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By SCOTT REINARDY; Times Leader Sports Writer
Sunday, October 10, 1999 Page: 6C
LEXINGTON, Ky.- In just 24 hours, goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin went from the
minor leagues to the NHL and back to the minors.
Before boarding the plane to Lexington, Ky., for a two-game series with the
Kentucky Thoroughblades on Friday morning, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s No. 1
netminder was told he had been recalled to Pittsburgh. Starter Tom Barrasso
suffered a strained knee during Thursday’s game against New Jersey. Backup
Peter Skudra was promoted to starter, and Aubin received the call to be his
backup.
So when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton team arrived in Pittsburgh for a
connecting flight, Aubin stayed behind.
Although he did not play in Pittsburgh’s home opener Friday, he said he
enjoyed being back in the NHL. He played 17 games for Pittsburgh last season,
posting a 4-3-6 record with a 2.22 goals against average.
At 11:55 a.m. Saturday, Aubin was on a plane headed for Lexington so he
could start the 7:30 p.m. contest against the Thoroughblades. After allowing
three goals on 12 shots in the first period, he was replaced by backup Craig
Hillier. Aubin also had been leveled at the end of the first period. He got up
slowly and left the ice on his own power when the buzzer sounded.
“I don’t think you ever get used to it, but it’s part of the game and part
of your life,” Aubin said about his busy weekend. “I just go there and try to
prove to them that I can stay there the whole year. There’s a lot of problems
with the money so they can’t keep three goalies there. That’s part of the
reason, but next year will be my year.”
Aubin earns less than Skudra, and Skudra also has a one-way contract,
meaning he cannot be sent to the AHL team without receiving his full salary.
Meanwhile, Aubin has a two-way contract that pays him significantly less for
playing in the minor leagues.
Barrasso is expected to be out for seven to 10 days. Aubin said he’ll be
recalled by Pittsburgh on Monday and expects to remain with the team through
the weekend. Pittsburgh plays Thursday at the New York Rangers and hosts
Chicago on Saturday, but Aubin doesn’t know if he’ll receive any action.
“Depends how Peter plays. If he’s playing well I guess I’ll just be the
backup. If something happens, I’ll go in and do my best. It was like that last
year so I guess it’s going to be like that this year. We’ll see. Maybe in the
end I’ll be a happy guy.”
Aubin said he didn’t expect a promotion this early in the season, but he’s
ready to go whenever called.
“You never know. Tommy (Barrasso) is getting older and he got hurt three
times last year. If I play, I play and I’ll try to stay there.”
* * *
PRESEASON PICK: The local Penguins were selected to finish third in the
Empire Division by The Hockey News.
In its preview edition, THN predicted Rochester to win the Calder Cup. It
said of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton: Kingpin: Left winger/center Martin Sonnenberg,
21, was a free agent steal a year ago who has excellent puck skills. Fresh
face: Defenseman Andrew Ference, 20, combines smarts with grit, but he isn’t
big (5-foot-10, 187 pounds). Outlook: Prospects abound, but a lack of veterans
could hurt.
Ference impressed Pittsburgh officials so much that he’s playing there. As
for a lack of veterans, Tyler Wright, Martin Sonnenberg and Sven Butenschon
all played significantly in the NHL last season.
“Predictions are just that,” Penguins President Jeff Barrett said. “What
people don’t understand is we’re not an expansion team. We’re a new
franchise.”
In the same THN issue, Penguins defenseman Pavel Skrbek was recognized as
one of the top three in the AHL.
* * *
AROUND THE AHL: Kentucky’s Mike Craig scored five goals in the first four
games. … Before Saturday’s games, Providence’s Tim Lovell was leading the
AHL in scoring with seven points (three goals, four assists). Craig was tied
for second with six points. Saint John’s Martin St. Louis and Louisville’s Dan
Boyle also had six points, each with two goals and four assists. … Before
the weekend, the Penguins were ranked 15th out of 19 teams in power play
production (1 of 16 for 6.3 percent). The Penguins were 13th in penalty
killing (81.8 percent). … Before the weekend, Penguins’ Dennis Bonvie led
the AHL in major penalties with three. Even though he had 29 penalty minutes
in the first two games, he was not listed among the leaders in total penalty
minutes.