Barracuda Bytes: Coming Along
Aug 19, 2015What’s the good word Barracuda fans!? Eric Lindquist (PR and radio voice of the Barracuda) checking in to provide you with an inside scoop on everything Barracuda and whatever else I find interesting! I am writing to you from the San Jose airport during an almost four hour delay (pushing midnight) as I try to head home for a quick visit before the chaos starts as soon as the AHL schedule is released (hopefully late next week!)
First Thing's First… Don’t quote me on this, but if I were a betting man I would say the AHL schedule is released next Friday. Time will tell. Hang tight Barracuda fans!
Did You Know?... 88.8% of all NHL players during the 2014-15 season were graduates of the American Hockey League including 34 of the 37 players that played for the San Jose Sharks, including Logan Couture, Alex Stalock, Tommy Wingels, and Joe Pavelski! In addition, 17 players skated for both the San Jose Sharks and the Sharks AHL affiliate in Worcester last season.
Spoke To Joe… I spent some time with Barracuda General Manager Joe Will on Tuesday and he gave me the green light to announce a pair of signings for the upcoming season, which I hope to have released by the end of the week. We're looking at another forward and a defenseman. Make sure to check back at www.sjbarracuda.com for the full details of the signings. Any guesses?
#Bonesaw… One of my all-time favorites Jimmy Bonneau signed with the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL on Tuesday. Jimmy spent the last four years in Worcester and policed the ice surface for all of the young San Jose Sharks prospects during his tenure. He also served as a back-up goaltender, coach behind the bench, and play-by-play commentator. Unfortunately Jimmy’s position is a dying breed and I wish him nothing but the best in Rapid City. “Bonesaw” has 128 AHL fighting majors and 988 penalty minutes in 350 AHL games, and finished with 435 penalty minutes in 155 games for the Worcester Sharks. Here are a few of my all-time favorite Jimmy scraps:
Jimmy vs. Johnson – click HERE
Jimmy vs. LeBlonde – click HERE
Jimmy vs. Andreoff – click HERE
Jimmy vs. Riley – click HERE
Good Luck… Former San Jose Shark Eriah Hayes signed an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves last week and will join former Worcester Sharks forward Evan Trupp. Konrad Abeltshauser signed with the St. Louis Blues earlier this summer. Taylor Fedun signed on with the Canucks. Daniil Tarasov with Moscow of the KHL.
Housekeeping… We hope to announce the Barracuda flagship radio station before the end of the month. Barracuda merchandise is available at the Sharks Store at the SAP Center. Finally, the new (and awesome) Barracuda website should be out and running before the AHL schedule comes out!
Possible Barracuda players (repeat from previous week, no additions - yet!)... Any player on a two-way NHL/AHL contract with the San Jose Sharks or any player on an AHL contract (Parkes and Young) is eligible to play for the Barracuda. This does not mean that they will necessarily play for the Barracuda. Players on one-way NHL contracts would have to clear waivers before playing with the Barracuda; unless it is on a conditioning assignment – like Mirco Mueller, James Sheppard, and Tyler Kennedy last season.
Here is a list of players that are currently under 2 way NHL/AHL contracts or AHL contracts for the upcoming season: (in no particular order…I am just going to rattle them off!)
Forwards: Bryan Lerg, Micheal Haley, Chris Tierney, Barclay Goodrow, Trevor Parkes, Petter Emanuelsson, Nikolay Goldobin, Nikita Jevpalovs, Ryan Carpenter, Joonas Donskoi, Daniel Doremus, Jeremy Langlois, Tomas Hertl, Chris Crane, and John McCarthy.
Defensemen: Gus Young, Karl Stollery, Dylan Demelo, Joakim Ryan, Julius Bergman, Mark Cundari, Mirco Mueller, Patrick McNally.
Goalies: Troy Grosenick, Aaron Dell, and Joel Rumpel.
A good mix of these players will suit up for the Barracuda at some point this season. Barracuda fans can expect a few more signings before the start of training camp in mid-September. We will keep you posted!
Just a reminder… We don't have a schedule yet (it won’t be released until late August) but the AHL allows each team to release six guaranteed home dates before the actual schedule comes out. Five of the six dates for the Barracuda will also serve as Sharks/Barracuda doubleheaders at the SAP Center (can’t wait for those!). Check out the six dates below with some exciting promotions attached to them.
Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 – Opening Night at SAP Center
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 – Movember for Men’s Health Awareness (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 – Ugly Sweater Day (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 – Bobblehead giveaway (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 – Pink in the Rink (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Mar. 26, 2016 – Beach Towel giveaway (Sharks doubleheader)
Please note that there will be separate admission (you will need two tickets) to the Sharks and Barracuda games on doubleheader days.
Tickets… The Barracuda ticket staff have been working hard all summer selling full and half season tickets and are now offering group seats for our six guaranteed dates. Individual tickets will not go on sale until after our schedule is released in late August. Give our crew a call at 408-977-4747 for more ticket info.
Questions?... If you guys have any questions about the Barracuda, AHL, or anything else, shoot me an email at barracudavoice@sjbarracuda.com and I will make sure to have you covered in the next Barracuda Bytes!
Until next time Barracuda Fans…. See Ya!