Category: AHL

Barracuda cool the Heat 6-4

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Photo credit: @SJBarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Barracuda were back at it. This time, the opponent was the Stockton Heat at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

San Jose was ready to beat Stockton, but there were other aspects of the rivalry game for fans to notice, like, say, Filip Sanberg’s season debut and Evan Weinger’s professional debut.

The Cuda opened the scoring with two goals late in the first period. Jake Middleton scored his first goal on the season. Middleton’s goal was assisted by Jayden Halbgewachs. Cuda captain John McCarthy also scored his first goal on the season. McCarthy’s goal was assisted by Weinger.

The Cuda led the Heat 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 7-5 in favor of San Jose.

The Cuda took a 3-0 lead at the 11:21 mark of the second period. Weinger scored his first pro goal–an unassisted goal–for a two-point night at the time.

The Cuda had a huge penalty kill following the Heat’s 5-for-3. Vincent Praplan was called for cross-checking and Middleton went to the box for hooking. Unfortunately, Stockton spoiled San Jose’s hopes of a shutout. Curtis Lazar helped his team get on the board to cut the lead to 3-1 just 2:14 later. Lazar’s goal was assisted by Tyler Graovac and Kerby Rychel.

The Cuda held onto a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Shots remained in favor of San Jose, 15-11.

Cuda goalie Josef Korenar continued to make the necessary saves to keep his team in the game, including the one in the video below.

The Cuda made it a 4-1 game just 2:21 into the third period. Manuel Wiederer scored his first goal on the season. Wiederer’s goal was assisted by Lukas Radil.

Soon enough, Stockton got on San Jose’s nerves with three goals in the period. Kerby Rychel scored his second and third goals on the season at the 8:03 and 11:57 marks, respectively. Rychel’s goals were assisted by Mike McMurtry and Ryan Lomberg then Lomberg. The Cuda managed to reduce the deficit to 5-3 at the 14:12 mark of the period. Francis Perron scored his third goal on the season. Perron’s goal was assisted by Halbgewachs and Jeremy Roy. Rychel later notched his fourth goal on the season with 4:40 left in the period.

But San Jose looked confident and McCarthy sealed the win by putting the puck into the net for a short-handed, empty-net goal with 57 seconds left in regulation. McCarthy’s second goal on the season helped the Cuda to a 6-4 win over the Heat.

Korenar picked up a win, finishing with 20 saves on 24 shots and four goals allowed. Tyler Parsons absorbed the loss after making 18 saves on 24 shots and six goals allowed.

Notes 
Barracuda’s starting lineup

Up Next 
The Barracuda return to SAP Center to host the Tuscon Roadrunners on Monday, October 15 at 7:00 pm PT.

Condors end Barracuda’s win streak with 3-2 shootout win

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Bakersfield Condors (2-1-0-0) received goals from Cooper Marody and Tyler Benson as well as good goaltending from Al Montoya in the shootout to snap the San Jose Barracuda’s (2-0-0-1) two-game winning streak with a 3-2 shootout victory at SAP Center on Wednesday evening.

San Jose would draw first blood early in the first period. Manny Wiederer won a battle just to the right of the goal line. He then fed a pass back up to the point to Keaton Middleton, who fired a shot into a traffic jam in front of the net. Alexander True was in the middle of the scrum where the puck glanced off his stick that rolled past Montoya into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. True’s second goal of the season came at the 4:21 mark.

Evan Polei, who made his season debut for the Condors, evened up the score when he was able to redirect a pass from Josh Currie past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau. Polei had two point-blank chances stopped by Bibeau a short time earlier, but the third time was a charm, as it led to Polei’s first goal of the season at the 12:36 mark of the first period.

Bakersfield enjoyed a 16-5 shot advantage as San Jose came out flat in the first period, but Bibeau held down the fort and kept the game even at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.

Jayden Halbgewachs would give the Cuda the lead eight seconds into a power play in the second period. Jeremy Roy fired a shot in from the top of the point that was initially saved by Montoya. After whacking at the puck, Halbgewachs was able to collect the rebound and back hand the puck past Montoya for his second goal of the season at the 7:51 mark. Vincent Praplan was credited with the secondary assist.

“We got a young team and we want to play with speed every game,” said Halbgewachs. “That’s a big part of my game, creating offense. If I use my speed, opportunities are going to be there.”

Joe Gambradella gave the Condors the equalizer just seconds after a penalty to Nolan Vesey expired. Gambradella won a battle along the boards near center ice and escaped with the puck skating in all alone against Bibeau and snapped home a wrist shot to the right corner of the goal that beat Bibeau for his first goal of the season at the 7:28 of the third period. Patrick Russel and William Lagesson were both credited with assists.

Halbgewachs had the best chance to end it in overtime. After breaking up a 2-on-1 break by Bakerfield, he skated out of the defensive zone and received a pass that sent him on a breakaway attempt, only to have Montoya out wait him and make the save on his back hand attempt.

“He’s not the biggest guy but he plays on the inside,” said captain John McCarthy about what Halbgewachs brings to the team. “That’s huge especially when you don’t have the size to muscle people around. Like you saw tonight he gets a lot of chances that way.”

The Cuda earned a late power play late in overtime, but weren’t able to capitalize on the abbreviated man advantage.

“We were lucky to get a point tonight,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “A lot of turnovers, (we played) kind of sloppy. They had more jump than we did tonight.”

Montoya (2-0) earned the victory with 23 saves on 25 shots. Bibeau (1-0-1), despite playing a strong game, suffered the loss after making 33 saves on 35 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1-for-5 on what was an uninspiring power play. Bakersfield went 0-for3.

Fisticuffs! Cuda forward Jeffery Viel exchanged pleasantries with Polei just inside the Condors’ zone at the 15:58 mark of the first period.

The announced attendance was 2,527.

UP NEXT: San Jose will travel up Highway 5 to take on their NorCal rival Stockton Heat on Saturday, October 13 at Stockton Arena at 6:00 pm PT.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda has spotless opening weekend with Reign and Condors as opponents

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Last Saturday, the San Jose Barracuda started goalie Josef Korenar, who made his first AHL start. Korenar stopped some good shots that the Bakersfield Condors were putting on goal.

#2 After 70 minutes of play, the Condors and Cuda were in a 0-0 tie. The Condors outshot the Cuda 14-9.

#3 The Cuda got on the scoreboard when Jayden Halbgewach scored the first goal at 4:03.

#4 In the second period, San Jose added two more goals with Maxim Letunov, who scored an unassisted goal, and Cavan Fitzgerald, who scored his first goal of the season.

#5 The Cuda got the 5-1 win as the Condors outshot San Jose 38-31.

Marko does the Barracuda podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda down the Condors 5-1 in Bakersfield

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Barracuda had hoped to keep the win streak going after heading to Central California to take on the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night. But did the Cuda apply pressure on the rival Condors?

Prior to the puck drop, San Jose announced its starting lineup against Bakersfield.

Cuda goalie Josef Korenar made his first AHL start tonight. Korenar had some good looks from the get-go, including the notable save he made to prevent a Condor forward from scoring an early goal in the opening period.

The Cuda and Condors were in a scoreless deadlock after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 14-9 in favor of Bakersfield.

Despite being the new kid on the ice, Korenar–a Vystrkov, Czech Republic native–made yet another notable save to keep things scoreless in the second period.

The Cuda made it a 1-0 game on Jayden Halbgewachs’ first goal on the season just 4:03 into the second period. Nick DeSimone and Vincent Praplan collected the assists on Halbgewach’s goal.

The Cuda continued to pour in the goals just 2:56 apart at the 11:08 and 13:04 marks of the second period. Maxim Letunov scored his second (unassisted) goal on the season and then Cavan Fitzgerald followed suit with his first goal on the season. Alexander True and Manuel Wiederer collected the assists on Fitzgerald’s goal.

The Cuda led the Condors 3-0 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 24-22 in favor of San Jose.

The Condors halted the Cuda’s hopes of achieving a shutout 5:46 into the third period. Josh Currie scored his first goal on the season. Cameron Hebig and Cooper Marody collected the assists on Currie’s goal.

The Cuda, however, bounced back with two goals after the first half of the third period. DeSimone scored his first goal on the season. Francis Perron and Jeremy Roy collected the assists on DeSimone’s power play goal following Keaton Middleton’s penalty for elbowing. Shortly after, Perron scored his second goal on the season. Vincent Praplan and Jacob Middleton collected the assists on Perron’s goal.

The Cuda defeated the Condors 5-1, so it didn’t matter Bakersfield outshot San Jose 38-31 after 60 minutes of play.

Korenar picked up his first AHL win, finishing with 37 saves on 38 shots and one goal allowed in 59:42 minutes. Condor goalie Dylan Wells absorbed the loss, making 26 saves on 31 shots and five goals allowed in 59:56 minutes.

Notes
Familiar face 
After failing to make the playoffs in all three years of its existence, the Oilers relieved Gerry Flemming of his duties and appointed former Sharks and Oilers’ assistant Jay Woodcroft as the head coach of the Bakersfield Condors this offseason. Woodcroft was an assistant under Todd McLellan with the Sharks for seven years before following McLellan to Edmonton the last three seasons.

Rookie arrival
Dylan Gambrell collected three points (two goals, one assist) in the first 16 minutes of Friday’s 4-1 win over the Reign. The rookie forward appeared in three games with the Sharks last season after the conclusion of his junior year at the Denver University, where he won a National Championship in 2017. His impressive AHL debut earned him first star honors.

Youth movement
The Barracuda opened up the 2018-19 season as the AHL’s youngest roster with an average age of 22.7 years old, which is comprised of 10 rookies. 13 players on the Cuda’s 25-man opening night roster skated in at least one game for San Jose a year ago.

Big trade
On June 14, Sharks GM Doug Wilson traded forward Adam Helewka to the Coyotes in exchange for 6-foot-5, 235-pound defenseman Kyle Wood. Two seasons ago, Wood was named to the AHL All-Rookie team after collecting 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) from the blueline. Wood collected a pair of assists in Friday’s 4-1 win over Ontario.

National pride
With the offseason signings of Vincent Praplan (Switzerland) and Lukas Radil (Czech Republic), along with the return of Captain John McCarthy, San Jose’s opening night roster will be comprised of three different skaters who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Up Next
The Cuda will return home to host the Condors in a rematch on Wednesday, October 10 at 7:00 pm PT.

Barracuda take down Reign 4-1 on AHL Opening Night

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Dylan Gambrell made an immediate impact in his first AHL game. Gambrell’s first two career AHL goals sparked the San Jose Barracuda (1-0-0) on AHL Opening Night to defeat the Ontario Reign (0-1-0) 4-1 victory on Friday evening at the SAP Center.

Newly acquired Francis Perron, who came along part of the blockbuster trade that brought Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, sent a pass over to Gambrell, who snapped a one-timer over the shoulder of Reign goalie Carl Petersen (0-1) on his first shot for a 1-0 lead at the 4:23 mark of the first period.

“It was nice, it’s kind of weight off the shoulders,” said Gambrell on his two-goal performance. “You know get some more confidence, feel more comfortable out there.”

Gambrell delivered his second goal on just his second shot just under four minutes later on the power play. Defenseman Kyle Wood slid over a cross ice pass to Gambrell at the left point and he bombed one past Petersen to double the Cuda lead at the 8:19 mark. Captain John McCarthy received the secondary assist.

“We’ve practiced with each other a couple of times together,” said Gambrell, regarding playing with Perron. “But I think we were reading off each other really well.”

Perron would increase the lead to 3-0 when he was able to clean up a rebound off  a wrap-around attempt from Gambrell. Petersen made the initial save on Gambrell, but wasn’t able to get back in position to stop Perron’s first goal of the season at the 15:53 mark.

“It was a great first period obviously,” said Perron. “I think Dylan had a lot of jump in the first. Me and Vinnie (Vincent Preplan) just followed him and it worked out pretty well.”

San Jose outshot Ontario 14-7 in the first period and controlled the tempo throughout the frame.

Zach Mitchell was able to get Ontario on the board with his first goal of the season in the second period when he was able to tip in a shot from Kale Clague fired from the left point. Mitchell planted himself in front of Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau to get in position for the tip in that came at the 6:30 mark on the power play.

Maxim Letunov gave back the three goal lead to Cuda late in the second period. After winning a battle behind the goal against Mitchell. He then circled around in between the circles, where he snapped home a back-hander to the left corner of the goal for his first career AHL goal at the 15:43 mark. Jayden Halbgewachs and Nick DeSimone received assists.

Despite being out shot 18-8 in the second period, San Jose carried a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.

“You know (with) 12 rookies (on the roster), I think at this point in the year you take a win anyway you can get them,” said head coach Roy Sommer.

Things got chippy toward the end of the third period when Kurtis MacDermid went after Alexander True after True was called for a boarding penalty. A brief scuffle ensued with six players involved. MacDermid was given a instigator penalty and a game misconduct that resulted in a five-minute power play for San Jose.

Bibeau stopped 30 of 31 shots for his first victory on the season. Petersen suffered the loss, making 23 saves on 27 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/1 on the power play. Ontario was 1/4.

San Jose has only 11 players returning from last season in a team that features 11 new players.

Defensemen Zach Frye and Thomas Gregoire were healthy scratches for San Jose.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down south to take on their Pacific Division rival Bakersfield Condors on Saturday, October 6 at Rabobank Arena at 7:00 pm PT.

Barracuda to kick off the 2018 AHL season vs. Reign

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

Minor league hockey fans can rejoice as the San Jose Barracuda kick off the 2018 AHL season at SAP Center versus the Ontario Reign on Friday night.

Here’s everything to know about the rivalry matchup.

Friday’s meeting
Friday’s meeting marks the first of eight rivalry meetings in 2018. San Jose went 2-5-1-0 a season ago against the Reign and are 10-13-5-0 since the Pacific Division was established in 2015. Ontario is the only team San Jose isn’t .500 or better against all-time.

Frenemies
Former teammates and Calder Cup Champions with the Maine Mariners (AHL) during 1983-84, Roy Sommer and Mike Stothers have enjoyed a friendship off the ice and a heated rivalry on it since Stothers took over as the head coach of the Kings’ top affiliate during 2014-15, where he propelled the Manchester Monarchs to a Calder Cup Championship in his first year. Over five years, Sommer is 14-20-5-1 against Stothers’ teams.

Dynamic duo
The L.A. Kings re-acquired Peter Budaj from the Tampa Bay Lightning this offseason, pairing him with Cal Petersen as a one-two punch in the AHL. Budaj was the AHL’s Goaltender of the Year (Baz Bastien Memorial Award) in 2015-16 as a member of the Ontario Reign, leading the league in GAA (1.75), SV% (.932), shutouts (9), and wins (42). As a rookie 2017-18, Petersen, an AHL All-Star, went 4-0-1 against San Jose in five games.

Youth movement
The Barracuda open up the 2018-19 season as the AHL’s youngest roster with an average age of 22.7 years old, which is comprised of 10 rookies. Ontario is the AHL’s 20th youngest roster at 24.38 years old. 13 players on San Jose’s 25-man opening night roster skated in at least one game for San Jose last year.

Big trade
On June 14, Sharks GM Doug Wilson traded forward Adam Helewka to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for the 6-foot-5, 235-pound defenseman Kyle Wood. Two seasons ago, Wood was named to the AHL All-Rookie team after collecting 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) from the blueline.

National pride
With the offseason signings of Vincent Praplan (Switzerland) and Lukas Radil (Czech Republic), along with the return of Barracuda captain John McCarthy, San Jose’s opening night roster will be comprised of three different skaters who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

If you bring your entire family tonight, then you won’t have to pay any fees and you can save $18 at the Threat Metrix Ticket Office. In addition, the Intermission Player Signings–presented by Will Party–will happen during the second intermission tonight. Barracuda players to be announced. Enjoy the game!

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Returning Cuda and younger players might make this roster competitive this season

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sjbarracuda.com photo: The Barracuda hope for more celebrations for goals scored this upcoming season starting Friday night at SAP Center

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The SJ Barracuda Manny Wiederer scored on a short handed goal at 17:51 for his first preseason goal of 2018

#2 Josef Korenar started the game but was replaced by Austin Lotz in the second period for San Jose with a 2-1 lead for the Colorado Eagles.

#3 Andrew Aggozino in the third period beat Lotz on the right side at 2:57 on a power play, then Michael Joly scored a second goal for the Eagles on a two on one break away shot the one timer for the second goal for Colorado for a 4-1 lead.

#4 Marko talks about some of the Barracuda returning from last season, John McCarthy, Wiederer, Jon Martin, Jacob Middleton, and look for Antoine Bibeau in goal for this seson.

#5 The Barracuda have season opener this Friday night at SAP Center against Ontario they’ll be a lot of competition for everyone to try to get to the NHL.

Marko Ukalovic covers the SJ Barracuda for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Eagles beat Barracuda 4-2 to split preseason series

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photo by sjbarracuda.com The San Jose Barracuda Zach Frye (87) anticipates the puck in the Barracuda’s game in Colorado against the Eagles to complete the two game preseason

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda weren’t able to sweep their only series of the preseason as the Colorado Eagles beat San Jose 4-2 at Budweiser Events Center on Saturday evening.

Sergei Boikov drew first blood for the Eagles in the first period. He went to coast to coast as he skated up the right wing and fired a shot into the far corner of the goal past Cuda goalie Josef Korenar for his first goal of the pre-season at the 12:30 mark.

San Jose would take advantage of a short-handed opportunity two minutes before the 1st intermission. Jon Martin led a 2-on-1 short handed break when he sent a crossing pass over to Manny Wiederer, who finished off short-handed chance with a tap in into an empty net for his first goal of the pre-season at the 17:51 mark.

Boikov would help give Colorado back the lead early in the second period when he whipped over a pass to Ty Lewis, who snapped a shot over the far left pad of Korenar for his first goal of the pre-season at the 3:36 mark

Halfway through the second period, Austin Lotz replaced Korenar in between the pipes. Both teams weren’t able to capitalize on their power play opportunity as the Eagles went into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead.

In the third period, Colorado would put the game away with two goals. Andrew Aggozino scored on a rebound chance that beat Lotz to the right side at the 2:57 mark. The power play goal was the first of the pre-season for Aggozino. Michael Joly scored on a pretty one -timer that was a result of an 2-on-1 break at the 12:31 mark.

The Cuda would get a late goal when newly acquired Francis Perron scored to cut the lead in half at the 18:51 mark.

Pavel Francouz (1-0) earned the win by making 27 saves while Lotz took the loss in relief (0-1), allowing two goals on nine shots.

UP NEXT: San Jose opens up the 2018-19 regular season on Friday, October 5 as they host their SoCal rival, the Ontario Reign, at the SAP Center at 7:00 pm PT.

Barracuda edge Eagles 5-3 in first of two preseason games in Colorado

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Barracuda edged the Colorado Eagles 5-3 at the Budweiser Events Center on Friday night. This was the first of two exhibition games in Colorado.

After Michael Joly broke a scoreless deadlock in the first period with a backhand wrap-around at 6:37, Jeremy Roy evened the score at 5:28 as he snapped a shot far-side past Spencer Martin as he streaked down the right wing.

In the second period, Tim Clifton crossed an Eagles failed clearing attempt to Jon Martin, who cashed in with a forehand to backhand move at 2:44. Francis Perron made it 3-1 in the second when he poked a loose puck over the goal line after Martin failed to secure the initial shot at 19:22.

In the third period, Grayson Downing inched his club back within one at 6:04, but Clifton snuck a sharp-angle wrist shot inside the right post to push the Barracuda’s lead back up to two at 17:59. Downing scored again on the power play at 19:41, but Evan Weinger had already put the game away with an empty-netter at 18:56.

Josef Korenar (1-0) earned the win by making 24 saves on 27 shots, while Spencer Martin (0-1) took the loss after giving up four goals on 40 shots.

The Barracuda conclude exhibition play on Saturday, September 29 at 6:05 pm PT against the Eagles before kicking off the 2018-19 regular season at SAP Center on Oct. 5 at 7:00 pm PT against the rival Ontario Reign. Opening night will feature $2 beers, $1 hot dogs, $10 parking, and free parking for cars with four or more passengers. Plus the first 2000 fans will receive an 11×17 schedule poster featuring Barracuda players Jeremy Roy, Alex True, John McCarthy, and Jake Middleton. In addition, there will be player signings on the concourse during the second intermission presented by Williams Party Rentals.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Farquhar throws out first pitch recovering from aneurysm; Seahawks’ Russell wants to help move team to Portland; plus more

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photo from the nytimes.com: Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar (43) tosses out the first pitch Friday June 1st at Cellular One Field before their meeting with the Milwaukee Brewers

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar throws out first pitch six weeks after suffering brain aneurysm

2 Seahawks quarterback and wife want to bring MLB to Portland, Ore.

3 Giants win third in a row, beat Phillies with three-hitter.

4 Royals bounce back to beat A’s Saturday after Friday’s 16-0 pounding by Oakland.

5 RIP Bruce Kison age 68 – winning pitcher in first nighttime World Series game in 1971.

Daniel Dullum on the MLB The Show podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com