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
1998 – The Worcester IceCats sign Matt Smith to an ATO.
2008 – The Worcester Sharks sign P.J. Fenton to an ATO.
2010 – Worcester Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock and center Logan Couture were named to the AHL’s All-Rookie team.
Birthdays: Brock Beukeboom (1992); Tyler Poulsen (1993)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/01/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-1/
2
2001 – Worcester IceCats netminder Dwayne Roloson was named winner of the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the American Hockey League’s best goaltender. He was the first IceCats player to win an AHL individual award.
2003 – The Worcester IceCats sign both Chris Corrinet and Ernie Hartlieb to their second PTOs of the season.
2004 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats forward Mike Glumac Rookie of the Month.
2008 – Frazer McLaren signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
2010 – Worcester Sharks defenseman Danny Groulx was named an AHL first-team All-Star. Also, the Sharks team bus got sideswiped on the way down Route 146, but there were no injuries.
2011 – Sena Acolatse signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
2013 – The Worcester Sharks released Daniil Tarasov from his SPC and he was then signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2019 – The QMJHL announced that J.J. Daigneault would be inducted into their Hall of Fame. Daigneault played 9 games for the Worcester IceCats during the 1996-96 season.
Birthdays: Nic Pierog (1993)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/02/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-2/
3
1995 – The Worcester IceCats signed Lance Brady to a PTO.
1996 – The Worcester IceCats signed Bob Lachance to an ATO.
1997 – The Worcester IceCats signed Derek Diener to an ATO.
2002 – The Worcester IceCats signed Arvids Rekis to a PTO.
2007 – Jamie McGinn signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
2012 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named their year-end awards. Best Offensive Player – John McCarthy; Best Defensive Player – Mike Moore; Best Tough Guy – Jimmy Bonneau; Fan Favorite – Brandon Mashinter; Best Single-Game Performance – Mashinter for his Gordie Howe Hat trick with game-winning goal 12/30/2011 against the Connecticut Whale; Seven Hills 7th Player – Matt Pelech; Rookie of Year – Sena Acolatse; MVP – Tyson Sexsmith
2013 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Harri Sateri Player of the Month for December, and Daniil Tarasov Player of the Month for January
2016 – Worcester ECHL franchise holds Fan Fest, and announces their name will be Worcester Railers Hockey Club, or Railers HC.
2018 – The ECHL named Worcester Railers goaltender Mitch Gillam Rookie of the Month for March.
Birthdays: Jim Campbell (1973); Dan Corso (1978); Gerald Coleman (1985); Ivan Chukarov (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/03/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-3/
4
1995 – The Ottawa Senators acquire a 1995 ninth-round pick (Libor Zabransky) from the St Louis Blues in exchange for Daniel Laperriere and a 1995 ninth-round pick. The New York Islanders acquire Eric Fichaud from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Benoit Hogue, NY Islanders’ 3rd round choice in the 1995 Entry Draft, and NY Islanders’ 5th round choice (Brandon Sugden) in the 1996 Entry Draft.
1997 – Worcester IceCats netminder Travis Scott made 64 saves in a 3-2 win over the Providence Bruins. It is still the Worcester pro hockey single-game record.
1998 – The AHL named Worcester Icecats forward Michal Handzus Player of the Week.
1999 – The AHL named Worecster IceCats forward Jochen Hecht Player of the Week.
2001 – The AHL named Worcester IceCats head coach Don Granato as the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as AHL Coach of the Year.
2002 – Worcester IceCats defenseman Barret Jackman was named as a member of AHL’s All-Rookie Team.
2008 – Steven Zalewski signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks.
2017 – The Worcester Railers named Connor Haynes of Sutton the team’s account executive of tickets and memberships.
2018 – Worcester Railers goaltender Mitch Gillam was both to the ECHL’s All-Rookie Team and Goaltender of the Week.
Birthdays: Eric Lecompte (1975); Nick Roberto (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/04/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-4/
5
1995 – The New York Islanders acquired Craig Darby, Kirk Muller, and Mathieu Schneider from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov.
2002 – Worcester IceCats’ right wing Eric Boguniecki was named the AHL’s Most Valuable Player. He won the Les Cunningham Award, and is the first IceCat so honored.
2003 – In his fifth season with the Worcester IceCats, this was the first time Terry Virtue had been a scratch due to injury. His hand injury put him out for the rest of the season. Broadcaster Mike Thornton also saw his consecutive games streak end that night as he remained in Worcester to be near his wife, Stacie, who is due with their first child. Thornton had broadcast 341 straight games including playoffs since joining the organization four seasons ago. Rich Procchini did the play by play.
2013 – Eriah Hayes signed as a free agent by San Jose.
Birthdays: Roy Sommer (1957); Mike Glumac (1980); Josh Monk (1992); Drew Callin (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/05/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-5/
6
1995 – The New York Islanders acquired Eric Fichaud from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Benoit Hogue, a 1995 third-round pick and a 1996 fifth-round pick.
1999 – Greg Madden, radio announcer and public relations director for the Worcester IceCats, requested and received a leave of absence for personal reasons. He did not return to the team.
2003 – Peter Sejna signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2010 – Worcester Sharks defenseman Danny Groulx was announced as the winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the best defenseman in the American Hockey League.
2014 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Marek Viedensky Player of the Month for December and Dan DaSilva Player of the Month for January.
2018 – The New York Islanders sign David Quenneville to an entry-level contract.
2020 – Worcester Railers defenseman Connor Doherty was named winner of the ECHL Community Service Award.
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/06/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-6/
7
2001 – With a 3-0 win over Providence, the Worcester Iceats clinch the best record in the AHL, winning the McGregor Kilpatrick Trophy.
2004 – The Worcester IceCats sign Mitch Fritz to a PTO.
2013 – Eriah Hayes and Rylan Schwartz signed to ATOs by the Worcester Sharks.
2020 – The Worcester Railers named Stephanie Ramey as its new president and promoted former president Mike Myers to the new position of chief operating officer.
Birthdays: Daniel Guerard (1974); Erich Goldmann (1976); Jeff Panzer (1978); Matt Walker (1980); Ryan Vesce (1982); Alexis Miller (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/07/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-7/
8
1994 – Roe Boe announces he has a written agreement with the Springfield Indians to purchase the franchise. Boe will then relocate it to the Centrum in Worcester. The purchase and move will require a three-fourths vote at an AHL Board of Governors meeting scheduled for April 21st.
2000 – The Worcester IceCats sign Shawn Mamane to an ATO.
2008 – Mike Moore signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2013 – Troy Grosenick signed as a free agent by San Jose.
Birthdays: Tyler Willis (1977)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/08/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-8/
9
1996 – The Worcester IceCats released Harry York from his PTO and signed him to an SPC.
1999 – With broadcaster Greg Madden off on a personal leave of absence, Jon Rish, radio voice of Boston College hockey, announced the IceCats’ weekend games of the 9yj, 10th, and 11th.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named T.J. Trevelyan Player of the Month for February and Dan DaSilva Player of the Month for March.
2014 – Marley Sommer, the oldest of Roy and Melissa Sommer’s three children, sang the national anthem.
Birthdays: Jim Roberts (1940)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/09/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-9/
10
1996 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Paul Broten Player of the Month for March.
2008 – Mike Moore signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks.
2009 – Alex Stalock signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
2013 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named their year-end award winners. Best offensive player: Bracken Kearns; Best defensive player: Sena Acolatse; “Tough Guy” award: Matt Pelech; Fan favorite: Alex Stalock; Rookie of the year: Daniil Tarasov; Seventh player award: James Livingston; Best single-game performance: Harri Sateri, for his 50 save shootout win vs Providence on December 2, 2012; Most valuable player: Bracken Kearns
Birthdays: Donald Dufresne (1967); Chris Kenady (1973); Dan Trebil (1974); Derek Army (1991)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/10/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-10/
11
2007 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Mike Iggulden as Player of the Month February and Tom Cavanagh Player of the Month for March. Also, San Jose goaltending coach Warren Strelow died in St. Vincent Hospital several weeks after suffering a stroke during a WorSharks practice on the ice at the DCU Center. Strelow was in his wheelchair working with goalie Dimitri Patzold when coach Roy Sommer realized that Strelow had lost the ability to speak. The goalie coach was using his hands to point, still directing Patzold in drills, and refused to leave the ice. So Sommer finally had Patzold head to the dressing room so Strelow could be taken care of.
2015 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Willie Coetzee Player of the Month for January, Aaron Dell Player of the Month for February, and John McCarthy Player of the Month for March.
Birthdays: Ernie Hartlieb (1979); Thomas Heemskerk (1990)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/11/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-11/
12
2013 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club announced their year-end awards. They were: Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player – Bracken Kearns; Best Defensive Player – Sena Acolatse; Tough Guy – Matt Pelech; Seventh Player – James Livingston; Rookie of the Year – Daniil Tarasov; Fan Favorite – Al Stalock; Best One-Game Performance – Harri Sateri’s 50-save win on Dec. 2, 2012.
Birthdays: Kurt Drummond (1978); Tommy Wingels (1988); Connor Doherty (1993)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/12/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-12/
13
Birthdays: Steve Martins (1972)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/13/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-13/
14
1997 – Worcester IceCats defenseman Jamie Rivers was named a second-team AHL All-Star.
2014 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club named Brodie Reid Player of the Month for February and Travis Oleksuk Player of the Month for March.
2015 – The Worcester Sharks Booster Club held its final awards banquet and named their team winners. They were: Most Valuable Player, Evan Trupp; Best Offensive Player, Bryan Lerg; Best Defensive Player, Matt Taormina; Rookie of the Year, Aaron Dell. Tough Guy Award, Jimmy Bonneau; Seventh Player, John McCarthy; Fan Favorite, Bonneau; Best Single-Game Performance, Jeremy Langlois for his natural hat trick in the Sharks’ 3-2 victory at Portland on Jan. 21.
2016 – Cliff Rucker, owner of the Worcester Railers Hockey Club, becomes an investor and developer in the plan to build two hockey rinks on property in the Canal District.
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/14/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-14/
15
1994 – Worcester IceCats defenseman Jason Widmer was invited to play for the Canadian team in the World Ice Hockey Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.
2011 – Mike Connolly signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2014 – Worcester State named former Worcester Sharks president Mike Mudd its new athletic director.
Birthdays: Jason Zent (1971); J.D. Forrest (1981)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/15/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-15/
16
1997 – Worcester IceCats Head Coach Greg Gilbert was named AHL Coach of the Year, receiving the Louis A.R. Pieri Award in a vote of league writers and broadcasters.
1999 – Once again, Jon Rish replaced Greg Madden as the radio voice of the Worcester IceCats.
2003 – The Worcester IceCats sign Jay McClement to an ATO.
2010 – Marek Viedensky signed to an ATO by the Worcester Sharks
Birthdays: Harry York (1974); Tyler Rennette (1979); Meaghan Spurling (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/16/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-16/
17
1995 – Worcester IceCats forward Cal McGowan was chosen to play for the United States in the World Ice Hockey Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.
1999 – With Greg Madden on a leave of absence and BC hockey play by play man Jon Rish unavailable, NESN’s Tom Caron called the IceCats’ regular-season finale on WTAG.
2005 – The Worcester IceCats play their final game. Patrick Wellar made his debut with the team, he became the 276th and final IceCats player.
2015 – Worcester Sharks sign Julius Bergman to an ATO.
Birthdays: Mariah Fujimagari (1994)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/17/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-17/
18
1999 – Veteran Zamboni driver Greg Tesone worked his last game. He left to become Director of Facilities for the Atlantic City Convention Center. Tesone spent 10 years at the Centrum, the last few as Director of Operations and Events.
2000 – The AHL suspended Worcester IceCats forward Sylvain Blouin for one game for a check on Steve Poapst during the first overtime of the IceCats playoff game at Portland on March 17th. Blouin was not penalized during the game for the hit.
2003 – Grant Stevenson signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2015 – Worcester Sharks defenseman Julius Bergman made his professional debut. He became the 226th and final Worcester Sharks player. His name is the only one missing from the banner raised by the Sharks. Also, veteran goal judge Peter Glanville worked his 775th DCU Center game tending the red light.
Birthdays: Thierry Douville (1983)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/18/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-18/
19
Birthdays: Charlie Townsend (1987)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/19/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-19/
20
Birthdays: Blair Atcheynum (1969); Kaitlin Spurling (1991); Casey Stathopoulos (1993); Bo Brauer (1995)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/20/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-20/
21
1994 – Providence Bruins owner Eddie Anderson prevented a vote by the AHL Board of Governors by claiming the move of the Springfield Indians to Worcester would infringe on the Bruins territorial bubble. The key stumbling block is Worcester is within both the Indians’ and Bruins’ 50-mile territory bubble.
Birthdays: Roman Vopat (1976)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/21/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-21/
22
2000 – The Worcester IceCats sign Barret Jackman to an ATO.
2009 – Kevin Henderson signed as a free agent by San Jose
Birthdays: Tom Walsh (1983)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/22/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-22/
23
1997 – The Worcester IceCats Booster Club named Rob Pearson Player of the Month for March.
1999 – Worcester IceCats radio announcer Greg Madden was still on a leave of absence for personal reasons, so it was BC hockey play by play man Jon Rish going the game.
2001 – The St Louis Blues sign Jeff Panzer to a free-agent contract.
2003 – Worcester IceCats forward John Pohl was added to the United States roster for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, Finland.
Birthdays: Derek Armstrong (1973); Vladimir Chebaturkin (1975); James McEwan (1987); Matt Tennyson (1990)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/23/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-23/
24
1999 – Worcester IceCats radio announcer Greg Madden was still on a leave of absence for personal reasons, so NESN’s Tom Caron called the game.
2001 – The Worcester IceCats sign Jeff Panzer to an ATO.
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/24/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-24/
25
Birthdays: Chris Valicevic (1968); Libor Prochazka (1974); Tomaz Razingar (1979); James Sheppard (1988)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/25/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-25/
26
1999 – The Worcester IceCats release Jaroslav Obsut from his SPC and he signed as a free agent with St. Louis.
2017 – The Worcester Railers announce their NHL affiliate will be the New York Islanders
Birthdays: Andrei Petrakov (1976); Mikael Tam (1991)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/26/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-26/
27
Birthdays: Yves Heroux (1965); J.P. Anderson (1992)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/27/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-27/
28
1994 – The group trying to bring an American Hockey League franchise to Worcester yesterday rejected the demand by the owner of the Providence team for $500,000 to waive his claim to the territory, according to a source. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the group made a counterproposal that the source termed “final.”
2000 – The Worcester IceCats sign Dale Clarke to an ATO.
Birthdays: Christian Backman (1980)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/28/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-28/
29
1999 – The Worcester IceCats extended their lease at the Worcester Centrum by five years, and also extended their affiliation agreement with the St. Louis Blues for five years with an additional three-year option.
Birthdays: Mathieu Biron (1980); Benn Ferriero (1987)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/29/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-29/
30
Birthdays: Dan DaSilva (1985); Dave MacDonald (1985); Tim Kennedy (1986)
Games: https://210sportsblog.com/2020/04/30/today-in-worcester-hockey-history-april-30/
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