Syracuse Crunch hockey has officially returned to the salt city for the 2016-2017 season having swept the weekend in impressive fashion against the Utica Comets. Saturday nights contest at the War Memorial Arena in downtown Syracuse marked the beginning of a new era in Crunch history. For the first time in four years, Syracuse took to the ice without Mike Angelidis as their captain. Instead, a plethora of new faces donned the Crunch sweater under the guidance of newly hired head coach Benoit Groulx. After a three to one victory Saturday night and a two to one win Sunday at the Utica Auditorium, here's what we can take away from the weekends preseason action:
New faces are producing early:
The primary focus of the Tampa Bay Lightning this off-season (after signing Steven Stamkos) was acquiring depth that could be top contributors in Syracuse and were capable of helping the big club if their number was called upon.