex Barre-Boulet both won theWillie Marshall Award, as they both tied for the league lead in goals scored. The Crunch also achieved 900 franchise victories with a 6–2 win over the Utica Comets on March 30, 2019.[15] The Crunch won their third division title in the Tampa affiliation, but were upset in four games by theCleveland Monsters.
The Crunch played their first 62 games of the2019–20 season, but the season was suspended on March 12, 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[16][3] The season was ultimately cancelled on May 11, 2020. The start of thefollowing season was also pushed back to February 5, 2021. The Crunch also gained a temporary second NHL affiliation in theFlorida Panthers as their AHL affiliate, theCharlotte Checkers, opted out of participating in the abbreviated season.[17][3]
Prior to the pandemic-related schedule changes, the Crunch were to face the Utica Comets in an outdoor game hosted by Utica at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park inRome, New York, on February 13, 2021,[18] however, the game did not take place as scheduled.[19]
On November 5, 2024, the Crunch announced the creation of the Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame.[20] The inaugural class included Crunch owner Howard Dolgon, longtime Onondaga County Deputy County Executive Ed Kochian, Crunch general partner Alan Taylor,Syracuse Blazers forward Brian Elwell, and former Crunch forwardScott Walker. The inaugural class was inducted on November 23, 2024.
American Hockey League teams that played in Syracuse:
Other hockey teams that played in Syracuse:
Owner Howard Dolgon came up with thesuperhero mascot Crunchman for the team's debut in 1994. In 2000, as the Crunch became an affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Crunchman was replaced with Al the IceGorilla. Al remained until 2012, when Dolgon found the new affiliation with Tampa Bay a good reason to return with Crunchman.[21]
![Second Crunch logo 2000–2010 [1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSecond_Syracuse_logo_(2000-2010).jpg){kind=logo}
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | PCT | Goals for | Goals against | Standing (Division) | Year | Prelims | 1st Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals |
| 1994–95 | 80 | 29 | 42 | 9 | 0 | — | 67 | .419 | 288 | 325 | 5th, South | 1995 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 1995–96 | 80 | 31 | 37 | 5 | 7 | — | 74 | .463 | 257 | 307 | 5th, Central | 1996 | — | W, 3–1,BNG | W, 4–3,BAL | L, 1–4,ROC | — |
| 1996–97 | 80 | 32 | 38 | 10 | 0 | — | 74 | .463 | 241 | 265 | 4th, Empire State | 1997 | — | L, 0–3,ROC | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | 80 | 35 | 32 | 11 | 2 | — | 83 | .519 | 272 | 285 | 3rd, Empire State | 1998 | — | L, 2–3,HAM | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | 80 | 18 | 50 | 9 | 3 | — | 48 | .300 | 220 | 327 | 5th, Empire State | 1999 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 1999–00 | 80 | 35 | 35 | 9 | 1 | — | 80 | .500 | 290 | 294 | 2nd, Empire State | 2000 | — | L, 1–3,HAM | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | 80 | 33 | 30 | 12 | 5 | — | 83 | .519 | 235 | 254 | 3rd, Mid-Atlantic | 2001 | — | L, 2–3,WBS | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | 80 | 39 | 23 | 13 | 5 | — | 96 | .600 | 228 | 193 | 1st, Central | 2002 | BYE | W, 3–0,PHI | L, 3–4,CHI | — | — |
| 2002–03 | 80 | 27 | 41 | 8 | 4 | — | 66 | .413 | 201 | 256 | 4th, Central | 2003 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2003–04 | 80 | 38 | 25 | 10 | 7 | — | 93 | .581 | 239 | 235 | 2nd, North | 2004 | BYE | L, 3–4,ROC | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | 80 | 36 | 33 | — | 4 | 7 | 83 | .519 | 215 | 230 | 5th, North | 2005 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2005–06 | 80 | 47 | 25 | — | 5 | 3 | 102 | .638 | 272 | 251 | 2nd, North | 2006 | — | L, 2–4,MTB | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | 80 | 34 | 34 | — | 4 | 8 | 80 | .500 | 250 | 248 | 5th, North | 2007 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2007–08 | 80 | 46 | 26 | — | 2 | 6 | 100 | .625 | 247 | 201 | 2nd, North | 2008 | — | W, 4–2,MTB | L, 3–4,TOR | — | — |
| 2008–09 | 80 | 40 | 32 | — | 5 | 3 | 88 | .550 | 214 | 226 | 5th, North | 2009 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2009–10 | 80 | 34 | 39 | — | 4 | 3 | 75 | .469 | 227 | 272 | 6th, East | 2010 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2010–11 | 80 | 35 | 38 | — | 3 | 4 | 77 | .481 | 221 | 250 | 6th, East | 2011 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2011–12 | 76 | 37 | 29 | — | 5 | 5 | 84 | .553 | 238 | 229 | 4th, East | 2012 | — | L, 1–3,STJ | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | 76 | 43 | 22 | — | 6 | 5 | 97 | .638 | 247 | 201 | 1st, East | 2013 | — | W, 3–0,POR | W, 4–0,SPR | W, 4–1,WBS | L, 2–4,GR |
| 2013–14 | 76 | 31 | 32 | — | 4 | 9 | 75 | .493 | 198 | 232 | 5th, East | 2014 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2014–15 | 76 | 41 | 25 | — | 10 | 0 | 92 | .605 | 218 | 219 | 2nd, Northeast | 2015 | — | L, 0–3,WBS | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | 76 | 32 | 29 | — | 11 | 4 | 79 | .520 | 213 | 240 | 6th, North | 2016 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 2016–17 | 76 | 38 | 24 | — | 7 | 7 | 90 | .592 | 232 | 227 | 1st, North | 2017 | — | W, 3–1,STJ | W, 4–3,TOR | W, 4–1,PRO | L, 2–4,GR |
| 2017–18 | 76 | 46 | 22 | — | 3 | 5 | 100 | .658 | 236 | 193 | 2nd, North | 2018 | — | W, 3–0,ROC | L, 0–4,TOR | — | — |
| 2018–19 | 76 | 47 | 21 | — | 4 | 4 | 102 | .671 | 264 | 187 | 1st, North | 2019 | — | L, 1–3,CLE | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | 62 | 30 | 23 | — | 4 | 5 | 69 | .556 | 202 | 210 | 5th, North | 2020 | — | Season cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2020–21 | 32 | 19 | 10 | — | 3 | 0 | 41 | .641 | 120 | 93 | 3rd, North | 2021 | — | No playoffs were held | |||
| 2021–22 | 76 | 41 | 26 | — | 7 | 2 | 91 | .599 | 242 | 229 | 2nd, North | 2022 | BYE | L, 2–3,LAV | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | 72 | 35 | 26 | — | 7 | 4 | 81 | .563 | 252 | 239 | 2nd, North | 2023 | BYE | L, 2–3,ROC | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | 72 | 39 | 24 | — | 4 | 5 | 87 | .604 | 220 | 203 | 3rd, North | 2024 | BYE | W, 3–2,ROC | L, 0–3,CLE | — | — |
| 2024–25 | 72 | 37 | 23 | — | 8 | 4 | 86 | .597 | 206 | 187 | 3rd, North | 2024 | BYE | L, 0–3,ROC | — | — | — |
Updated October 28, 2025.[22][23][24]
The Crunch raised a banner following a fan vote during the team's fifth season in honor of fan favorite #14 "Big Bad" John Badduke. It is not retired, as it would later be worn by former United StatesOlympianDarby Hendrickson,Serge Aubin,Richard Panik, Justin Courtnall, Brandon Alderson, Mike McNamee,Kevin Lynch, Devante Stephens and most recently, Brandon Crawley.
During the2008–09 season, the team temporarily reserved, but not retired, #7 as a tribute toPaul Newman after his death. This honors Reg Dunlop, the player-coach for the fictional Charlestown Chiefs, which Newman played in the movieSlap Shot. The movie was filmed partially atOnondaga County War Memorial. Coincidentally, other scenes were filmed atCambria County War Memorial Arena inJohnstown, Pennsylvania, the home ice of the Crunch's formerECHL affiliate, theJohnstown Chiefs. The banner was raised October 14 and was up for the entire season, but the number was not retired, as it was most recently worn by Crunch playerMathieu Joseph in the2019–20 season.
On March 26, 2016, the Syracuse Crunch retiredDolph Schayes' number #4. Schayes played for theSyracuse Nationals and their successor, thePhiladelphia 76ers. He was the first player in theNational Basketball Association to score 15,000 points in his career.[25] This number is not officially retired, as the number was most recently worn byTrevor Carrick during the2022–23 season.
Records as of the end of the2023–24 AHL regular season
Minimum 10 Calder Cup playoff games played
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