Crunch Chronicles

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.