Over on the 210Sports Facebook page I’ve been posting daily updates for each day in Worcester hockey history. In case people missed some, I’ll gather them at the end of each month here on the blog.
1
1996 – The Ottawa Senators acquired a 1996 eighth-round pick (Erich Goldmann) from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Dave McLlwain.
2003 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Marc Brown Player of the Month for January.
2012 – The AHL suspended Worcester Sharks defenseman Matt Pelech two games for boarding Portland’s Andy Miele on March 30th.
2019 – The Worcester Railers sign Ross Olsson.
Birthdays: Jeremiah McCarthy (1976)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/01/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-1/
2
2005 – The Worcester IceCats sign Darren Van Oene to a PTO.
2007 – The Worcester Sharks released Josh Prudden from his PTO and signed him to an SPC.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks released Andrew Desjardins from his SPC and he was signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2015 – The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Karl Stollery from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Freddie Hamilton.
2017 – The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, which begins ECHL play this fall, and Railers HC president Michael G. Myers recently announced that on the 30th anniversary of its incorporation, the Worcester Junior Sharks, the premier nonprofit youth hockey organization in Central Mass., will become the Worcester Junior Railers for the 2017-18 season.
Birthdays: Ryan Mougenel (1976); Brian Fahey (1981); Jay McClement (1983); Taylor Doherty (1991)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/02/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-2/
3
1997 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Chris Kenady Player of the Month for January.
1999 – The AHL suspended Worcester IceCats forward Kevin Sawyer one game for being assessed a match penalty. There was no note as to when or what occured.
2001 – The Worcester IceCats signed Jason Payne to a PTO.
2009 – Brandon Mashinter signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks acquired defenseman Brett Westgarth from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in exchange for future considerations.
2011 – Jonathan Cheechoo signed to an SPC by the Worcester Sharks.
2018 – The Worcester Railers sign Tommy Panico.
Birthdays: Jonathan Tremblay (1984)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/03/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-3/
4
2000 – With no advanced pregame notice they were going to do this, the Worcester IceCats players individually presented an IceCats special third jersey to the immediate family members of the W6 firefighters who lost their lives in the Cold Storage Fire. The jerseys were adorned with the same “WFD” patch the IceCats had worn since the December 3rd tragedy. Each was also embossed with the firefighters’ names and the number “6” in honor of the six fallen heroes. Following the ceremony, the St. Louis Blues made a contribution to the Worcester Fallen Firefighters Fund. Worcester coach Greg Gilbert presented a $10,000 check to Frank Raffa, present of Worcester Firefighters Local 1009. While the pregame ceremony was going on the entire Springfield Falcons team stood at their bench to show their support of the families.
2009 – The AHL suspended Worcester Sharks forward Brad Staubitz for five games as a result of his actions in the first period of February 28th’s game against Springfield, when he was assessed 42 PIM.
2011 – The San Jose Sharks sign Sena Acolatse to a free-agent contract.
2012 – The AHL named Worcester Sharks goaltender Carter Hutton Player of the Month. This was the second time Hutton won PotW, the only Worcester player to accomplish that.
Birthdays: Jarrett Deuling (1974); T.J. Trevelyan (1984)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/04/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-4/
5
1995 – Les Kuntar was recalled from the Hershey Bears to the Philadelphia Flyers and became the first-ever player recalled to the NHL after playing for the Worcester IceCats.
1999 – The Worcester IceCats name Geoff Smith captain. He replaced Jason Widmer, who was out for the season with a knee injury.
2009 – Trent Campbell signed to a PTO by the Worcester Sharks.
2011 – The Worcester Sharks sign defenseman Jon Landry to an SPC.
Birthdays: Rob Melanson (1971); Barret Jackman (1981)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/05/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-5/
6
1990 – The St Louis Blues acquire Rich Sutter, Harold Snepsts, a 2nd round choice in 1990 Entry Draft (Craig Johnson) to Vancouver in exchange for for Adrien Plavsic, Montreal’s 1st round choice in 1990 Entry Draft, and St. Louis’ 2nd round choice (later traded to Montreal – Montreal selected Craig Darby) in 1991 Entry Draft.
2013 – The Worcester Sharks signed Riley Brace to an ATO.
2014 – The San Jose Sharks sign Barclay Goodrow to a free-agent contract.
Birthdays: Sebastian Stalberg (1990)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/06/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-6/
7
1995 – The Worcester IceCats sign a five-year affiliation agreement with the St. Louis Blues.
1996 – The License Commission for the City of Worcester yesterday granted the Centrum an exemption to a local licensing rule that restricts vendors to serving one drink to a patron at a time. Centrum patrons may now purchase two alcoholic drinks per visit to the concession stand instead of one. The Centrum was granted an exemption with the stipulation that it would stop serving liquor at the end of the second intermission of hockey games and at the end of the third quarter of basketball games.
2004 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats forward Blake Evans Player of the Week.
Birthdays: Bob Deraney (1965); Geoff Smith (1969); Riley Brace (1992)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/07/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-7/
8
1995 – Former Worcester IceCats goaltender Les Kuntar became the first IceCats alum to make it to the NHL when the Philadelphia Flers recalled him from the Hershey Bears.
2007 – San Jose Sharks signed free agent forward T.J. Fox.
2012 – The AHL suspended Worcester Sharks forward Jimmy Bonneau for eight games, defenseman Matt Pelech for four, and assistant coach David Cunniff for one for a post-game altercation in Portland on April 11th in Portland. The organization was also fined an undisclosed amount. Referee Mark Lemelin was reprimanded for allowing the Pirates Brett Sterling to participate in the shootout despite having to serve a 10-minute misconduct.
Birthdays: Rob Pearson (1971); Craig Johnson (1972); Steven Halko (1974); James Livingston (1990); Jake Randolph (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/08/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-8/
9
2004 – The St. Louis Blues acquired Ryan Ready from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Sergei Varlamov.
2011 – Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment, owner of the San Jose Sharks, exercised its option to extend its lease agreement with SMG and the city of Worcester for two years. The original contract, signed in 2006, was a 10-year deal structured as a 5-2-3 – a five-year lease with an option to extend for two years to 2013 and for an additional three years to 2016.
2012 – Worcester Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock won the Performance of the Month Award for February, the AHL recognizing his remarkable return from a potentially career-ending skate cut in February 2011.
2014 – Marley Sommer, the oldest of Roy and Melissa Sommer’s three children, sang the national anthem.
2015 – The Worcester Sharks acquired Vincent Arseneau from the Manchester Monarchs in exchange for future considerations.
Birthdays: Jon Coleman (1975)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/09/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-9/
10
2001 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Rookie Mark Rycroft Booster Club Player of the Month for February.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Benn Ferriero was Player of the Month for December and Danny Groulx Player of the Month for January.
2012 – Worcester Sharks forward Frazer McLaren and Monarchs forward Justin Johnson had a pregame altercation among some early altercations in the neutral zone. Several punches were thrown before the respective coaches helped defuse things, then referees Terry Koharski and Lemelin arrived on the scene.
2013 – The Worcester Sharks played host to the third annual induction ceremony for the Worcester Hockey Hall of Fame. Kevin Shea was the MC for the pre-game event, during which Larry Murphy, Dick Lamby, Dave Roy, and the late John Coughlin became the latest members. Murphy and Lamby were on hand for their inductions while Roy, who lives out of state, was represented by his son, Don. Coughlin was also represented by his son, John Coughlin Jr.
Birthdays: Darren Maloney (1972); Marc Brown (1979)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/10/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-10/
11
2000 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Brent Johnson Player of the Month for February.
2001 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats forward Mark Rycroft Player of the Week.
2005 – Don Granato announced he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and took a medical leave from the organization. Steve Pleau, who had been Granato’s assistant throughout his tenure in Worcester, was named as the new head coach of the IceCats. He will be assisted by Mike Kitchen, who is the head coach of the parent Blues, but who is available with the NHL season having been canceled.
2011 – The San Jose Sharks sign James Livingston to a free-agent contract.
2015 – Worcester Sharks forward John McCarthy passes Dan DaSilva to become the Sharks’ all-time leading scorer.
2018 – The Worcester Railers Booster Club named Barry Almeida Player of the Month for December and Eamon McAdam Player of the Month for January.
Birthdays: Tyson Nash (1975); Michal Handzus (1977)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/11/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-11/
12
2012 – The AHL suspended Worcester Sharks forward Frazer McLaren for three games and left-wing Curt Gogol for one game as a consequence of their actions during warmups prior to the April 10th game in Worcester against Manchester.
2020 – The ECHL suspended the 2019-20 hockey season indefinitely due to coronavirus concerns. When Eric Lindquist relayed the news to general manager-coach David Cunniff, his response was something like, “No way this can happen. We’re playing our best hockey, we’ve got the right players in here – the season can’t be over.”
Birthdays: Brent Johnson (1977); Douglas Murray (1980); Mike Cornell (1988); Griff Jeszka (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/12/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-12/
13
1996 – The Worcester IceCats acquired forward B.J. MacPherson from the Adirondack Red Wings in exchange for cash considerations.
2001 – The St Louis Blues claim Sebastien Bordeleau off waivers from the Nashville Predators.
2005 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats forward Jay McClement Player of the Week.
2012 – Worcester Sharks defenseman Nick Petrecki was named the winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the American Hockey League Man of the Year.
Birthdays: Vinny Muto (1993); David Quenneville (1998)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/13/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-13/
14
2012 – The San Jose Sharks sign Sebastian Stalberg to a free-agent contract.
2014 – The Worcester Sharks sign Brock Higgs to an ATO.
2020 – Only two days after league play was suspended, the ECHL Board of Governors approved on Saturday the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 season due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Birthdays: Roy Mitchell (1969); Aris Brimanis (1972); Patrick Traverse (1974); David Marshall (1985); Jody Pederson (1985); Willie Raskob (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/14/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-14/
15
1995 – The AHL announced disciplinary actions against the Worcester IceCats for a wild overtime altercation at Binghamton on March 11th. Head Coach Jim Roberts was fined $200 and suspended for one game. Left-wing John Carter was fined $50 and suspended for three games for abuse of officials. Right wings Sean Whyte and Ross Wilson were both fined $100 and suspended for one game for climbing the boards to fight back at Binghamton fans. Defensemen Shaun Kane and Rob Melanson were both fined $100 for swinging their sticks in the direction of fans. Roberts, according to AHL vice-president of operations Gordie Anziano, was disciplined because his actions in leaving the bench and pursuing referee Marc Joannette started the mini-riot.
2016 – Worcester’s new ECHL franchise hired longtime Worcester Sharks executive Mike Myers to be senior director of community development.
Birthdays: Michael Burkett (1972); Matthew Lane (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/15/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-15/
16
1994 – The first mention in the Worcester Telegram of Roy Boe having an interest in bringing an AHL team to Worcester. “I did speak to Roy Boe some two to three weeks ago and he did express an interest in acquiring an AHL franchise for Worcester,” Butterfield said from AHL headquarters in West Springfield.
2006 – The Worcester Sharks announced the team will retain Vinny Ferraiuolo as its equipment manager. Ferraiuolo was the equipment manager in Cleveland with the Barons.
2012 – In a ceremony before the game, Worcester Sharks captain Mike Moore and alternates Jimmy Bonneau and John McCarthy presented team jerseys to members of Jon Davies’ family. Davies was a Worcester firefighter killed in the line of duty in December.
Birthdays: Jamie Rivers (1975); William Wrenn (1991)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/16/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-16/
17
1994 – For the first time Roy Boe makes public comments on bringing an AHL franchise to Worcester. “I spent a lot of time with good people in Worcester,” Boe said to Telegram reporter David E. Nathan. “I think the building is a great building and it’s a great hockey area. I think it will be as successful as Providence. I think the city is ready for the American Hockey League.” Boe denied speculation that he already had an agreement with Springfield Indians owner Peter Cooney to buy that AHL team and move it here. Cooney also denied the existence of such an agreement.
2010 – Matt Irwin signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks. Also, Worcester Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins played in his 141st straight game, setting a Worcester pro hockey ironman record.
Birthdays: Derek Joslin (1987)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/17/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-17/
18
1997 – The Ottawa Senators acquired Mike Prokopec from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Denis Chasse, the player rights to Kevin Bolibruck, and Ottawa’s 6th round choice (traded back to Ottawa) in the 1998 Entry Draft.
1999 – The St Louis Blues acquired Brad Shaw and a 1999 eighth-round pick (Colin Hemingway) from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 1999 sixth-round pick.
2000 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club announced its year-end awards. Rookie of the Year, Ladislav Nagy; Most Valuable Player, Brent Johnson; Seven Hills Seventh Player, Reed Low; Best Defensive Player, Bryce Salvador; Favorite Players, tie between Low and Johnson; Best Individual Performance, Jim Campbell for going 3-3-6 on Dec. 28, 1999.
2011 – The Worcester Sharks sign Nathan Longpre to an ATO.
2012 – This year’s honorees in the Worcester Hockey Hall of Fame were recognized on the ice during the first intermission, with many family members joining them. Present were Eric Boguniecki, who wore his No. 33 IceCats jersey during the ceremony, then was back behind the Sound Tigers bench for the second period; longtime skating instructor Patti Cutting, founder of the Lakers Skating School; and Keith Allain, former St. Peter’s goalie, IceCats goalie coach, and current Yale coach.
2015 – The Worcester Sharks signed Daniel Ciampini to an SPC.
2018 – Worcester Railers forward Tommy Kelley was injured when he crashed hard into the end boards at the DCU Center. He was knocked unconscious, and after several minutes in the eerily quiet DCU Center Kelly was taken off the ice on a stretcher. Amazingly Kelley was not injured too badly, reaching out on social media just hours later thanking everyone for their concerns. He did not return to play the remainder of the season. In that same game, Jeff Kubiak scored the 5,000th goal in Worcester pro hockey history.
Birthdays: Trevor Baker (1978)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/18/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-18/
19
1996 – The St Louis Blues acquire Charlie Huddy and a 1996 seventh-round pick (Daniel Corso) from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Denis Hamel.
2010 – Nick Schaus signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
Birthdays: Scott Roche (1977); Mike Mottau (1978); Tyson Sexsmith (1989)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/19/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-19/
20
1996 – The Worcester IceCats sign Harry York to a PTO. Also, the St Louis Blues acquire Yuri Khmylev and a 1996 eighth-round pick (Andrei Podkonicky) from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, a 1996 second-round pick, and a 1997 third-round pick.
1998 – The Worcester IceCats game at Providence tested a rule where players had to serve their full minor penalty no matter how many power play goals the opposition scored. Since neither club scored a power play goal, the rule was never used.
1999 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Andrej Podkonicky Player of the Month for February
2012 – The AHL suspended Worcester Sharks defenseman Mike Moore three games for leaving the penalty box to fight Bridgeport’s Micheal Haley, who was also suspended three games. The incident took place on March 18th.
2014 – The Worcester Sharks sign Adam Schmidt to an ATO.
2018 – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign Ryan MacKinnon.
2019 – The Worcester Railers sign Drew Callin
Birthdays: Dennis Wideman (1983); Dane Walters (1989)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/20/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-20/
21
1994 – John Wentzell, general manager of the Centrum, tells Telegram reporter Bud Barth concerning a potential AHL team playing in the building, “There are discussions ongoing. I would categorize them as very substantial and very real. I’m hopeful this may lead to something for next season. I can’t say how, who, or anything beyond that.”
1998 – The AHL suspended Worcester IceCats forward Terry Virtue one game for receiving a gross misconduct at the end of their game against Providence on March 20th.
2004 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Peter Sejna Player of the Month for February
2008 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Tom Cavanaugh Player of the Month for February.
2010 – The AHL named Worcester Sharks forward Michael Swift Player of the Week.
2013 – The Worcsster Sharks sign Lane Scheidl to an ATO and Peter Sivak to a PTO.
Birthdays: Jeremy Yablonski (1980); Peter Sivak (1982); Mirco Mueller (1995); Matt Schmalz (1996); Maurizio Colella (1997)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/21/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-21/
22
1998 – The Worcester IceCats hosted the Saint John Flames and tested a rule where players had to serve their full minor penalty no matter how many power play goals the opposition scored. Both clubs scored a power play goal, but neither could capitalize on the extra time the power play rule gave them.
2013 – Derek Joslin re-assigned to the Worcester Sharks by the Vancouver Canucks.
2015 – The AHL named Worcester Sharks forward Bryan Lerg Player of the Week.
Birthdays: Jimmy Bonneau (1985); Dwyer Tschantz (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/22/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-22/
23
1995 – The New York Islanders loan rookie defenseman Jason Widmer to the Canadian National Team for the World Hockey Championship tournament in Stockholm.
1997 – The Worcester IceCats sign Dennis Wright to an ATO.
2007 – Torrey Mitchell signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
2010 – Justin Braun signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks. Matt Irwin signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2018 – The Worcester Railers sign Dylan Willick.
Birthdays: Dale Clark (1978)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/23/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-23/
24
1995 – At the Worcester IceCats Booster Club Awards Banquet the following awards were given out: Most Valuable Player: Shawn Heaphy; Booster Club Fans Award: Terry Virtue and Wayne Cowley; Best Defensive Player: Virtue; Rookie of the Year: Jason Widmer; Seven Hills 7th Player: Virtue; Best One-Game Performance: John Carter for his 5-goal game Jan. 4 against Cape Breton.
2006 – The Worcester Sharks announced that Jamie Smock, who was director of broadcasting for San Jose’s AHL affiliate during its stay in Cleveland, will have the same job in Worcester. The team also announced the hire of Michael Myers, a graduate of Assumption College and owner of a goalie mask design company, to be youth hockey and community relations manager.
2007 – The AHL named Worcester Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss Player of the Week.
2014 – Ryan Carpenter signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks.
2020 – Worcester Railers Booster Club president Rich Lundin announced the club’s season-ending awards. With the cancellation of the ECHL season due to the COVID-19 virus, there was no awards banquet where these awards are usually announced. Voting took place online, with the balloting ending last Friday. Best offensive player: Nic Pierog; Best Defensive Player: Justin Murray; Tough Guy: Yanick Turcotte; Seven Hills Seventh Player: Shane Walsh; Rookie of the Year: Drew Callin; Best Single-Game Performance: Ross Olsson (Gordie Howe hat trick on January 5th against Jacksonville); Fan Favorite: Barry Almeida; Most Valuable Player: Ross Olsson; Man of the Year: Connor Doherty.
Birthdays: Jamie Thompson (1974); Tom Cavanagh (1982); Tommy Panico (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/24/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-24/
25
1999 – Cody Rudkowsky signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2007 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club held its first awards banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Worcester. It recognized Mathieu Darche as Top Scorer, Best Offensive Player, and Most Valuable Player; Brennan Evans as Best Defensive Player and Tough Guy; Riley Armstrong as Fan Favorite and Seven Hills Seventh Player; Greiss as Rookie of the Year and Josie Brown as Booster of the Year. Darche was also honored for the Best Single-Game Performance for going 3-2-5 vs. Manchester on Dec. 22.
2009 – Joe Loprieno signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks.
2014 – Ryan Carpenter signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2015 – The Worcester Sharks signed Matt Willows to an ATO.
Birthdays: Eric Nickulas (1975)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/25/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-25/
26
2008 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club presented its annual awards at a dinner it hosted for the team. The awards winners included Graham Mink and Riley Armstrong, tie for Most Valuable Player; Mike Iggulden, Best Offensive Player; Patrick Traverse, Best Defensive Player; Brad Staubitz, Tough Guy; T.J. Fox, Seventh Player; Derek Joslin, Rookie of the Year; Armstrong, Fan Favorite; Chris O’Shea, Booster of the Year; and Iggulden was recognized for the best single-game performance with his 3-1-4 night vs. Norfolk on March 2.
2014 – Roy Sommer sets the AHL record for most games as head coach with his 1,257th game behind the bench. Sommer broke a record that has stood for 29 years, or since Frank Mathers of the Hershey Bears finished his coaching career as a midseason replacement in 1984-85. Because apparently no one in the AHL offices can do the math, Sommer broke the record in an away game instead of at the DCU Center.
2018 – The Worcester Railers and their Booster Club teamed up for a menu of seasonal awards, and they went like this: Most Valuable Player, Chris Langkow; Rookie of the Year, Gillam; Seventh Player Award, Connor Doherty; Best Defensive Player, Justin Hamonic; Best Offensive Player, Barry Almeida; Best Single-Game Performance, Gillam’s 11 shootout saves on March 11; Man of the Year, Frankie DiChiara; Tough Guy, Yanick Turcotte; Fan Favorite, Woody Hudson.
Birthdays: Michael Swift (1987); Vincent Arseneau (1992)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/26/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-26/
27
2001 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club year-end awards were announced at the annual banquet. Ed Campbell was Best Defensive Player, Mark Rycroft Rookie of the Year, Dwayne Roloson and Dan Corso were co-MVPs, Peter Smrek was Seven Hills Seventh Player, Corso was Most Popular, and Cody Rudkowsky’s 52-save win over St. John’s was Best Single-Game Performance.
2003 – The St Louis Blues sign Greg Black to a free-agent contract.
2009 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club announced its season awards. The winners: Most Valuable Player, Ryan Vesce; Best Offensive Player, Vesce; Best Defensive Player, Derek Joslin; Tough Guy Award, Brad Staubitz; Seventh Player Award, P.J. Fenton; Rookie of the Year, Jamie McGinn; Best Single-Game Performance, Fenton for his 3-1-4 night vs. Springfield on Feb. 28; Fan Favorite, Riley Armstrong.
2018 – Worcester Railers owner Cliff Rucker to receive the 2018 Harvey Ball Smile Award, the Worcester Historical Museum announced.
Birthdays: Aaron MacKenzie (1981); Oren Eizenman (1985); Leigh Salters (1989)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/27/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-27/
28
2000 – The AHL suspended Worcester IceCats forward Sylvain Blouin two games for boarding the Citadelles’ Gennady Razin from behind in March 26th’s game at Quebec.
2002 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats defenseman Barret Jackman to the All-Rookie team.
2009 – Worcester Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins tied a record that will never be broken when he was called for a slashing penalty before the game began. Desjardins committed the slash while players were jockeying for position on the opening faceoff, so Lowell began the game on a power play.
2014 – The AHL suspended Worcester Sharks defenseman Rob Davison three games for an open-ice head hit on Portland’s Phil Lane on March 26th against the Pirates at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.
2019 – The Worcester Railers and their Booster Club teamed up for a menu of seasonal awards, and they went like this: Tyler Barnes received the Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player awards. Other awards included: Connor Doherty (Best Defensive Player, Railers Man of the Year), Yanick Turcotte (Tough Guy, Fan Favorite), Evan Buitenhuis (Seven Hills 7th Player Award, Best Single-Game Performance for 47-save 1-0 win at Tulsa on Feb. 16), and Ryan Hitchcock (Rookie of the Year). The Booster Club also announced several Player of the Month winners: December: Nick Sorkin; January: Matt Schmalz; February: Tyler Barnes.
Birthdays: Tomas Plihal (1983); Joe Pereira (1987); Logan Couture (1989); Sacha Guimond (1991); Brennan Feasey (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/28/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-28/
29
1997 – The Worcester IceCats sign both Kevin Hilton and Marquis Mathieu to their second PTOs of the season.
2000 – The AHL awarded Worcester IceCats owner Roy Boe a franchise for Bridgeport, Conn. The team, which will be based in an arena about 12 minutes from Boe’s home in Fairfield County, is scheduled to begin play in the 2001-2002 season. League rules bar the same person from owning two teams, so Boe had to divest his IceCats holdings by July 2001.
2002 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats forward Eric Boguniecki to the league’s end of season first All-Star team yesterday.
2011 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club awards were handed out The winners: Best Offensive Player, Jonathan Cheechoo; Best Defensive Player, Justin Braun; Tough Guy, Brandon Mashinter; Seventh Player, Sean Sullivan; Rookie of the Year, Tommie Wingels; Fan Favorite, Mike Moore; MVP, Alex Stalock; Best Single-Game Performance, Hutton’s 20-save shutout against Providence on Feb. 5.
2012 – Matt Tennyson signed as a free agent by San Jose.
Birthdays: Sean Sullivan (1984)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/29/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-29/
30
1997 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Marquis Mathieu Player of the Month for February.
2001 – Worcester IceCats goalie Dwayne Roloson was named an American Hockey League All-Star, the first IceCat to be honored with a selection to the first team.
2002 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Reinhard Divis Player of the Month for February.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club presented its annual awards. They were: Best Offensive Player, Logan Couture; Best Defensive Player, Danny Groulx; Tough Guy Award, Brandon Mashinter; Seven Hills 7th Player, John McCarthy; Rookie of the Year, Alex Stalock; Fan Favorite, Alex Stalock; Most Valuable Player, Alex Stalock; Best Single-Game Performance, Dennis McCauley’s hat trick on Feb. 3 at Springfield.
2012 – The San Jose Sharks sign Travis Oleksuk to a free-agent contract.
Birthdays: Jon DiSalvatore (1981); Micheal Haley (1986); Marc-Edouard Vlasic (1987); Ryan Hitchcock (1996)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/30/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-30/
31
2003 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Curtis Sanford Player of the Month for February.
2012 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Matt Irwin Player of the Month for January and Matt Pelech Player of the Month for February.
Birthdays: Brett Scheffelmaier (1981); Steve Bernier (1985); Alex Adams (1993)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/03/31/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-march-31/
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