The Worcester Sharks player of the week nominee is forward Travis Oleksuk. The 24-year-old second year forward recorded a pair of goals in three games last week while playing three solid games as the Sharks extended their point streak to six games.

 

 

·         The Worcester Sharks are currently in 4th place (10-8-1-1, 22pts) in the Atlantic Division and 11th place overall in the Eastern Conference.  – the Sharks trail by five points for the 8^th and final playoff spot in the East but have five games in hand over the IceCaps.

·         The San Jose Sharks currently have 12 players on their roster that have spent time in Worcester (Couture, Desjardins, Pavelski, Sheppard, Wingels, Braun, Demers, Stalock, Irwin, Vlasic, Nieto, Hamilton and McCarthy).

·         The San Jose Sharks are currently in 2nd place in the Pacific Division and 3rd place in the Western Conference with 43 points and a 19-6-5 record.

·         The Worcester Sharks ride the longest point streak in the East (5-0-0-1) and are 7-1-1-1 in their last ten games overall.

·         The #WorSharks set a franchise record with eight goals on home ice on Friday in the 8-2 win over the Pirates.

·         Matt Nieto tied a franchise record with five points (2-3-5) – tying Mathieu Darche, fired seven shots, and was +4 in the #WorSharks 8-2 win on Friday – he was recalled by the SJ Sharks the next morning.

·         Defenseman Nick Petrecki played in his 254^th game as a member of the Worcester Sharks on Sunday, surpassing Mike Moore for the franchise lead in games played.

·         The Worcester Sharks lead the AHL with five shootout wins this season.

·         Veteran Bracken Kearns is tied for the team lead with 16 points (5-11-16) through 20 games. Kearns also leads the club with eight power play points (3-5-8).

·         Rookie goaltender Troy Grosenick ranks 2^nd among all AHL goaltenders with a 1.87 GAA, 3^rd with a .928 save %, tied for 1^st with three shootout wins, and is 5-2-0-0 this season.

·         Goaltender Harri Sateri is 4-1-1 in his last six starts dating back to Nov 15.

·         Despite missing six games due to injury, Daniil Tarasov leads the club with eight goals and is tied for 1st with 16 points (8-8-16) through just 14 games. Tarasov is 3^rd in AHL with three game winning goals and also has a shootout game winner.

·         Adam Comrie leads all Worcester d-men with seven points (1-7-8) in 14 games.

·         Worcester Sharks alumni Matt Nieto (Oct 8 vs. NYR) and Matt Pelech (Oct 10 at VAN) each have scored their first career NHL goals for the SJ Sharks this season

·         Worcester Sharks alumni Alex Stalock is 3-1-0 with the San Jose Sharks this season with a 2.06 GAA and a .930 save %.

·         Coach Roy Sommer currently ranks 4^th in the AHL with 550 wins in his career (16th season) and 2nd in games coached in the AHL with 1212. 

 

 Top 3… Last Week!

1.       Matt Nieto tied a franchise record with five points (2-3-5), fired five shots, and was +4 in the Sharks 8-2 win over the Pirates on Friday!

2.       Troy Grosenick made 31 saves and stopped 4-of-5 shooters in the shootout for his 3^rd straight win in the Sharks 2-1SOW at Manchester on Sunday!

3.       Freddie Hamilton recorded three points (2-1-3), fired six shots, and was +4 in the Sharks 8-2 win vs. the Pirates on Friday!

 

Fri.          12/6       W           Portland Pirates 2 @ Worcester SHARKS 8

Sat.        12/7       SOL       Providence Bruins 4 @ Worcester SHARKS 3

Sun.       12/8       SOW     Worcester SHARKS 2 @ Manchester Monarchs 1

 

 

Fri.          12/13                    Manchester Monarchs @ Worcester SHARKS – 7:30pm

Sat.        12/14                    Worcester SHARKS @ Portland Pirates (in Lewiston, ME) – 7pm

 

 

Six different goal scorers led the Worcester Sharks (9-8-1-0, 19pts) to a season high fourth straight victory with an 8-2 win over the Portland Pirates (7-9-1-2, 17pts) at the DCU Center on Friday night. With the win, the Sharks improved to over .500 for the first time this season. Matt Nieto (2-3-5), Freddie Hamilton (2-1-3), Daniil Tarasov (1-2-3), Dylan Demelo (0-2-2), Marek Viedensky (1-1-2), and Jimmy Bonneau (0-2-2) each had multi point performances while Harri Sateri was sharp with 29 saves in net. Taylor Doherty and Adam Comrie each finished with a +4 rating and as Worcester recorded a four game win streak for the first time since the Sharks won five in a row on Dec 9-17^th.

 

The Worcester Sharks (9-8-1-1, 20pts) led 3-1 midway through the third period but the Providence Bruins (13-7-1-2, 29pts) barreled back for a 4-3 shootout victory in front of 5,210 fans at the DCU Center on Saturday night.   Eriah Hayes, Travis Oleksuk, and Bracken Kearns scored for Worcester and Harri Sateri made 25 saves in the shootout loss as the Sharks extended their point streak to five games (4-0-0-1). Ryan Spooner added three points for the Bruins (1-2-3) and Zach Trotman forced overtime with a late 3^rd period strike as the Bruins won their 5^th straight game overall.

 

Rookie defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser scored his first professional goal in the third period to lift the Worcester Sharks (10-8-1-1, 22pts) to a 2-1 shootout victory over the Manchester Monarchs (16-5-1-4, 38pts) at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Sharks picked up five points on the weekend and now ride a six game point streak (5-0-0-1) heading into Friday night’s rematch vs. the Monarchs at the DCU Center. Troy Grosenick won his third straight start making 31 saves and stopping 4-of-5 shooters in the shootout in the victory. Worcester is now 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games and 5-3-1-0 on the road this season.

 

The Sharks (10-8-1-1, 22pts in 20gp) are currently in 4^th place in the Atlantic Division; which is 15 points behind the 1^st place Monarchs (37pts in 26gp), seven points behind the 2nd place Bruins (29pts in 24gp), five points behind the 3rd place IceCaps (27pts in 25gp), and two points ahead of the 5^th place Pirates (20pts in 21gp) to round out a very choppy Atlantic Division.

 

 Coaching Milestones….

*1000 GAMES… With the 3-1 victory at Springfield on January 14, 2011, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4^th coach in AHL history to reach the 1,000 games plateau.

 

*1200 GAMES… With the 5-1 loss in Lewiston, ME vs. the Pirates on November 8, 2013, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 2^nd coach in AHL history to reach the 1,200 games plateau.

 

*500 WINS!.... With a 3-2 shootout victory in Hershey on February 11, 2012, head coach Roy Sommer became just the 4^th coach in AHL history to reach the 500 win plateau.  

 

1. Fred “Bun” Cook          1937-56                 19seasons            1,171GP                636 WINS

2. Frank Mathers              1956-85                 18seasons            1,256GP               610 WINS

3. John Paddock              1981-2010            16seasons            1,125GP                589 WINS

4. Roy Sommer                1998-current          16seasons           1,212GP                 550 WINS

 

*Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer, who plays a major role in developing players for the San Jose Sharks, is currently the longest-tenured coach (16^th season) in the American Hockey League. His current regular season record is now: 550-478-49-52-53. (W-L-T-OTL-SOL)

 

 

*Associate Coach David Cunniff has joined Coach Sommer in 393 of the 548 victories (72%).

 

*ECHL… Coach Sommer also has 176 wins in the ECHL coaching in five seasons with Roanoke Valley and Richmond.

 

*Captains for the 2013-14 season:  Rob Davison was named the Sharks 6^th captain in team history on October 12, 2013. Alternate captains for this season: Bracken Kearns and Jimmy Bonneau. – Brodie Reid and Marek Viedensky have also worn the A this season.

 

 

*Breaking down October… The Sharks went 2-3-0-0 (4pts in 5gp) record in October with 12 GF and 14 GA. PP was 5-27 (18.5%); opponents PP was 2-for-22 (9.0%), and the Sharks had 10 fighting majors in October.

 

*Breaking down November… The Sharks went 6-5-1-0 (13pts in 12gp) record in November with 26 GF and 35 GA. PP went 7-for-51 (13.7%); opponents PP went 11-for-60 (18.3%), and the Sharks had 18 fighting majors in November.

 

*Breaking down December… The Sharks are 2-0-0-1 (5pts in 3gp) record in December with 13 GF and 7 GA. PP is 1-for-11 (9.1%); opponents PP is 2-for-8 (25.0%), and the Sharks have 0 fighting majors in December.

 

*8 Goal Explosion!... the Worcester Sharks scored eight goals vs. the Portland Pirates on Dec 6 – setting a franchise record for most goals scored at the DCU Center! – heading into that game (18^th game), the Sharks had not scored more than three goals in a game!

 

*Monster Night…. The line of Freddie Hamilton (2-1-3), Matt Nieto (2-3-5), and Daniil Tarasov (1-2-3) combined for 11 points, 18 shots, and a combined +12 in the Sharks 8-2 win over the Pirates on Dec 6.

 

*Multi-Point Game….Tough Guy Jimmy Bonneau had two assists in the Sharks 8-2 win over the Portland Pirates on Dec 6… his 1^st multi point game as a member of the Sharks in game #88.

 

*Staying out of the Box…. The Sharks have only had to kill 15 power plays in their last seven games (2.14 power plays against per game).

 

*Welcome Back… Dan DaSilva returned to the Worcester Sharks on Nov 20 after leading the ECHL with 26 points (7-19-26) in just 14 games for the Ontario Reign and was recently named the ECHL Player of the Week for Nov 11-17. DaSilva currently ranks 9^th all-time in Worcester Sharks history with 109 points (43-66-109) in 185 games for Team Teal and is the franchise leader in playoff points with 18 (5-13-18) in 23 Calder Cup playoff games. A member of the original Crazed Rats Line with John McCarthy and Andrew Desjardins; DaSilva had his best professional season with the Sharks in 2010-11 as he set career highs in points (53), goals (21), assists (32), and was +23 as the Sharks won the regular season Atlantic Division title with a 49-25-0-6 record.

 

 

*Firsts last week… the Sharks scored more than three goals in a game on Friday (8 vs. Portland)… Marek Viedensky scored his first goal of the season in Friday…. Konrad Abeltshauser scored his 1^st professional goal on Sunday in Manchester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Dirty Harri… goaltender Harri Sateri was brilliant in St. John’s on Nov 15 and 16 posting back-to-back shootout wins. Sateri allowed just three goals on 54 shots (.944%) and went 11-14 in the shootout (78.5%)…. Harri is 4-1-1 in his last six starts.

 

 

 

 

 

*Streakers… the Sharks have points in six straight games (5-0-0-1)…. The Sharks have outshot their opponents in eight straight games… Troy Grosenick has won three straight starts…. Bracken Kearns (1-1-2) has a two game point streak.

 

 

*Memorial Cup… rookie defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser won the Memorial Cup in 2013 with the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) and was named to the 2013 Memorial Cup All-Star Team.

 

 *Tallest Shark…. Worcester Sharks rookie defenseman Taylor Doherty is the tallest player in team history standing at 6’7” 235lbs…. Doherty scored his first professional goal in game #70 and added an assist in the Sharks 3-2OTL to the IceCaps on Nov 3, 2012. Doherty has two goals in 125 games with the Worcester Sharks…. Doherty leads Worcester with 60 penalty minutes, 2^nd with four fighting majors, and 2^nd with a +5 rating.

 

*Four straight seasons with 20?…. Forward Bracken Kearns scored his 21 goals last season and hit the 20 goal plateau for the third straight season having scored 20 and 22 goals the previous two seasons with San Antonio…. Bracken has five goals and 11 assists in 20 games this season.

 

 

 

 

 

*Keeping your hat on (Thanks Ballou)… Worcester had gone 263 games without one of its players recording a hat trick before Daniil Tarasov scored three goals in Springfield on Oct 26. That was easily the longest active streak in the AHL. The Sharks’ last hat trick had belongs to Dan DaSilva, who scored three times in Manchester during a 5-2 Worcester victory in Manchester on Feb. 14, 2010. No Worcester player has recorded a hat trick on home ice in more than three years, or since P.J. Fenton had one on Feb. 28, 2009 in the Sharks’ 7-3 victory over Springfield. The home-ice drought has lasted for 175 games. In all, Worcester players have recorded hat tricks only eight times in the franchise’s 557 games. The Sharks are 8-0 in those games and 1-11-3 in the 15 games in which the opposition has had a hat trick.

 

*Franchise Player… Sharks defensemen Nick Petrecki is 1st in Sharks history with 254 games played (surpassed Mike Moore on Dec 8 at MCH)… Nick also ranks 2^nd in penalty minutes with 489 (Frazer McLaren had 577)…. Nick made his NHL debut in San Jose’s 3-2SOW over the Anaheim Ducks on 1/29/13 and played 11:58… the 216 games before his first NHL game was the most of any Worcester Sharks graduate to San Jose.

 

*200/50…. John McCarthy played in his 200^th game for the Sharks on Jan 26, 2013… J-Mac scored his 50^th goal as a member of the Worcester Sharks joining Riley Armstrong, Mike Iggulden, Graham Mink, and Brandon Mashinter as the only five players to score 50+ goals as a member of the Worcester Sharks… JMac is currently on recall with the San Jose Sharks and has played 17 games (0-0-0).

 

*Like Father, Like Son… Rookie Curt Gogol finished 2nd on the Sharks with 139 penalty minutes in just 38 games in 2012-13… his father Brent racked up 892 penalty minutes in 157 professional games in the IHL, CHL, EHL, and the AHL including 380 pims in 1978-79 in 57 games with the Flint Generals…. Gogol has 4 fighting majors, 2 goals, and 50 penalty minutes in 17 games this season.

 

*Piling up the PIMS with Pelech… Forward/Defenseman Matt Pelech played in his 300^th AHL game on Oct 20, 2012 vs. the Devils. The 6-foot-4 bruising defenseman turned forward from Toronto, ONT has accumulated 1,034 penalty minutes and 81 fighting majors in 360 AHL games. “Pelly” led the Sharks with 238 penalty minutes last season in 58 games. #23 is only the 2^nd player in Worcester Sharks history to hit the 200 pim plateau (Evans 211 in 2007-08). Matt led the Worcester Sharks with 17 fighting majors and had one fighting major (Jared Boll) in two games last year with the SJ Sharks in 2012-13… Pelech has 22 penalty minutes and his 1^st NHL goal in six games with San Jose this season…. With his two game suspension this season by the AHL, Pelech has missed 19 games due to suspension in the last 25 months with the Worcester Sharks.

 

*Major Bonneau… Worcester Sharks tough guy Jimmy Bonneau has racked up 38 fighting majors in 89 games for the Worcester Sharks. Bonneau has set the Worcester Sharks record for most fighting majors in a season in 2011-12 with 22, surpassing Frazer McLaren (21 in 2008-09). Jimmy has 109 fighting majors in 281 AHL games along with 828 penalty minutes…. Jimmy has 5 fighting major and 33 penalty minutes through 9 games this season.

 

 *Five for fighting… The Sharks have 28 fighting majors through 20 games and rank 7^th in the AHL (Kearns 3, Bonneau 5, Davison 3, Gogol 4, Doherty 4, Pelech 4, Tarasov 2, Hayes 1, Demelo 1, and Brace 1). The Sharks had 84 fighting majors in 2012-13, 120 fighting majors in 2011-12 (1^st in AHL), 81 fighting majors in 2010-11, 73 fighting majors in 2009-10, 78 fighting majors in 2008-09, 68 fighting majors in 2007-08 and 54 in 2006-07.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The San Jose Sharks are currently in 2nd place in the Pacific Division and 3rd place in the Western Conference with 43 points and a 19-6-5 record.

 

Worcester Sharks alumni include: Logan Couture, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Tommy Wingels, Jason Demers, Matt Nieto, Matt Irwin, Andrew Desjardins, Justin Braun, James Sheppard, John McCarthy, Alex Stalock, and Freddie Hamilton.

 

Week ahead for the SJ Sharks;

The Sharks look to build on their season high six game point streak (5-0-0-1) with a pair of games this weekend!

 

On Friday, Dec 13^th, the Sharks host the Manchester Monarchs at 7:30pm. NE Patriots WR Kenbrell Thompkins will sign autographs courtesy of Bay State Savings Bank! The first 500 youngsters will receive a popsicle stick goalie mask and it’s another $2-$2-$2 Friday night with hot dogs, popcorn, and soda just $2 all night long!

 

On Saturday, the Sharks travel to Lewiston, ME to battle the Portland Pirates at 7pm.

 

Score a Family Fun Pack (4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, and 4 sodas) for any Friday, Saturday, or Sunday game starting at just $79!

 

2013-14 Flex ticket packages are on sale now! Score your 40 or 12 ticket flex package by contacting the Sharks front office at 508-929-0500. You decide how many tickets and how many games YOU want to attend while saving $$$ off box office pricing! It is that EASY!

 

Bring a group to sing the national anthem, book a fundraising event, host a birthday party, or have a blast in the high fin tunnel…. secure your personalized Sharks experience today!

 

Contact Worcester Sharks account executives Kristyn Galante, Erin Croce, Sean West, Amanda Perkins, Peter Kelly, Andrew Nawn, and Mike Connole as they are taking deposits for the Sharks 8^th season in Worcester! Jump in today and save up to 40% off box office prices! Some of the exclusive benefits for full season ticket holders will include:

 

·          Guaranteed same seat for all 38 home dates and playoff home games at the DCU Center

·          Priority access to purchase tickets to other DCU Center events (subject to availability)

·          Seven FREE friends and family vouchers

·          Exclusive events with Sharks players

·          Merchandise discounts and much, much, more!

 

Season ticket packages and group tickets for the 2013-14 season are on sale now by contacting the Worcester Sharks Office at 508.929.0500 or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.

 

Socialize with the Worcester Sharks all year long! Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorcesterSharks, follow us on Twitter @WorcesterSharks, and download the Worcester Sharks App for free on your Droid or iPhone today!