GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT HEAT
Oct 20, 2018WATCH | LISTEN | GAME NOTES
Tonight’s Matchup: On Saturday, the Barracuda and Stockton Heat collide for the second meeting of 2018-19 and the first of a home and road on Saturday and Sunday. The Barracuda held off a late Heat push at Stockton Arena last Saturday to take the first game of the 12 game season series, 6-4.
Fabulous Francis: On September 13, as a part of the Erik Karlsson trade, Francis Perron was acquired from the Ottawa Senators. Thus far, Perron leads the Barracuda in points (8), goals (4), power-play goals (2) and is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (1). Perron has recorded a point in all five games this season with San Jose, which matches the previous career high he set during the 2016-17 season.
Jeremy Gelling: After appearing in just 20 games in 2017-18 with the Barracuda due to a season-ending injury, former Sharks second-round pick Jeremy Roy has collected an assist in all five games this season and is tied for the team lead with 13 shots.
Hot Halbgewachs: Rookie forward Jayden Halbgewachs was held off the scoresheet on Monday, but had collected points in each of his first four games with the Barracuda including his first multi-point (two assists) night of his career last Saturday at Stockton. Halbgewachs was signed by the Sharks as an undrafted free agent last December and earned CHL Top Scorer honors in 2017-18 after collecting 129 points (70 goals, 59 assists) in 72 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.
Youth Movement: The Barracuda opened up the 2018-19 season with 10 rookies and the AHL’s youngest roster, averaging 22.7 years old. Just 13 players on San Jose’s 25-man opening night roster skated for the Barracuda a season ago. In addition, just three players on the Barracuda’s current roster were drafted by the Sharks (John McCarthy, Manuel Wiederer, Jeremy Roy), the other 21 were either signed as free agents or acquired in a trade.
National Pride: Offseason signings of Vincent Praplan (Switzerland) and Lukas Radil (Czech Republic), along with the return of Captain John McCarthy (U.S), San Jose’s opening night roster was comprised of three different skaters who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.