Alex decides to change it up this week and record on a Friday! Coming to you just in time for the weekend's upcoming games, she breaks down the fascinating situation that is currently the North Division's playoff picture. She also discusses Syracuse's top performers, applauds the team for their Canal Mules night, and takes a look at the Crunch's April slate of games.

In this episode, recorded March 23rd, 2024, Alex ponders how the Syracuse Crunch is going to push through to the playoffs without their Captain. She discusses why the loss of Gabriel Dumont to season-ending ACL surgery is a tough challenge for the team to overcome. She also makes sure to point out why the team will overcome the challenge of playing without him. She looks at the playoff picture, previews the upcoming games, and adds her usual witty commentary to it all.

In this episode from March 10th, 2024, Alex tries to express how the fan base is feeling after a trade deadline that was mostly bad news for the Syracuse Crunch and the organization's depth chart. She explores the general sentiments of Crunch fans, ponders what this could mean for the playoffs hopes of a team that has excelled this season despite various challenges, and wonders why the Lightning's overall philosophy seems to have changed from just a few short years ago. She also looks at the playoff picture for the North Division and previews Syracuse's upcoming games.

Alex recorded this episode in the late afternoon on February 25th, 2024, prior to Syracuse's tilt against Utica. For all your pre-gaming needs, she covers the most recent transactions affecting the Crunch (Alex Barre-Boulet, we sure missed you), breaks down the North Division as it stands, and discusses which team is currently a monkey on Syracuse's back. She takes a look at player states before previewing the Crunch's next few weeks of games. She also ponders the upcoming NHL trade deadline and how it may affect Syracuse.

Hello Crunch fans! Welcome to the AHL All-Star "break" that really isn't a break. Alex reviews the latest games for Syracuse, previews their upcoming schedule, discusses some of the team's upcoming charity initiatives, and ponders how the team is still performing so well given all the changes afoot.

AHL teams generally excel in engaging their communities, but the Syracuse Crunch lately has been truly teaching a Master Class in theming. In this episode, Alex discuses the two most recent theme nights put on by Syracuse, their first-ever Wizarding Night and their throwback 90s Night. She expounds on why these nights are so smart for minor league teams to put effort into and talks about her personal enjoyment of such evenings. Alex also recaps Syracuse's most recent efforts on the ice before previewing their upcoming weeks, a period that will see Syracuse right up to the AHL All-Star weekend.

This episode, recorded January 7th, 2024, is very much a tale told in two parts. In the first segment, host Alex Ackerman covers the team's most recent results, the standings in the AHL, the (many) transactions affecting the team, and the trends within the roster. She also takes her usual look at the team's upcoming schedule, including any promotional nights. In the second half, Alex celebrates Syracuse's upcoming Wizarding Night by sorting the Crunch's roster into their wizarding Houses. She discusses the House system, the importance of the traits connected to those Houses within the movie and book franchise, and expounds on the personal and cultural value of the franchise as a whole.

Alex recorded this episode mid-morning on December 10th, 2023, to get it out before Syracuse's afternoon tilt against Utica. She takes a look at the standings, Syracuse's top 11 point-getters, and previews the team's upcoming schedule. She also discusses why she loves the Teddy Bear Toss, minor league hockey's charitable tradition, and dissects an interesting comment she heard which compared the current Crunch team to a certain previous team.

Recorded on November 19th, 2023, this episode takes a gander at all of the current Crunch news. Alex covers the latest games, looks at the top 10 performers on the roster, discusses the standings in the North Division, and peaks at special teams. She also previews the upcoming games, with an emphasis on one of the most special minor league holiday traditions: the Tired Teddy Toss.

This episode was recorded on November 5th, 20223, a time when, in any other season since 2016, Crunch fans would have been waiting (im)patiently for The Groulx Effect to take hold. This year, however, Crunch fans have a front-row seat to the changes in team feel, shape, and play that new head coach Joel Bouchard and his staff have brought to Syracuse. Alex covers the biggest changes in team dynamics she has noticed so far since Bouchard took over, most noticeably in the areas of secondary scoring support and special teams. Alex also discusses the one area of concern some Crunch fans have noticed, although she cautions against worrying too much just yet. To end the episode, Alex takes a peak at some transactions affecting the team and Syracuse's upcoming game schedule.

In this episode, recorded October 22, 2023, Alex takes a look at a Crunch team currently in first place in the North Division. She recaps their first week of the regular season, discusses some of the line combinations seen so far, and ponders what such a great start may mean for a team expected to experience growing pains. Players discussed include Felix Robert and Mitchell Chaffee. Alex then previews the team's upcoming schedule, including a look at the promotions and theme nights.

In this episode, recorded October 9th, 2023, Alex goes over the flurry of transactions that happened within the Tampa Bay Lightning organization in advance of their roster being due to the NHL at 5 PM. She discusses Gabriel Fortier, Zach Bogosian, Alex Barre-Boulet, and Pyotr Kochetkov from the Carolina organization. She focuses a bit of time on the Kochetkov transaction in particular, discussing the goalie's temporary place in a new organization. She then takes some time peaking back at Syracuse's 1-1 preseason before previewing the team's upcoming few weeks, including their 30th Anniversary opening night festivities.

In this episode, recorded September 21, 2023, Alex dives into her excitement about the Syracuse Crunch's 2023-24 promotional schedule. She covers all of the events, their dates, and why fans should get excited about what the team has planned for their 30th Anniversary season. In summary: "I trust this organization enough to know that whatever they're going to come up with...it's gonna be good."  Following this segment, Alex discusses the current news coming out of the Tampa Bay Lightning's training camp, with a specific focus on camp participants Gabriel Dumont, Daniel Walcott, and Alex Barre-Boulet. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, recorded on September 10th, 2023, Alex discusses the latest news and notes coming out of Crunch Land. She worries just a little over how young Syracuse seems on paper, but also considers some positives of the team's current as-is roster. She talks through her feelings around the team's Welcome to Town event (TL;DR: they're...mixed), and also discusses the team's newest hire, a mindfulness coach for the front office. To finish the episode, she takes a look at Syracuse's preseason slate, and debates the actual worth of AHL preseason events (hint: it isn't ticket sales).

In this episode, recorded August 6th, 2023, Alex ushers in some minor changes to the podcast, including a refreshed sound, to officially welcome the pod to its 6th season (and its 100th episode). Alex discusses some personal news before moving onto the important things: the release of the Crunch's 30th anniversary regular season schedule and the return of a beloved player. Give it a listen today!  Syracuse Speaks is distributed to many of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and  Spotify.  Thanks for listening!

Welcome to season six of Syracuse Speaks! In this episode, recorded July 4th, 2023, Alex takes a look at what has happened in the organization since she was last able to record. She begins by discussing the hiring of Joel Bouchard as the new head coach of the Crunch, replacing Ben Groulx. She takes a look at what's known about the change, why it happened, and ponders what this might mean for the team. She then takes a look at how free agency has treated Syracuse so far, and expresses her concerns about what the roster currently looks like in terms of experience and proven abilities at the AHL level. She breaks down the groups currently slotted into each position, and explains why she seriously hopes the Lightning isn't done adding pieces to their farm club. 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.

In this episode, recorded June 11th, 2023, Alex again turns to her listeners to ask her anything. With NHL free agency a few short weeks away, Alex wanted to know what was on the minds of Crunch fans and friends. Topics of conversation range from Syracuse's defense and goaltending this upcoming season to Alex's preferences for the the Crunch's 30th anniversary celebration. She also talks some fermented grape juice preferences, as well as a few other team topics and personal items.  Give it a listen today!  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. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, recorded May 21, 2023, Alex takes a look at the player contracts for the Crunch's roster for the team's 30th anniversary season. She starts out with a discussion of the team's AHL contracted players, captain Gabriel Dumont and newcomer forward Tristan Allard. She then moves down the list, discussing the potential organizational options for players like Alex Barre-Boulet, Gage Goncalves, Darren Raddysh, and Philippe Myers. She also addresses the departure of forward Simon Ryfors, and the probable departure of Max Lagace (brought on by the recent signing of Matt Tomkins). She highlights other players that may seek their fortunes elsewhere like Daniel Walcott and P.C. Labrie. She also discusses Trevor Carrick, Gabriel Fortier, Maxim Groshev, and Sean Day, among others.  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.

In this episode, recorded the week following Syracuse's playoff collapse in the 2023 North Division Semifinals, Alex ponders a question that's been on her mind all season long: Is it time for the Tampa Bay Lightning to raise the bar for their farm team? If so, how could that be accomplished? What would it look like?  In considering all of this, Alex takes a look at Syracuse's playoff outings dating back to 2017, the low spread of scoring on the team this season, and what she considers the new status quo for the league when it comes to the sheer number of teams making the playoffs.  So, dear listener, what do you think? Is it time for the Lightning to raise the bar? Are you okay with Syracuse's growing reputation as a flash-in-the-pan playoff team, or do you crave more?  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. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, recorded April 30th, 2023 following the team's game 4 loss to the Rochester Americans in the North Division semifinals, Alex looks at what's happening to a team that was up 2-0 in the five-game series and now is facing a game five this Saturday. She discusses what is going right - the efforts of forwards Alex Barre-Boulet, Gage Goncalves, and Simon Ryfors - and what seems to be tripping the team up - emotions and penalties, the suspension of their captain Gabriel Dumont, and the inability of Darren Raddysh to disapparate. She wonders what's next for a team that just can't seem to be consistent to save their own hides - (another) first-round exit, or a tough second round against either Toronto or Utica.  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.