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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE WORCESTER SHARKSTHE FINatic

• THE FINatic THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE WORCESTER SHARKS THE

Winning a college hockey national championship is a special accomplishment that can be about many things. It’s about the glory instilled in the community, the alumni, family, and friends. It’s about making a name for the school represented and knowing that no one can take that moment of high achievement away. The Calgary, Alberta native Mike Connolly found truth in all of these things as he is now in the midst of KLV�¿UVW�SURIHVVLRQDO�VHDVRQ�ZLWK�WKH�:RUFHVWHU�6KDUNV�of the American Hockey League. � ³,W� PHDQW� VR�PXFK�PRUH� IRU� LW� WR� EH� WKH� ¿UVW� LQ�VFKRRO�KLVWRU\�´�VDLG�:RUFHVWHU�6KDUNV� IRUZDUG�0LNH�&RQQROO\��³6L[W\�\HDU�ROGV�ZHUH�FRPLQJ�XS�WR�XV�DQG�shaking our hands and thanking us. It was a great feeling.” The NCAA All-American is talking about last spring when he was a major component of the University of Minnesota Duluth hockey team as they won the 2011 NCAA Division 1 Hockey National Championship over the highly touted Michigan Wolverines by an overtime score of 3-2. It was the 8QLYHUVLW\�RI�0LQQHVRWD�'XOXWK¶V�¿UVW�KRFNH\�QDWLRQDO�FKDPSLRQVKLS�DQG�¿UVW�FKDPSLRQVKLS�DSSHDUDQFH�VLQFH�the 1983-84 season. Connolly, an assistant captain, had one goal and WKUHH�DVVLVWV�LQ�WKH�1&$$�7RXUQDPHQW�DQG�KH�¿QLVKHG�the 2010-11 season as the third leading scorer for Bulldogs with 54 points (28G, 26A). “He was as good as anyone on our team and is a gritty player with a great intelligence for the game,”

VDLG� 6FRWW� 6DQGHOLQ�� WKH� 80'�0HQ¶V� +HDG� +RFNH\�Coach. Although the moment ranks as Connolly’s proudest hockey accomplishment to date he is determined to compete at the professional level. Connolly was signed E\�WKH�6DQ�-RVH�6KDUNV�WR�DQ�HQWU\�OHYHO�FRQWUDFW�WKLV�past April. “Looking back I have been very fortunate,” Connolly said, “It was the best 3 years of my life �SOD\LQJ�DW�80'��7KH�QH[W�OHYHO�LV�YHU\�FRPSHWLWLYH�and I am always hungry for another championship.” He is hungry for a championship with the Worcester 6KDUNV��DQG�KH�LV�QRW�DORQH��0LNH�&RQQROO\� LV�¿UPO\�SRVLWLRQHG�RQ�WKH�6KDUNV�WRS�OLQH�ZLWK�IHOORZ�QDWLRQDO�champion Benn Ferriero and the versatile Brodie Reid. They have already been the catalysts behind several of WKH�6KDUNV�RIIHQVLYH�VXFFHVVHV�WKLV�VHDVRQ�

Connolly Looks

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Hockey Success

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Mike Connolly


Connolly sees no reason to slow the production down as he knows the pressures that come with being on the top line. Connolly, himself, was a member of the UMD %XOOGRJV¶�WRS�IRUZDUG�OLQH�DORQJVLGH�WHDPPDWHV�-XVWLQ�)RQWDLQH�DQG�WKH�XQUHODWHG�-DFN�&RQQROO\��7KHVH�WKUHH�accounted for 172 points to make them the most potent offensive line in the country. � 7KH��:RUFHVWHU�6KDUNV�DUH�KDSS\� WR�JLYH�Connolly, as well as the four other national champions on their roster, the opportunity to further advance their championship resumes. � :RUFHVWHU�6KDUNV�YHWHUDQ�%HQ�*XLWH��GHIHQVHPDQ�Nick Petrecki, top line center Benn Ferriero, and IRUZDUG�-RKQ�0F&DUWK\�KDYH�DOVR�DFKLHYHG�WKH�KLJKHVW�honor in college hockey. Ben Guite was an assistant captain on the University of Maine squad that took home the title in 1999. Guite

VFRUHG�WKH�%ODFN�%HDU¶V�¿UVW�JRDO�en route to an overtime victory defeating the heavy favorite University of New Hampshire. Nick Petrecki and Benn Ferriero were teammates on the 2008 Boston College team that sent the University of Notre Dame back home to Indiana with a 4-1 loss. Petrecki was a freshman standout defenseman that scored against Miami University in the tournament regional while )HUULHUR�¿QLVKHG�WKDW�\HDU�DV�WKH�teams fourth leading scorer with

17 goals and 25 assists. Boston University hailed as college hockey FKDPSLRQV� LQ� �� DIWHU� RQH� RI� WKH� PRVW� H[FLWLQJ�FKDPSLRQVKLS�JDPHV�WR�GDWH��-RKQ�0F&DUWK\�ZDV�WKH�Terriers assistant captain as they scored twice in the ¿QDO�PLQXWH� WR� IRUFH� RYHUWLPH�ZKHUH� WKH\� ODWHU�ZRQ�the game, dispatching Miami University. McCarthy UHFHLYHG�WKH�-RKQ�%��6LPSVRQ�DZDUG��JLYHQ�E\�%RVWRQ�8QLYHUVLW\�WR�WKH�SOD\HU�WKDW�PRVW�H[KLELWV�HQWKXVLDVWLF�senior leadership. All of this success creates a champions atmosphere LQ� WKH� 6KDUNV� ORFNHU� URRP�� 7KHVH� ¿YH� QDWLRQDO�champions have been in a position to win before and know the kind of hard work and dedication that is necessary to succeed. � $V� \RX� IROORZ� WKH�:RUFHVWHU� 6KDUNV� WKLV� VHDVRQ��NHHS�DQ�H\H�RQ�&RQQROO\�DQG�WKH�UHVW�RI�WKH�6KDUNV�DV�they look to feed their championship hunger.

• THE FINatic THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE WORCESTER SHARKS THE FINatic


Sincerely,

Dear Fans,

� ,W�LV�P\�JUHDW�SOHDVXUH�WR�ZHOFRPH�\RX�WR�DQRWKHU�H[FLWLQJ�VHDVRQ�RI�$PHULFDQ�+RFNH\�/HDJXH�DFWLRQ��:H�DUH�SURXG�WR�EH�HQWHULQJ�RXU��WK�VHDVRQ�RI�FRQWLQXRXV�SOD\��EULQJLQJ�D�WUDGLWLRQ�RI�H[FHOOHQFH�DQG�DQ�entertaining, physical and highly skilled level of play to more than 6 million hockey fans across North America annually. Once again in 2011-12, there are 30 teams competing for the historic Calder Cup championship and all 30 National Hockey League clubs are developing their top prospects and draft picks in the AHL. Last VHDVRQ�PRUH�WKDQ��¿UVW��DQG�VHFRQG�URXQG�1+/�GUDIW�SLFNV�FRPSHWHG�LQ�WKH�$PHULFDQ�+RFNH\�/HDJXH��DQG��SOD\HUV�WRRN�WKH�LFH�LQ�ERWK�WKH�$+/�DQG�WKH�1+/�� 7KLV�VHDVRQ�EULQJV�D�QHZ�ORRN�WR�WKH�$+/�ODQGVFDSH�DV�ZH�ZHOFRPH�WKH�FLW\�RI�6W��-RKQ¶V��1HZIRXQGODQG��EDFN�WR�WKH�OHDJXH�ZLWK�WKH�6W��-RKQ¶V�,FH�&DSV�VHW�WR�WDNH�WKH�LFH�DW�0LOH�2QH�&HQWUH�IRU�WKHLU�LQDXJXUDO�FDPSDLJQ�DV�WKH�WRS�DI¿OLDWH�RI�WKH�1+/¶V�:LQQLSHJ�-HWV�� :H�FRQWLQXH�WR�EH�SURXG�RI�RXU�WUDGLWLRQ�RI�GHYHORSLQJ�WKH�EHVW�KRFNH\�WDOHQW�LQ�WKH�ZRUOG��ZLWK�RYHU��SHUFHQW�RI�WRGD\¶V�1+/�SOD\HUV��FRDFKHV�DQ�RI¿FLDOV�KDYLQJ�KRQHG�WKHLU�VNLOOV�LQ�WKH�$PHULFDQ�+RFNH\�/HDJXH��LQFOXGLQJ�UHLJQLQJ�9H]LQD�DQG�&RQQ�6P\WKH�7URSK\�ZLQQHU�7LP�7KRPDV�DQG��1+/�093�&RUH\�3HUU\��2XU�OR\DO�DQG�SDVVLRQDWH�IDQV�WKURXJK�WKH�\HDUV�KDYH�HQMR\HG�FKHHULQJ�IRU�PRUH�WKDQ��IXWXUH�+RFNH\�+DOO�RI�)DPHUV��DQG�KDYH�URRWHG�IRU�PRUH�WKDQ��&DOGHU�&XS�FKDPSLRQV�ZKR�ZRXOG�JR�RQ�WR�KDYH�WKHLU�QDPHV�HQJUDYHG�RQ�WKH�6WDQOH\�&XS�DV�ZHOO�� 7KH�%LQJKDPWRQ�6HQDWRUV�HQWHU�WKLV�VHDVRQ�DV�WKH�GHIHQGLQJ�&DOGHU�&XS�FKDPSLRQV�DIWHU�FDSWXULQJ�WKH�FLW\¶V�¿UVW�HYHU�$+/�WLWOH�ODVW�-XQH��7KLV�\HDU¶V�6HQDWRUV�DUH�ORRNLQJ�WR�KROG�RII��RWKHU�WHDPV�ZKRVH�ultimate goal will also be the 2012 Calder Cup championship.� :H�LQYLWH�IDQV�IURP�DFURVV�WKH�OHDJXH�WR�MRLQ�XV�DW�WKH�ZRUOG�IDPRXV�%RDUGZDON�+DOO��LQ�$WODQWLF�&LW\��1HZ�-HUVH\��RQ�-DQXDU\��DQG��IRU�RXU�DQQXDO�FHOHEUDWLRQ�RI�$+/�H[FHOOHQFH��WKH��$+/�$OO�6WDU�&ODVVLF�²�IHDWXULQJ�WKH�6NLOOV�&RPSHWLWLRQ��$OO�6WDU�*DPH�DQG�WKH�$+/�+DOO�RI�)DPH�LQGXFWLRQV�� 2Q�EHKDOI�RI�DOO�RI�RXU�WHDPV��WKDQN�\RX�DJDLQ�IRU�\RXU�FRQWLQXLQJ��VXSSRUW�DQG�,�ZLVK�\RX�WKH�XWPRVW�HQMR\PHQW�LQ�IROORZLQJ�\RXU�FOXE�WKURXJK�ZKDW�LV�VUH�WR�EH�DQRWKHU�WHUUL¿F�VHDVRQ�

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David A. Andrews3UHVLGHQW��&KLHI�([HFXWLYH�2I¿FHUAmerican Hockey League

American Hockey LeagueOne Monarch Place – Spring!eld, MA 01144Phone: (413) 781-2030 Fax: (413) 733-4767

DAVID A. ANDREWSPRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE


All Worcester Sharks home games are broadcast live on WTAG

2011-2012 WORCESTER

SHARKS R0YSOMMER

Head Coach

HC

DAVIDCUNNIFF

Assistant Coach

AC

MIKE MOORE

Defense

8

TONY LUCIA

Forward

12

JOHN MCCARTHY

Forward

7

SENA ACOLATSE

Defense

14

CURT GOGOL

Forward

13

TAYLOR DOHERTY

Defense

4


MIKE CONNOLLY

Forward

18

JAMES MARCOU

Forward

19

BENN FERRIERO

Forward

21

MATT PELECH

Defense

23

MATT IRWIN

Defense

20

MAREK VIEDENSKY

Forward

25

JAMESLIVINGSTON

Forward

26

RYAN DEL MONTE

Forward

16


CAM MACINTYRE

Forward

41

All Worcester Sharks home games are broadcast live on WTAG

JUSTIN BRAUN

Defense

27

BEN GUITE

Forward

28

TYSON SEXSMITH

Goaltender

31

ALEX STALOCK

Goaltender

32

NICK PETRECKI

Defense

29

HARRI SATERI

Goaltender

35

SEAN SULLIVAN

Defense

37

THOMAS HEEMSKERK

Goaltender

33


JIMMY BONNEAU

Forward

43

BRODIE REID

Forward

51

BRANDON MASHINTER

Forward

53

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE WORCESTER SHARKS PAGE 13THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE WORCESTER SHARKSTHE FINatic


Five NCAA National Champions, eight San Jose NHL Draft Picks, 324 games of NHL experience, and a combined 24 years behind the bench between Head Coach Roy Sommer and Assistant Coach Dave Cunniff make the 2011-12 Worcester Sharks dangerous. Youth, talent, and leadership are all themes of the 2011-12 Worcester Sharks as they are off to one of the best starts in franchise history. “This group out of the gate has been a tight group, with a lot of character,” said Worcester Sharks Assistant Coach Dave Cunniff, “Guys work hard at practice and they want to win. There is a lot of respect in that locker room; it’s a great mix of leadership and talent.” The youth have led the charge with rookies Mike Connolly, Nathan Moon, Brodie Reid, James Livingston, and Curt Gogol all playing their first professional games and already becoming valuable assets to the Worcester lineup. Mike Connolly, assistant captain of last year’s NCAA National Champion University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs hockey team, is rapidly becoming one of the Sharks leading scorers. Speed, finesse, and unrivaled stick handling ability have made Nathan Moon, a 2008 4th round NHL draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, into a legitimate offensive threat, while Curt Gogol has been the man with the iron fists. This season also has seen great promise in familiar fan favorites, Assistant Captain John McCarthy, Brandon Mashinter, and Tommy Wingels up front along with Nick Petrecki, Matt Irwin, and Sean Sullivan on defense. McCarthy has been an assist machine, feeding the guys up front with passes and setting up plays. Brandon Mashinter has added his familiar grit with a scoring touch while Tommy Wingels started the year with San Jose in the NHL. Petrecki, Irwin, and Sullivan have all seen plenty of action on the blue line and continue to contribute offensively.

Sharks Destined for Success, Poised for Playoffs in 2011-12By: Andrew Stepanek

There are no concerns in goal as Tyson Sexsmith and Harri Sateri have continued to backstop the Sharks with highlight reel performances while Alex Stalock continues to rehab his injury in Worcester. The Worcester Sharks are a group that plays together. Whether it’s scoring goals, defending the crease, or getting dirty in the corners, they lead by example.

Nathan Moon


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A DIVISION OF

Curt Gogol


“It has been a team effort in every aspect,” Cunniff said, “Every guy gets in on the action and the right guys are leaders. The Sharks have a great history of putting the right people in the right leadership positions.” It’s guys like Ben Guite and Worcester Sharks captain Mike Moore that keep the younger guys on their toes. Assistant captain Ben Guite is new to the Worcester Sharks, but is no stranger to professional hockey. The veteran forward has 175 NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators along with 265 points (100G, 165A) in 559 career AHL games. He accepts his role as a leader and the younger guys look to

him for guidance. Guite is a vital piece to the Sharks special teams and is a fixture on the second and third forward lines. This is Moore’s fourth season in Worcester, his second as the team captain. As Moore eclipses his 200th game in a Worcester Sharks uniform, he believes in this year’s team and knows what it takes to win games. “This year, we have a group of guys like we had in my second season (2009-10),” explained Moore “The guys are a close knit group and I could see it from the start when I came down from San Jose. The guys are always going out together in groups, having fun together in a good way, and have each other’s backs. There is a sense of camaraderie really present that wasn’t missing last year but is even stronger this year.” Sharks fans will remember that 2009-10 was the best season the Sharks had in Worcester as they finished the regular season with 104 points. It was also the last time the Sharks made a playoff run, dispatching the now defunct Lowell Devils four games to one in the first round and falling to the rivaled Manchester Monarchs in the conference semifinals four games to two.

If the first few months of the 2011-12 season are any indication of what’s ahead for the Worcester Sharks, then it is shaping up to be a banner year. The team is full of chemistry and is poised to make its fourth playoff appearance in six years. The Sharks hope to build on past success and go a step further, contend for the American Hockey Leagues’ Calder Cup. The time for Worcester Sharks fans to pay attention is now. No one can say for sure what this season’s future holds, but all speculation leads to the 2011-12 Worcester Sharks becoming a legitimate threat for the Calder Cup this spring.

Curt Gogol


CURT Gogol13 left wingHEIGHT: 6’0” WEIGHT: 185 lbs.BORN: September 21,1991 in Calgary, AB

2010-11: Split the season between Chilliwack and Saskatoon, as he was traded to Chilliwack on Nov. 2… recorded 14 fighting major penalties…Named an assistant captain for Chilliwack…Led Chilliwack and was third in the WHL in PIMs…Scored a goal on Dec. 1 vs. Saskatoon, his former team…Playoffs: Notched one assist and six penalty minutes in five playoff games...Career 2009-10: Split the season between Kelowna and Saskatoon…Totaled 149 PIM and 15 fighting majors in just 43 games… Playoffs: Posted four points (1-3=4)…2008-09: Second on Kelowna in PIM and recorded 16 fighting majors…Playoffs: On team that lost the Memorial Cup Final to Windsor.

Regular Season PlayoffsSeason Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM

2007-08 Kelowna Rockets WHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --2008-09 Kelowna Rockets WHL 63 1 4 5 144 22 1 0 1 302009-10 Kelowna Rockets WHL 35 0 6 6 120 -- -- -- -- --2009-10 Saskatoon Blades WHL 8 1 0 1 29 10 1 3 4 232010-11 Saskatoon Blades WHL 15 1 1 2 59 -- -- -- -- --2010-11 Chilliwack Bruins WHL 47 4 8 12 142 5 0 1 1 6

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DOUGLAS MURRAY3 DEFENSE

Born: March 12 1980Hometown: Bromma, Sweden Height 6’ 3” Weight 240 lbs. Shoots LSelected by San Jose Sharks round 8 #241 overall 1999 NHL Entry Draft

2010-11: Set a career high in shots (102) and tied one in assists…Finished season plus-5 and has been a plus or even player in all six NHL seasons…Led San Jose in hits (203) and was second in blocked shots (140)…Four-game point/assist streak from April 2-8 set career highs in both categories (four, four assists)… Tied franchise record with nine hits vs. Anaheim on April 2…Seven blocked shots on Feb. 5 at Boston set a single-game franchise record…Set a career high in time on ice (28:17) on Jan. 20 at Vancouver… Missed five games (Dec. 13-21, lower body) and four (Nov. 15-20, lower body)…Scored his first goal on Dec. 9 at Buffalo…Returned from injury and earned game’s No. 2 star vs. Chicago on Nov. 24 by registering seven hits and four blocked shots…Played in his 300th game on Nov. 4 vs. St. Louis…Registered first point of the season with an assist on Oct. 19 vs. Carolina…Ranked 16th on The Sporting News’ “Smart-est Athletes” list. He was one of two NHL players (George Parros) on the list…Playoffs: Seventh in NHL in hits (69) and T-5th in blocked shots (48), both led team...Blocked five shots and had five hits in WCSF Game 7 vs. Detroit…Had seven blocked shots in WCSF Game 3 at Detroit…Tied for the team lead with seven hits, added an assist and four blocked shots in WCQF Game 1. PERSONAL: “Crankshaft” lists these favorites: Swedish House Mafia (musician); “Law Abiding Citizen” (movie); “Entourage” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Suits” (television show); Robert De Niro (actor); Natalie Portman (actress); New York Islanders (NHL team while growing up); New York (NHL road city); Cornell University (professional/ collegiate team); tennis (sport other than hockey); Plumed Horse (San Jose restaurant); Saint Tropez (vacation spot); facebook.com (web-site); Christmas (holiday); “Treat others how you would like to be treated” (saying); Backgammon (board game)… likes to cook in his spare time…first job: marina gas station… hockey idol is Scott Stevens…favorite professional athlete is Robert Nilsson…hates traffic and waiting in line…is superstitious about always putting his left skate on first…can speak two languages… would’ve liked to meet Bridget Bardot …started skating at three and playing hockey at five…would have been a venture capitalist if not for hockey… wears Bauer skates…oldest piece of equipment are his elbow pads.

Regular Season PlayoffsSeason Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM2003-04 Cleveland Barons AHL 72 10 12 22 75 9 3 0 3 372004-05 Cleveland Barons AHL 54 6 17 23 56 -- -- -- -- --2005-06 Cleveland Barons AHL 20 1 7 8 37 -- -- -- -- --2005-06 San Jose Sharks NHL 34 0 1 1 27 -- -- -- -- --2006-07 San Jose Sharks NHL 35 0 3 3 31 -- -- -- -- --2006-07 Worcester Sharks AHL 5 2 1 3 8 -- -- -- -- --2007-08 San Jose Sharks NHL 66 1 9 10 98 13 1 1 2 22008-09 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 0 7 7 38 6 0 0 0 92009-10 San Jose Sharks NHL 79 4 13 17 66 15 1 6 7 82010-11 San Jose Sharks NHL 73 1 13 14 44 18 0 1 1 8

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