WORCESTER, Mass- As the Worcester Sharks begin their defense of the AHL’s Atlantic Division regular season title, one thing is for certain: the Sharks are strong in goal.
First and foremost, team MVP Alex Stalock returns. The 23-year-old Minnesota native was among the best in the AHL a year ago, setting the league record for wins by a rookie (39) while finishing second in minutes played and fourth in saves. For his efforts, Stalock was selected to compete in the 2010 ANHL All-Star Game and was named to the league’s all-rookie team.
“Maybe his overall numbers weren’t overly impressive, but the bottom line with goalies is if they can make the big save when it matters, and Alex did that consistently last season,” Sharks coach Roy Sommer said. “He competes hard and did far more than anyone could expect from a rookie. Having him back gives us a lot of confidence in our goaltending.”
The Sharks also have veteran Thomas Greiss as the season opens. Greiss was a standout for Worcester from 2006 to 2009, sporting a 2.61 GAA in 2005-2006 and a 2.43 GAA in 2007-2008 before spending last season in the NHL with San Jose (7-4, 2.68 GAA). Greiss was the victim of a logjam in San Jose and was sent to Worcester just prior to the start of the NHL season.
The Sharks have a veteran presence on the blue line as well, as longtime AHL blueliners Jay Leach and Sean Sullivan join the Sharks. Leach has played 10 professional seasons, including parts of several seasons in the NHL, while Sullivan, a former captain down the Mass Pike at Boston University, was among the AHL leaders for points by a defenseman last year, recording 49 points for San Antonio last year.
Joining Leach and Sullivan on the blue line are 6-foot-4, 220-pound tough guy and Boston College product Nick Petercki (14 points eight fighting majors last year as a rookie) and Merrimack College grad Joe Loprieno, who played well in spots lasts season for Worcester. Rookies Nick Schaus, Matt Irwin, and Justin Braun round out the defensive corps.
“I like how our defense looks to start the year,” Sommer said. “We have some great leadership back there with Leach and Sullivan, and some quality guys with them. (former first-round pick) Petrecki is a solid player and I like the way the new guys have worked in camp.”
With Logan Couture in San Jose and last year’s leading scorer Danny Groulx in Russia playing in the KHL, offense could potentially be an issue for Worcester, though it does return two of its top three scorers from last year in Steven Zalewski (22-40-62) and Dan DaSilva (21-32-53), as well as Benn Ferriero, who netted 19 goals and 50 points as a rookie last year.
Of course, the Sharks also signed Jonathan Cheechoo, who netted 56 goals in 2006 and 37 in 2007 for San Jose. The 30-year-old had his contract bought out by Ottawa over the summer, and though he performed well during training camp in Dallas, was released by the Stars before signing with Worcester on October 5, reuniting with Sommer, who was Cheechoo’s first pro coach in Kentucky back in 2000.
“Jonathan is a guy who knows how to score – he’s done it at every level he has played at,” Sommer said. “We will need him to help replace some of the firepower we lost, and we will need Zalewski and Ferriero to continue to improve.”
Sommer also expected good things from rookie Tommy Wingels, who had 43 goals and 56 assists in 127 games with Miami University the past three years, as well as former UMass star James Marcou and second-year winger Brandon Mashinter (22 goals last season).
“We have a lot of guys who are capable of stepping it up, and we are going to need that from most of them,” Sommer said.
A key to the Sharks’ success will be the play of its special teams, which were among the best in the AHL a year ago. With the AHL officials continuing to crack down on obstruction, power play and penalty kill are incredibly important to a team’s success. With Stalock in goal, veteran guys on the point, and skill players like Cheechoo, Zalewski, and Ferriero up front, the Sharks have the potential for excellent play on special teams.
Sommer added that he is pleased with the work ethic and tone set by the players early in the season.
“I think this team is capable of some good things this year. They have the make-up of a veteran team, even though we have a lot of rookies,” Sommer said. “They have been working hard and trying to do the things we need to do to get better.”
Contact Steve.Kendall@prohockeynews.com
