the NAHL for 1977–78 season, but the league folded and the team never played a game) Syracuse Hornets (1980–1981) (EHL) – played only ten games (0-9-1) Syracuse Jr. Crunch/Syracuse Stars (1996–2005) in the Metro Junior A Hockey League and Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League Logos Owner Howard Dolgon came up with the superhero mascot Crunchman for the team's debut in 1994. In 2000, as the Crunch became an affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Crunchman was replaced with Al the Ice Gorilla. Al remained until 2012, when Dolgon found the new affiliation with Tampa Bay a good reason to return with Crunchman. Season-by-season results Players and coaches Current roster Updated February 17, 2023. |} Team captains Dane Jackson, 1994–1995 Mark Wotton, 1995–1999 Brian Bonin, 1999–2000 Mike Gaul, 2000–2001 Sean Pronger, 2001–2002 David Ling, 2002–2003 Darrel Scoville, 2003–2004 Jamie Pushor, 2004–2007 Zenon Konopka, 2007–2008 Dan Smith, 2008–2009 Derek MacKenzie, 2009–2010 Joe DiPenta, 2010–2011 Nate Guenin, 2011–2012 Mike Angelidis, 2012–2016 Luke Witkowski, 2016–2017, 2019–2021 Erik Condra, 2017–2018 Gabriel Dumont, 2018–2019, 2021–present Head coaches Jack McIlhargey: 1994–1999 Stan Smyl: 1999–2000 Gary Agnew: 2000–2006 Ross Yates: 2006–2010 Mark Holick: 2010–2012 Trent Yawney: 2012 Jon Cooper: 2012–2013 Rob Zettler: 2013–2016 Benoit Groulx: 2016–present Current coaching staff Benoit Groulx — Head coach Gilles Bouchard — Assistant coach Eric Veilleux — Assistant coach Joe Palmer — Goaltending and video coach Honored numbers The Crunch raised a banner following a fan vote during the team's fifth season in honor of fan favorite #14 "Big Bad" John Badduke. It is not retired, as it would later be worn by former United States Olympian Darby Hendrickson, Serge Aubin, Richard Panik, Justin Courtnall, Brandon Alderson, Mike McNamee, Kevin Lynch, Devante Stephens and most recently, Brandon Crawley. During the 2008–09 AHL season, the team temporarily reserved, but not retired, #7 as a tribute to Paul Newman after his death. This honors Reg Dunlop, the player-coach for the fictional Charlestown Chiefs, which Newman played in the movie Slap Shot. The movie was filmed partially at Onondaga County War Memorial. Coincidentally, other scenes were filmed at Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the home ice of the Crunch's former ECHL affiliate, the Johnstown Chiefs. The banner was raised October 14 and was up for the entire season, but the number was not retired, as it was most recently worn by Crunch player Mathieu Joseph in the 2019–20 season. On March 26,