Eric Neilson

On Episode 33 of Crunch Chronicles Lukas Favale is joined by Eric Neilson. Neilson spent three memorable seasons with the Crunch at the start of the team's affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Neilson was a member of the original team that won a Calder Cup in Norfolk in 2012 before the Lightning's affiliation moved to Syracuse ahead of the 2012-13 season. He was a key part of the group that help the new affiliate immediately connect with the Syracuse community, both on and off the ice. He played in 39 games for the Crunch that season, amassing 135 penalty minutes and scoring one goal. Although he did not appear in any playoff games during the Crunch's run to the 2013 Calder Cup Finals, his infectious personality was a big part of that group's run.  He would remain with the Crunch for two more seasons, through the 2014-15 season. In total, Neilson played in 94 Crunch games during his tenure in Syracuse and registered 297 penalty minutes in that time. He also chipped in with five points. Neilson's presence off the ice was as important as his role on the ice. He was named the Crunch's Man of the Year in each of his three seasons, and he was awarded the prestigious Yanick Dupré Memorial Award as the AHL's community man of the year. He remains the only Crunch player to ever win the award.   Neilson's playing career ended in 2016-17 and he then moved into coaching before the pandemic shifted his focus. On the show, Neilson discusses his memories in Syracuse, moments with P.C. Labrie, why he was so invested in the community and much more.