Syracuse Speaks

In this episode, recorded February 26th, 2023, Alex welcomes Raw Charge contributor Lee Wright back to the podcast. To begin the episode, the two discuss Lee's recent trip to watch the Orlando Solar Bears in person. Lee discusses his observations from the game, including how prospects/call-up fodder Jaydon Dureau and Tyson Feist performed. The two banter a bit about the differences between the AHL and the ECHL, and the challenges that are unique to teams like the Solar Bears. Other topics discussed include the in-game experience that Syracuse offers, the team's community involvement and initiatives, as well as the Crunch's social media and engagement strategies. Other players discussed include the penalty kill,  Gemel Smith, Gabriel Dumont, Trevor Carrick, P.C. Labrie, and newcomer Daniel Walker. To end the episode, Lee offers his opinion on Syracuse's eclectic March schedule, and how that might actually help the Crunch as the playoffs approach. Alex and Lee also take a brief look at the upcoming NHL trade deadline and how it might affect the team.

In this episode, recorded February 5th, 2023, Alex welcomes AHL content creator Patrick Williams back to the podcast. At the time of recording, Patrick was fresh off a visit to Syracuse and on the road to the AHL All-Star weekend in Laval. Given this unique opportunity to get a fresh perspective of the team's performance, Alex and Patrick start off with dissecting Syracuse's performance in two games vs. the Charlotte Checkers. The two then turn to talking about the current focus in the league, the AHL All-Star weekend. They discuss Syracuse's three All-stars - forward and captain Gabriel Dumont, forward Alex Barre-Boulet, and defenseman Darren Raddysh - and the shift in the event from a prospect-focus to a more well-rounded focus when it comes to picking players who attend. Alex brings the focus to the AHL Hall of Fame, which inducts people during the event, and quizzes Patrick on who he thinks might be selected from Syracuse's history some day. Although Alex was thinking along the lines of Mike Angelidis or Mike McKenna, Patrick surprises her with a convincing argument for team owner Howard Dolgon. The two end the podcast with a look at Hall of Fame inductee David Andrews, a man who "created a league that works for everybody" during his tenure as President of the AHL. 

Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In this episode, recorded January 22nd, 2023, Alex recounts all of the relevant stories currently affecting the Crunch's pursuit of some level of equilibrium this season. From stomach bugs to injuries to goalie suspensions and carousels, this season's current feast-or-famine situation can be summed up with one question from Lee Wright: "Makes you wonder what kind of damage this team can do if healthy?" Indeed, as the Crunch heads towards the All-Star "break" and the official middle part of the season, Syracuse is still searching for their own state of physical balance where they aren't winning several games in a row in break-neck fashion and then losing several games in a row, erasing any progress made in the standings. Alex covers this current quest with a focus on team captain Gabriel Dumont's resurgence, Alex Barre-Boulet's apparent acceptance of his fate, goalie fill-in Kaden Fulcher's one-night-only (hopefully?) performance, and more. Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Happy New Year, Crunch fans! In this episode, recorded January 8th, 2023, Alex welcomes Raw Charge contributor Lee Wright the podcast. Lee covers the Crunch for Raw Charge, a site that covers the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for SB Nation, and has been writing about the team since the beginning of the year. Lee and Alex settle in for a lively conversation about the team's most recent performance, one that has differed a bit from what Syracuse was showing prior to the holiday break. Lee expresses the opinion that the team is "out of their groove," and the two speculate together as to what is going on, among many other topics. Players discussed include Trevor Carrick, Hugo Alnefelt, Felix Robert, Alex Barre-Boulet, Philippe Myers, Darren Raddysh, Cal Foote, Tyson Fiest, Shawn Element, Gabriel Dumont, Jack LaFontaine, Gemel Smith. and Max Lagace. 

Of note is that this episode was recorded prior to the team's game at Hershey on Sunday. 

Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Thanks for listening! 

In this episode, recorded December 18th, 2022, Alex reflects on the team's Week of Assists, a period which began with the team's Teddy Bear Toss on December 10th and culminated this past weekend with their Hockey Fights Cancer game. She discusses all of the team's charity initiatives, and why it was so apropos that Daniel Walcott's record-setting, franchise-leading 335th game in a Crunch sweater happened during that period. In discussing Walcott's achievement in particular, she pays respect to the Tampa Bay Lightning and how that organization has handled Walcott's career with Syracuse, especially in regards to how player turnover usually works in the AHL.

Alex then answers some listener questions through an AMA segment. Players discussed include Darren Raddysh, Andy Delmore, Matt Taormina, Jack Finley, Gabriel Dumont, and P.C. Labrie. Schedule-wise, Alex also covers the current AHL standandings, briefly recaps the team's past few games, and looks into their future schedule.

Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In this episode, recorded December 11th, 2022, Alex welcomes friend of the site and AHL content creator for theahl.com, NHL.com, and The Hockey News Patrick Williams back to the pod. After the usual pleasantries, the two get down to business. They first start with a general conversation around goaltending and defense in the league, especially with the high scores Syracuse and other AHL teams have put up this season. They address the ever-shifting goaltending situation in Syracuse, one that has changed again with a new injury to Max Lagace. Zooming in, they move their discussion to defenseman Darren Raddysh, who now leads the AHL in points, and what has made his season so different from his previous ones. They also take a look at what Patrick thinks is going on with forward Alex Barre-Boulet and where his immediate future may take him. They talk about flying teddy bears and AHL community impacts, and, in that same vein, take a look at what players like Daniel Walcott means to teams like Syracuse. Walcott is poised to break the record for games played in a Crunch uniform this Friday, when he will surpass Brad Moran with 335 games played.

Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In this episode, recorded November 27th, 2022, it's all about the comfortable predictability of the Crunch's November. Alex discusses the team's recent string of successes while also identifying some shakey areas Syracuse is trying to figure out. Players discussed include Hugo Alnefelt, Max Lagace, Jack LaFontaine, Alex Barre-Boulet, Darren Raddysh, Daniel Walcott, and Gabriel Dumont. She takes the temperature of the fans using responses to a recent Twitter poll she put up, and breaks down how those who responded are feeling. Alex ends the podcast in her usual way by taking a look at the Crunch's next few weeks of games and promotions, highlighting the team's North Division competition and discussing an upcoming beloved minor league hockey tradition: The Teddy Toss.

Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In this episode, recorded November 13th, 2022, Alex puts "The Thing" about Syracuse head coach Ben Groulx to the test. Although she does start off with a brief recap of the Crunch's trampling of poor ECHL goalie Isaac Poulter, who was in net for the Utica Comets this past Saturday when Syracuse won 8-3, she quickly transitions to an interesting look back at Syracuse's recent-ish October/November starts. Many have been discussing how Crunch teams under Coach Groulx have historically started out slow and then gained steam as the season continues, but how true has it really been? Alex complied the team's records from the past six or so seasons (skipping 2020-21, of course, because...reasons), starting with where they were around this time in November each season and ending with where they were by April. Alex covers final season records, standings, and points, and any playoff success (if applicable). Her findings say a lot about The Thing With Ben Groulx, and just may help fans feel a little better about the Crunch's current 4-6-1-2 record. Alex then takes her usual look at Syracuse's upcoming schedule, including all of the home cookin' the team is going to find around Thanksgiving, and any special game day events in the team's future.

Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In this episode, recorded October 23rd, 2022, Alex recaps the start of Syracuse's season, with a specific emphasis on the organization's 29th Home Opener on October 22nd. She highlights the tenacity and grit the 2022-23 edition of the team has showed so far, including the performances of newcomer Felix Robert, and veterans Daniel Walcott, Darren Raddysh and Alex Barre-Boulet. Alex breaks down the sights and sounds of the packed home opener for the organization, including a description of the opening hype video and how the Crunch highlighted their relationship with the Tampa Bay Lightning. She describes how the team emphasized their ties to the community with their player introductions, and the touching ways the team incorporated their players' children into that part of the night. Alex then takes a look at the team's upcoming three weeks, including their potentially challenging trip down to Charlotte. She also shines a light on the Crunch's upcoming Pink in the Rink night, as well as the other events the team has planned during that time period. Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In this episode, recorded October 7th, 2022, Alex records her season preview for the 2022-23 season. She starts by taking a look back at the 2021-22 season (in short: huge potential-splat-what?!-YAS!). She recaps the team's record, playoff performance, top scorers, and breaks down their special teams performance in comparison to the North Division and the league as a whole. She then takes a look at the offseason moves for the team, summarizing the biggest additions to and subtractions from the team. She takes a look at Gabriel Dumont (try to contain your surprise), Lucas Edmonds, Trevor Carrick, Max Lagace, Alex Green, Remi Elie, Anthony Richard, and Fredrik Claesson. Next, Alex moves onto the team's season schedule, summarizing the big story lines she expects to develop throughout the year. Finally, she makes some predictions (despite being horrible at making predictions).