GAMEDAY: TIGRES DEL MAR VS COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS
Oct 28, 2023TIGRES DEL MAR (1-2-2-0) vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (1-2-0-0)
SAT, OCT. 28 | 6:00 P.M. | TECH CU ARENA | SAN JOSE, CA
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Eye of the Tiger: The Tigres Del Mar continue their three-game homestand on Saturday as they host the defending Western Conference Champion Coachella Valley Firebirds for the first of back-to-back games. A year ago, the Barracuda went 0-5-1-2 versus Seattle’s top affiliate, and 0-4 at Tech CU Arena. In the four games at home against the Firebirds, the Barracuda were outscored 21-8.
Back with the Birds: Three of Coachella Valley’s top scorers are back in the desert in 2023-24, including the team’s captain Max McCormick, who paced the club a year ago with 67 points (28+39=67), and Kole Lind who led the team in goals (30). 13 players who appeared in at least one game with the Firebirds during their Calder Cup Final run are back with Coachella Valley in 2023-24. Key departures from Coachella’s inaugural roster includes Brogan Rafferty (Grand Rapids), who ranked T-third in the league in points (13+38=51) among defense, forward Jesper Froden, who ranked third on the team in goals (25), and former Sharks and Barracuda forward Alex True (Charlotte Checkers) and defenseman Matt Tennyson. In addition, Joey Daccord, who finished third in the AHL in wins (26), fifth in goals-against average (2.38) and save percentage (.918), and T-sixth in shutouts (3), along with Ty Karte made the Kraken out of training camp.
Gush Goin’: Danil Gushchin recorded his third consecutive multi-point game (1+5=6) of the year on Wednesday when his potted his first of the season and tacked on an assist. Gushchin now has 13-career multi-point games in his first 75 outings in the AHL. The sophomore forward ranks first on the Barracuda in helpers (6) and T-first in points (7). Among league leaders, he is T-fourth in assists and T-eighth in points. He also ranks fourth in the league in shots (25). A year ago, among rookies, he was first in the league in shots (203), T-11th in goals (22), T-13th in points (45), T-10th in power-play goals (7), and 16th in shootout percentage (4/7=57.1%).
Blueline Bolster: The Sharks assigned veteran d-man Radim Simek, 31, to the AHL on Saturday. The Czechia born blueliner picked up an assist in the team’s 4-3 OTL to the Silver Knights on Wednesday, his first action since he was hurt in a preseason game on Sept. 27 at Anaheim. Simek last appeared in the AHL in 2019-20 when he skated in two games with the Barracuda during a conditioning stint. In 2017-18, his first in North America, he spent the entire campaign in the AHL with the Barracuda. In his career, he has skated in 209 NHL games with the Sharks, notching 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists).
On Fire: The Firebirds were eliminated in game 7 of the 2023 Calder Cup Finals by the Hershey Bears, 3-2, ending their inaugural campaign just a goal shy of a championship. The Firebirds went 48-17-5-2 (103 pts./715 pct.) during the regular season and ranked first in home winning percentage (27-7-1-2, 55 pts/.764 pct.). Coachella finished third in the league in goals scored (257) and fourth in goals allowed (194). Rookie Ty Kartye, who notched 28 goals and 29 assists, to go along with a +17 rating, was named the Red Garrett award winner as the league’s rookie of the year and captain Max McCormick was on the Second AHL All-Star Team. The Firebirds became the first expansion team to reach the AHL’s final since the Texas Stars did it in 2009.
Wright Call: Seattle’s first draft pick ever, Shane Wright, who they selected with the fourth overall pick in 2022 NHL Draft, was granted an exemption to play in the AHL this season, despite being just 19 years old. NHL/CHL rules mandate that a player cannot play in the AHL until they are 20. Wright will turn 20 on Jan. 5, 2024. The agreement between the CHL and NHL allowed for Wright to play in the AHL this season as opposed to going back to the OHL if he didn’t make the Kraken’s roster. The former exceptional status recipient, played in 24 playoff games with the Firebirds following his season with the Windsor Spitfires.