Crunch Chronicles

On Episode 64 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Nick Riopel. Riopel signed an AHL contract with the Crunch during the 2015-16 season and remained part of the organization until the 2017-18 campaign. The goaltender split time between the Crunch and the ECHL during his seasons with the organization. He dressed as the backup goaltender multiple times over the years, but he only appeared in one game - a relief outing on Jan. 20, 2018. Riopel was later involved in a duo of trades at the end of that month that led to Eddie Pasquale joining the Crunch. Riopel finished his playing career that season with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder. In total, Riopel appeared in 22 career AHL games with the Adirondack Phantoms and the Crunch. He also played 167 ECHL games for six different teams. Additionally he played one season in England and another in France. On the show, Riopel discusses his time with the organization and how he transitioned into becoming a player agent.

On Episode 63 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Jeremy Reich. Reich spent five seasons playing for the Crunch, beginning in 2000 at the start of the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was Reich's rookie season, and he skated in 56 games and compiled 15 points and 108 penalty minutes. His role continued to evolve during his tenure with the Crunch. He peaked at 195 penalty minutes in 2002-03, while posting 51 points the following season in 2003-04. In total, Reich appeared in 315 career games for the Crunch, a mark that currently ranks third in team history. He holds the franchise record for career penalty minutes (820); he also tallied 118 points for the Crunch from 2000 to 2005. Reich made his NHL debut and skated in nine games for the Blue Jackets during the 2003-04 season. After his time in Syracuse, Reich saw AHL action with Houston, Providence and Bridgeport. He also played parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins before finishing his playing career in Germany. On the show, Reich discusses his time in Syracuse, finding a role on the Crunch and his career since retiring from the game.

On Episode 62 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Ken Klee. Klee spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Crunch beginning with the 2017-18 season after he was hired in July 2017. A veteran of over 900 NHL games played, Klee was responsible for the team’s defensemen and penalty kill and he helped the team to two of their best regular seasons ever in 2017-18 and 2018-19. In 2017-18, the Crunch finished fourth overall in the AHL with 100 points and then they topped that with 102 points and a franchise record 0.671 points percentage as they finished second overall in the league and won the North Division in 2018-19. Under Klee, the Crunch finished top five in goals against per game and in penalty kill in both seasons. Under his tutelage, players like Erik Cernak graduated to the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Klee continues to coach today and he is currently the head coach of PWHL Minnesota. On the show, Klee discusses the new PWHL, his two seasons in Syracuse and more.

On Episode 61 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Lauren Kochian. Kochian spent time working in the Crunch's front office, first as a public relations intern in the late 90's, before continuing her career in public relations with the new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. After spending some time working in sports, Kochian parlayed what she learned to move into marketing and development for Arc of Onondaga and Syracuse Stage, before taking a role with the MOST - the Museum of Science and Technology located in Armory Square. After serving as the executive vice president, she became the MOST’s president in 2018. Under her leadership, the museum has seen significant growth and investment, dramatic increases in attendance, and new strategic partnerships, positioning the museum to flourish well into the future. On the show, Kochian discusses her start with the Crunch, the success of the MOST, how working in sports helped get her to where she is today and more.

On Episode 60 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Doug MacLean. MacLean served as the first General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He helped usher the Blue Jackets into the NHL for the inaugural season in 2000-01, and it was his relationship with Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon that led to the affiliation between the two clubs. MacLean was the Blue Jackets' General Manager through the 2006-07 season. In that span, the Crunch qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs four times and won a division title in 2002. After his time with Columbus, MacLean transitioned into media, where he spent a decade with Sportsnet as a host for Hockey Central. Recently, MacLean co-authored a book with Scott Morrison titled "Draft Day" on the history and importance of the NHL Draft. The book became a bestseller and is available here. On the show, MacLean discusses the origins of the affiliation agreement between Syracuse and Columbus, what he liked about Syracuse and more.

On Episode 59 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Marc Methot. Methot spent three seasons playing for the Crunch during the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliation. A sixth-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft by Columbus, Methot began his pro career with the Crunch in 2005-06. The defenseman skated in 70 games as a rookie, contributing 13 points. He spent the majority of his second pro season in Syracuse, skating in 59 Crunch games in 2006-07. He also played in 20 games for the Blue Jackets that season. The 2007-08 campaign saw Methot dress in another 66 games for the Crunch and nine for Columbus. That year, he helped the Crunch to their record 23-game point streak to close the season. After the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, Methot graduated full-time to the NHL starting with the 2008-09 season. He played in 624 career NHL games for Columbus, Ottawa and Dallas through the 2018-19 season. He retired following that season due to injury and now works as an analyst on TSN. Methot finished with 195 career Crunch games, totaling 42 points (10g, 32a) from 2005 to 2008. On the show, Methot discusses his time in Syracuse, retiring from the game and more.

On Episode 58 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Robert Dome. Dome spent two seasons in Syracuse during the late '90s as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. After being selected in the first round of the 1997 NHL Draft, Dome joined the Crunch as an 18-year-old in the 1997-98 season. He scored 21 goals and added 46 points in 36 games for the Crunch that season, earning a spot in the AHL All-Star Game, hosted by the Crunch, in 1998. Dome also skated in 30 games that season for the Penguins after initially making the NHL roster to start the season. In his second and final campaign with the Crunch, Dome contributed 18 goals and 35 points over 48 games in 1998-99 before finishing the season in the IHL with the Houston Aeros. Dome finished with 81 points in 84 Crunch games over his two seasons in Syracuse. The Slovak continued his playing career through 2008-09; he totaled 243 career AHL games, 132 IHL games and 53 NHL games during his career. He has been coaching in Europe since 2012-13. On the show, Dome discusses his time in Syracuse, transitioning to coaching and more.

On Episode 57 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Michael Bournival. Bournival spent three seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch between 2016 and 2019. He joined the Lightning organization as a free agent in the summer of 2016 and split his first season between the Lightning and Crunch. He played a big role in the playoffs in 2017, collecting 15 points (8g, 7a) in 22 games to help the Crunch advance to the Calder Cup Finals. As a veteran in 2017-18, Bournival was a leader on a young team that finished near the top of the AHL standings. He added 34 points in 57 games for the Crunch that season, while also skating in five games for Tampa Bay. His final season came in 2018-19, a year that was cut short do to an early injury. Bournival was limited to just five games before his injury; his rehab brought to to within days of returning, but the Crunch were eliminated from the playoffs. Bournival played in 100 career games for the Crunch over his three seasons. He retired following the 2018-19 season and returned to school to earn a degree in kinesiology. He is now pursuing a masters degree. On the show, Bournival discusses his time in Syracuse, the Calder Cup Finals run, his masters research and much more.

On Episode 56 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Sarah Costello. Sarah is currently the Sr. Manager, Lightning Foundation & Community Events for the Tampa Bay Lightning. She's in her ninth season in Tampa, and oversees all things community relations and charitable foundation for the Lightning. She began her journey as an intern with the Syracuse Crunch - first in public relations, then in community relations. She accepted a full-time role with the Crunch as the team's Community Relations Manager ahead of the 2012-13 season, the Crunch's first season as the Lightning's AHL affiliate. After her time with the Crunch, Sarah spent time working in golf before her path took her to Tampa Bay, where she has seen the Lightning win two Stanley Cups while the organization has become a pillar in the Tampa community. On the show, Sarah discusses her time in Syracuse, boat parades and much more.

On Episode 55 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Nick Holden. Holden spent two full seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch during the team's affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his pro career by joining the Crunch at the end of the 2007-08 season, and made his pro debut during the Crunch's incredible win streak. He played the next two seasons with the Crunch, contributing 45 points over 130 games between 2008 and 2010. After the Crunch's affiliation with Columbus ended, Holden split the next three seasons between Columbus and AHL-Springfield before finally landing a full-time NHL role with Colorado in 2013-14. Holden went on to play 654 NHL games for Columbus, Colorado, the New York Rangers, Boston, Vegas and Ottawa. After retiring this summer, Holden accepted a position as a player development coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. On the show, Holden discusses his time with the Crunch, his welcome to Syracuse moment and more.

On Episode 54 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Jared Nightingale. Nightingale spent one full season and parts of one more in Syracuse at the start of the Tampa Bay Lightning affiliation. Nightingale joined the Crunch for the 2012-13 season after signing an AHL contract with the Crunch as a free agent that summer. It marked his seventh pro season, and the veteran carved out a solid role on a loaded team. He played in 56 games during the regular season, amassing seven points and 121 penalty minutes as the Crunch won the division. When not dressed for the game, Nightingale remained engaged with the Crunch fans by stepping into the broadcast booth to serve as a color commentator. He returned to Syracuse late in the 2014-15 season, skating in eight regular season games and one game during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs. Nightingale retired following the 2016-17 season and immediately jumped into coaching. Outside of one game played in 2017-18, Nightingale has been climbing the coaching ranks ever since, and he is currently an assistant coach for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. He also returns to the Syracuse area every summer for his Great Lakes Hockey Camp, which returns to Cicero in July. On the show, Nightingale discusses his time with the Crunch, his path into coaching and more.

On Episode 53 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Troy Bodie. Bodie spent one season in Syracuse with the Crunch in 2011-12, when the team was affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks. An immediate leader on the team, Bodie was an alternate captain for the Crunch and accumulated 15 points and 119 penalty minutes in 69 games. He helped the Crunch earn a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs. After playing in both the NHL and AHL for several more seasons, Bodie retired following the 2014-15 season and became a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He remained with the Leafs until May 2021 when he was hired by the Seattle Kraken to help launch their expansion AHL franchise. Bodie was brought in as the Director of Hockey and Business Operations for the newest AHL franchise and he has been there ever since, seeing the birth of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Firebirds are near the top of the AHL in their inaugural season. On the show, Bodie discusses his time with the Crunch, his role in the beginnings of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and more.

On Episode 52 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Cory Conacher. Conacher spent parts of five seasons in Syracuse over two different stints with the Crunch during their affiliation with Tampa Bay. Conacher was a member of the Crunch's first team during the Lightning affiliation in 2012-13. He produced 28 points in 36 games to begin the season before being recalled to the Lightning when the NHL Lockout was lifted. After a trade to Ottawa during that season, Conacher spent the next three seasons with several other clubs, including a full season with Bern in Switzerland. He returned to North America starting in 2016-17 when he re-signed with the Lightning. He split time between Syracuse and Tampa Bay, but spent the majority of the season with the Crunch. He led all players in scoring with 28 points during the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs to help power the Crunch to their second Finals appearance. He remained with the Crunch through the 2019-20 season, helping the Crunch win division titles in 2012-13, 2016-17 and 2018-19 and being named an AHL All-Star in 2018-19. Conacher currently ranks fifth all time in Crunch scoring with 205 points (72g, 133a) in 224 career Crunch games. He has the second most playoff points all time for the Crunch with 31 in 26 playoff games. On the show, Conacher discusses his time with the Crunch, the desire to continue his playing career and more.

On Episode 51 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Ayers. Ayers played one season with the Crunch. He joined the team early in the 2005-06 season on a professional try-out (PTO). He earned a second PTO before eventually signing an SPC (standard player contract) with the Crunch later that season. In 23 games that season for the Crunch, the Hingham, Massachusetts native posted a 12-8-1 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. He also logged three shutouts as he helped the Crunch win 47 games and notch 102 points. Following his one season with the Crunch, Ayers played two more seasons before retiring and stepping away from hockey following the 2007-08 season. After a year in retail, Ayers returned to hockey and has been a coach ever since; he has been on the Boston College coaching staff since 2013-14. On the show, Ayers discusses his season with the Crunch, how he ended up as a coach and more.

On Episode 50 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Jamie Heffernan. Heffernan is a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning's development staff, focusing on functional movement. He is regularly in Syracuse and constantly working with the players to optimize how their bodies move off the ice, which translates to movements on the ice. He has been working for the organization for seven years and has had an active role in the development of many players who went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Lightning. On the show, Heffernan discusses his role with the organization, how his position was created in the first place and more.

On Episode 49 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Matt Thompson. Thompson was an Account Executive for the Crunch, beginning a month before the 2017-18 season. His role with the organization continued to grow and evolve until the pandemic hit in 2020. With the Crunch unable to welcome fans for the 2020-21 season, Thompson adapted and found a different way to contribute that year. At the end of the 2020-21 season, Thompson secured a position with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he continues to be today. On the show, Matt discusses his role with the Lightning, what he learned working for the Crunch and more.

On Episode 48 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mathieu Darche. Darche spent three seasons as a player in Syracuse at the start of the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliations. He began his pro career with the Crunch in 2000-01, skating in 66 games and logging 40 points. He also skated in nine games for Columbus that season. He split time again in 2001-02, adding another 45 points in 63 Crunch games while notching two points in 14 NHL games with the Blue Jackets. In nearly a full season in Syracuse in 2002-03, Darche capped his time in the organization with 64 points in 76 games. In total, Darche skated in 205 games for the Crunch and finished with 149 points (70g, 79a), which ranks tied for 12th in franchise history. His playing career continued through 2011-12 before he retired from hockey. After transitioning into the business world, Darche returned to hockey in May 2019 when he was hired as an Assistant General Manager and the Director of Hockey Operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has since played a big role in the team's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. On the show, Darche discusses his role with the Lightning, what makes Syracuse the perfect place to develop the Lightning's prospects and more.

On Episode 47 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Sgroi. Sgroi played parts of two seasons for the Crunch in the mid to late 2000s when the team was affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His first stint came at the tail end of the 2005-06 season, after he was bought out by the Devils organization and signed with the Crunch. Sgroi picked up three points in 16 games down the stretch as the Crunch were heading toward the playoffs. He also had 32 penalty minutes. After a few seasons away, Sgroi's final stint with the Crunch came with a three-game run in Syracuse during the 2008-09 campaign. He added one goal for the Crunch in a season that saw he dress for six different teams between the AHL and ECHL. His playing career, which began in the ECHL in 2000-01 continued until 2016-17, when he played in one game for the Orlando Solar Bears. Following his playing days, Sgroi took up a role in coaching for both mixed martial arts and hockey. He has seen success in both sports, and is a key coach for Fusion X-cel Performance's pro fight team. He is based in the Orlando area. On the show, Sgroi discusses his admiration for Syracuse, his successes in MMA and hockey and more.

On Episode 46 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Josh Holden. Holden played two seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch at the beginning of his career. A first-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks, Holden's pro career began with the Crunch in the 1998-99 season. He was up and down between the Canucks and the Crunch that season, and he finished with 29 points in 38 games for the Crunch. He also added six points in 30 games for Vancouver. He split time between the two clubs against in 1999-00, in the final season of the Crunch's affiliation with Vancouver. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Holden racked up 51 points in 45 games with the Crunch, helping the team qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs. He notched six points in six games for the Canucks too. Over his two seasons in Syracuse, Holden totaled 80 points (33g, 47a) in 83 games from 1998 to 2000. He would play four more seasons in North America before spending the lockout season (2004-05) in Finland. He has remained in Europe ever since, playing in Switzerland from 2005 through 2018. He ranks 18th in Swiss league history in scoring with 530 points. He transitioned into coaching after his playing career ended and he is currently an assistant coach in Zug. On the show, Holden discusses starting his career in Syracuse, raising a family in Switzerland, and much more.

On Episode 45 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by Mike Radja. Radja played parts of two seasons in Syracuse with the Crunch. He first joined the organization at the end of the 2007-08 season, when he signed an amateur try-out contract following the conclusion of his senior season at UNH. Radja jumped into the lineup with the team in the midst of their franchise record setting 23-game point streak and he collected three assists in two games. After spending his rookie season with Rockford in 2008-09, Radja found his way back to Syracuse in 2009-10. He began that season in Finland, but was claimed off waivers by the Crunch when he returned to the AHL. He added 14 points in 31 games for the Crunch before being traded to Bridgeport at the trade deadline. Radja would play the rest of his career in North America, Europe and Asia before retiring following the 2016-17 season. He has since transitioned into becoming a skating and skills coach for young hockey players in Central New York. Based out of Ithaca, Radja works with youth hockey players around the region through his program, SpeedSkills Hockey. On the show, Radja discusses his two stints with the Crunch, how he created his SpeedSkills Hockey program, and much more.