Full-season offer pays for McCauley.

Byline: Bill Ballou

COLUMN: SHARKS NOTES

MANCHESTER, N.H. - His AHL career being a month old, it's hard for Sharks winger Dennis McCauley to have a former team, but he does, and he played against it here last night.

McCauley was a Manchester Monarch in training camp, but when it was time for the regular season to start, the best the Monarchs could do was offer him a 25-game pro tryout.

The Sharks were willing to sign McCauley for a full year, and being a Northeastern alum, McCauley knew that being guaranteed a paycheck for 80 games beat 25, so it was on to Worcester.

His Sharks career is off to a good start. McCauley has fit in nicely with Frazer McLaren and Kevin Henderson to give Worcester a physical line that has been able to wear down the opposition over the course of 60 minutes.

At first glance, McCauley has the easygoing disposition of a hockey fighter.

"I have my moments, though," he said, noting that he is serious enough about his craft to be taking weekly boxing lessons.

At Northeastern, McCauley didn't fight, but he got plenty of practice after graduating from Billerica High.

After high school, McCauley played for Sioux City of the junior USHL and totaled 412 penalty minutes in two seasons.

Like his linemates, McCauley is more than an enforcer. In fact, the Sharks don't have a disposable player on the roster, a Brett Clouthier or Trevor Gillies.

But when the time comes to drop the gloves, McCauley will be ready, and understands that it's not the easiest way to make a living.

"Do I enjoy it?" he pondered. "You don't do things you don't enjoy. Getting hurt isn't something you think about, but you know what you're getting into."

And with Worcester, McCauley knows he'll have at least one full year to get into it.

Fine month

The Sharks finished October 6-3-1, good for 13 points. The 2007-08 Sharks had the best October in franchise history, going 4-1-1 in six games. That team was also 6-3-1 in its first 10 games.

Three-in-three

Worcester finishes the weekend with a 3 p.m. game today at the DCU Center against Springfield, which will also be playing its third game in three days. The Falcons played into overtime yesterday and Friday and have gone into OT in four of their last five games.

Devan Dubnyk was in net for the Falcons in their last two games. His backup is rookie Aaron Sorochan.

It will be a battle for sole possession of third place. Both teams have 13 points, one behind Bridgeport.

It is also a second chance for coach Roy Sommer to win his 400th AHL game.

Shark Bites

In the last four games, the Sharks have outshot the opposition, 164-105, but been outscored, 9-7. ... Danny Groulx's points streak ended at five games. ... Both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play, but the Monarchs had a short-handed goal. In their last five games, the Sharks have allowed as many short-handed goals (2) as they've scored power-play goals. ... Mike Moore's hamstring continues to bother him, so he did not play, with Joe LoPrieno taking his spot in the lineup. ... It was Halloween, which partially accounts for last night's crowd being the smallest the Sharks have played in front of here. It was 3,162. The previous low was 4,613 last Dec. 5.

NAME: WORCESTER SHARKS