Syracuse Speaks

Alexandra Ackerman

Host Alex Ackerman has been watching the Syracuse Crunch for 20 seasons. Alex was the minor league editor for Raw Charge, a For Hockey Fans Network site that covers the Tampa Bay Lightning, for two years. Prior to that, she was their main Crunch contributor. Alex has also contributed to other minor league hockey blogs. "To my Syracuse Crunch fans, make sure to subscribe and listen to this! Many of you know this already but for those who don’t, Alex brings a sensational mix of fan appreciation, analysis and perspective of the Crunch and AHL hockey. Make it a habit to listen!" - Brent Axe read less

Syracuse Speaks: The Three Biggest Weeks of the Season
Mar 12 2023
Syracuse Speaks: The Three Biggest Weeks of the Season
In this episode, recorded March 12th, 2023, Alex looks at where the team is with just over a month left in the regular AHL season. She discusses current and potential player movement between Syracuse and the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the continued recall of defenseman Darren Raddysh and potential movement regarding Philippe Myers if and when Raddysh hits his waiver threshold with Tampa. With an eye on a current injury to Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, Alex also ponders whether Tampa would recall Alex Barre-Boulet if a forward was needed, or if perhaps they'd lean towards a player like Gage Goncalves or Simon Ryfors. Next, Alex checks out the AHL's playoff race as it stands at 3:30 PM on March 12. She dissects the closeness of the North Division's teams in points, and predicts that a lot of jostling will occur in the coming weeks as teams charge through the final sprint. Alex closes the podcast with a look at the upcoming schedules of Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester, and the important differences in divisional play between the three teams. Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Syracuse Speaks: Howard Dolgon for AHL Hall of Fame?
Feb 5 2023
Syracuse Speaks: Howard Dolgon for AHL Hall of Fame?
In this episode, recorded February 5th, 2023, Alex welcomes AHL content creator Patrick Williams back to the podcast. At the time of recording, Patrick was fresh off a visit to Syracuse and on the road to the AHL All-Star weekend in Laval. Given this unique opportunity to get a fresh perspective of the team's performance, Alex and Patrick start off with dissecting Syracuse's performance in two games vs. the Charlotte Checkers. The two then turn to talking about the current focus in the league, the AHL All-Star weekend. They discuss Syracuse's three All-stars - forward and captain Gabriel Dumont, forward Alex Barre-Boulet, and defenseman Darren Raddysh - and the shift in the event from a prospect-focus to a more well-rounded focus when it comes to picking players who attend. Alex brings the focus to the AHL Hall of Fame, which inducts people during the event, and quizzes Patrick on who he thinks might be selected from Syracuse's history some day. Although Alex was thinking along the lines of Mike Angelidis or Mike McKenna, Patrick surprises her with a convincing argument for team owner Howard Dolgon. The two end the podcast with a look at Hall of Fame inductee David Andrews, a man who "created a league that works for everybody" during his tenure as President of the AHL.  Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Syracuse Speaks: Daniel Walcott Has What the Lightning Value
Dec 11 2022
Syracuse Speaks: Daniel Walcott Has What the Lightning Value
In this episode, recorded December 11th, 2022, Alex welcomes friend of the site and AHL content creator for theahl.com, NHL.com, and The Hockey News Patrick Williams back to the pod. After the usual pleasantries, the two get down to business. They first start with a general conversation around goaltending and defense in the league, especially with the high scores Syracuse and other AHL teams have put up this season. They address the ever-shifting goaltending situation in Syracuse, one that has changed again with a new injury to Max Lagace. Zooming in, they move their discussion to defenseman Darren Raddysh, who now leads the AHL in points, and what has made his season so different from his previous ones. They also take a look at what Patrick thinks is going on with forward Alex Barre-Boulet and where his immediate future may take him. They talk about flying teddy bears and AHL community impacts, and, in that same vein, take a look at what players like Daniel Walcott means to teams like Syracuse. Walcott is poised to break the record for games played in a Crunch uniform this Friday, when he will surpass Brad Moran with 335 games played. Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Syracuse Speaks: The Thing About Ben Groulx
Nov 13 2022
Syracuse Speaks: The Thing About Ben Groulx
In this episode, recorded November 13th, 2022, Alex puts "The Thing" about Syracuse head coach Ben Groulx to the test. Although she does start off with a brief recap of the Crunch's trampling of poor ECHL goalie Isaac Poulter, who was in net for the Utica Comets this past Saturday when Syracuse won 8-3, she quickly transitions to an interesting look back at Syracuse's recent-ish October/November starts. Many have been discussing how Crunch teams under Coach Groulx have historically started out slow and then gained steam as the season continues, but how true has it really been? Alex complied the team's records from the past six or so seasons (skipping 2020-21, of course, because...reasons), starting with where they were around this time in November each season and ending with where they were by April. Alex covers final season records, standings, and points, and any playoff success (if applicable). Her findings say a lot about The Thing With Ben Groulx, and just may help fans feel a little better about the Crunch's current 4-6-1-2 record. Alex then takes her usual look at Syracuse's upcoming schedule, including all of the home cookin' the team is going to find around Thanksgiving, and any special game day events in the team's future. Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Syracuse Speaks: Welcome to the 2022-23 Season
Oct 23 2022
Syracuse Speaks: Welcome to the 2022-23 Season
In this episode, recorded October 23rd, 2022, Alex recaps the start of Syracuse's season, with a specific emphasis on the organization's 29th Home Opener on October 22nd. She highlights the tenacity and grit the 2022-23 edition of the team has showed so far, including the performances of newcomer Felix Robert, and veterans Daniel Walcott, Darren Raddysh and Alex Barre-Boulet. Alex breaks down the sights and sounds of the packed home opener for the organization, including a description of the opening hype video and how the Crunch highlighted their relationship with the Tampa Bay Lightning. She describes how the team emphasized their ties to the community with their player introductions, and the touching ways the team incorporated their players' children into that part of the night. Alex then takes a look at the team's upcoming three weeks, including their potentially challenging trip down to Charlotte. She also shines a light on the Crunch's upcoming Pink in the Rink night, as well as the other events the team has planned during that time period. Syracuse Speaks is hosted on Anchor, but is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,  and Stitcher. The royalty-free music featured in this episode was by Purple Planet Music and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.