Crunch Chronicles

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.