The Crunch wrapped up their pre-season series against St. John’s today with their third win in three games. According to a tweet by the team, Syracuse outscored the Ice Caps 13-8 during the three-game series.
Now, granted, pre-season results give little, if any, indication of how a team will do during the regular season. As a matter of fact, I can remember very few pre-seasons in the 8 years I’ve been watching the Crunch where the team didn’t do fairly well. It seems like most years we won more pre-season games than we lost. To place exceptions very high after only three per-season games is foolish.
However, we all know there’s something a little different about this pre-season, as pretty much all the teams are equipped with rosters that are set for the beginning of the season. With the lockout, things are much more advanced at this point than we’re used to. Squads were able to start earlier. Guys came into town all at the same time, instead of trickling in as the NHL released them. From what I’m hearing, the expectation was that this team was going to start pre-season picking right up from where they left off in June…and they have. There’s a lot of change in Syracuse right now, and as annoyed as I was at not having any pre-season home games, I can see where having these guys start on the road with each other would push them back to the camaraderie and familiarity they had in June. This is nothing but good news for Crunch fans!
So, congratulations to the boys! I’m sure if feels insanely good to be playing hockey again. Safe travels, Crunch, and we can’t wait to see you this week! It’s been too long without hockey here in ‘Cuse, that’s for sure.
Don’t forget about the Crunch Convention this Wednesday night. I’ve heard season ticket holders get a new goodie this year, which is awesome, but I’m just excited to be going back home again!
