Shows
Syracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks #116: Delicious Fried CrowThe Syracuse Crunch have made it to the North Division Final, so podcast host Alex Ackerman has a dinner of fried crow to eat, just like mom used to make! Between bites, Alex takes a look back at the Crunch's five game series against the Rochester Americans. She looks at the Crunch's top performers, gives praise to Syracuse goalie Brandon Halverson, and discusses what the team needs to keep doing right against the Cleveland Monsters.
2024-05-1429 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks #115: Keep The FaithHost Alex Ackerman goes into full cheerleader mode - well, as much as she can on a Monday night, anyway - as the Syracuse Crunch gear up for the 2024 AHL Playoffs.
2024-04-2332 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks #108: Sorting the Crunch (and Other Topics)This episode, recorded January 7th, 2024, is very much a tale told in two parts. In the first segment, host Alex Ackerman covers the team's most recent results, the standings in the AHL, the (many) transactions affecting the team, and the trends within the roster. She also takes her usual look at the team's upcoming schedule, including any promotional nights. In the second half, Alex celebrates Syracuse's upcoming Wizarding Night by sorting the Crunch's roster into their wizarding Houses. She discusses the House system, the importance of the traits connected to those Houses within the movie and book franchise, and...
2024-01-0744 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Puzzling Performances and Playoff ProblemsIn this episode, recorded March 26th, 2023, Alex takes an extended look at the playoff bracket in the AHL's North Division, with a specific emphasis on how Syracuse's position could improve or get worse. She discusses how puzzled she is by the Tampa Bay Lightning's actions this season, especially when compared to their stated philosophy, with a specific discussion around trading away draft picks and defensive depth (with a focus on the recall of Darren Raddysh). She then brings the remainder of the season into focus, with a glance at how the schedules of Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester all shake...
2023-03-2632 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Three Biggest Weeks of the SeasonIn this episode, recorded March 12th, 2023, Alex looks at where the team is with just over a month left in the regular AHL season. She discusses current and potential player movement between Syracuse and the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the continued recall of defenseman Darren Raddysh and potential movement regarding Philippe Myers if and when Raddysh hits his waiver threshold with Tampa. With an eye on a current injury to Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, Alex also ponders whether Tampa would recall Alex Barre-Boulet if a forward was needed, or if perhaps they'd lean towards a player like Gage Goncalves o...
2023-03-1234 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Bringing a Focus on Humanity Back into the Game of HockeyIn this episode, recorded February 26th, 2023, Alex welcomes Raw Charge contributor Lee Wright back to the podcast. To begin the episode, the two discuss Lee's recent trip to watch the Orlando Solar Bears in person. Lee discusses his observations from the game, including how prospects/call-up fodder Jaydon Dureau and Tyson Feist performed. The two banter a bit about the differences between the AHL and the ECHL, and the challenges that are unique to teams like the Solar Bears. Other topics discussed include the in-game experience that Syracuse offers, the team's community involvement and initiatives, as well as the...
2023-02-261h 02Syracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Howard Dolgon for AHL Hall of Fame?In this episode, recorded February 5th, 2023, Alex welcomes AHL content creator Patrick Williams back to the podcast. At the time of recording, Patrick was fresh off a visit to Syracuse and on the road to the AHL All-Star weekend in Laval. Given this unique opportunity to get a fresh perspective of the team's performance, Alex and Patrick start off with dissecting Syracuse's performance in two games vs. the Charlotte Checkers. The two then turn to talking about the current focus in the league, the AHL All-Star weekend. They discuss Syracuse's three All-stars - forward and captain Gabriel Dumont, forward...
2023-02-0542 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Searching for EquilibriumIn this episode, recorded January 22nd, 2023, Alex recounts all of the relevant stories currently affecting the Crunch's pursuit of some level of equilibrium this season. From stomach bugs to injuries to goalie suspensions and carousels, this season's current feast-or-famine situation can be summed up with one question from Lee Wright: "Makes you wonder what kind of damage this team can do if healthy?" Indeed, as the Crunch heads towards the All-Star "break" and the official middle part of the season, Syracuse is still searching for their own state of physical balance where they aren't winning several games in a...
2023-01-2343 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: A Time to FlourishHappy New Year, Crunch fans! In this episode, recorded January 8th, 2023, Alex welcomes Raw Charge contributor Lee Wright the podcast. Lee covers the Crunch for Raw Charge, a site that covers the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for SB Nation, and has been writing about the team since the beginning of the year. Lee and Alex settle in for a lively conversation about the team's most recent performance, one that has differed a bit from what Syracuse was showing prior to the holiday break. Lee expresses the opinion that the team is "out of their groove," and the two speculate...
2023-01-0848 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Truly a Week of AssistsIn this episode, recorded December 18th, 2022, Alex reflects on the team's Week of Assists, a period which began with the team's Teddy Bear Toss on December 10th and culminated this past weekend with their Hockey Fights Cancer game. She discusses all of the team's charity initiatives, and why it was so apropos that Daniel Walcott's record-setting, franchise-leading 335th game in a Crunch sweater happened during that period. In discussing Walcott's achievement in particular, she pays respect to the Tampa Bay Lightning and how that organization has handled Walcott's career with Syracuse, especially in regards to how player turnover usually...
2022-12-1844 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Daniel Walcott Has What the Lightning ValueIn this episode, recorded December 11th, 2022, Alex welcomes friend of the site and AHL content creator for theahl.com, NHL.com, and The Hockey News Patrick Williams back to the pod. After the usual pleasantries, the two get down to business. They first start with a general conversation around goaltending and defense in the league, especially with the high scores Syracuse and other AHL teams have put up this season. They address the ever-shifting goaltending situation in Syracuse, one that has changed again with a new injury to Max Lagace. Zooming in, they move their discussion to defenseman Darren...
2022-12-1140 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Most Wonderful Time of the YearIn this episode, recorded November 27th, 2022, it's all about the comfortable predictability of the Crunch's November. Alex discusses the team's recent string of successes while also identifying some shakey areas Syracuse is trying to figure out. Players discussed include Hugo Alnefelt, Max Lagace, Jack LaFontaine, Alex Barre-Boulet, Darren Raddysh, Daniel Walcott, and Gabriel Dumont. She takes the temperature of the fans using responses to a recent Twitter poll she put up, and breaks down how those who responded are feeling. Alex ends the podcast in her usual way by taking a look at the Crunch's next few weeks of...
2022-11-2736 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Thing About Ben GroulxIn this episode, recorded November 13th, 2022, Alex puts "The Thing" about Syracuse head coach Ben Groulx to the test. Although she does start off with a brief recap of the Crunch's trampling of poor ECHL goalie Isaac Poulter, who was in net for the Utica Comets this past Saturday when Syracuse won 8-3, she quickly transitions to an interesting look back at Syracuse's recent-ish October/November starts. Many have been discussing how Crunch teams under Coach Groulx have historically started out slow and then gained steam as the season continues, but how true has it really been? Alex complied t...
2022-11-1327 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Welcome to the 2022-23 SeasonIn this episode, recorded October 23rd, 2022, Alex recaps the start of Syracuse's season, with a specific emphasis on the organization's 29th Home Opener on October 22nd. She highlights the tenacity and grit the 2022-23 edition of the team has showed so far, including the performances of newcomer Felix Robert, and veterans Daniel Walcott, Darren Raddysh and Alex Barre-Boulet. Alex breaks down the sights and sounds of the packed home opener for the organization, including a description of the opening hype video and how the Crunch highlighted their relationship with the Tampa Bay Lightning. She describes how the team emphasized...
2022-10-2324 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: 2022-23 Crunch Season PreviewIn this episode, recorded October 7th, 2022, Alex records her season preview for the 2022-23 season. She starts by taking a look back at the 2021-22 season (in short: huge potential-splat-what?!-YAS!). She recaps the team's record, playoff performance, top scorers, and breaks down their special teams performance in comparison to the North Division and the league as a whole. She then takes a look at the offseason moves for the team, summarizing the biggest additions to and subtractions from the team. She takes a look at Gabriel Dumont (try to contain your surprise), Lucas Edmonds, Trevor Carrick, Max Lagace...
2022-10-0831 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: All Together On This (with Jim Sarosy)In this episode, recorded September 23rd, 2022, Alex welcomes Crunch Chief Operating Officer Jim Sarosy back to the podcast for a positive, fun episode. (She promises!) Jim starts off with a bang, giving Syracuse Speaks listeners an exclusive preview of the some of the work that has been going on at the The Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial. Jim then gives a sneak peak at some of the plans for the organization that are going to be coming to fruition over the next few weeks, from player appearances to season ticket holder events. The two then...
2022-09-2429 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Prepping for the Season with Geo FitzGerald!In this episode, recorded September 11th, 2022, Alex welcomes Raw Charge contributor Geo FitzGerald to the podcast. Raw Charge is a SB Nation blog that covers the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, and Geo has been writing for them for many years, specializing in the organization's prospects and players. With training camps approaching rapidly, Alex engages Geo in an in-depth conversation about how the 2022-23 Crunch is shaping up. Players discussed include Max Lagace, Trevor Carrick, Sean Day, Ryan Jones, Nick Perbix, Jack Thompson, Haydn Fleury, Gabriel Dumont, P.C. Labrie, Daniel Walcott, Gabriel Fortier, Gage Goncalves, Lucas Edmonds, and Ilya U...
2022-09-1153 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: An Innovative Mentality in the AHLIn this episode, recorded August 21th, 2022, Alex and AHL content creator Patrick Williams reunite for a wide-ranging, entertaining, and engaging conversation as the AHL and the Crunch look towards their 2022-23 season. Making up for the podcast's summer break earlier this month, the two chat for over an hour, beginning with discussing the league's off season and why "NHL Free Agency" should be renamed to the more appropriate "AHL Free Agency." Patrick discusses his impressions of Syracuse's North Division rivals and how their off season has shaped up, and then the two dive into the Crunch's relatively quiet summer...
2022-08-221h 00Syracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The 2022-23 AHL Schedule is Here!In this episode, recorded July 24th, 2022, Alex starts off by recapping Syracuse's roster situation. She describes the veterans left on the team, including captain Gabriel Dumont, forwards Daniel Walcott and P.C. Labrie, defenseman Darren Raddysh, and goalie Max Lagace. She echos concerns among the fan base about the lack of veterans on the team, as Charles Hudon, Remi Elie, and Fredrik Claesson, three veterans who played huge roles with the Crunch last season, were not brought back by the Tampa Bay Lightning. She then discusses the signing of overager draftee Lucas Edmonds, a player who is looking to...
2022-07-2420 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks #75: "Felix" FelicisIn this episode, recorded July 13th, 2022, Alex discusses the 2022 NHL Draft and the start of NHL free agency, the latter of which unfortunately didn't give her much to work with from a Syracuse perspective. However, Alex attempts to take a fair, unbiased, unemotional look at what the Tampa Bay Lightning did for the Crunch over the past few weeks or so, first by discussing the largest signing of the Crunch's July, one that didn't even happen during free agency: The re-signing of goalie Max Lagace. She then covers two players drafted by the Lightning, Lucas Edmonds and Nick Malik, w...
2022-07-1432 min
Syracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Summer Calm in TampaCuse LandIn this episode, recorded June 26th, 2022, Alex does a rundown of all pertaintant AHL, Crunch, and Tampa Bay Lightning news going into NHL free agency on July 13th. She starts by congratulating the AHL and their front office on a successful Calder Cup playoffs, the league's first since 2019. She also sends her congratulations to Chicago, the league's new champion, and to Richard Panik, who won the Cup with the Wolves and who used to play for Syracuse.
She then moves onto the "no news is good news" segment regarding Syracuse head coach Ben Groulx and the "will...
2022-06-2621 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: "There's a Reason Syracuse Has Kept Tampa for Ten Years"In this episode, recorded June 12th, 2022, Alex welcomes friend to Field Pass Hockey Patrick Williams back to the podcast. The two start out discussing the longer playoff run the AHL is currently experiencing, and what the future might bring for the league and its teams in terms of scheduling. They dissect the upcoming 72-game season for the league, the first season every team in the league will play the same amount of games since 2015, and give credit to the league and its owners for getting that deal done: "To do that especially coming out of the pandemic, the finical...
2022-06-131h 00Syracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Looking Towards 2022-23In this episode, recorded May 29th, 2022, Alex looks towards the 2022-23 Syracuse Crunch season. But first, she acknowledges the philosophical struggle around creating podcast episodes about hockey and sports as the nation she lives in experiences painful events. She takes a moment to acknowledge the past few weeks of violence in the United States, but also explains that she feels discussing what people are passionate about is also important. She emphasizes the positive mental health strategy of taking breaks from the coverage of everything, and expresses the hope that this podcast episode will help people do that.
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2022-05-2931 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Looking Towards Game 5 with Jim SarosyIn this episode, recorded May 15th, 2022, Alex and Syracuse Crunch Chief Operating Officer Jim Sarosy chat about all things Crunch. The two start with a lookback at how far the team has come since the AHL shut down in March of 2020 and the team had a season without fans in 2020-21. Although there's still challenges in the league - the two spefically highlight how strange it's been to have a lack of interaction between the organization, fans, players, and sponsors - they also celebrate the return of fans to the arena and the necessary escapism hockey allows. Jim runs t...
2022-05-1529 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks Bonus Episode: Staring Down the Barrel of EliminationIn this bonus episode, recorded May 13th, 2022, Alex expresses her feelings about the Crunch facing elimination by the Laval Rocket in the 2022 North Division Semifinals. Syracuse, currently down 2-1 in the five-game series, is showing the overemotional, scrambling tendencies that were more like the Crunch of the first half of the season than the second. Alex acknowledges the frustration the team's fans are feeling, and discusses why this is such a letdown to the Syracuse faithful. She admits to being gobsmacked by the sudden disappearance of team powerhouses Gabriel Dumont, Charles Hudon, and Alex Barre-Boulet from the scoresheet (while a...
2022-05-1420 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Playoff Time!In this episode, recorded May 1, 2022, Alex celebrates the return of the Calder Cup playoffs to Syracuse! She recaps the Crunch's season-ending record and ponders the dream-like state she has found herself in since Friday's game. She discusses Syracuse's final week and what it meant to the franchise, and enthuses about the team's playoff tagline and hashtag (#All4One). She also covers the final layout of the AHL's North Division, and what the matchups are in that division for the start of the playoffs. She goes over the dates of Syracuse's opening series against the Laval Rocket, discusses some general...
2022-05-0117 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Playoff Bound! (Probably. More than likely. Let's assume)In this episode, recorded April 23rd, Alex begins by discussing the Crunch's Calder Cup playoff picture (all she has to go on are the clinching scenarios, but those are certainly promising). She discusses how special this season has become for the fans, and enthuses about how much things have changed for Syracuse over the past few weeks. Alex covers the ever-shifting landscape of the AHL's North Division, and takes a look at the schedules of three teams around Syracuse in the standings: Laval, Belleville, and Toronto, who ironically are going to be playing each several times during the final...
2022-04-2427 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Peaking at the Right TimeIn this episode, recorded April 10th, 2022, it's almost playoff time for a team that looked DOA just a few short months ago, and Alex couldn't be more pleased. With nine games left in their season, the Crunch is riding high off of stellar performances from Alex Barre-Boulet (finally!), team captain Gabriel Dumont, Charles Hudon and his power play prowess, prospect Cole Koepke, newcomers Anthony Richard and Riley Nash, and goalie Max Lagace, who is finally looking like the number one netminder Syracuse needs him to be. She also discusses what part the Lightning's own playoffs might play in Syracuse's...
2022-04-1030 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Post-Deadline RushIn this episode, recorded March 27th, 2022, Alex and guest Patrick Williams settle in to break down the Crunch's most recent successes on and off the ice. They start by addressing the nostalgic return of Syracuse's famed old mascot, Al the Ice Gorilla ("You can't spell 'Goal!' without 'Al!'"), and theorize why hockey fans grow so attached to certain eras or characters. They also talk through AHL identities and why the fan bases in certain cities - like Syracuse - really need their team to have their own identity, while the fans of other AHL teams - like...
2022-03-2751 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Spring ForwardIn this episode, recorded March 13th, 2022, Alex begins the episode with a look at the current playoff picture for Syracuse with a discourse around the kind of help the Crunch is going to need from their North Division foes. The probability that Syracuse, with 23 games remaining, can make the playoffs under their own power is low, so the team will need certain teams to start losing. Alex briefly recaps the team's week of games against Utica, Rochester, and Toronto (of note - this recap does not include Syracuse's game against Rochester on the 13th, as the episode was recorded p...
2022-03-1328 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Glimmers of GoodIn this episode, recorded February 26th, 2022, Alex shares the good and the frustrating about one of Syracuse's most recent games against the Rochester Americans. The game, played on February 25th, featured a masterful penalty kill, the welcome return of Gemel Smith to the Crunch's home ice and Syracuse's score sheet, and, unfortunately, an overtime loss. With two months remaining in the regular season, Alex takes a deeper look than she has before at the current standings in the North Division and discusses why it would behoove the Crunch to get deeper into the field than just 5th place by...
2022-02-2727 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Halfway There (feat. Patrick Williams!)In this episode, recorded February 13th, 2022, Alex welcomes regular guest Patrick Williams to the podcast. Patrick covers the league for TheAHL.com, and has a regular column over at nhl.com. With Syracuse passing the halfway point of their season this month, the two start off by discussing the Crunch's recent rough patch. The Crunch has gone 3-6-1-0 in their most recent 10 games, and is currently on a three-game skid thanks to an unproductive trip to Laval. Alex and Patrick break down what's going on with the team and discuss what needs to be done to get...
2022-02-1338 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: January RecapIn this episode, recorded January 30th, 2022, Alex starts off by making sure her listeners are aware of the PURE Performance AHL All-Star Fan Vote currently being hosted by Field Pass Hockey. The Crunch has three players nominated: forward Gabriel Fortier, defenseman Sean Day, and goaltender Hugo Alnefelt. She encourages her listeners to support those three players that were a large part of the Crunch's turnaround during the month of January.
Alex then discusses Syracuse's record from the past month, a positive performance that saw the Crunch rise to a .500 points percentage and sneak their way to 5th p...
2022-01-3125 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Back In ActionIn this episode, recorded January 9th, 2022, Alex welcomes her listeners back to a new year of Syracuse hockey. And new it is: After a three-week break due to COVID issues with Syracuse and with their opponents, the Crunch stormed back onto the league schedule with a perfect week, going 3-0. Syracuse won twice against division rival Rochester and once against Hershey with a roster that was as a close to complete as the Crunch has had all season. The week featured many highlights, including streaks from forwards Cole Koepke and Otto Somppi, the addition of former NHL defenseman Jason G...
2022-01-1029 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: A Check-In at the Quarter MarkIn this episode, recorded December 19, 2021, Alex revisits her 2021-22 Syracuse Crunch Season Preview, which she wrote for Field Pass Hockey. With the AHL just a bit past the quarter mark of their season, it's the perfect time for a check-in. Alex describes the Crunch's current record, special team performances, leading scorers, and checks on the goalies. She targets the performances of the team's key acquisitions from this past summer up to this point, looking specifically at Gabriel Dumont, Charles Hudon, and Andrej Sustr.
Back in October, Alex also speculated about some big storylines. She wondered how the...
2021-12-1928 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Canceled Games and an AMAIn this episode, recorded December 5th, 2021, Alex begins by recounting the changes in Syracuse's schedule that occurred this past week. Due to COVID-19 concerns that are mostly centered around the AHL's Atlantic Division, the Crunch saw their games on December 1st, 3rd, and 4th postponed. The games were against Rochester and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The postponements also saw the rescheduling of Syracuse's Teddy Bear Toss to this Wednesday against Cleveland.
The postponements were particularly disappointing for a team hoping to find some solid footing during this period of home games, as going into the week of Thanksgiving Syracuse...
2021-12-0540 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Perspective with Patrick!In this episode, recorded November 28th, 2021, Alex welcomes back TheAHL.com contributor Patrick Williams. Patrick has been covering the AHL for many years, and took an in-depth look into Syracuse's slow start last week. Since that article was written, Syracuse went 1-2-0-0, bringing their record for the 2021-22 season to a frustrating 6-8-2-1. Patrick and Alex begin their discussion with Syracuse head coach Ben Groulx and how he is currently feeling about the team's start. They then discuss the North Division and how much it seems to have changed from previous seasons, especially when it c...
2021-11-2831 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Tendency to be TenaciousIn this episode, recorded November 7th, 2021, Alex discusses what makes the current iteration of the Syracuse Crunch so tenacious. She discusses their two-week record of 4-1-0-0, a record that contains one shutout, two overtime wins, and one shootout win. She breaks apart the current roster configuration and highlights the top seven scorers for the team, beginning with veterans Gabriel Dumont and Charles Hudon, and ending with prospect Gage Goncalves. She speculates about the goalie situation - not only is Max Lagace still hurt, but Hugo Alnefelt joined him on the sidelines Saturday night - and highlights the...
2021-11-0715 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: In Recognition of the Crunch FaithfulIn this episode, recorded October 24, 2021, Alex begins the episode by recognizing the Syracuse community and the Crunch Faithful who came out in droves on Saturday, October 23rd to support their hometown team. Syracuse had passed 603 days without fans in the Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial, and the team was welcomed back in style by a sold-out crowd of about 5,000 people. Alex describes the atmosphere and the touching opening ceremony, one which honored front-line workers and first responders.
Moving on, she then takes a look at some of the storylines dominating Syracuse's 1-2-1...
2021-10-2519 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: A Chat with Deana WeinheimerIn this episode, recorded October 8th and October 10, 2021, Alex begins the episode by recapping Syracuse's preseason so far. She briefly discusses the Crunch's game against the Utica Comets, a 2-1 victory that saw goals from Shawn Element and Gabriel Dumont. She also offers discourse on the joys of being back to (mostly) normal as a fan who hadn't been inside of the Upstate Medical Arena at the Onondaga County War Memorial in 588 days. She also discusses some of the drama around the placement of forward Alex Barre-Boulet on waivers. The perhaps surprising move may send ripples through the organization...
2021-10-1028 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Counting Down to the Regular SeasonIn this episode, recorded September 24th, 2021, Alex welcomes Patrick Williams back onto the show. With a little under a month left before the AHL season gets underway, the two of them discuss everything from COVID-19 pandemic fatigue to the question of Syracuse's captain. Specifically, Patrick and Alex cover the following topics: How the league itself has changed over the past 19 months, and the creativity teams are going to have to show as they try to get fans - especially families, their bread-and-butter - back into their arenas. They also tackle questions of vaccination mandates around the league for fans...
2021-09-2729 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Preseason News!In this episode, recorded Sunday, September 12th, 2021, Alex serves up all the news that has happened since the previous podcast. She briefly addresses the team's decision to only allow vaccinated individuals into games this season (something she covered more fully in her last article for Field Pass Hockey). She then moves onto some important dates coming up in the life of Crunch fans, including the team's new preseason schedule.
The next few weeks are going to jam-packed with news as the season draws closer! Syracuse Speaks will be there every step of the way.
Syracuse...
2021-09-1216 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Lightning Prospect Camp News (and More!)In this episode, recorded August 23rd, 2021, Alex keeps it lowkey. It's the end of August, so hockey is in its usual doldrums before training camp and preseason madness start. Alex welcomes these quiet days after the uncertainty of last summer, and uses this episode to get Crunch fans caught up on all the news relevant to the start of the approaching season.
First she discuses the Tampa Bay Lightning's upcoming Prospect Showcase, an event that will take place in September and feature prospect teams from the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers. The contest against the...
2021-08-2524 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Tampa's Two Cups Wins Don't Happen Without SyracuseThis episode, the first of season four, is a little different than Alex's usual episode format. It comes to you in two parts: The first, recorded August 11th, 20201, features a chat with Matthew Esteves of Raw Charge. Matt and Alex discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning's recent string of success and how Syracuse has contributed to that success. They discuss the importance of the coherence between Tampa and Syracuse and how important the last decade has been for development within the organization. They examine the achievements of homegrown organizational players like Ross Colton, Mathieu Joseph, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. They commiserate a...
2021-08-1252 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Some Dents, but the AHL is on the Other SideIn this episode, recorded July 19th, 2021, Alex welcomes back AHL writer Patrick Williams. The two of them cap off the final episode of season three of the podcast with a chat about where the league has been, where it might be going, and a range of other topics. Throughout the episode, the two touch on how much the AHL accomplished by just surviving 2020-21 and the biggest obstacles facing the league and its teams for 2021-22. They also discuss how both of them are looking forward to the return of a league-wide Calder Cup playoff series, and how important...
2021-07-1933 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The AHL FactorA bit of a disclaimer: Monday, July 5th was when this episode was recorded. It was also the date of the fourth game of the Stanley Cup Finals, a series that the Tampa Bay Lightning was leading 3-0 at the time of recording. Obviously Alex would have preferred to wait until after the game before publishing this episode, but unfortunately that wasn't possible. Please just know that the result of that game was unknown at the time.
In this episode, Alex takes a look at how the American Hockey League and the Syracuse Crunch have shaped the...
2021-07-0537 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Speaking in CertaintiesIn this episode, recorded June 22nd, 2021, Alex covers what is known about the upcoming 2021-22 season for Syracuse and the American Hockey League. She discusses this from a few different angles. She starts with players who, barring an off season trade, are still under contact with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including potential captain Daniel Walcott, forwards Simon Ryfors, Gabriel Fortier, and Gage Goncalves, defenseman Alex Green, and goalies Hugo Alnefelt and Amir Miftakhov. She also covers where those players under contract probably will end up. She then takes a look at what the team’s schedule is looking like, inc...
2021-06-2422 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Looming Questions for 2021-22In this episode, recorded June 8th, 2021, Alex begins to break down Syracuse's potential roster for the 2021-22 season. With NHL Free Agency scheduled for July 28th, she looks at the big questions for the Crunch through the lens of the unrestricted free agents (UFAs) and restricted free agents (RFAS) of the Lightning organization. Of those questions, Alex figures the biggest are those concerning current captain and upcoming UFA Luke Witkowski, and RFA forwards Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, Alex Barre-Boulet, and Ross Colton. For Witkowski, the question is multi-faceted, and concerns both his playing career, style, fit, and the potential...
2021-06-1032 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: 2020-21, We Hardly Knew YeIn this episode, recorded May 25th and 26th, 2021, Alex starts off by taking a look back at the 2020-21 regular AHL season. She recaps the major storylines that impacted the team - storylines that didn't actually involve COVID-19 that much, surprisingly - and marvels at how similar to a normal-sized season it all turned out to be. She covers the emergence of the Taylor Raddysh - Otto Somppi - Boris Katchouk line, and the the successes of defensemen Devante Stephens and Sean Day. She discusses the team's success against their divisional rivals, and looks back at it all with h...
2021-05-2725 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Man Behind the CameraIn this episode, recorded May 6th and May 12th, 2021, Alex welcomes photographer Scott Thomas to the podcast. Scott has been shooting the Crunch since 2012, but has a long history of taking photos at various sporting events. Since starting with the organization, Scott has been all around the AHL, shooting Crunch games at multiple arenas. He's also been to several big events with the team, including games in Washington D.C. and Ottawa, and has also made a few trips to Tampa to shoot the Lightning. Scott clearly brings his fandom, passion, and expertise to every shot he takes.
2021-05-1242 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Makin' It WorkIn this episode, recorded April 27th and 28th, 2021, Alex ends up having to preempt her own episode when news breaks right before she had the chance to put the episode together. In a flurry a moves, the Florida Panthers rather dramatically changed the look of Syracuse's roster by recalling defenseman Brady Keeper and goaltender Sam Montembeault to their taxi squad. In a corresponding move, Florida also sent goalie Ryan Bednard from ECHL Greenville to Syracuse. With Spencer Martin still with the Crunch, Alex isn't really worried, but there's no doubt the sudden recall right before gametime came as a...
2021-04-2927 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Mid-season Check InIn this episode, recorded April 13th and 14th, 2021, Alex begins the podcast by discussing the most recent Crunch news and notes, including Syracuse owner Howard Dolgon's affirmation that the Crunch will not be participating in the AHL's 2021 postseason. She takes a look at how COVID has - and is - affecting the team and its schedule.
She then dissects Syracuse's most recent game vs. divisional rival Utica on April 13th. She discusses the Crunch's rough roster situation, including missing captain Luke Witkowski and forwards Alex Barre-Boulet and Daniel Walcott. She mentions players who could arrive to help S...
2021-04-1531 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Table Talk with Hardev LadIn this episode, recorded March 18th and 23rd, 2021, Alex welcomes writer Hardev Lad onto the podcast. Hardev is the current Crunch contributor for Raw Charge, a SB Nation blog that covers the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. Raw Charge has reported on the Crunch since 2012-13, when Alex herself was their main Syracuse contributor, and has featured continuous coverage of the team since that season.
Hardev is very experienced in covering the AHL, and his insights into the team are invaluable for anyone looking for a fuller picture of how Syracuse is doing this season. In this episode...
2021-03-2443 min
Sunday ConversationAlexandra Ackerman: Syracuse Crunch Fan Turned Sports Reporter & PodcasterThis week we sit down with one of the newest members of our podcast network: Alexandra Ackerman is a life-long fan of the Syracuse Crunch. Beyond spending a vast majority of her life as a fan of the team- she has also professionally reported on them for over a decade. She's written for SB Nation, has been an editor for RawCharge.com, and now writes for The Sin Bin- a minor league hockey news website.
In 2019 Alexandra launched a podcast. It's called Syracuse Speaks, and is one of the best produced independent podcasts I've come across in my...
2021-03-1340 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: A Little Bit of Everything with Patrick WilliamsIn this episode, recorded March 9th, 2021, Alex spends the time conversing with Patrick Williams. Patrick has been covering the American Hockey League for many years, and is just about one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to the league. Alex and Patrick cover a lot of ground throughout the course of their 45-minute conversation, including a spin around the AHL as a whole, COVID protocols and team frustrations, zeroing in on the Crunch's inconsistencies specifically, and, lastly, the announcement from the Tampa Bay Lightning that they have re-signed Crunch forward Daniel Walcott to a new two-year contract.
2021-03-1144 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Real Talk with Jim SarosyIn this episode, recorded Monday, February 22nd and Tuesday, February 23rd, Alex starts off with a little housekeeping. She covers the complications that are contributing to the team's current 1-3-1 record: the recalls of Ross Colton, Alex Barre-Boulet, and Riley Stillman; the injuries to Daniel Walcott, Henry Bowlby, and Aleksi Heponiemi; the complications of joining the players from two NHL organizations (the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers). She then briefly discusses Syracuse's game versus Rochester, originally scheduled for February 24th, that was rescheduled for March 1st because of an "abundance of caution due to COVID-19 protocols." S...
2021-02-2443 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: An Emotional ReturnIn this episode, recorded February 9th and 10, 2021, Alex discuses the Crunch's return to regularly season AHL action this past week. In the first part of the episode, she breaks down some of the highlights of Syracuse's win over the Utica Comets from February 6th, including: The surprise emotional impact of having hockey back; Gabriel Fortier's first - and second - pro goal; Samuel Montembeault's excellent play; the team's cohesion.
In section two of the episode, she briefly discusses the news that New York State will now be allowing a small percentage of people into arenas and venues...
2021-02-1130 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Chatting with Patrick WilliamsIn this episode, recorded January 26th, 2021, Alex does some housekeeping before welcoming guest Patrick Williams! Patrick writes for the NHL.com and has various other projects in the works, including his Around the A podcast. Throughout the course of the episode, Alex and Patrick discuss anything and everything about the "new normal" in the AHL and how it's affecting teams like Syracuse.
2021-01-2749 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Crunch are Back!In this episode, recorded January 12th and 13th, 2021, Alex starts by celebrating the return of the podcast from holiday break. She then breaks down the latest Crunch news, starting with the biggest and most obvious: Crunch hockey is back, and, boy, is it weird!
Throughout the podcast, Alex dives into the following:
Syracuse's new AHL division and the three teams the Crunch will reportedly be playing during their 36-game season: the Rochester Americans, the Utica Comets, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
What the Crunch is doing for their season ticket holders and fans in lieu of...
2021-01-1437 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Andy Andreoff's Hockey Fights Cancer JerseyIn this episode, recorded November 17th, 2020, Alex spends some time briefly hyping up her latest article for The Sin Bin, a gift guide to the Crunch's garage sale. If you missed it, please go check it out, and maybe check off some gifts for your loved ones in the process!
She then goes on to discuss the next jersey in her game-worn jersey collection. This jersey, worn by former Syracuse forward Andy Andreoff during the 2018-19 season, is a favorite of Alex's for a few reasons:
1. It's gorgeous.
2. It was part of Syracuse's...
2020-11-1818 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: AHL's Return to Play and Karl Goehring's JerseyIn this episode, recorded November 3rd and 4th, 2020, Alex begins by discussing the AHL's new return to play date of February 5th, 2021. She covers the potential obstacles to this date, the specific complications Syracuse faces, and the reaction of Crunch owner Howard Dolgon to the new date. Dolgon, who had originally expressed doubts as to whether the Crunch could play without fans in the stands, has since changed his tune and has stated that his team will be ready to play whenever the AHL is. Speculation about this sudden change mostly points to the Tampa Bay Lightning pitching in...
2020-11-0533 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: NHL Free Agency 2020 and Jeff Szwez's JerseyOn this episode, recorded October 20 and 21, 2020, Alex starts off by recounting the Lightning organization's free agency so far, including:
What's going on with the Lightning's RFAs: Ross Colton, Ben Thomas, Mitchell Stephens, Gemel Smith, Alex Volkov, Dominik Masin, and Mathieu Joseph
The AHL/ECHL goalie roster: Newly-signed Chris Gibson, returnee Spencer Martin, and ECHL'er Clint Windsor
"The New Cameron Gaunce": Defenseman Andreas Borgman
She then goes into the continuation of her Jersey Series. This time, she delves into the fan she used to be back when she first started watching the Crunch by discussing Jeff Szwez. Szwez...
2020-10-2232 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: NHL Draft, Player Signings, Matt Taormina's JerseyOn this episode, recorded October 7th, 2020, Alex actually has news to discuss! Over the course of the podcast, she covers the following topics:
some of the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2020 NHL Draft picks: Jack Finley, Gage Goncalves, Maxim Groshev, Eamon Powell, Jaydon Dureau, and Nick Capone
the signing of two of the organization's restricted free agents: Mitchell Stephens and Gemel Smith
the NHLPA's decision to target January 1st, 2021 for the start of the 2020-21 NHL season, and what that might mean for the AHL
the continuation of her Jersey Series with a 2013 Calder Cup finals jersey worn by defenseman...
2020-10-0839 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Jersey Series - Mark RycroftOn this episode, recorded September 23rd, 2020, Alex discusses the next jersey in her collection: a St. Patrick's Day jersey worn by forward Mark Rycroft during the 2007-2008 Crunch season.
A bit of context: On March 16th, 2008, the Crunch would don St. Patrick's Day jerseys and would claw to an overtime victory against in-state rivals Binghamton, winning in overtime 4-3. At the time, fans were excited by the continuation of what was a mini-winning streak, one that stood at three after the victory over the B-Sens.
That winning streak would go on to end up in S...
2020-09-2419 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Jersey Series - Mike AngelidisOn this episode, recorded September 15th, 2020, Alex starts off by examining the case of the EIHL, otherwise known as the Elite Hockey League over in the UK. The EIHL recently made the decision to suspend their 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex mades direct comparisons between their league and the AHL, using the Cardiff Devils and their press release as her focal point. Unfortunately, the EIHL's decision does not give Alex confidence in the AHL being able to start their own season in December.
She then goes on to discuss the next two jerseys in...
2020-09-1631 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The Jersey Series - Dan SmithOn this episode, recorded August 25, 2020, Alex starts a new series for her podcast that will discuss her collection of game worn jerseys. She kicks it off with her memories of former Syracuse Crunch captain Dan Smith, a defenseman who played for the team from 2007-2009 when the Crunch was affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This episode takes the listener through her decade-old bond with him.
The inspiration to publish this particular tale was based on her newest jersey acquisition, which Smith offered to sign for her. Posting a picture of the jersey on social media prompted...
2020-08-2739 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: In summary...On this episode, recorded August 10, 2020, Alexandra takes a figurative spin around the news surrounding the AHL, it's potential return for the 2020-21 season, and what specifically that return might look like in Syracuse. She attempts to bring some certainty to the following questions:
Why is it too soon to assume the AHL will actually start on December 4th, 2020?
What obstacles are potentially in the way of the league opening?
What's going on with the 2021 AHL All-Star event?
How does she feel about a potential scheduling shift in future AHL seasons?
What might things look like in Syracuse when...
2020-08-1228 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks Episode #30: The Black Aces from the Syracuse CrunchOn this episode, recorded July 13, 2020, Alexandra starts off with some housekeeping as she discusses her move to The Sin Bin and what she imagines her coverage will look like going forward. She then dives into what's going on with Syracuse Crunch and its organization:
-She covers what is known about the team's roster for next season, including where the Lightning has their work cut out for them down on the farm (Hint: dear lord, the net is empty again, and that blue line? Omph...)
-She briefly covers potential holes in the Tampa Bay Lightning's roster...
2020-07-1526 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: So....now what?In this episode, Alex tries to wrap her head around the world of hockey and the world in general. She discusses what's known, what's still a mystery, and what the future may hold.
Thanks for listening! Stay safe, and fill your heart with love.
2020-06-1033 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: "Best ever" AHL player brackets are bananasThis week, Alex determines that brackets meant to ferret out the best player to ever pull on a jersey in the American Hockey League are bananas. Why? Because generally they end up being based on players' NHL futures, not their AHL past.
Frivolous topic of conversation? Absolutely! Come join in the fun, we all probably need something frivolous right now.
2020-04-2323 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Putting a Spotlight on the GoodIn this episode, Alex highlights all of the amazing initiatives and programs the Syracuse Crunch has put together during this pause in the AHL's season. She also puts a spotlight on ideas and articles worth considering, media personalities that have been doing some great work lately, and the AHL itself as it works hard to keep fans connected.
Let's shine a little light in the world!
2020-04-0831 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Unpopular opinions and favorite sports moviesThis week, Alex starts off by outlining her thinking and her concerns about what the AHL and the NHL should do with the remainder of the season and the playoffs. Hint: It’s rather unpopular, and it doesn’t involve playing hockey. She then goes on to discuss this week’s prompt: “What’s your favorite sports movie?” Her answer might surprise you since it isn’t Miracle (!). It’s a little film from 2002 that tells the story of baseball player Jim Morris.
2020-04-0125 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: In This TogetherThis week, Alex discusses her virtual tryout contract with the Syracuse Crunch. She praises the Crunch’s efforts to be there for their fans and keep them involved in the sport during this weird, difficult time. She then moves onto her prompt of the week: “Share a time when you didn’t get along with a teammate.” Since she doesn’t actually play for the team - VTO’s aside - she switched it up to something slightly different: “Share how you handle not liking a player.” In answering it, she addresses how the internet has changed the way fans communicate...
2020-03-2630 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: "Tell about a time a big game was won"This week, Alex discusses the postponement of the AHL season and what the Syracuse Crunch is doing to help stay present in the minds of the fans. She then takes an elementary writing prompt and brings it into the podcasting world: Tell about a time a big game was won.
The game she chose? The practically-forgotten game four of the Calder Cup final in 2013.
2020-03-1925 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Crunch at Your ServiceThis week, Alex spends a good chunk of the podcast reviewing Crunch at Your Service, the Syracuse Crunch’s most recent charity fundraising endeavor, which took place on Monday, March 2nd at Turning Stone Resort and Casino. It consisted of Tampa Bay Lightning prospects and organizational players acting goofy, performing tasks, and just generally being “at the service” of Crunch fans and sponsors for tips. Alex takes an in-depth look at what attending the event was like for a fan. She then lays out the team’s March, and raises the salient point that while February may have made Syracuse...
2020-03-0527 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: The 2020 NHL trade deadlineThis week, Alex starts off by pondering some more on her current discomfort with the Syracuse Crunch roster. Although no conclusions were gained, she feels closer than ever before to an answer. She then dives into the NHL trade deadline and does some quick math (Basically: Cameron Gaunce + Mitchell Stephens > Anthony Greco). She ends the pod with a summary of Syracuse’s most recent jersey tributes and charitable activities, including a plug of the team’s upcoming Crunch At Your Service event.
2020-02-2537 min2020-02-2000 minSyracuse SpeaksSpillin' the TeaThis week, Alex is her usual permanently exhausted self who is spillin’ the tea on fan opinions regarding the Syracuse Crunch.
(Spoiler alert: They aren’t the most positive in the world.)
She also takes a look at the month ahead, including a peak at Syracuse’s Miracle on Ice night and their Pride Night.
2020-02-0531 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Cheers!This week, Alex celebrates Cameron Gaunce’s AHL All-Star selection. The defenseman was nominated this past Wednesday to the All-Star weekend for the first time in his career, and Alex expounds on why it was so wonderful. She then ponders whether the Crunch has actually turned a corner or not (and earns a beer from a friend in the process).
2020-01-2327 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: OptimismThis week, Alex takes a look at the Syracuse Crunch's North Division-heavy January slate of games. She also discusses some team events coming up, and recaps some of the bigger headlines since she last recorded. She briefly touches on forward Daniel Walcott’s suspension before turning her focus to the sold naming rights for the War Memorial Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial.
2020-01-0921 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: It's all about the memories, baby!This week, Alex briefly recaps the Syracuse Crunch’s December before naming her player of the month. (Hello, Gemel Smith Spencer Martin?!) She then spends the bulk of the epsiode mining her memories for her top five Crunch organizational moments of the decade. Although the actual events probably won’t surprise you, the order just might! Crunch fans old and new will enjoy looking back with her, and will hopefully be able to let her know their own list.
What are your top moments from the past ten years of the Crunch? Let her know on twitter @Allov...
2019-12-1925 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: One too many up/downsThis week, Alex starts with a cold open due to a recent transaction involving Tampa Bay Lightning organizational forward Cory Conacher. She then goes on to discuss other transactions that have changed the look of Syracuse’s roster, most notably those recalls and signings due to the injuries to defensemen Ben Thomas and Dominik Masin. She also expresses her hopes that the Crunch will take advantage of a fairly stable December schedule to get some consistency and chemistry going. Finally, she discusses the Crunch’s upcoming promotional nights, including their Tired Teddy Toss on Saturday.
2019-12-0527 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Celebrating Cameron GaunceIn this episode, Alex discusses the odd case of the Syracuse Crunch, a team that can seem incredibly discombobulated and, dare we say it, almost mad at each other one game and then much more coherent and confident the next. Inconsistencies abound, but a few players are managing to make extreamly positive impressions despite that, including defenseman Cameron Gaunce. Alex names Gaunce her Player of the Month and speaks to the great season he’s having so far. She also gives a general view of the North Division and where the Crunch is currently slotting in.
2019-11-2126 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Just not buyin' itIn this episode, Alex says she feels it’s put-up-or-shut-up time when it comes to naming a captain for the Crunch. She expresses her frustration with the process that seems to have been halted by the arrival of former Crunch captain Luke Witkowski. She then gathers herself back together in time to discuss some former Crunch players that could be paying their old team a visit this month (including Hubert Labrie, Matt Beleskey, and Matthew Peca). Finally, she rounds out the episode with a peak into two upcoming promotional nights for the team: Military Appreciation Night and their Hockey Fi...
2019-11-0728 minSyracuse SpeaksDo not panic yetIn this episode, Alex takes a look back at Syracuse’s October. She selects Cory Conacher as her player of the month and discusses why she picked him. She also ponders the two “yardstick” games the Crunch played - and lost - this month, and expounds on why it truly isn’t yet time to panic. Finally, she highlights some of the positive changes around the Onondaga County War Memorial, including the addition of regional dishes to the menu.
2019-10-2430 minSyracuse SpeaksIt IS October!In this episode, Alex begins to warm up to the 2019-20 Syracuse Crunch season. She discusses some changes that have occured with the team since the last time she talked about them, and some roster moves and potential additions/subtractions. She then takes a look at Syracuse’s schedule and highlights some upcoming matches and promotional nights, including the Crunch’s Home Opener on October 19th against the reigning Calder Cup champions.
2019-10-1028 minSyracuse SpeaksIt's preseason, baby!In this episode, host Alex Ackerman gets you back into the spirit of Crunch hockey with an opinion-packed discussion of the team’s preseason roster. She dishes on who is in town, why the goalie situation is so impressive - and so puzzling - and how exciting it is to have a roster so talented this early in the season. She also has one final discussion on the vacat captaincy position in Syracuse, and explains why her opinion hasn’t changed since mid-summer. Finally, she rounds out the episode with a brief look at the remaining bubble players in Tamp...
2019-09-2636 minSyracuse SpeaksEpisode 11: A chat with Lauren Kelly! In this episode, host Alex Ackerman welcomes guest Lauren Kelly to the pod! Lauren writes for both Raw Charge and Mile High Hockey, covering juniors. She is a wealth of information and passion! The two discuss Peter Abbandonato, an over-ager from the Q, and what Lauren expects out of his upcoming season with an AHL contract with Syracuse. They also parce out the expectations for forwards Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk, and how the trajectories for the two have changed now that they’re in the pros. Lauren also expounds on why juniors are so fun to watch, and als...
2019-08-1427 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode tenIn this episode, host Alex Ackerman celebrates 10 episodes by attempting to convince the Crunch that they need to do a Harry Potter theme night this upcoming season. She outlines her reasons, describes the flexibility and the potential ease of theme, and mentions some predecessors in hockey that have already successfully done wizarding-themed events. She also mentions the easy charitable connections the night could have, bringing up both local organizations and organizations in the wider Harry Potter universe. She muses on nerds, geeks, and hockey fans, and the natural mesh that just might hold them all together.
It’s a...
2019-07-3130 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode nineIn this episode, host Alex Ackerman discusses the release of the Syracuse Crunch’s regular season schedule. She talks about some highlights, discusses why the schedule is so North Division-heavy, and ponders what fans can do if they’d like to see a bigger variety of teams. She then finishes out her recap of the 2018-19 AHL season for Syracuse by covering March and April, including the Connor Ingram demotion and the team’s strong end to the regular season.
Playoff? What playoffs? Never happened.
2019-07-1624 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode eight In this episode, host Alex Ackerman discusses the additions of forward Gemel Smith and goalie Zachary Fucale to the Syracuse Crunch/Tampa Bay Lightning organization. She also ponders the re-signings of Cedric Paquette, Carter Verhaeghe, and Danick Martel, and which ones could potentially end up with the Crunch. Lastly, she jumps back into her recap of the 2018-19 AHL season for Syracuse and covers the highs and lows of February, including some scary foreshadowing of the future.
2019-07-0919 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode sevenIn this episode, host Alex Ackerman discusses the organization’s first foray into free agency this summer. She briefly covers what the Lightning did for the Lightning, including the signing of Luke Schenn and Curtis McElhinney, and then she discusses what Tampa did for Syracuse. The Lightning signed four free agents and hired a coach for the Crunch: goalies Scott Wedgewood and Spencer Martin, forward Chris Mueller, defenseman Luke Witkowski, and coach Joe Palmer. She considers all five of them and what their contracts mean for the team.
She also says goodbye to forwards Andy Andreoff and cap...
2019-07-0231 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode six This week, host Alex Ackerman has a very special guest on: Raw Charge contributor and Syracuse Crunch writer Justin Godfrey! The two of them cover a myriad of topics including what the Crunch might look like this fall, how Justin really feels about Ben Thomas, which players Justin is looking for a big year from (hint: Mitchell Stephens and Boris Katchouk are among them), when Alex is officially allowed to panic about the goaltending situation, and more! They also experience a right of passage in the podcasting world: having news break while recording, and needing to somehow move forward co...
2019-06-2435 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode fiveThis week, host Alex Ackerman does her best to make sense out the flurry of transactions and news the Syracuse Crunch saw this past Friday. First, she discusses Eddie Pasquale’s decision to leave the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for the KHL, then she discusses the heartbreaking retirement of forward Michael Bournival. Next, she gets so caught up in her thoughts over the whole Connor Ingram situation that she forgets to actually mention what organization the goalie was traded to (it was Nashville). Finally, she ends on a high note with a discussion of what re-signing Cameron Gaunce means fo...
2019-06-1726 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode fourIn this episode, Alex answers some questions her listeners had about the game itself and about the Crunch’s restricted free agent defensemen. She then continues her look back at the 2018-19 season for Syracuse, following up last week’s discussion of October/November with December/January. Alex picks out the Crunch’s continued identity struggles and surprise scoring problems as lows (among others). Before things got too depressing, she then reminds her listeners about a certain game in December against a fierce rival, the return of an old friend, and the beginning reign of one Eddie Pasquale.
2019-06-1128 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode threeThis week is all about Mike Angelidis tangents and identity problems.
2019-06-0433 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode twoThis week is all about heartfelt goodbyes and potential hellos for both Syracuse and Tampa.
2019-05-2827 minSyracuse SpeaksSyracuse Speaks: Episode 1The who and what of the Crunch's past and potential future.
2019-05-2030 min
Supporting CharactersEpisode 36: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Bill speaks with critic and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas about her many pursuits, from co-founding Fiend Magazine and writing books like RAPE-REVENGE FILMS and FOUND FOOTAGE HORROR FILMS to editing for Senses Of Cinema and co-curating the Pioneering Women program on Australian women filmmakers of the 1980’s and 1990’s. Topics covered include: Carol Clover, Plato’s Cave, date movies, masks, MEGAN IS MISSING, writing and editing tips, Hal Hartley, THE STENDHAL SYNDROME, Graveyard Shift Sisters and the predatory behavior of Pepé Le Pew. Visit Alexandra Heller-Nicholas’s official site: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Visit Alexandra Heller-Nicholas’s site Generation Starstruck, focusing on Australian women’s film...
2018-03-062h 26
The CraftSanity PodcastCraftSanity #191: 11.3.16 Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon BarnesMaria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes discuss their long distance friendship, collaboration and their new book “A Year Between Friends 3191 Miles Apart: Crafts, Recipes, Letters, and Stories” (208 pages, $24.95).
2016-11-0400 min