Sugden will be a Bear of an opponent
Ex-Syracuse Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden, who spent much of this
summer looking for a job, has more than landed on his feet.He will be
the muscleman for the Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.
This is an absolutely delicious scenario because Hershey is in
Syracuse's division. The Bears and Crunch play six times this year."I
have a lot of respect for him. He's a tough dude,'' said Syracuse
enforcer Jon Mirasty, a friend of Sugden. "It's going to be excellent.
It's going to bring up some good memories. He's a good challenge. It's
going to be some fireworks.''Mirasty and Sugden fought twice when both
played in the Quebec League. Sugden played for Hartford last year, but
the Crunch and the Wolf Pack did not meet. Sugden landed in Hershey
will a big assist from Syracuse owner Howard Dolgon. Dolgon and Bears
GM Doug Yingst are good friends, and Dolgon recommended that Sugden
call Yingst."It obviously adds protection,'' Yingst said. "We felt we
had some toughness on our team. We feel Brandon adds that
toughness.''Sugden is on an AHL deal, but the organization is a good
one for him to be in. Parent club Washington has only John Erskine to
fill that role.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Brandon's stirring things up
In case you were wondering what former Syracuse Crunch enforcer
Brandon Sugden is up to in Hartford these days, check out this
paragraph from a Worcester press release about what was apparently a
wild game between Hartford and Worcester on Friday: The final 8:14
of the third would not go without incident as both coaching staffs had
to be separated by the linesmen and referee at 16:52. Head Coach Roy
Sommer and Hartford Assistant Coach Pat Boller met between the two
benches separated by a thin pane of glass and Brandon Sugden through a
water bottle at the Sharks coach and missed. Sugden would receive a
misconduct at 16:52. At the final buzzer, fists went flying again as
Frazer McLaren and Brett Westgarth fought Justin Soryal and Brodie
Dupont. After the fights, the linesman had to hold back both benches
as the finger pointing and jousting continued.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Brandon Sugden is a Ranger
Funny how things work out, huh? The New York Rangers were one of
four teams that voted to block the un-retirement of former Syracuse
Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden. Then the NHL stepped in, and got those
four teams to change their minds.
Sugden tried out for the Islanders, but they let him go. Now, he's
agreed to a tryout contract with Hartford. Hartford is the affiliate
of the New York Rangers.
I guess New York wasn't happy with the notion of Sugden trying to
play again this year, unless he was part of its organization.
"Well, I don't hold that against them at all,'' Sugden said from
his Hartford hotel room on Thursday. "They thought maybe if I was
playing against them, it wouldn't be good. I was ticked off, but I
understood it wasn't personal, it was business.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Brandon Sugden vs. Jon Mirasty?
Perhaps, but not likely in a Syracuse Crunch vs. Rochester Americans
game this season. The Islanders released Sugden, a former Crunch
enforcer, on Sunday. When I talked to him, he brought up the
possibility of joining Florida, which lost Steve MacIntyre to waivers.
Florida, of course, is the parent club of Rochester. Sugden in an
Amerks jersey. How delicious would that be?
Doesn't matter. I called Jack Birch, director of player personnel
for Florida, Sunday night, and asked him about Sugden's availability.
He had a two-word answer: "No interest.''
Oh well.
Providence, Hershey and Hartford are possible destinations for
Sugden. Sugden said he'd have no problem playing for Hartford even
though the New York Rangers were one of the teams that voted to block
his return.
"I would go,'' Sugden said. "They were doing that just to make the
team better. It's nothing personal.''
I asked Sugden if he thought there was any chance of him joining
the Crunch. The Blue Jackets proved they are in the market for another
brawler when they invited Mike Sgroi to camp. Sgroi broke his hand in
a fight and is out for eight weeks.
Sugden said a return trip to Syracuse is unlikely. He said the Blue
Jackets offered Sgroi a deal for $50,000; Sugden said he wasn't
playing for less than $100,000.
"Sgroi doesn't have a family and a house. I do,'' Sugden said.
Sugden didn't seem too crushed by his release from the Islanders.
"I know I need another month of skating every day to be at this
level,'' he said. I'm not letting it get me down.''
- In other news Sunday, the Columbus Dispatch reported that the
Blue Jackets have released veteran defenseman Richard Matvichuk.
Matvichuk was in camp on a tryout deal, and could have been a
candidate for a two-way.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Former Syracuse Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden told me on Wednesday
night that he expects to be in the lineup Thursday for New York when
the Islanders take on Philadelphia in an exhibition game in London,
Ont. That could square him up against Flyers brawler Riley Cote.
Sugden did not play Tuesday against Boston in New York's first
preseason game.
London is about two hours from Sugden's home in Toronto. He said
his ailing father, Travis, will come to the game. Brandon played in
several preseason games with Columbus, but said Travis never saw any
in person.
"I wouldn't say I'm nervous. Maybe a little bit,'' Brandon said.
"I'm skating well here. My game's as good as it's been. From what I've
heard people say, I look good.''
Sugden and all hockey players risk bad injury whenever they compete
in their violent game. But for a really weird and unfortunate injury
that's taken down one of the NHL's best young players,
check this out.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
An opinion better kept to himself
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer September 18, 2008 10:38AM
Al Campanie / The Post-StandardBrandon
Sugden, former Syracuse Crunch enforcer, has a tryout with the New
York Islanders.
This whole Internet concept, I think we could all agree, is turning
out to be a wonderful thing.
Then you read
a story like this, and, well, you have to start rethinking the
concept.
I'm usually not big on getting too uptight about other opinions out
there. If you start responding to them all, then you have time to do
nothing else. Plus, freedom of expression and the right to dissent is
at the core of what I do, so, live and let live.
The problem with this mean-spirited story is that while it
certainly falls under the protected concept of opinion, the author is
so reckless with the facts in his stating of his case that it casts
aspersions on what the rest of us in this very new and vague field of
Internet writing try to do. This writer's right to produce this sort
of work is not an unmbrella I want protecting me. Furthermore, The
Hockey News, as an established outlet of information on the sport,
needs to demand better work than what you see here.
Further, as someone who has covered Sugden for several years and
now posts blogs about him, I assume I am one of the "media
apologists'' that is referred to. That's fine, as long as you make
your counter-points fair and accurate.
1. Sugden has told me many off-the-record stories through the years
that I crinkle my nose at. He was young once, a pro athlete who drank
a lot and did stupid and crude things. I by no means endorse most of
the stuff he's done. I did not cover the incident in Peoria where he
threw a stick in the stands that hit a fan. This, too, is
unacceptable, something for which Sugden was punished and apologized
for. He is neither a saint nor an "oppressed victim.''
2. What I have personally witnessed are Sugden's attempts to use
his problems to become a better person now. He says he has been clean
and sober for years now. I have no idea if that is true. Personally, I
will believe it until he proves otherwise. What the other doesn't
realize, or probably doesn't care about because it goes counter to his
opinion of Sugden as a pox on humanity, is all the community work he
did while in Syracuse.
3. It is terrible that Sugden's dad has cancer. It also has nothing
to do with the facts of the matter. Sugden doesn't need anyone's
sympathy vote. I think he'd rather have his dad healthy and never play
hockey again than be glad he has this terrible misfortune that might
earn him some empathy. The merits of his case speak for themselves.
Twenty-six teams agreed with him. So, too, did Bill Daly, the No. 2
man in the NHL. I doubt Bill Daly took up Sugden's cause because
Travis is ill. I think he did it because Sugden is not the poster
child to use as the reason for this rule.
4. If you don't think Sugden is good enough to play in the NHL, you
certainly have a lot of company in that opinion and a ton of facts to
back up your case. But, again, that has nothing to do with the
unfairness of that CBA provision when applies to this case. That's the
beauty of pro sports. If the Islanders or any other team think he's
good enough to play in the NHL, they will give him a sweater. If not,
Sugden will play in the AHL or find another line of work.
5. By far the most offensive part of the whole essay was the
portrayal of Sugden as a "goon'' who might run around maiming people.
Silly me. I assumed that wherever Sugden plays, he will be subject to
the same rules, penalties and suspensions as anyone else. If he does
something that the NHL or AHL deems objectionable, the leagues will
take action.
I have spoken to many players who do the same job as Sugden. Almost
without exception, those who know him talk about his professionalism,
respect for his job and adherence to those unwritten codes of
fighting. Maybe this is garbage to you. Maybe you don't like fighting
in hockey. All well and good. But, like it or not, players nastier,
dirtier and maybe even better fighters than him are currently employed
in the NHL.
To hold Sugden, who as far as I know has never hurt or maimed
someone outside the accepted boundaries of what he does, as an example
of someone who should not be allowed in the profession just smacks of
carelessness. The author's reference to Sugden as a "blight'' on the
game and deserving of a blackball from pro hockey is simply
mind-boggling.
Again, responding to one person's opinion is a tricky concept, like
swatting at a bunch of fireflies that keep dancing around all over the
place. It's probably better to ignore them and not get all worked up
on the first place. But even in today's yell-first-and-think-later
Internet communication world, there still has to be a place for
compelling, sound arguments over biased blather. Sports fans deserve
better, and those who write about sports have to work a little harder
to maintain some credibility in the middle of this fray.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Justice for Brandon
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer September 13, 2008 8:14PM
You think pro sports is always cold and calculating? Think again.
Former Syracuse Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden is getting is shot
at the NHL.
Sugden told me Saturday night that he got a call from Bill Daly,
the NHL's second in command. Friday, Sugden spoke with Daly about
maybe getting help on overturning four "no'' votes that were blocking
his comeback attempt.
Saturday night, Daly told Sugden that he spoke to the four teams
and convinced them to change their minds. That will allow Sugden to go
to an NHL tryout camp next week, potentially with the Islanders.
"He said it's official,'' Sugden said. "I think I thanked him about
50 times in a minute. He said, 'Good Luck. I hope you do well.'''
Sugden "retired'' from the Crunch two seasons ago. Under the
current CBA, players who retire must sit out a season of pro hockey
before they can play in the NHL again. Sugden violated that clause by
jumping right into pro hockey, in the LNAH. Because he did that, he
needed approval from all 30 NHL teams to return this season. Four
teams initially voted no, including the Rangers.
It was a doubly devastating blow to Sugden. His father, Travis, is
battling cancer. Brandon told Travis he'd make it to the NHL for him.
He also promised to donate a portion of whatever NHL salary he draws
to cancer research.
Now, because of the efforts of Daly and the support of many fans
who signed a petition, Sugden will at least get that chance.
If you're not a fan of underdog stories, sure, go ahead and snicker
that Sugden has never been good enough to play in even one NHL game
yet, and, at age 30, there's no guarantee he's got the skills to do so
now.
That, of course, is not the point. Sugden knows the real challenge
starts at camp next week, and all he wanted was the opportunity to
free himself from the snare of a technicality and test himself against
the best, just like every other player at his level. Beyond that, it's
up to him.
"My mother said, you have the ticket to the ball, now you have to
show you can dance,'' Sugden said. "I am fired up.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Posted by Lindsay
Kramer September 11, 2008 4:57PM
One down, three to go: Word in hockey circles is that the Rangers were
one of the four NHL teams to vote no to the return of Brandon Sugden.
Makes sense, since Sugden was supposed to try out for the Islanders.
But here's the interesting rub. A couple of days before Sugden's
rejection became public, a Rangers official contacted the Crunch to
get Sugden's contact information. The Rangers then called Sugden to
ask where he was going to try out. Sugden didn't spill the beans, but
maybe the Rangers found out anyways and made their pre-emptive strike
against possibly having to face him.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Running and hiding
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer September 10, 2008 12:16PM
The four NHL teams who voted against the return of ex-Syracuse Crunch
enforcer Brandon Sugden apparently don't believe in their convictions
strongly enough to make themselves known publicly. Sugden told me
Wednesday that NHL attorneys have told the players union that the four
dissenting teams will not be identified. Way to stand behind your
beliefs. Nothing says character like blocking a man's shot at an NHL
contract and then refusing to even give him the courtesy of a
discussion.
Sugden had simply hoped to write the four teams and explain his
situation, why he "retired'' from Syracuse two seasons ago and why he
should be given a chance to try out for the Islanders this preseason.
Sugden was also going to donate a portion of any NHL salary to cancer
research in honor of his father, Travis, who is afflicted with that
disease.
Now, Sugden said he might travel to New York to personally plea to
the NHL's second-in-command, Bill Daly. If nothing happens by next
week, Sugden said he'll likely sign an AHL deal somewhere. Syracuse
would be his first choice, but he said his agent told him that
Columbus assistant GM Chris MacFarland is cool on that idea. Sugden
said Providence and Hartford are backup possibilities.
If Sugden plays pro this year, that would push back the one-year
sitout period that Sugden must go through before he can sign a deal
with an NHL component again. Then again, he's pretty sure his appeal
will have a successful conclusion in the meantime.
"I'm 100 percent confident I will get this thing overturned,'' he
said. "I just don't know when. Now, it's my goal to beat this thing.
I'm livid at the situation I'm in.''
- I'm relatively new to this whole world wide blogosphere concept,
so I'm continuously stunned by the mean-spiritedness of some people.
Sugden has made no secret of his past alcohol and drug issues, and has
spoken to many groups and organizations about the importance of doing
things the right way.
In reading some comments posted on various sites regarding Sugden's
comeback attempt, it's disgusting how a handful of people who clearly
don't know the facts of the situation in general or him in particular
dredge up the past to smear him now.
It's fine if you think a rule is a rule, or that someone who plays
Sugden's role has no place in hockey, or that he stands little chance
of making the NHL anyways. But where does the viciousness come from
for someone who by all appearances has tried to clean up his act, has
started a family, is trying to make a living and, oh yeah, is dealing
with the serious illness of his father? What does that add to the
discussion? Who are you people, and why do you feel compelled to
secretly play hit-and-run with someone's reputation?
More than any other athletes, hockey players are, almost without
exception, very decent, salt-of-the earth people. So too, are most
hockey fans. It's just a shame when a handful of anonymous people who
claim to love the sport make comments that lower the intelligence of
the room in general. I guess the same could be said for a few
Internet-brave ignorants on any topic, but, of course, it's the
controversial hockey issues that I'm tuned into.
For a blog written by someone who takes a much more civil and logical
approach to this topic,
check this out.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Sugden the sleuth
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer September 01, 2008 6:20PM
Former Syracuse Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden is getting closer to
finding out which teams are keeping him from getting a chance at the
NHL. Sugden said Monday the NHLPA is working the case for him. And
it turns out four teams actually said no to his return, not three. Two
votes came in after the deadline, one was no and one was no comment. I
love that no comment one.
Sugden was going to try out for the Islanders this preseason. But
before he can sign a deal with an NHL component he has to get approval
from all 30 teams. That's because when he left the Crunch two seasons
ago he termed it a retirement. He then immediately joined the Quebec
League.
A stipulation in the current CBA says that when a player retires,
he must sit out pro hockey for a year. If he wants to come back
sooner, all the NHL teams must say OK.
I don't know where a "no comment'' fits into all of this, but
Sugden said when he finds out the four "no" teams he will contact them
all with an appeal. He said he will donate a large portion of whatever
NHL salary he makes to cancer research. His father, Travis, has been
diagnosed with terminal cancer and part of Brandon's comeback attempt
was based on giving Travis the gift of seeing him in the NHL.
Brandon said if that doesn't work, he will sign an AHL-only deal by
the middle of the month. There's a solid chance that could be with the
Crunch. If Sugden plays pro this season, that would push back his
required one-year sitout to next year. But he said he would continue
to fight that rule while playing in the AHL.
"I like fighting,'' he said. "I see this as a challenge right
now.''
Meanwhile, Crunch fans have started
a petition of support for
Sugden.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
The comeback begins
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer August 28, 2008 9:21AM
Former Syracuse Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden is proceeding with his
training routine like nothing has changed.Which, as we all know by
now, is the farthest thing from the truth.
Sugden found out on Wednesday that three NHL teams objected to his
planned NHL comeback, a tryout with the Islanders. Sugden needed
approval from all 30 NHL teams because when he left the Crunch two
seasons ago, he phrased it a "retirement.'' Under the current CBA,
players who retire cannot return under an NHL deal for a season unless
every team gives its approval. That's where Sugden was tripped up.
Thursday morning, with apparently little motivation, a still upset
Sugden said he's keeping the same routine - working out, skating and
boxing.
"I'm not going to give up,'' he said. "I'm going to keep doing what
I do. It's hard to motivate yourself, but it has to be done. If this
thing gets over turned, I want to be in the best shape of my life.''
Scott Norton, Sugden's agent, said he's checking into the matter
but he's not clear on whether there's an appeals process.
Norton also clarified that Sugden could return to the Quebec League
this season, but that would push back the required one year off.
Norton also said Sugden could sign an AHL-only deal, but there are two
drawbacks to that.
First, the deal could have no NHL component, which means Sugden
could not be called up. Secondly, that one-year sit out period would
still be out there, waiting to be served before he could hope to play
in the NHL.
"It wouldn't help him achieve his dream,'' Norton said Sugden
playing on an AHL-only deal.
Norton said there had been some very preliminary interest from AHL
teams, including from the Crunch, but nothing that's been pursued yet.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Sugden update
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer August 27, 2008 5:27PM
I reached Scott Norton, Brandon Sugden's agent, on Wednesday afternoon
to clarify a few things. He said he found out on Tuesday night that
three NHL teams objected to return of Sugden, who was going to try out
with the Islanders. He said according to the current CBA, if a player
retires from pro hockey, he must sit out a year before playing under
an NHL deal. If that player wants to come back, every NHL team must
give the thumbs up.
Sugden left the Syracuse Crunch two seasons ago to play in the
LNAH. Yes, he got paid there, so that is pro hockey. But the NHL
doesn't recongnize the LNAH as pro hockey the same way it views the
AHL and ECHL, that is to say, as part of its farm system. Still, three
NHL teams stuck it to Sugden on that technicality.
Norton said the teams that denied approval are not revealed, so we
may never know who they are. Norton said he doesn't think Columbus was
one of those three teams because the Blue Jackets specifically told
him they were fine with Sugden's return. That makes this rule even
more confusing - if the organization that the player left is OK with
him coming back with someone else, why should anyone else care?
Norton explained the rule is in place to prevent the following
scenario: a player can't agree to a contract with his team under a
current salary cap, so he "retires.'' A few months later, the salary
cap goes up, and he then unretires to take advantage of a bigger money
pool.
If that player is a regular NHLer, great, I see the logic. But
there's one word that keeps coming back to me in this case -
discretion. This rule was not meant for the Brandon Sugdens of the
world, the players who have to scrap year-to-year to make the best
financial decisions for themselves and their families.
Was Sugden wrong to leave the Crunch two seasons ago? I don't know.
He wasn't playing in Syracuse, and he had a boatload more money
waiting for him in the Quebec League. Is that something he should be
punished for? Three NHL teams apparently think so.
As I said in the earlier post, allowing him back into the NHL or
AHL isn't going to sway the balance of power or tip any competitive
edges. So, that boils the reasoning of those three NHL teams down to
two things. Either they wanted to make an example out of Sugden, just
to show they mean business with this rule. Or, they are just acting
out of spite without any concern about a case-by-case merit. Maybe
we'll never know which is the true reason.
And remember, this was the thinking among a very small minority of
teams. Twenty-seven of the 30 had absolutely no problem with his
coming back. So it wasn't like this was a league-wide, slam-dunk
decision, where everyone was appalled at change of heart.
Whatever happened, it's a mess that could have and should have been
settled with better logic.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Sugden shocker
Posted by
Lindsay Kramer August 27, 2008 12:42PM
Travis Sugden called me on Wednesday morning with some stunning news
about his son, Brandon, the former Syracuse Crunch enforcer. Travis
said he just found out three NHL teams have objected to Brandon
returning to pro hockey this season. Brandon had planned on attending
camp with the Islanders. If he did not make New York, he said he was
eager to explore playing for the Crunch again.
Travis did not yet know which teams blocked Brandon. But the denial
means he can't sign a deal with an NHL component or play in the NHL
until next season. Brandon needed to clear this odd tecnhicality
because after leaving the Crunch two seasons ago, he announced it as a
"retirement.'' Because he "retired'' then came back to play pro hockey
(in the LNAH) within one year, every other NHL organization had to
give him a thumbs up to return. He could sign an AHL-only deal or
return to the Quebec League, but that would push back the one-year
sitting out period.
I don't know the purpose behind this rule, or how many other
players have been impacted by it. All I know is that it applies to
Brandon.
But that's just the hockey side. The story gets much more sad.
Travis said he has cancer, and told me he has only several more months
to live. Part of Brandon's desire to come back was to give it one last
shot at letting his father see him play in the NHL. If Brandon has to
sit out this season, that dream is in danger.
Until we find out who the blocking NHL teams are and what their
reasoning is, it does no good to speculate on motives. On the face of
it, there doesn't seem to be a logical reason to block Brandon. He has
a colorful past, but has rebounded from drug and alcohol abuse to
become a popular fugure, one who was a great ambassador for the
Crunch. It's not like he went out of his way to burn bridges through
his career, breaking rules and getting in trouble, and now he wants a
favor. He was going to give the Islanders first crack, but I know for
a fact that several other organizations were interested in taking a
look as well.
Let's face it. As fun as it is to watch Sugden play - and he's
obviously very energetic and theatrical - it's not like letting him
back into the NHL or AHL is going to swing any balance of power. So I
can't imagine one team was simply trying to keep him from another just
for competitive reasons. I'd hate to think it was spite, but it kind
of sounds like that right now.
Obviously, Travis is very upset, coming close to tears on the phone.
Brandon couldn't even speak at first, and when he came to the phone
his voice was barely audible. Anybody who knows him and how generally
upbeat he is about everything understands how out of character it is
for him to be so down. He said he was just driving around his home in
Toronto when he heard the news, and couldn't think of anything to do
but head on over to his parents.
There is, of course, a lot more of this story to come. Travis said
he's checking with the players union to see what can be done. I have a
call into Brandon's agent. I'll have more updates when they are
available.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
August 25, 2008
Sugden
tries NHL; then to Crunch?
Former Syracuse Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden will soon firm up
plans to go to the training camp of an NHL team. If that doesn't
work out, a return to the Crunch could be in the works.
Sugden left Syracuse during the season two years ago to play in
the fight-filled Quebec League. Now, he wants to come back and
play in the NHL or AHL again.
He can't announce the team yet because of a technicality.
Because he said he retired, then played pro hockey again within a
year, every other NHL team must give a thumbs up to him returning.
The deadline for any objections was Monday, and so far Sugden has
heard no objections.
If the NHL tryout doesn't work out, Sugden and Crunch owner
Howard Dolgon have chatted about maybe bringing him back to
Syracuse.
"If I had to choose where to play in the American League, I'd
play in Syracuse,'' he said. "He (Dolgon) wants to get me back
there. I don't know if it's wishful thinking on his part.''
It might be. Columbus would have to approve Sugden's return to
the Crunch, and who knows if it would want another enforcer in
Syracuse to possibly go along with Jon Mirasty. Then again, Sugden
and Mike Sgroi played together with the Crunch, so it's not
unthinkable.
The organization does need a pair of enforcers right now, one
in Columbus and one in Syracuse. So it might not be an outlandish
idea to bring in two quality heavyweights and see which one wins
which job. The other, of course, could play in Syracuse.
A bigger issue might be the circumstances of Sugden leaving the
Crunch two seasons ago. He left in large part because head coach
Ross Yates was making him a frequent healthy scratch.
"I think a lot of it was my pride getting hurt a little bit,''
he Sugden admits now.
Sugden said he has no problem with Yates, and chatted with him
this summer at the Crunch golf tournament. He attributed his fall
from grace to former Blue Jackets assistant general manager Jim
Clark, whom he said wanted to phase him out.
"I think (things will be different) because of different
management,'' he said.
I asked Sugden if the thought the organization or any of the
players might have hard feelings about the way he departed. He
acknowledged that, but said if he explains the circumstances of
his departure - a lack of playing time, a chance to make some big
money in the Quebec League - they'd probably understand.
All this might be a long shot, but it's sure interesting to
mull.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Thursday
October 10, 2007
No silver screen for Sugden
Looks like former Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden will have to
stick to playing hockey for a living, at least for now. Sugden
had been practicing for a role as an extra in "Love Guru,'' an
upcoming Mike Myers movie that centered around a hockey team.
Sugden was one of several players rehearsing hockey action.
Sugden thought he had permission to miss practice from his real
team in the North American Hockey League. But the team said no, we
want you working with us. So Sugden had to yell "cut'' on his
acting career.
"It would have been nice (to be in the movie), but what do you
do?'' he said.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Thursday
August 23, 2007
Nasty Mirasty
Well, the Crunch's preseason just got a lot more interesting.
Columbus has invited brawler Jon Mirasty to Syracuse's camp, which
opens in late September. Mirasty, 25, comes on the recommendation
of former Syracuse enforcer Brandon Sugden. Sugden and Mirasty
fought a couple of times in the Quebec league last year.
"He's the kind of guy who is going to want to fight every
night,'' Sugden said. "He's one of the most exciting fighters I've
ever seen. There's not too much defense about him. It's all
offense.''
Mirasty is 5-foot-10, 225 pounds. He's never played in the AHL.
"I don't want to wrestle. I want to throw,'' he said of his
fighting style. "I prefer fighting bigger guys than smaller guys.
It's an advantage to me. I get in on the inside. It gives me a
reason to work harder.''
Sugden meanwhile, has a job as an extra in an upcoming move
called "Love Guru.'' It's a hockey flick starring Mike Myers,
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba.
The movie is filming in Scarborough, Ont. A friend of Sugden's
got him an audition, and Sudgen earned a part as a defenseman.
Sugden thinks filming should go through October. Right now, Sugden
is just part of a group of guys rehearsing various choreographed
hockey scenes. He's not sure if he'll get a speaking part. He said
he did volunteer to fight if needed, though.
- In other news, Olivier Labelle has been invited to Syracuse's
camp. No word yet if he's accepted.
- Syracuse will play three preseason games. Two are confirmed:
Sept. 28 at Albany and Sept. 29 home vs. Albany. The third will be
against Rochester, with date and location TBA.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
Thursday, December 07,
2006 |
More Sugar
Brandon Sugden walked out of the War Memorial a winner on
Thursday, as expected.
I expected him to be a little down after announcing his
retirement to the team, and he admitted he got misty during his
farewell. But while packing up his stuff, he was calm, even
chipper.
"You never know how it's going to feel,'' he said. "Right now, I
feel as at peace with myself as I have all season.''
Sugden made the decision to retire several days ago, but wanted
to hold off announcing it until after the Crunch played its
3-in-3 this weekend. He found it too tough, however, to keep
coming to the rink and acting like everything was status quo.
Sugden told me a funny story about when he told his 10-year-old
son, Anthony, about it on Wednesday. Brandon said, hey, I'm
announcing my retirement from the Crunch on Thursday.
Anthony said, hmmm, uh, OK, can I stay up past my bedtime for 15
more minutes?
Playing semipro hockey in Quebec remains one possibility for
Sugden. He said he's still giving strong consideration to living
in Syracuse, and is thinking about buying a house in the area.
"I've made friendships here that I know I'll have for the rest
of my life,'' hesaid.
By the way, I asked Sugden to name, in order, his 5 top AHL
opponents. He listed Derek Boogaard, Martin Grenier, Brian
McGrattan, Rocky Thompson and Dennis Bonvie.
I'll have much more in a full story in Friday's paper.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com |
Brandon leaves
Popular Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden has decided to retire from
the team effective immediately.
Sugden had been mulling the decision for several days and decided to
tell head coach Ross Yates and his teammates Thursday before
practice.
Sugden had been growing increasingly disappointed with his role on
the team and with hockey's de-emphasizing of fighting in general.
When I spoke to him I sensed more sadness than bitterness, and he
said he came to the conclusion that if he's not going to be allowed
to play his role anymore then it is time to move on with his life.
Sugden's wife, Crystal, is pregnant, and Brandon said he needs to to
start thinking long-term. He has no immediate plans, but spoke of
exploring educational opportunities. He does not know if he'll
continue to live in Syracuse or when he might move back to his
native Toronto.
Sugden, in his fourth season with the team, retires second on the
franchise's all-time penalty minutes list with 754. He has played in
just 11 games this season, usually just a shift or two per contest.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
|
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Friday, November 24,
2006 |
Writer's cramp
Crunch forward Brandon Sugden is learning what most writers
already know - it takes a tough skin to do the job well.
On Friday, Sugden debuted a new column in The Post-Standard,
called "Sugar Cubes.'' If you haven't already seen it, check it
out. It's pretty good. It will be a regular feature in which he
discusses a variety of topics with me.
Anyways, apparently the Marlies players are among the cool
newspaper-reading crowd and caught a glimpse of the story.
Sugden said they were chirping him about it all game, saying
stuff like, what are you going to do, write another story?
Sugden, naturally, said he didn't care and plans to keep showing
that the pen is mightier than the stick. Now that's the spine
for which sportswriters are known.
Incidentally, as Sugden and I spoke in the basement of the War
Memorial after the game, there was a flood nearby. There was
some sort of leak in the basement ceiling that was overflowing
one small bucket suspended up high and then pouring into and
spilling out of a large garbage bucket on the floor. The floor
was all wet.
A Crunch person grabbed me, pointed me to the mess (as if I
could miss it) and, referring to the team's on-going lease
negotiations, noted what a wonderful building the War Memorial
is and asked why the team would ever want to leave it.
- Cheery stat of the day: Syracuse has four wins in 18 games
this season. In 1998-99, when the team won 18 games all season
long, the Crunch had five wins through 18 contests.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
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Saturday, October 28, 2006 |
|
They said it
Quote of the night No. 1, following Syracuse's 5-0 win over
Rochester Friday:
"Check the stats, kid.''
- Syracuse's Brandon Sugden, to Rochester's Clarke MacArthur, during
the game when MacArthur was trying to yap at him. Sugden was
referring to penalty minutes, as in, don't wake up the bear. Sugden
said he wanted to pop MacArthur, but that Crunch teammates Ben Simon
and Andrew Murray were yelling at him to hold off because Amerks had
been called for a penalty on the play. |
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
Saturday, October 14, 2006 |
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Sugden vs. Carkner
I have a feeling that if Brandon Sugden doesn't get hurt or
suspended, he could pace the AHL in penalty minutes this season.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Matt Carkner will certainly be glad
to help him reach that level. In the third period Friday, Carkner
and Sugden tangled and Sugden fell into the boards behind the
Penguins net. Sugden skated up ice behind the play, his back in
obvious pain.
When he reached the Crunch zone, Sugden jumped Carkner, who was
looking away. Carkner hit the ice and Sugden jumped on top of him.
When I asked Sugden about hitting blind-siding Carkner, he said, "I
don't (care). It's the new Sugden.''
Carkner said he would have fought Sugden if properly invited.
"He can't skate. He fell into the boards. He takes it out on me and
sucker punches me,'' Carkner said. "You don't sucker me right in the
temple. If he wants to be an idiot he can run around like that, but
he has to deal with the consequences, too.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
Friday, September 29, 2006
One lump or two?
Is Brandon Sugden worth the
price of admission or what? He was in mid-season form tonight early
on. After getting cross-checked hard in front of the Hamilton net in
the opening period, Sugar tried to entice a few Bulldogs to dance by
throwing three gloved rights at two different players before Ajay
Baines finally agreed to be the sacrificial lamb. Baines got off easy
as both players fell in the corner and Sugden ended up with 21 minutes
of penalty time.
He spent the entire second period in the box (when asked by one
reporter how he does that without getting bored he replied "I am used
to it by now"), but that didn't stop him from incititng his opponent.
When Hamilton tough guy Zack Stortini got into it with Jeff Szwez in
front of the penalty box at the close of the second, Sugar berated
Stortini for covering up and protecting himself with both arms (along
with calling him a few choice names mainly used to describe a certain
part of the female anatomy).
The two chatted often throughout the game with Stortini blowing kisses
at Sugden. Late in the third Sugar tried one last time to get to
Stortini when the Bulldog center gave Joe Motzko a cheap shot in front
of the Crunch bench. Sugden climbed half-way over the boards and
pleaded with Motzko to change so he could get a piece of Stortini, but
before he could Andrew Murray jumped him. The look of disappointment
on Sugden's face was priceless.
What makes Sugden so special is the attitude. Some tough guys have it,
some don't. They all like to think they do, but that is not the case.
The attitude was on display in the locker room after the game. When
one reporter asked Sugden about Stortini, Sugden pursed his lips and
gave a wave of his hands as if to say he was as troubling as a gnat
buzzing around his head.
Now don't get me wrong, Sugden respects tough guys. Especially guys
who deserve it and the ones that follow the code, but that's where it
ends, with respect. He still believes no matter who is around that he
is the toughest guy in the room. That is all part of the attitude.
Jeff Parzych
http://www.crunchtalk.blogspot.com
|
Friday, September 29, 2006 |
|
A
barking Bulldog
Here's one reason to be glad that Syracuse and Hamilton play eight
times this season:
Brandon Sugden vs. Zack Stortini.
Sugden was clearly irked that he never got a clean shot at the
Bulldogs' instigator during the Crunch's 6-4 win over Hamilton
Friday night.
The funniest moment came after Stortini hit the Crunch's Joe Motzko
from behind in the third. Motzko was a few feet away from the Crunch
bench at the time, and Sugden wildly gestured at Motzko to come off
so that he could jump on, and, presumably, jump Stortini.
Sugden later joked that if he could've reached Motzko he would have
pulled him off the ice himself. But before Motzko could get off,
teammate Andrew Murray raced over to plow into Stortini.
That's OK. There's a lot of hockey left between the teams.
"That's probably their go-to guy. Maybe that's their heavy,'' Sugden
said. "I hope he is.''
Responded Stortini:
"I know what his job is. I know what my role is. I'm excited to be
playing these guys quite a few times this year. When the time comes,
it will come.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Brandon Sugden, who was at the
game but not playing, has a photo of former Syracuse enforcer Mike Sgroi
on his cell phone. Sgroi's chest looks as wide as the War Memorial
scoreboard. Sugden said Sgroi is up to the 250-pound range, about 25-30
more than he weighed with the Crunch last season.
- Sugden's new bride, Crystal, said their child is due April 13. Or,
right about the time the Crunch would be closing the regular season and
getting ready for the postseason. Crystal and Brandon got married during
the summer, but didn't take a honeymoon. Crystal said Brandon promised
one when he gets a break, which, by my math, will be in the spring or
summer.
"I guess it's going to be nothing fun, now that I'm pregnant,'' she
said. "We're not big on that (the honeymoon thing) anyway. We're not
exactly traditional.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 |
|
Sugar
daddy
Congrats to Brandon and Crystal Sugden. Brandon called me on Tuesday
to let me know Crystal is pregnant.
The pair got married last week and had been planning for awhile to
have a baby. Brandon, who is understandably quite excited, said the
baby is due around early April.
Brandon said if it's a boy, Crystal wants to name it Jack, after her
grandfather.
So far, so good.
Brandon said if Crystal gets to pick the first name, he's got dibs
on the middle name. Brandon's favorite TV show is "24.''
See where this is going yet?
Brandon insists, and I think seriously, that he will give his son
the middle name of Bauer. As in Jack Bauer, the hero of "24.''
"Jack Bauer, he works on a different level than everyone else,''
Brandon said. "He's a different breed.''
And what does Crystal think of that plan?
"Crystal is saying not a chance in hell, but it's my way or the
highway,'' Brandon laughed.
Hmm. I have a feeling we're going to find out just how tough the
Crunch's enforcer really is.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Wedding Bells
Brandon Sugden, the self-proclaimed best-looking player in the AHL,
is off the market.
At the team's golf tournament on Monday, he told me that he and his
fiancee, Crystal, will get married Wednesday in Syracuse. He said
they are too busy to take a honeymoon now, that instead they will
wait until the AHL all-star break. I suggested that might not work
out since, no doubt, he will be playing in the all-star game.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com |
Friday, April 21, 2006
Hairy situations
There were some close, and not-so-close, shaves going on at Syracuse's
morning skate on Friday.
- Cam Severson, who previously had a goatee, sported a clean face,
making him look about 20 years old. He did frost his hair, however.
"I'm cleaning my act up,'' Severson said. "I can grow a beard in about
35 seconds.''
- Brandon Sugden, Mike Sgroi, Jeff MacMillan and Aaron Johnson all got
Mohawk haircuts. They were following the lead of Andrew Penner, who got
one earlier.
"You can't really pull it off during the season. Playoffs is a different
breed,'' Penner said. "There's only 16 (potential) games left. Playoffs
are supposed to be fun and exciting.''
On Thursday, Sugden said he said he was getting a similar haircut. Sgroi,
who was prohibited by team rules from growing one in Albany, said yeah,
me too. So did MacMillan.
Friday, Sugden and Sgroi had fun critiquing each other's new look.
"I think it looks best on me, it suits me the most,'' Sgroi said.
"It just accents his head, like a cone head, with a little patch of
hair,'' Sugden shot back.
"It's funny. As skinny as Sugar is now, he looks like a Q-tip,'' Sgroi
said.
During the morning skate, Manitiba defenseman Prestin Ryan, who played
for Syracuse last year, briefly looked on. Sugden skated past him, took
off his helmet, and smiled.
"I know he's a very straight arrow, a square kind of guy,'' Sugden said.
"He's a good buddy of mine. He probably got a kick out of it. He
probably went in the locker room and prayed.''
- And now, for a real hair-raising sight: In a shooting drill,
defenseman Andy Delmore accidently shot high and hit goalie Pascal
Leclaire either on the chest bone or the lower part of the mask.
Leclaire was fine.
"It wasn't that hard. I wasn't really firing,'' Delmore said. "I was
just putting it on net.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com |
Friday, March 17,
2006
Sugden
hurt
Looks like enforcer
Mike Sgroi will have a role with the Crunch for the rest of the regular
season after all.
Brandon Sugden sprained a ligament in his left wrist fighting Albany's
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond in the third period Friday. He is expected to
be out three weeks, which would take him to the last week of the regular
season.
Leaving the War Memorial with a cast on his hand Friday night, Sugden said
the ligament popped when he initially grabbed Letourneau-Leblond.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Thursday, March
16, 2006
Fighting 101
Brandon Sugden and Mike Sgroi
were going at each other pretty intensely after practice on Thursday,
grappling at about three-quarters speed.
It's not unusual for a team's fighter to give tips to a teammate after
practice. But the way it goes is that the heavyweight will generally go
through the basics with someone who doesn't fight much, just to give them
some fundamentals.
That's obviously not the case with Sugden and Sgroi, who are established
brawlers. But there they were for several minutes, working on grips,
positioning and technique with each other. Since the two could very easily
be on different teams next season, I asked Sugden if it was risky going into
such detail with a potential future opponent.
Sugden smiled and said not really. He said Sgroi asked for some tips on
handling taller fighters. So Sugden, roughly the same size as Sgroi,
complied. He said he helped Sgroi work on getting inside and switching
punching hands, a common technique against bigger opponents. The trouble
comes, Sugden said, when you let taller guys keep you at arm's length and
throw haymakers.
"It's common knowledge. It's not like this is what I do,'' Sugden said.
"It's not really helping him if he has to fight me.''
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Taken from:
Chorus chimes in for Crunch
Saturday, March 11, 2006
By Lindsay Kramer
Unlike the last meeting of these
teams, a 6-0 Syracuse blowout on Feb. 11 that featured three fights in the
closing seconds, there were no melees Friday. And that sent Amerks enforcer
Sean McMorrow into a tizzy.
In the second period, McMorrow tried baiting Sugden into a fight by
cross-checking him a couple of times on one shift. Sugden refused to bite.
"I think I've fought him 14, 15 times," Sugden said. "Guys were telling me,
leave him on the ice."
In the third, the two got into a lively discussion as they leaned over their
respective benches. McMorrow, Sugden said, complained that he never denied
Sugden a bout. Sugden, who has long loathed the way McMorrow scratches and
then ties him up, made exaggerated clawing and hugging gestures while the
crowd went bonkers.
"He was chirping me, I was chirping him," Sugden said. "I was just trying to
say to him, all you do is hug me."
Sugden had a lot more to say later, this time with his stick. At the 16:38
mark of the third and the Crunch up 4-2, Sugden bulled toward the net and
redirected a fine-porcelain pass from teammate Greg Mauldin past Amerks
goalie Michael Leighton.
"That was a sick goal," Sugden laughed. "That was all Mauldin. I just had my
stick in the right spot."
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Ring card
Brandon Sugden has a couple of big options if he wants to spill a little
pent up-energy against Springfield on Saturday.
Sugden has had to restrain himself from fighting the past few games
because he's been needed to take regular shifts on the blueline. With
the Crunch's defense getting closer to its regular rotation, Sugden
might get another chance to dance.
It could be an interesting dilemma. Tampa Bay recently sent veteran NHL
brawler Chris Dingman to the Falcons, and Sugden enjoys measuring
himself against the top-level guys.
The Falcons also feature 6-foot-8 winger Mitch Fritz, the type of player
Sugden loves to chop down to see how much noise they make when they
fall. Sugden and Fritz exchanged a quick glare at each other when the
teams met Jan. 7, but Sugden knew he couldn't afford to spend time in
the box.
The smart money says Sugden would love a piece of Fritz first because
rumor has it that Sugden was irritated by Internet chatter that Fritz
would take him apart. But since Sugden should be well-rested in the
fighting sense, why not a Fritz-Dingman doubleheader?
Lindsay Kramer
Lkramer@Syracuse.com
|
Wednesday, December 21,
2005
Sugden takes a knee
The Crunch's tough guy has gone soft.
Brandon Sugden proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Crystal Hayes, a couple
of days ago.
Here's how it went down:
Brandon tied the engagement ring around the collar of their dog, "Ug.'' Ug
jumped up onto Crystal's lap. Ug, apparently, only wears a collar outside.
Crystal said, hey, what's that around Ug's neck? Brandon then got down on
one knee and proposed.
Crystal fell victim to Brandon's, um, charms. She said yes.
The wedding is planned for this summer, either in Niagara Falls or Las
Vegas. Wonder if Sean McMorrow will be in the wedding party. Crunch fans
love to point out how McMorrow is great at hugging.
Lindsay Kramer
LKramer@Syracuse.com
|
