Latest on the Crunch from Kramer

Here is the lastest on the Syracuse Crunch from Lindsay Kramer:

It was a very high-energy first Crunch practice today, with boards rattling and guys crashing into each other like a real game.

The team drilled for a little more than an hour, took a break for the ice to be resurfaced and then scrimmaged for about 30 minutes. The scrimmage was more physical than some of the team's games last year.

"It's tryouts for everybody. No guarantees,'' said Syracuse forward Andrew Murray, one of the few players on the ice who is all but guaranteed a spot on the Crunch.

I asked Crunch coach Ross Yates about the team's new captain, since Jamie Pushor isn't coming back. He said the captain will be picked by himself, assistant Trent Cull and Blue Jackets assistant general manager Jim Clark. Yates said he might not name a captain until after the regular season begins.

Actually make that former assistant general manager Jim Clark as we learned this past weekend that Chris MacFarland has been promoted to that position.

In other news the Blue Jackets have officially announced the 5 players that were re-assigned today. They have also announced a renewed sponsorship with the Diamond Cellar.

-LTL