Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League will welcome back former Crunch left winger Jeremy Reich as the guest of honor when the club kicks off its 21st AHL campaign by hosting the Springfield Falcons for Upstate University Hospital Opening Night on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Reich, who is now the Assistant GM and Assistant Head Coach with the Canmore Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, will be on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck and sign autographs during the first intermission.
Reich became a fan favorite while spending five seasons with the Crunch from 2000 to 2005 and amassing 820 penalty minutes, the most in Crunch franchise history. He appeared in 315 Crunch regular season games, totaling 118 points (47g, 71a). The winger added six points (5g, 1a) and 35 penalty minutes in 21 Crunch playoff contests.
Reich's 11-season pro career included 637 career AHL games with Syracuse, Houston, Providence and Bridgeport, plus 99 career NHL contests with the Blue Jackets and Bruins. The Craik, Saskatchewan native was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, 39th overall, of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.