by
Jeff Parzych
When that final horn sounded Saturday night a steady stream of players headed to the Crunch net looking to pay their respects to the winning goaltender, Karl Goehring. Syracuse defenseman Darrel Scoville should have been first on the scene. After all he was right next to Goehring when the clock struck zero, but the Crunch's captain found the distance between himself and Goehring just too far at that point and decided propping himself up against the crossbar seemed like a better idea.
Two straight penalty kills in the last five minutes and change will do that. Especially for someone like the veteran Scoville who was on the ice for a majority of those kills. Scoville and the rest of his teammates realized just how important two points were that night.
Never mind the fact that Syracuse had began to develop a real affinity to one-point overtime decisions or the last evening's third period collapse that was just as good as a loss. All of this was factored in, but the real motivation was the five-day holiday vacation that was staring every Crunch player square in the face.
Now if it was up to Head Coach Gary Agnew he may have decided to alter the respite he had planned for his club, especially after Friday's demoralizing final twenty minutes. That possibility entered the player's minds, but even Scoville admitted that would have been tough to do considering that everyone had already finalized plans and made reservations and such.
So instead of making the coach second guess his decision, the club decided just to go out and win that night. It would surely make the head man happy and also make those holiday moments that much easier to enjoy. For most, nothing was really going to spoil the holidays, but a win heading into the break sure makes those holiday plans seem a lot more inviting.
For the Crunch the destinations for most of the club differs a great deal with one common thread, they all include spending them with loved ones. For Pascal Leclaire, he is heading to Montreal to be with his mom and dad. It will be the first time in three years he has returned home after staying in Syracuse last year and spending the previous Christmas in Czechoslovakia.
He plans on spending a few days with the folks then head back on Christmas day. Traveling on that day doesn't seem to inviting, but when you play hockey for a living you grow accustomed to certain things and adjust.
"We will get up and open a few gifts in the morning and get ready for the road," stated Leclaire. "It will be a quick one, but when you play hockey you get used to it. It is a little different than when you were a kid but it is still always fun to be around the family."
Despite his demanding schedule Leclaire found enough time to hit the malls, but he is still looking for some last minute bargains. "I am pretty much almost done but I may go out and look for some few deals on the 24th," said Leclaire.
He also mentioned that just because his wallet is a little thicker right now that doesn't mean everyone is assured a gift, everyone that is besides his parents. "They have to be good if they want a gift," jokes Leclaire. "Obviously though I try to spoil my parents as much as I can. They have been so good to me."
Leclaire also is quick to point out that gifts are nice, but they are definitely not what is important this time of year. "Gifts are one thing but as long as we are together that is the main thing and what Christmas is all about."
Fellow goaltender Karl Goehring's plans are similar to Leclaire's, just with a little more travel time involved. Goehring and his wife are headed home to spend some time with the people that are closest to them.
"I am going back home to Grand Forks with my wife to spend with her family over Christmas," said Goehring. "It is a little bit of travel, but I think it is important to get a little break and enjoy the holiday season and come back even more refreshed and ready to go."
Mark Hartigan echoed his teammate's statement. Despite his hectic travel schedule, Hartigan and his wife are scheduled to fly out of Rochester at 6:50 A.M. on Sunday heading for the home of his wife's parents in Stoughton, Saskatchewan; he feels it is just good to change things up a little.
"It is great just to get away a little and get out of your routine for a couple of days," stated Hartigan. "Then you kind of miss it and you want to get back in to it." Hartigan was also quick to point out that in his case, with him heading to the in-laws, it might not take until Christmas day for him to start thinking about returning. "I will probably want to get back the day after I get there," joked the smiling Hartigan.
For others like Brandon Sugden, travel won't be entering the equation. He plans to stay in the area, but hopes members from his family will be venturing his way to celebrate with him. In between he will spend time at the rink keeping himself in prime playing condition.
"I'm staying here but I think my parents may be coming up," said Sugden. "I will be coming to the rink everyday to work out and do a little skating."
Sugden said he believes a small group of players have also decided to stay in the area during the break. One player who definitely won't be venturing very far is defenseman Darrel Scoville.
It's not that Scoville is adverse to traveling around the holidays. He just feels with his wife expecting that it is a good idea to stay close to home. "No we are not going anywhere," stated Scoville. "My wife is pregnant and she is due in a month so we are staying put."
Scoville also mentioned that even though they have been given this extended break, it doesn't mean they still don't have to take care of things while they are away. "Guys got to be smart during the break. They have to get on the ice or the bike and we will be alright come Friday."
Here's to that. The perfect gift for all of the fans in Syracuse would definitely be a few more games like the one they enjoyed on Saturday.