August 2012 Volume 1; Issue 3
New This Issue:
Lake Placid Travel Feature!
How Hockey Saved A Life!
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3663 Irish Road Wilson, New York 14172 716-751-6524 nyhockeyonline@ nyhockeyonline.com Publisher &Managing Editor Randy Schultz Randy@nyhockeyonline.com Designer/Photographer Janet Schultz Janet@nyhockeyonline.com Columnists Warren Kozireski, Koz@nyhockeyonline.com Janet Schultz Randy Schultz NY Hockey OnLine is an equal opportunity employer. Contents 2012 NY Hockey Online All rights reserved NY Hockey OnLine is published monthly at no charge and can be accessed via the publication’s website www.Nyhockeyonline.com
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We are beginning receive your team news and notes and thank all the Colleges for forwarding us their press releases. In this issue we also went to your websites looking for news of interest to the readership. We would like to continue this procedure, especially if we don’t hear from you. Please let us know if this is an acceptable procedure to use for your group or if you would prefer to submit material to us. We encourage every organization to add www.nyhockeyonline.com to your web page so your players, coaches, parents and fans have a direct link to the magazine and to breaking news in New York State hockey. We would also like each organization to make sure their Public Relations representative adds us to your email list. That way we will receive all your news and include it in our magazine. We also welcome photos. Our last request is that you provide us with leads to businesses that would like to advertise. This is what will keep this magazine free to all of our readers. We also want to remind all organizations that Tryout ads and Tournament, as well as special event/fund-raising, ads are most welcome. For our rates, please email us at nyhockeyonline@nyhockeyonline.com or call Randy or Janet at 716-751-6524. Randy Schultz Publisher/Managing Editor
In This Issue... Sabres Unveil Mammography Bus..............................................4 Central College................................................................5 Central Section Notes..........................................................6 East College...................................................................7 East Section News.............................................................8 North College................................................................. 9 Hockey Player Faster Off Ice................................................. 11 North Section News...........................................................12 Travel Feature: Lake Placid..................................................13 Women’s College Hockey Report...............................................15 Sabres Honor Alumni.........................................................19 Hockey Saves a Life......................................................... 20 West Section News........................................................... 23 West College Report......................................................... 24 Legends of the Game......................................................... 27 Kids Page................................................................... 30
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News Special / 4
Sabres Unveil Mammography Bus
he medical, financial and athletic community came together in Buffalo to put their resources to use for the underand never-served women of Western New York. The Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association, Erie County Medical Center and First Niagara Financial unveiled a 45foot bus that sports two state-of-the-art digital mammography machines that was a year in the making. As Former Sabre and Director of Alumni Relations Larry Playfair explained, eight years ago five special women began an event that would benefit breast cancer prevention. After seven years Playfair told the women it was time to put the event to rest. They had raised and donated thousands of dollars that would help find a cure for this disease. However, the Buffalo Sabres Public Relations Director Michael Gilbert called Larry about the same time to arrange a meeting with ECMC CEO Jody L. Lomeo. That meeting was to look at assisting women in the inner city to receive mammograms. “Many are single parent households who couldn’t take the time off work to be examined or couldn’t afford to travel to the facility so they put it off,” said Playfair. The group thought about purchasing two vans, putting the Alumni Association logo on it and going out and picking up the women and taking them to the examination site. After a few weeks the group came up with another idea. “We met at ECMC and here are the vans,” said Playfair pointing to the pink bus. “Many players call Buffalo home and it’s an honor to raise our families here,” said Playfair. “Some of us met you women and married them. The Association wants to give something back and this is the most gratifying thing we’ve done as a group.” “The medical, financial and athletic community combined
together to do something great,” said Cliff Benson, Buffalo Sabres Foundation. “Owning a hockey team is wonderful, but giving back to the community is great,” said Benson. “Our first reaction--we were humbled to be asked to take part in this,” said John Koelmel, president and CEO of First Niagara. “Our second reaction, absolutely!” “It’s impossible to stand here (First Niagara ice arena) and think about all the battles fought for their team,” said Koelmel. “This is a battle the community
needs to fight for the greater good team.” (Continued on Page 18)
Among those many people making the Bus a reality were the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association players and wives Larry Playfair, Jayne Playfair, Diane Smith, Nancy Martin, Stephanie Dulski (wine committee) and Rob Ray. (Photos by Janet Schultz)
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finished with 86 points, which was second in the league. Tylor Spink comes to Colgate after 250 career points with the Colts and 81 last season. He helped guide the Colts to the CCHL championship series against Nepean and also competed twice in the World Junior A Challenge. Tyson Spink is another Cornwall Colt to be joining the Raiders. He played three seasons for the Colts and tallied 275 points in 178 career games. He recorded 92 points last season with 42 goals and 50 helpers.
ight new skaters will join the Raiders as the Class of 2016. The group of eight is all from Ontario and six of the eight are coming from the Central Canadian Hockey League, while two are products of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Half of the newcomers played for the Cornwall Colts of the CCHL and made the league championship series. Kyle Baun played two seasons with the CORNELL Colts, amassing 103 points in 98 games and he Big Red also played in the U19 revealed five World Junior A ChalBy Warren Kozireski additions to the lenge as part of Canada program for the 2012East. 13 season in forwards Mike Borkowski Christian Hilbrich, tallied 116 points in 77 games in 2011-12 and was a John Knisley and Teemu Tiitinen, and defensemen second team CCHL All-Star. He led all CCHL playGavin Stoick and Reece Willcox will join the Big Red ers in postseason points in 2012 with 20 on eight as members of the Class of 2016. goals and 12 helpers. Knisley is the only New Yorker of the group Spencer Finney is the lone goaltender among hailing from Pittsford. He ranked fifth on the team the newcomers. He played with the Trenton Golden in scoring in each of the last two seasons with the Hawks of the OJHL and played in 77 career games Vernon Vipers of the BCHL, totaling 22 goals and with 85 wins and eight shutouts. He went 25-7-3 in 48 assists for 70 points over 106 games. He had a cahis final season with the Hawks with a 2.69 goals reer-high five-point game in his finale with the team against average and a .915 save percentage. on March 10 against Salmon Arm. The previous sea Ryan Johnston is the reigning CCHL Defenseson, Knisley helped Vernon win the BCHL title and man of the Year with the Nepean Raiders. He also advance to the Royal Bank Cup, which is Canada’s helped the Raiders to the CCHL title and was voted Junior A championship tournament. Knisley had playoff MVP. He had 18 points in the postseason three goals and one assist over the six games at the and led the league’s defensemen in regular season event, helping the Vipers win five of six games to points with 71 in 56 games. finish second. Prior to his time in Canada, Knisley Kevin Lough played four seasons with the Cum- played for the Eastern Junior Hockey League’s Syraberland Grads of the CCHL, where he was team cuse Stars, potting seven goals with 13 assists for captain. He played in 227 career games and record20 points in just 34 games. Coach ed 95 points on defense. He was a silver medalist at Schafer on Knisley: “He’s small, the World Junior A Challenge and was voted CCHL but quick, and he has really good Defenseman of the Tournament. hockey sense. He played on both Darcy Murphy spent two years with the Welling- the power play and penalty kill in ton Dukes of the OJHL. He led the league in goals Vernon, which had a lot of success.” with 52 in 48 games and was a first team all-star. Defenseman Keir Ross was His 52 goals were a franchise record and overall he named the 2011-12 ECAC Hockey
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Men’s Student-Athlete of the Year on Thursday, as selected by the league’s awards committee. The award recognizes academic achievement, as well as accomplishments on and off of the ice of ECAC Hockey studentathletes. Ross was one of 12 nominees for the honor and the second from Cornell to win the award over the last three years,
following in the footsteps of 2010 graduate Colin Greening. The team had three players selected in the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh-- incoming freshman Reece Willcox and rising sophomores John McCarron and Joakim Ryan giving the 2012-13 Big Red eight NHL draft picks on its roster – the most it has had since the 2006-07 season.
Camillus Youth Hockey
YHA will hold a golf tournament on September C 15 at the Foxfire Golf Course, Baldwinsville. For information contact Jim Corcoran, 744-4850. (Taken from CYH website)
Mid-State Youth Hockey The Sixth Annual Syracuse Crunch Shootout will be held January 19-21, 2013 at Cicero Twin Rinks. This is a Canadian vs US AAA Team event for 2001 and 2002 age divisions. Go to www.2001aaahockey. com or call Brian Harley bharley@twcny.rr.com for information. The Syracuse Nationals AAA Hockey 2012 Early Bird Jam will be held September 29 and 30. This is a showcase of high caliber, championship AAA teams. Contact Michael Rexine, mcrexine@twcny.rr.com for information. Head coaches for the Syracuse National Competitive program have been announced and include: 2004-Chris Santay; 2003-George Glamos; 2002-Brian Pompo and Terry Kerwin; 2001-Brian Harley; 1999-Dave Farabee and Terry Kerwan; 1998-Dave Tretowicz. Girls: 10U-Dan DiChristina; 12U-Mike Donegan; 14U Mickey Parker. (Information from Mid-State Youth Hockey website).
Willcox was selected in the fifth round with the 141st overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers. McCarron was selected in the sixth round by Edmonton with the 153rd pick and the San Jose Sharks called Ryan’s name with their final pick of the draft, which came in the seventh round and was 198th overall.#
Skaneateles Youth Hockey Association The SYHA Equipment Sale and Fundraiser has been scheduled for August 27, 29, September 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Skaneateles YMCA. For information contact Aaron Gaffney, amgaffney@frontiernet.net. Equipment must be in good condition, clearly marked with name and price. (SYHA website).
Finger Lakes Girls Hockey FLAG extends an invitation to players in the Central Section (or beyond) to join the league. FLAG has 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U divisions. All teams are welcome and anyone interested can contact fingerlakeshockey@gmail.com. (Submitted by FLAG)
Lysander Youth Hockey Lysander is fielding two Midget teams for 2012-13 due to the large turnout at tryouts. Congratulations! (Courtesy Lysander website).
Central News continued on Page 26
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NYS HOCKEY COLLEGE REPORTEAST
he Army hockey team will play the Russian Junior All-Stars for the second time in three years. The Black Knights will host the Russian Junior All-Stars, out of the Russian Junior Elite League, at Tate Rink on Thursday, Dec. 27, for a 7:05 p.m. face-off. “Any time you get the opportunity to play against a great team you want to try and take By Warren Kozireski advantage of that,” said Riley, who begins his ninth season as Army’s head coach. “Fans will get the chance to see a host of players with NHL aspirations and we get a chance to play a game before resuming our regular season. We had a great turnout for this game two years ago and we are looking forward to another opportunity to playing in front of our great, loyal fans.” Army and the Russian squad played in front of a standing-room only crowd of 2,602 on Dec. 28, 2010. During the 2012-13 season, Army will play 17 games at Tate Rink with home dates against Penn State and Royal Military College as well as Atlantic Hockey Association opponents Sacred Heart, American International, Niagara, Robert Morris, RIT and Connecticut.
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ric Lang has stepped down from his position as head coach of the Manhattanville men’s hockey team to pursue other opportunities, Manhattanville Athletic Director Keith Levinthal announced. “I would like to thank Keith and the Manhattanville community for a wonderful four years,” Lang said. “I have a unique opportunity to stay in college hockey while pursuing a business opportunity, but it was a tough decision because Manhattanville has been so good to me and my family. I wish the Valiants the best of luck next season.” In his one year with the men’s hockey program, Lang took over the team as just the second coach in program history and guided the Valiants to a 13-9-3 record – including a 6-3-1 mark against nationally ranked opposition – and a second-place regular-season finish in the ultra-competitive ECAC West Conference. Under his direction, a program-record five players earned year-end ECAC West honors. According to Levinthal, the department will begin a national search for both men’s hockey and women’s golf head coaching positions immediately.
R.P.I.
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ormer Rensselaer standout and alumnus Adam Oates ‘85 became the first Engineers player to be chosen for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Oates will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2012 Induction Celebration on Nov. 12 in Toronto. “Since he joined the NHL after the 1985 championship season, Rensselaer alumnus Adam Oates has had an outstanding career, both as a player and assistant coach,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “To see those achievements recognized by being
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named a head coach in the NHL, and being elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame…speaks volumes about his prominence in the game. We are proud of Adam, and we wish him much success as he begins his new career as a head coach with the Washington Capitals. He is great example of the Rensselaer spirit, on and off the ice.” “I would like to congratulate Adam on these tremendous accomplishments and wish him the best of luck on his opportunity to be an NHL head coach and on his selection into the Hall,” said Seth Appert, RPI’s seventh-year head coach. “He is one of the greatest of all-time to wear the Cherry and White, and these add another chapter to his already impressive hockey career.” In his three years in Troy (198285), Oates had 66 goals and 150 assists for 216 points in 98 games, helping the Engineers to an overall record of 85-19-1 and the 1985 NCAA Championship. RPI, which was 35-2-1 in 1985, also won the ECAC Championship in 1984 and 1985. Oates led the team in assists all three years (33, 57, 60) and was first in points as a sophomore (83) and junior (91). He set numerous school records, including assists (60 in 1985-85) and points (91 in 1984-85) in a season and assists in a career. Ranked among NCAA’s all-time leaders in assists per game in a career (1.53), he is second in school history in single season assists (57 in 1983-84) and single season points (83 in 1983-84). Oates is third in career points and third in assists per game in a career. The accolades earned by the Weston, Ont., native included National All-America First Team in 1983-84 and 1984-85, Hobey Baker Award finalist in 1984-85,
EAST Section / 8 All-League First Team in 1984-85, All-League Second Team in 198384, Most Outstanding Player of the league tournament in 1983-84 and NCAA All-Tournament First Team in 1984-85. Named to the ECAC Hockey All-Decade Team of the 1980s and most recently as one of the league’s Top 50 Players All-Time, Oates led ECAC Hockey in overall scoring in 1983-84 (83 points in 38 games) and 1984-85 (91 in 38) and in scoring in league games (49 in 20 games) in 1983-84. Oates, who was inducted into Rensselaer’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 and was the first person inducted into the RPI Hockey Ring of Honor (2005), enjoyed a 19-year NHL career, scoring 341 goals with 1,079 assists for 1,420 points in 1,337 contests. He exceeded 100 points in a season four times, including a career-high 142 points with the Boston Bruins in 1993.
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ight members of the 2012-13 Union College men’s ice hockey team attended NHL Development Camps this summer, a new standard for a program that reached its first Frozen Four in April. Sophomore defenseman and 2012 Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Shayne Gostisbehere and senior defenseman Greg Coburn were in the Flyers’ training facility in Voorhees, NJ, while junior forward Daniel Carr, junior defenseman Mat Bodie and junior goaltender Troy Grosenick were in camp with the Chicago Blackhawks from July 9-13. Senior forward Wayne Simpson along with Carr, attended Boston Bruins Development camp from June 28 - July 2, while junior forward Josh Jooris attended Vancouver Canucks
rookie camp from June 29 - July 2. Incoming freshman defenseman 2012 Ottawa draft pick Timothy Boyle was in camp with the Senators from June 26 - July 2. In addition, recent graduates Jeremy Welsh ‘12 (Carolina Hurricanes) and Kelly Zajac ‘12 (New Jersey Devils) were in camp as players under contract.#
East Section News and Notes ...The Lady Islanders have summer ice on August 2 from 6 to 7 p.m. This is a chance to work on basic skills with fellow Lady Islanders. Don’t be late getting on the ice! (Submitted by Lady Islanders) ...The Lady Islanders have openings for forwards, defense at all age levels. Contact Charlie at cjmarchiselli@gmail.com for information. The Lady Islanders play out of Dix Hills Rink and are members of the MAWHA, GAL League, LIH League and USA Hockey. They welcome girls form NYC, Long Island and surrounding area. They have NYS Tournament-bound and developmental girls ice hockey programs. (LI website). East Section News continued on Page 26
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north Section College / 9
NYS HOCKEY COLLEGE REPORTNORTH
By Warren Kozireski
CLARKSON
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lf W. Maki ‘71 was presented the Arnold H. Barben Award on July 14, 2012 during the Annual Clarkson University Hockey Reunion. The Arnold H. Barben Award is intended to recognize the important role that hockey has played in the history of the University. This award is presented to a Clarkson University Varsity C hockey alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, has contributed to the betterment of his community and has worked unselfishly for his alma mater. Helen Barben, of Seneca Falls, New York, established the Barben Award in 1980 in memory of her late husband, a member of the class of 1927. A big, hard-working, rugged winger for the Golden Knights from 1968-71, Maki played a key role on head coach Len Ceglarski’s teams that compiled a 71-19-3 record during the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a junior, the Sudbury, Ontario native helped to lead the Green and Gold to 24-8 overall record and a berth in the championship game of the 1970 NCAA Tournament. In his senior campaign, Maki was the Green and Gold’s second-leading scorer with 22 goals and 20 assists as Clarkson established a school record for wins in a season with a 28-4-1
overall slate. Skating in 93 games over three seasons, Maki recorded 94 career points with 45 goals and 49 assists. After graduating from Clarkson in 1971 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Development, Maki was a supervisor/superintendent for many years at Reynolds Metals in Massena, N.Y. Since his playing days ended for the Golden Knights, he has been active in Potsdam Youth Hockey as a coach and mentor, and an active supporter of boys and girls hockey, along with other youth sports in the North Country. Maki, along with his wife Laurie, has also been an active member of the Clarkson Golden Knight Men’s hockey booster club, and currently serves as President of the Booster Club. Three hockey players will be among six inducted into the Clarkson University Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. Clarkson will honor Bill Blackwood ‘78, Craig Conroy ’95 and Tom Hurley ‘66 at ceremonies on Saturday, October 20.
Bill Blackwood
Hockey’s All-Time Top 50 Team,
the Copper Cliff, Ont. native tallied 169 points on 52 goals and 117 assists in 123 games from 1974-78. He was twice named an All-America (1977, 78) and was a three-time ECAC All-Star along with being recognized on the 1970s ECAC Hockey All-Decade First Team. Blackwood helped to lead the Green and Gold to the 1977 ECAC regular-season championship as the top scoring
defenseman in the conference during the 1976-77 campaign with 71 points, including 54 assists through 34 games.
Craig Conroy
One of the all-time fan favorites in the long, rich tradition of Clarkson Hockey, Potsdam, N.Y. native Conroy helped to lead the Golden Knights to some of their best seasons ever during the 1990s, and then went on to a lengthy and illustrious career in the NHL. Conroy ranks as one of the Green and Gold’s all-time leading scorers with 167 career points (63-104) in 140 games from 199094. He was the 1994 Hobey Baker Award Runner-up and All-America in his senior campaign. After playing on Clarkson teams which posted four consecutive 20+-win seasons, made three NCAA Tournaments and captured one ECAC regular-season championship and two conference tournament titles, Conroy moved to the NHL where he skates in 1,009 games during his 16-year (19942011) career. He recorded 542 points (182-360), playing for Montreal, St. Louis, Calgary and Los Angeles.
Tom Hurley
A member of Clarkson Hockey’s 100-point club by averaging
over 1.40 points per game, Hurley was a top center for head coach Len Ceglarski’s teams in the mid-1960s scoring 104 points on 42 goals and 62 assists in 74 career games. As a senior assistant captain in 1965-66, he helped to lead the Knights to a
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24-3 overall record, Clarkson’s first ECAC Tournament title and a runnerup showing in the NCAA Championship game. He was named to the postseason all-tournament first-teams in both the ECAC and NCAA. A Massena, N.Y. native, Hurley became Clarkson’s first Olympian when he skated for the United States in the 1968 games in Grenoble, France. Hurley was also an excellent baseball player for the Knights.
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wo former Bears hockey players were among the three inductees into the Bears Hall of Fame. Howie Vandermast ‘88 and Nate Sunday ‘98 were inducted on July 14. Vandermast amassed 51 goals and 72 assists for 123 points as a defenseman for the Bears’ men’s hockey team from 1984-1988. The Long Beach, NY native ranks ninth on Potsdam’s all-time scoring list. During the 1985-86 season, Vandermast was the SUNYAC Co-Player of the Year as well as a member of the AllSUNYAC first team and the SUNYAC AllTournament team. The following year, he led the Bears in scoring, was again named first team all-conference and became the third of Potsdam’s five hockey All-Americans. After graduating from SUNY Potsdam, Vandermast remained in the North Country. He spent several seasons as the assistant coach for the Potsdam High School boys hockey team. For the past 20 years, Vandermast has worked in food industry currently as the territorial sales manager for
SUNY Potsdam Athletic Director Jim Zalacca and former Head Coach Ed Seney induct Nathan Sunday into the Bears Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy Potsdam Athletic Department)
U.S. Foods in Northern New York. Vandermast resides in Massena. Sunday, from Hogansburg, NY, was another standout defenseman for the Bears’ men’s hockey team. He manned the blue line in 109 games from 1994 to 1998 and totaled 16 goals and 68 assists for 84 points. Sunday was a key component on Potsdam’s 1995-96 SUNYAC Championship squad, the only conference champ in program history. He was a first team All-SUNYAC selection for the 1995-96 and 1997-98 seasons, as well as second team all-conference in 1996-97. Since graduating from Potsdam, Sunday has worked with young people as an academic advisor,
counselor and coach. He has coached hockey at the minor, high school and junior levels. Currently, Sunday is a career development officer for the Akwesasne Area Management Board. He counsels high school students on educational and career goals as well as implements and coordinates youth programs while residing in Akwesasne, NY.#
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when her team defeated the hometown Lake Placid team on the ice where the Miracle on Ice took place. Her memories of hockey highlights also include playing in the 2012 Empire State games where she was the only Tier II player and the only girl from the Buffalo Regals with the rest from the Rochester Edge and Buffalo Bisons. Kirchberger is also one of the inaugural players in the WNY Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Story and Photos by Janet Schultz Federation, playing for West Seneca.
40 to 55 miles per hour. While there are generally no major wrecks in kart racing, there is one danger that isn’t usual to the stock car, dragster and road racers. Kirchberger explained. When she first started racing and there’s a caution, you have to wave
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ikki Kirchberger is tall, lean, skilled and fast on the ice. She can dig in the corners, shoot the puck down the ice and put it in the net! But there’s one place she’s even faster, more aggressive and for many of us, leans a little bit to the dangerous side. Kirchberger races Go Karts! “I started because my Uncle used to race and my cousins were involved,” she explains. “I loved to watch him and he wasn’t a dirty racer or one that cheated.” “He always has a smile on his face and he let me drive his race car,” said Kirchberger with a smile that lights up a room. She remembers one morning about 5 a.m. when they decided to do a burnout and woke everyone up. “That is my favorite memory,” she remarks. Kirchberger raced a four-cylinder Kart at Holland Raceway last season and this year she spends her Thursday nights at Ransomville Speedway. “I’d like to race at other tracks but my Kart isn’t as strong as we’d like it to be,” she explains. Karts are divided off for races by the motor size of the Kart and for very young racers, by age. Kirchberger races in the Senior Clone class with karts that go about
Hockey Player Goes Even Faster Off Ice
your hand and slow down. She raised her hand, slowed down and another kart drove up the back of her head. “My helmet was holding the other kart up,” she laughs. So for the summer it’s racing and in the winter it’s hockey. Kirchberger started skating at three years old, learning how by roller-skating in her basement. At four she was ready for the ice and began with the West Seneca beginners program. She has historically played at least one or two years beyond her age level and at eight was playing in a 12U girls team with the Buffalo Regals. She played with the Regals when the 12U team went 42-3-2. She remembers 2005
Nikki pays tribute to her teammates by listing their names on her Kart seat.
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North Section, Feature continued / 12 ...Troy-Albany is holding a Summer Skills program for boys and girls which includes skating, stick handling, shooting, passing, puck control, dekes, faking, quickness, pivoting and passing. A different topic is held on each day of the program from July 23 through August 27. (Courtesy Troy-Albany website). ...Welcome to the Troy-Albany newly elected Board Members: Lisa Pulk, Bill Andrews, Jamie Harris, Brian Carr and Tonya Williams, (Courtesy Troy-Albany website.)
“That was an incredible run,” she says. “My favorite coach is Pete Tonsoline (West Seneca High). What he says makes sense. He’s very inspirational.” The 2012-13 season will see her sporting Number 19 in the black and orange of Buffalo State College. “I’m so excited to be playing hockey there,” said Kirchberger, who hopes to be on defense. “I’ve thought about College hockey and the Olympics, but those players (Olympic) have to live and breath hockey and I like to work. So I’m happy where I am,” she said when asked about aspirations above the collegiate level. At Buffalo State she will focus on the sciences which will allow her to transfer into a Veterinary program. “I see how expensive it is to treat animals,” she explains. “It’s not the animals fault they got sick. I want to open a veterinary clinic that is affordable for people.” Her caring is an aspect of her life that her parents, Edd and Robyn, are very proud of. “Nikki is the type of player that goes into the corner and if the other girl would fall and get hurt, Nikki would stop and see if she’s okay,” said Edd. “When I was playing in Rochester, I accidentally hit a girl and she went down,” Kirchberger explains. “I felt so bad. I want to leave the game on a good note.” Her caring goes beyond the ice and the track. She
shaved her head in support of Roswell Cancer Institute, right before graduation. Needless to say, she was bald on one of the most important days of her life; but she did it because she cares. She was named the Female Athlete of the Year at West Seneca West. Not surprising right? Well, this was the first year the award was presented. She also was recognized by the Girls Athletic Association at West Seneca as the Athlete of the Year. “Sports is an aspect of your life that shows you that you can’t do anything by yourself. There isn’t an I, you have to work together,” said Kirchberger. “People think because I’m racing the car I’m alone; but there are so many people I need to help me race,” she explains. “I relate everything to hockey. Keep your head up in hockey; keep your head up in life,” advises Kirchberger. “When teachers but things in to hockey sense for me, I learn more. Athletics has made Nikki Kirchberger more competitive but also gave her the drive to never give up and always stay in shape. It also taught her respect and responsibility. If that’s what our children can take away from hockey, racing, or any other activity we have them involved in, we can’t ask for much more.#
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Lake Placid-Miracle On Ice and So Much More!
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ake Placid is a small village located in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State. The village has a population of less than 2700. Known as a great vacation location for its beauty, fishing, golfing and simply relaxing, Lake Placid is also known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. And one of the stops a person has to make while visiting the area is the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum. It was designed to commemorate both Olympics that were held in the village. It is the only Olympic museum in the U.S. and is located in the only American city to have hosted two separate Winter Olympics. Among the items on display in the museum include the “Fram III” bobsled and skates used by Jack Shea from the ’32 Olympics as well as memorabilia from the 1980 “Miracle On Ice” U.S. men’s hockey team. The museum’s collection also provided materials for the 2004 Disney movie, “Mir-
by Randy Schultz Photos by Janet Schultz
acle,” based on that ’80 hockey team. The museum is also housed within two ice arenas. There is the 1932 Rink, known today as the Jack Shea Arena, which hosted six of the 12 ice hockey games played in ’32. The 1980 Rink, now known as the Herb Brooks Arena, hosted the famous “Miracle” game that saw Team USA defeat the Soviet Union, 4-3. The arena was named after Herb Brooks, coach of the ’80 Miracle hockey team, as part of the 25 anniversary of the American victory in 2005. It is hard to believe that it has been over 32 years since Team USA won the gold over a heavily favored Russian team. Who could forget those heros of 1980? Mark Johnson, who led the team in scoring. Or how about the top scoring line of Buzz Schneider, Mark Pavelich and John Harrington? The defense was anchored by Dave Christian, Mike Ramsey, Bill Baker and Ken Morrow.
Remember goaltender Jim Craig? Who will ever forget him with an American flag draped around him, looking for his father in the crowd after the Soviet game? Mike Eruzione was captain of that victorious U.S. team. He recalled that special time which caught the fancy of all of America. “We went into the Olympics figuring that we would win a medal,” said Eruzione. “But we never dreamed that we would win the gold. “I guess the moment that we realized that we would win it was the night before the Russian game. I guess we all felt that the tide had turned our way.” After tieing Sweden, 2-2, in the opening game, the young U.S. squad upset Czechoslovakia, 7-3. That was followed by victories over Norway, Rumania and West Germany. That set the stage for the showdown round for the medal against the Soviets. With the
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crowd chanting, “USA, USA, USA” throughout the game, the Americans produced a stunning 4-3 victory, assisted in part by Eruzione’s goal midway through the third period. Two days after defeating the Soviets, the Americans beat Finland, 4-3, scoring three goals in the third period. Hockey fever swept the country. “I know that I was shocked and amazed to see how people, who didn’t even know the first thing about hockey or were from areas of the United States that didn’t even have hockey, reacted to us,” remembered Eruzione. “They were all just caught up in our success. “It was something I’ll never forget.”
travel / 14 That 1980 U.S. hockey team were conquering heros. Even today people will tell Eruzione just where they were when Team USA won the gold. “It was the shot in the arm that our country needed at the time,” commented Eruzione. “Because of what we did it gave our people a new sense of pride, something that had been hurting in our country. “Coming back to Lake Placid brought back many of those memories. I had people come up to me and tell me how proud they were of us and what it meant to them. “It was just that kind of moment.”#
Photos top (r to l) Village of Lake Placid, Entrance to Olympic Conference Center, Olympic Ski Jump; Lake Placid from Whiteface Mtn, Olympic Center, Doors to Herb Brooks Arena. Large photo is fly fishing outside Lake Placid. Opposite page is a photo of the new conference center and the ice arena in the Herb Brooks Arena.
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Womens College / 15
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Cornell
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ix members of the Big Red have been invited to the Canadian 2012 U22 Development Team Selection Camp in Calgary this month. Those include Senior Laura Fortino, Juniors Brianne Jenner, Hayleigh Cudmore, Jessica Campbell, Sophmores Jillian Saulnier and Emily Fulton. Forty players are invited and 22 will be chosen for a three-game series against Team USA U22’s on August 14-19 in Calgary.
Buffalo State College
New York State Women’s Collegiate T Ice Hockey Report
his year’s Most Valuable Player Award went to Brianne Murphy who had 11 assists and 4 goals. Named Rookie of the Year was Jeyna Minby Janet Schultz nick; Unsung Hero: Janet@nyhockeyonline.com Lauren Mello; Most Improved: Jessica Garland. The Bengal Award went to Mallo. Mallo will serve as captain for 2012-13 and assisting her will be Rio Flynn and Melissa White.
RIT
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oach Scott McDonald has received a three-year extension to his contract. McDonald led the Tigers to their first NCAA DIII Women’s Ice Hockey Championship in 2012 after finishing the season with a 28-1-1 record. In his sixth season, McDonald is 135-22-10. RIT has moved to NCAA Division I for the upcoming season. There are five new additions to the RIT women’s ice hockey team. Katie Hubert, Burlington, Ont. And the Burlington Barracudas; Jess Paton, Woodstock, Ont.,/Kitchener-Waterloo Rangers and Carly Payerl, Kitchener, Ont./KitchenerWaterloo Rangers have been brought in as forwards. Kristina Kleshko from San Diego is a defenseman. She played for the Junior Russian National Team and the LA Selects U16. Also on defense is Casidhe Kunichika of Fullerton, California. Kunichika also played for the LA Selects and will be familiar because her sister Courtney is a current member of the RIT women’s team. RIT has also announced that The Gene Polisseni Center will be located south of the Student Alumni Union as the College begins construction on the new ice arena. Fundraising for the facility continues with the Tiger Power Play halfway to its goal of $30 million. Cost of the facility is estimated between $30M and $35M.
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Women’s College / 16
Syracuse
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rendon Knight has been hired as an assistant coach for the Orange. Knight joins the program after a six-year appointment as the head coach of the Hamilton College women’s ice hockey team. In 2010-11 Knight coached the Hamilton women to 11 victories, Hamilton’s highest total since 200203. He guided the team to 57 wins and six postseason appearances. Knight began his career at Hamilton as an assistant men’s hockey coach in 2005. Prior to arriving at Hamilton, Knight was an assistant at his alma mater, SUNY Potsdam, from 2002 to 2005. He helped lead the Bears to three postseason appearances and was responsible for the majority of the program’s recruiting duties. Knight played three seasons at Potsdam from 1998 to 2001. He scored 21 goals and registered 43 assists in 66 career games. The Bears reached the conference finals in 2000 and 2001. Knight lettered both seasons and was selected to play in the 2001 East/West Senior All-Star game. He earned a spot on the SUNYAC Commissioner’s List for athletic and academic success that same year. Knight went on to play in the English National Premier League for the Isle of Wight Raiders during 2001-02. He scored 27 goals and assisted on 40 others in 44 games. Knight played in the Central Junior Hockey League for the Cornwall Colts Junior “A” from 1996 to 1998. He finished in the top 10 in scoring both seasons and played in the league’s all-star game twice. Knight was a second team all-league selection his final season. He ended up with 153 points in 120 games. Knight was drafted by the Beauport Harfangs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at 16 years old. Knight graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business economics and a minor in French from Potsdam in 2001. He completed his master’s in instructional communication and technology from the school in 2005. Syracuse has announced their 2012-13 sched-
ule in which they will play five games against teams from the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament plus there is a new format to the CHA. They open at home against New Hampshire and Northeastern on October 5 and 6, respectively. Conference play begins when Syracuse goes to Penn State to play the Nittany Lions in their Inaugural Season.
Oswego
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he upcoming season will see the Lakers opening with an exhibition game against the Toronto Midget Aeros and then opening their regular season at Castleton, Vermont on October 26. Their home opener will be against Utica College on Nov. 3.
Colgate
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oining the Colgate women’s ice hockey team this season are Forwards Jenny Currie of Chelmford, Mass/New Hampton School and Katelyn Parker, Bellingham, Wash/Gilmour Academy. On defense Cacey Maciejewski, Yorkville, Ill/Yorkville High School; Nicole Gass, Coashire Easton, Quebec/ Ontario Hockey School and Aime DiBela, Nelson, BC; Penticton High School. Colgate has also added Goalie Ashlynne Rando of Sugarland Texas. Rando played at Dulles High School. Colgate opens with an exhibition game on September 23 against Etobicoke AA and then they travel to Minnesota for games on September 28 and 29. Their home opener will put them against Northeastern on October 5.
Utica College
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tica will open the season with an exhibition game against the Toronto Midget Aeros on October 21 and then open the regular season at home against Oswego on November 2.
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St. Lawrence
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oaltender Carmen MacDonald has been invited to Hockey Canada’s Seventh Annual Program of Excellence. St. Lawrence’s season begins with an exhibition game against McGill on October 3 followed by their regular season home opener against Clarkson on October 5 in Appleton Arena.
RPI
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ead Coach John Burke has announced the addition of seen players to the RPI team. First from Clarence Center, NY, Jennifer Godin. Godin has played her recent hockey at Tabor Academy and will join the team on defense. Additional defensemen include Brandi Banks, Stoney Creek Sabres and Delaney Middlebrook, Niagara University. Forwards include Alexa Gruschow, Washington Pride; Marielle Mankey, Hopkins High School and Lauren Wash, New Jersey Rockets. Also added was Goaltender Sara Till, Rice Academy.
Other College Notes: …Courtney Baranek of West Babylon (NY) plays for Amherst College. Baranek played for West Bablyon and is a forward. ...Batavia’s Tori Salmon also plays for Amherst College. The Forward played for Nichols School in Buffalo. …Clarkson College has announced the birth of Women’s Ice Hockey Co-Head Coaches Shannon and Matt Desrosiers first child. Brynlee Matison Desrosiers was born on April 19 at 3:40 a.m. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. (Photo provided by the Desrosiers) …Just 11 weeks after the birth of her daughter, Clarkson University’s Co-Head Coach Shannon Desrosiers finished third among the females running in the Calgary Stampeded Road Race Half Marathon. Desrosiers completed the 13.1 mile run with a time of 1:26:31 and placed 16th out of 585 total runners. Her last competition was the grueling 2010 World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii. She qualified by finishing as the
top amateur female competitor and ninth female overall at the 2010 Ironman Canada. She joins an elite group at Ironman Canada by crossing the finish line ahead of many professional athletes and finishing the race in less than 10 hours. …Trinity College has named Carson Duggan as its women’s ice hockey coach. Duggan served as interim last season guiding the team to a 15-11-0 overall record. Duggan played for St. Lawrence University earning honors, which included the first St. Lawrence player to score over 100 career goals; named 2006 ECAC Hockey’s Co-Rookie of the Year and earning ECAC Hockey All-Academic honors three times. ...Buffalo native Michael Sisti has signed a four-year extension as Head Coach of the Mercyhurst Women’s Ice Hockey Team. Sisti is the only coach in Mercyhurst’s women’s program and just concluded his 14th season with a 334-92-29 record.#
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News Special / 18
“I started my practice to serve with more passionate and earlier care,” she continued. “Mammograms can save lives when cancer is found early. Now I can go to them in their backyard and direct them to the right care. Presenting the bus were John Koelmel, Rob Ray, Cliff Benson, Dr. Viv “This is wonian Lindfield, Jody Lomeo and Larry Playfair. (Photo by Janet Schultz) derful.” “At the end of the day we Continued from Page 4 will see the greater good; we will do a wonderful job,” said Lindfield. “This is a huge WOW factor,” he Western New York has the highest concluded. rate of new breast cancer in Upstate New “It’s about collaboration, community York, according to a 2010 report. The and doing what’s right for the patient,” said Lemeo. “It’s about providing quality area also had a higher breast cancer death rate per 100,000 women in 2011 at 24.5 care.” percent, than nationally, 24, statewide, or Dr. Vivian Lindfield of WNY Breast in New York City, 23.9, according to the Health will oversee the clinical operaSusan G. Komen Foundation of WNY. tions of the bus. All women will be welcome for “As a breast surgeon I see women mammograms on the bus. This includes when they have a problem,” said Lindthose with insurance or those covered field. “Many women out there don’t take the first step until they have a mass, go to by Medicare or Medicaid, as well as the uninsured. Exams will require a prescripthe emergency room and most times it’s tion, but women without a primary-care too late.” physician can obtain a script at the
The bus contains two state-of-theart mamography machines. (Photo by Janet Schultz)
bus. Appointments will be necessary and a phone number will be established, as well as website links. The bus will tour inner city as well as rural areas of the region; including being parked at festivals, health fairs, churches and community centers. To learn more about the bus and to schedule an appointment call 1-855Go4-PINK (464-7465).#
In Other Sabres/NHL News: ...When Buffalo Sabres Development Camp was held in July three New York natives were among those being looked at. Marcus Foligno, son of ex-Sabre Mike, was one. Foligno was born in Buffalo and played with the Rochester Amerks last season. He is a 6’2” left wing. West Seneca native Alex Lepkowski took to the ice. Lepkowski played last season with Barrie in the OHL. He is a 6’3” defenseman. The third hails from York and played his 201112 season with Miami University in the NCAA. Connor Knapp is a 6’5” goaltender.
MSG to Re-Air Best Sabres Games of 2012
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f you need hockey you can see the best of last season on MSG when they run 5 games in the upcoming weeks. Air dates are Saturdays at 8 p.m. on August 4, 11, 18, 25 and Sept. 1. Games include Buffalo versus Ottawa (3/10); Montreal (3/12); Tampa Bay (3/19); Washington (3/27) and Toronto (4/3).
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NHL Highlight / 19
Sabres to Honor Alumni, French Connection
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Photo and Story by Janet Schultz
area as Alumni Plaza in honor of all players who have ne of played and will play for the Buffalo Sabres organization. the most All 144 player’s names will be immortalized on plaques frequent Ted Black announces questions I’m asked is that will be placed on the newly covered brick columns tribute to Alumni! located throughout the plaza. how Buffalo com Fans will also have an opportunity to purchase custom pares to other cities,” plaques that will be placed on the columns. said Buffalo Sabres “On October 12 when we dedicate the statue and President Ted Black. “We have the best, but that is what unveil the plaques it will mean something to everyone,” every city says.” announced Black. “The one thing about Buffalo Sabres fans is that it “This is one of the means something to be a Bufmany things happenfalo Sabres fan,” he continued. ing at Canalside,” said “The history of the franchise Black. means a lot to fans,” he said. “It’s the greatest “One of the first things you honor a line can have,” learn about is Gilbert Perrault, said Robert, representRene Robert and Rick Martin— ing the French Connecthe French Connection.” tion. “It’s a shame that In that light, Buffalo Sabres Rico couldn’t be here. owner Terry Pegula and wife, Rico gave so much to Kim, took the suggestion of this community and his many fans and will immortalize hockey and I’m sure The French Connection by havhe’s looking down on ing them cast in a bronze statue Rene Robert with Ron Moscati photo that will be used as us.” that will be placed outside First reference for sculpture to be placed in the newly designated “I think it’s great,” Niagara Arena in the area now Alumni Plaza at First Niagara Center. said former Buffalo Saused for Pre- and Post-Game bre Danny Gare. “Ever celebrations. since Terry (Pegula) has come here the alumni has been a Pegula insisted that the statue be made from an actual big part of what he wants to incorporate into this team. point in the history of the group. The Sabres only have “The guys have given their heart and souls to this two photographs in their archives that feature all three in organization and who better than the French Connection one pose. The photo selected is by Photographer Ronald to start it off.” Moscati and was taken during the April 1975 playoff game between Buffalo and Montreal in which all three of “It’s obvious that Perrault is the face of the team,” said Sabres Alumni Association President Rob Ray. “What the the French Connection scored a goal in the win. line did can be comparable to what lines have done since, The Sabres have commissioned American sculptor Jerry McKenna, Boerne, Texas, known for his sports stat- but it’s they are names that are connected to that. “When you have history, use it and people will enjoy ues. He was named the All-American Football Foundation 2003 “Sports Sculptor of the Year” for his 17 portrait it,” said Ray. “The younger guys can see that the older guys are around and they will want to be part of it and be busts in the Pro Hall of Fame. HHL Architects of Buffalo will construct the pedestal, one of those guys with their name on a plaque.” More information about Alumni Plaza and the French which will feature an integrated lighting system and illuminated informational panel. This will provide the base Connection statue can be found at www.sabres.com/ alumniplaza.# for the statue. In addition, Black announced the naming of the plaza
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feature / 20
U
p until last year Jody Rosen played hockey, coached hockey, watched hockey; you might as well say the only time he wasn’t involved with hockey is when he slept—some of us may say he dreamt about hockey. Rosen plays in a non-contact adult league, but he admits he can be a slight forceful. During one of the last games of the 2010-11 season he went into the corner for the puck and was hit with what he determined was a cheap shot. He had a slight skirmish with the other guy and then went to the bench. “As a coach I knew I had a mild concussion,” said Rosen. It started with mild headaches, but since he had a history of migraines he put off going to the doctor feeling that they would go away. But the headaches became more constant and did not go away. Like many, he put off going to the doctor, even though his wife, Megan, asked him to. “I told her I’d be careful and it would go away,” he recalls. After two weeks, by Janet Schultz there wasn’t any improvement. He attributed the pain to a back injury and went to his chiropractor. After a third adjustment and no improvement the Chiropractor ordered an x-ray. “He thought there was a small crack in my vertebrae so I went to see my family doctor,” said Rosen. “He ordered an MRI and called me two days later with good news and bad news. “The good news -- they found two bulging discs and a torn disc in my neck; the bad news -- they saw something on my brain but didn’t know what it was. “The doctor felt the bulging and torn discs would heal themselves and surgery wasn’t ordered,” continues Rosen. “However, they felt that since the spot was where the brain and spine connect I should see a neurologist.” The neurologist reviewed the x-ray and told Rosen that the chance of cancer was less than five percent. A second doctor agreed with the diagnosis and they fitted Rosen with a neck brace to aid in the healing process. “They told me they could do a biopsy if I wanted but they didn’t know if I really needed it. It was a complicated procedure,” explains Rosen.
Hockey Saved This Coach’s Life
The delicate procedure that called for them going through the nostril to obtain the tissue sample which would also be very painful for Rosen. At this point the hockey season had ended in March, it was mid-May and summer was a good time for the doctors to schedule a biopsy. For Rosen it meant putting off the exam, diagnosis and treatment, if needed, even longer. Knowing that if it was cancerous time was of the essence, Rosen’s sisterin-law, who is an mal-practice attorney, suggested he get another opinion. So off he goes to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. When he met with the doctor he was told he couldn’t get a biopsy until late August 2011 and it was now mid-June 2011. The injury had occurred in January. “I walked out and decided that doctor wasn’t going to touch me,” said Rosen, who just wasn’t comfortable with the doctor, his mannerisms or his “bed side manner.” “The headaches were getting better,” said Rosen. “So I thought things might be okay.” However, on July 12, 2011 while at working second shift at National Fuel Rosen noticed his eyes didn’t seem right. He thought it was because he was over-tired from not getting enough sleep or a reaction from the medication he was on for the headaches. “I went to my boss about midnight and told him he
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feature /21
might want to replace me for the While at the rink his cell phone and scheduled an appointment with week,” said Rosen. “He said ‘why, went off. It’s the doctor’s office tellthe doctor for two weeks later. In the what’s the matter?’ ing him the doctor would call him the meantime his sister-in-law has been “I told him ‘I can barely see,’” next morning at 9 a.m. Remember kept informed of what was hapsaid Rosen. “Maybe it’s a allergic now, 24 hours will pass from his pening and she was making some reaction or something with this brain initial call to his doctor’s office, and inquiries at other agencies. Finally tumor they found. a good 33 hours since he left work. she tells Rosen to take all his x-rays, “He asked me if I wanted some When the doctor called the next go home and go to Roswell Cancer one to drive me home and I said ‘No, day, Rosen was instructed to go imInstitute. She had gotten him an apI’ll head right home.’” mediately to Gates Circle Hospital pointment for the next morning. Rosen arrived at home and went because it sounded like something, He followed her orders and to bed. He called his doctor’s ofmost likely the tumor, had shifted. things started happening quickly. fice at 9 a.m. the next “The doctor morning and when the at Roswell took one doctor hadn’t called look and told me the back by the time his chance of it being daughter had to leave cancer was above for hockey practice, he 85% and the tumor went to the rink. was growing rap “It was her first idly, especially near practice and I didn’t my optical nerve want to miss it,” said causing the vision Rosen, who went on to problem,” Rosen exexplain that he secretly plains. “The steroid put his hockey bag shot was the right into the truck, just in thing to do; but I case they needed help needed a biopsy and on the ice. they did it almost “My wife said immediately.” ‘you’re not going on Ten days the ice you can barely later, on his 40th see’ and I replied that birthday, Rosen Behind the University of Buffalo Lady Ice Bulls bench, ‘I’d call it when I saw found out that he pre-cancer. (Photo by Janet Schultz) it,’” said Rosen smilhad Plasmacytoma, ing. a rare form of can Being one of the cer that only about hottest days that month, they walked He still hadn’t been seen by a doctor. 25 people in the entire world had. into a rink full of fog, similar to the Virtually blind at this point, However, the radiation treatment was 1975 Buffalo Stanley Cup game. He Rosen checked into the emergency successful 23 of the 25 times. decided right away that he would room and the hours pass as he waits “I can’t win the lottery, but I can lace up and assist with the practice. for the doctor, who is in surgery. The get a cancer that no one else gets,” he That’s when things really started to hospital staff took him for an MRI says. get unnerving for Rosen. which lasted a half an hour, rolled Rosen had planned a hockey trip “The freakiest thing happened. I him out in the hallway for 45 minutes to Lake Placid and the doctor agreed had clear vision but it was very, very and then finally moved him back to he could go to that but treatments defined double vision. It was as if his area in the ER where he continwould begin as soon as he arrived one eye was going one way, and the ued waiting. back home. other eye the other way. “I haven’t eaten, hours pass and In this situation chemotherapy “I saw two of every single player. I’m not allowed to leave,” he contin- was not an option, nor was surgery; it It was as if Kylie (daughter) had a ues. had to be radiation. twin. Finally at 10:30 p.m. the doctor’s The radiation was scheduled for “I’m thinking this is really weird, assistant comes out and says the doc- five days a week for a month and my equilibrium was okay; I wasn’t tor, who had been in surgery all day, a half and lasted about 10 minutes. going to fall, I just saw two of every- had to leave—without seeing Rosen. There were side affects, some known thing.” The assistant ordered a steroid shot and some unknown. In addition he
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women’s college / 22 and a half originally scheduled. While that might seem like a good sign, after letting it rest for eight weeks and then testing, the doctors told Rosen it hadn’t worked. In addition the side affects had stepped up and he was super tired and sick. Chemo still wasn’t an option. With the tumor still there he had to move forward with another option, Gamma Knife Surgery. This is a direct laser, painless, no sound and targets the radiation right on the tumor. It’s done using a machine similar to an MRI. They scheduled it for the end of January 2012. “It was the creepiest thing ever,” said Rosen. “Just your head goes in. But before that they drill four holes in your head and attach a bracket to the head to keep it in place and target the tumor. They numb the area but you still feel it when the drill hits the bone.” The treatment lasted for an hour and a half. Inside the machine there was dead silence and he was locked in place. “After it was over the doctor gave me a cup, takes out the screws and says ‘you had a couple of loose screws,’” laughs Rosen. “He was great.” Another eight weeks pass to find out the results of the gamma surgery. In April Rosen has another MRI and it looked as if the surgery had done its job. The tumor was turning to fatty tissue. If the tumor didn’t turn to fatty tissue and just went away it would leave a hole in the brain, Rosen explained. Eight more weeks pass and it’s now June 2012, his blood numbers are good and it looks like he’s on the right track. Rosen’s next blood work
Rosen with two of his 2012-13 recruits. (Photo by Janet Schultz)
would be on an oral medication. “I gained 46 pounds in a month, I was unrecognizable,” said Rosen. “I had hockey coming up and I wasn’t going to let this slow me down.” Rosen, true to his word, would go to UB girl’s early morning practices, take his radiation, go home and sleep and conduct his boy’s team practices at Amherst in the evening. “At times I’d go off the ice for a few minutes and let the assistants take over because I would get sick,” he explained. “I couldn’t skate the way I used to. I could glide around but I couldn’t even do cross-overs, but I was able to keep going.” Rosen met with the parents of his team and explained the situation giving them the option of him or them telling their sons about his illness. They let him. His handling of the situation with his teams led him to becoming a very inspirational person for players, parents and others around him. He went public through Facebook as well. “I went on Facebook because I figured all the prayers and positive thoughts out there would help,” he continued. However in that time he only missed one of his University of Buffalo Girl’s Ice Hockey Team and a tournament with his Amherst team. Rosen finished his radiation in one month, rather than the month
will be September 2012. “I’m not officially clear, but it’s on the way down (referring to his blood count),” said Rosen. His high compliments go to Roswell! He found everyone there was friendly, the facility as comfortable as a resort and everyone was there to help the patient. He still has some side affects which include some joint pain and losing the weight he gained from both the steroid and the radiation. “The hockey community has been great,” said Rosen. “Last year I would get dropped off at the arena and someone would have to drive me home because I wasn’t able to drive. There was always someone there to do it.” He isn’t able to return to work yet, but he has been able to skate, swim and ride his bike, which he did in the Ride for Roswell. “I wanted to give back to Roswell, they saved my life,” said Rosen. “They caught it early enough and it looks like through the monitoring it’s on its way down.” He still suffers from some pain in his feet and joints from the steroid and radiation that affects the ligaments. During his illness he coached and rebuilt the Amherst AAA team, ran USA Hockey’s ADM model and coached his son’s team to Super Sunday and a 3-13 season, after they lost a coach. “This year I’m focusing on the UB girl’s team and coaching Kylie’s Bison’s team,” said Rosen. “My son will play house in Amherst. “I also found that the ADM model worked very well, it gave big results in a hurry,” explains Rosen, who was not in favor of the program in the beginning.
Continued on Page 26
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WEST SECTION / 23
Monroe County Youth Hockey The NewEdge Hockey Training Center at Lakeshore Hockey Arena is scheduled to open in August. The training center is located at 123 Ling Road in Rochester. Learn more at/www.newedgehockey.com (Courtesy Monroe Website).
Webster Youth Hockey ...Webster will hold their Cyclone Challenge Tier II Travel Hockey Tournament September 14 and 15. New to the Tournament this year is a Girls 14U and Girls 16U division. Contact Keith Horan, Khoran@ rochester.rr.com, text: 585-576-3092 for information. ...The Webster PeeWees are selling discount cards as a fundraisers. The discounts are for Rochester/Webster area businesses and are good through July 2013. Cost is $10. Contact Deb at dvent@rochester.rr.com. (Courtesy Webster Website). ...A Girls Powerskating Clinic will be held August 6-10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening. This is presented by the Webster Girls 14U team. Coached by Rick Sylvestor at SIR. (Webster website). ...The High School Prep Team Fundraiser -- Go to Yolickity Frozen Yogurt Bar, 944 Hard Road, Webster and say “Midget Hockey” when you order. The team will receive 20% of the gross revenue raised. (Monroe website).
Condolences We express our condolences to the family of Ryan J. Frank who passed away suddenly on July 17. He was a member of the Webster Youth Hockey organization from it’s inception and continued by playing in the men’s league.
Niagara University’s ACHA Club Team Joins NECHL
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he Niagara University ACHA hockey team will play in the North East Collegiate Hockey League for the first time this season. NECHL will be among their toughest opponents in team history. Niagara will open the season September 21st at Dwyer Arena against Slippery Rock University. The schedule is a challenging one with two pivitol home matchups against the University of Buffalo who will likely make or break the Eagles season in league play. “We are going to have a battle on our hands pretty much every weekend” Head Coach Larry Brzeczkowski said of the schedule. “We are very excited to have a lot of
great teams coming to our campus and playing and as always we are going to be traveling to take on some very good teams. We feel that the NECHL is going to be a very good fit for us and just like the ECHL every game is going to matter.” NU’s roster features 14 New York-born players including: Jon Anderson (Grand Island/GI High School); George Antzoulis (Queens/Long Island Royals MJHL Jr. B); Greg Cartwright (Coram/ Long Island Royals); Sam Cucinotta (Niagara Falls/ Kenmore West); Marc Degiullio (Youngstown/ Wheatfield Blades); Nick Durante (Kenmore/Buffalo Stars); Tyler Guarasci (Buffalo/St.Francis); Ryan Hughes (Patchouge/Suffolk PAL); Max Hyland (Grand Island/Buffalo Stars); Justin Lhuillier (Patchouge/Long Island Gulls); Patrick Martin (Farmingdale/Long Island Royals); Drew Mencer (Buffalo/Buffalo Stars); Tom Mooradian (Lewiston/ Wheatfield Blades); Timothy Roggemann (Yaphank/ Long Island Royals); Anthony Russell (Grand Island/Buffalo Stars) and Dane Wakefield (Monroe/ New York Saints). NU’s schedule can be found at www.nuachahockey.com
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By Warren Kozireski
west section college / 24
NYS HOCKEY COLLEGE REPORT-WEST
BROCKPORT The 2012 Brockport Hockey Golf Tournament is set for Saturday, August 11 at the Salmon Creek Country Club located in Spencerport, NY. The tournament is a scramble format and is set to begin at 10:00 am. Included in the package for all golfers are 18 holes of golf, cart, and lunch at the turn. Also included is the Post Tournament Steak Dinner at 4:30 pm. The tournament will feature multiple prizes and giveaways including a closest to the pin contest.
NIAGARA
Defenseman C.J. Chartrain participated in the NHL’s Washington Capitals 2012 Prospect Development Camp. The Capitals development camp included week-long on-and off-ice workouts designed to help Capitals prospects improve their games and allow the Capitals to evaluate their progress. Chartrain is one of the most experienced Purple Eagle having played in 102 games in three seasons and accounting for 10 goals and 28 assists. Chartrain finished his junior campaign playing in a career-best 36 games while setting a career-high in goals with six and tying a careerbest in points with 14.
R.I.T. RIT men’s hockey Head Coach Wayne Wilson announced the Class of 2016 on Thursday, May 31. The group of eight student-athletes includes four forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender. “We really like this class coming in as it will fill the needs for our team,” said Wilson. “This class brings in a combination of size, speed, and skill and also includes our first homegrown Rochester player and first NHL draft pick.” Forwards Dan Schuler (Rochester, NY/Powell River
Kings), Andrew Miller, Josh Mitchell and Anthony Hamburg will all be expected to contribute from day one, with all playing at least two seasons at the junior level. Schuler, RIT’s first Division I homegrown recruit from Penfield, returns home after playing for the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League last season. He finished the year with 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points, leading his team to a first place finish in the Coastal Division. In 15 playoff games, he recorded 10 points on six goals and four assists, helping lead the River Kings to the Fred Page Cup Finals. He finished his two seasons in the BCHL with 68 points on 28 goals and 40 assists. Miller finished second on the Chicago Steel last season with 43 points on a team-high 24 goals and 19 assists. In two seasons in the highly competitive United States Hockey League, he recorded 29 goals and 25 assists in 105 games. Mitchell led the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League with 58 points on 13 goals and 45 assists last season. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, the 5-11 Mitchell scored 33 goals and dished out 105 assists for 138 points in 173 games. Hamburg, RIT’s first NHL draft pick, joins the Tigers for his sophomore season after skating with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League last season, where he finished with 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points. The 6-1 forward, who was picked 194th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2009, played seven games for Colgate University during the 2010-11 season, tallying three assists, before returning to the Lancers. In two and a half seasons with Omaha, Hamburg recorded 24 goals and 57 assists in 140 games. Rajan Sidhu, Brad Shumway and Zander Kuqali will look to fill the void left by 2012 graduates Chris Haltigin, Daniel Spivak and Trevor Eckenswiller on defense. Sidhu split time last season with the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Coquitlam Express, finishing the year with 11 points on two goals and nine assists. The 6-3, defenseman skated in three full seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League,
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West Section College / 25
finishing with 46 assists and 52 points. Shumway appeared in 26 contests last season for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, tallying one goal and four assists. The 6-1 defenseman led the Steel with a +22 rating last season. Kuqali finished last season with the Sioux City Muskateers with nine points on four goals and five assists in 30 games. The 6-2 defenseman began the season with Indiana, where he had 11 points on two goals and nine assists. In three seasons in the United States Hockey League, Kuqali had seven goals and 31 assists for 38 points in 142 games. Ken MacLean will provide depth in goal for the Tigers, as he is expected to compete for playing time immediately. MacLean comes to RIT after playing last season with the Kalamazoo Wings of the North American Hockey League. MacLean finished the 2011-12 season with a 20-9-2 record with two shutouts, as well as a 2.76 goals against average, and a .911 save percentage.
CANISIUS
The Griffs announced their 2012-13 season schedule: Sun, Oct 07 Ottawa University (Exh) Buffalo State Arena Sat, Oct 13 Sat, Oct 13 Fri, Oct 19 Sat, Oct 20 Thu, Oct 25 Sun, Oct 28 Sat, Nov 03 Sun, Nov 04 Fri, Nov 09 Sat, Nov 10 Fri, Nov 16 Sat, Nov 24 Sun, Nov 25 Fri, Nov 30 Sat, Dec 01 Tue, Dec 18 Sat, Dec 29 Sun, Dec 30 Sat, Jan 05 Sun, Jan 06 Fri, Jan 11 Sat, Jan 12 Fri, Jan 18 Sat, Jan 19 Fri, Jan 25 Sat, Jan 26 Sat, Feb 02 Sun, Feb 03 Thu, Feb 07 Sat, Feb 09 Fri, Feb 15 Sat, Feb 16 Fri, Feb 22 Sat, Feb 23 Fri, Mar 01 Sat, Mar 02
Kendall Hockey Classic Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska Alaska Fairbanks Anchorage, Alaska Western Michigan Kalamazoo, Mich. Western Michigan Kalamazoo, Mich. Air Force * Buffalo State Sports Arena Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. Clarkson Buffalo State Sports Arena Clarkson Buffalo State Sports Arena Robert Morris * Buffalo State Sports Arena RIT * Rochester, N.Y. Niagara * Buffalo State Sports Arena AIC * Buffalo State Sports Arena AIC * Buffalo State Sports Arena Connecticut * Storrs, Conn. Connecticut * Storrs, Conn. Mercyhurst * Erie, Pa. Army * Buffalo State Sports Arena Army * Buffalo State Sports Arena Bowling Green Buffalo State Sports Arena Bowling Green Buffalo State Sports Arena Sacred Heart * Milford, Conn. Sacred Heart * Milford, Conn. Bentley * Waltham, Mass. Bentley * Waltham, Mass. Mercyhurst * Erie, Pa. Mercyhurst * Buffalo State Sports Arena Holy Cross * Buffalo State Sports Arena Holy Cross * Buffalo State Sports Arena Niagara * Buffalo State Sports Arena Niagara * Lewiston, N.Y. Air Force * USAF Academy, Colo. Air Force * USAF Academy, Colo. Robert Morris * Buffalo State Sports Arena Robert Morris * Pittsburgh, Pa. RIT * Rochester, N.Y. RIT * Buffalo State Sports Arena
2:05 PM 12:07 AM 8:07 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 2:07 PM 3:05 PM 3:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 4:05 PM 4:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 12:05 PM 12:05 PM 7:05 PM 4:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 3:05 PM 3:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 9:05 PM 9:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM 7:05 PM
Answers to Word Scramble on Page 30: Hockey, Stick, Puck, Arena, Penalty Box, Ice Resurfacer, Coach, Team, Forward, Goaltender, Defenseman, Concession Stand, Score, Locker Room, Stanley Cup, Ice, Playoffs, Goal, Referee, Linesman, National Hockey League, Jersey, Helmet.
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stories continued / 26
East News Continued...
Central News Continued...
...The Westchester Mariners need Mite through Bantam players plus players for the NY Dragons Junior team. They are also holding clinics from now through August 23. Mites and Squirts meet Thursdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m.; Peewees and bantams, Mondays, 6-7:15 p.m. and Midget thru junior college players, Mondays 7:30 to 9 p.m. and Wednesdays, 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. A Goaltender and Power Skating Camp will be held August 20-24. For more information on all of this go to www.marinershockey. org. (Submitted by Mariners Hockey).
...The Baldwinsville High School Accelerated Skills Program will be held August 13-17 at Greater Baldwinsville Ice Arena. This is open to Mite, Squirt, PeeWee and Bantams. Call Mark Lloyd 635-5690 or Glenn McCaffrey, 638-7579 for more information.
...The Long Island Amateur Hockey League 8th Annual PAL Hockey Skate and Splash will be held August 17-19 at The Rink, Hauppague, NY. (LI Website). ...The First Annual John Jay Patriots Ice Hockey Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, Sept. 17 at James Baird State Park. This tournament is being held to raise funds for the John Jay Ice Hockey Club program. It will help high school athletes pay for ice costs, hotels, meals, and travel for overnight tournaments. The hockey program is entirely self-supporting and receives no school district funds. The golf course is a beautifully designed by nationally renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones with scenic views and selectively challenging holes. Registration for the 18-hole “Scramble” begins at 8 a.m. The shotgun golf start will be at 9 a.m. There will be tournament prizes, as well as raffle ticket and silent auctions. For further information e-mail: JohnJayHockeyClub@gmail.com. Online registration can be done at: http://jjpuck.com.assn.la/
...The Lysander Youth Hockey Golf Tournament will be held August 24 at Beaver Meadows Golf Club. (Courtesy Lysander website). ...The Syracuse Nationals AAA Hockey 2012 Early Bird Jam will be held September 29 & 30. This is a showcase of high caliber, championship AAA teams. Contact Michael Rexine, mcrexine@twcny.rr.com. or go to: http://midstatehockey.com and click on icon with “Nationals.”#
NYSAHA GIRLS DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL LAKE PLACID, AUGUST 17-19, 2012 In addition to the regional development opportunities this summer for players an intermediate development festival will be held at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. Detailed information at www. nyhockeyonline.com under Women/ Girls. If you have any specific questions about any of our camps or programs please feel free to contact Joe Eppolito at 315-686-2226 or by e-mail at jeppolit@twcny.rr.com.#
Continued from Page 22 Coach Rosen Rosen began playing house and travel hockey at Cazenovia and moved on to the Pillsbury Dough Boys, now the Southtown Stars. He also played for Erie Community College when they were ranked one of the top junior college teams in the nation. During his high school hockey he captained the 1999 Buffalo Traditional team. They won Super Sunday in his freshman, sophmore and junior years and lost in his senior year to Hutch Tech. “I was on the ice when the winning goal was scored,” he says smiling. Rosen went into coaching youth hockey in 2005 at Amherst when his kids, Patrick, 13 and Kylie, 11, started playing. A friend was coaching at the University of Buffalo asked Rosen to come in. UB went to the DIII ACHA and after several coaching problems Rosen took over as head coach. He took the team out of the ACHA for a year, recruited players he knew well from area teams, re-energized them and they are now moving forward and back in the ACHA playing competitive hockey. Rosen looks back on that day in January when he took a hit and realizes that that hit put him on the road to finding and treating his cancer in time. Truly a hit in hockey that saved a life!#
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Legends of the Game / 27
Legends of the Game:
WNY’s Dan McFall by Randy Schultz Photos by Janet Schultz
I
t is a Thursday afternoon in late July. Inside the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, NY, Dan McFall is skating with a group of children. McFall is one of the instructors that are part of the 20th Annual McFall Brothers Hockey School. Along with his brothers, Tom and John, Dan spends the entire week in the Jamestown area working at the school. “It’s one of my chances to get back home during the year,” said McFall, who played parts of two seasons in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets (1984-86) and now resides in Burlington, VT. “It’s a chance for me to get back to my roots and where I learned to play hockey.” For McFall, home is actually located several miles north of Jamestown in Kenmore, NY. Hockey was a natural for McFall. “My dad ran Holiday Twin Rinks,” said McFall, a former defenseman. “I was a rink rat and was at the rink all the time. “Initially I began in organized hockey playing for the Thistle Construction Flyers in the Tonawanda (NY) area. Then I went on to play for the Regals organization until I was a bantam. “From there it was on to the Junior Sabres, where I played for three years. I had two former NHLers coaching me. The first was Larry Mickey and then it was Jim Lorentz. “Jim had quite an influence on me. Originally when I came to the Junior Sabres I was a forward.
“Then we had some injuries on the team and we needed a defenseman. So he moved me back to defense. “He saw something in me that I hadn’t seen before. It was the best thing that could have ever happened in my career. “It was career changing for me. Maybe the best thing that could have happened to me hockeywise. “It really helped my hockey career take off. “I played well enough there to get noticed by Michigan State University. I ended up attending and playing four years for the Spartans. “I had tried out for a junior team in Canada a year before I went to Michigan State. But most people suggested that I go the college route, play some hockey and get an education.” Interestingly enough, McFall was drafted by the Jets in the eighth round (148th player taken overall) of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. “I had never even thought about the NHL until I was about 14 or 15 years old,” recalled McFall. “Infact, I never even knew I had been drafted by the Jets until a reporter called and told me. “Obviously, things are a little different today with the internet, texting, telephones and all. “ McFall had a very successful college career, making the CCHA First All-Star Team (1984), NCAA West Second All-American Team (1984), CCHA Second All-Star Team (1985) and NCAA West First All-American Team (1985). “I joined the Jets after Michigan State was eliminated from the post-season,” recalled McFall, who played just four seasons of pro hockey (1984-87). “My first NHL game was against the Chicago Blackhawks and was on Hockey Night In Canada. “I flew into Winnipeg to sign my contract. It was 10 below zero. “
Continued on Page 29
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GENERAL HOCKEY NEWS & NOTES / 28
TAMPA SELECTS AMHERST’S BLUJUS
T
here were 77 defensemen selected at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and the Western New York region again proved it is a source of hockey talent when Amherst’s Dylan Blujus was selected in the second round—40th overall in Pittsburgh. In fact he was the 15th d-man chosen as the draft went topheavy in blueliners with 13 selected in the first round alone. “It’s great to be the first one off the board from Western New York so I definitely feel happy about that,” said Blujus in the media scrum in a back room under the arena immediately after his selection. “They (Tampa) just want me to be the player I am today—a strong right-handed defenseman with a shot from the point, so I’m just going to keep working on that. Right now is when the work begins. I just need to keep working because nothing comes easy.” Blujus entered the draft ranked 71st among North American skaters after his seven goal27 assist season with Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League. That followed his first OHL campaign where he tallied four goals with 22 assists in 67 games. He played for the Buffalo Regals in 2009-10 and netted 22 points in just 47 games and was also part of the Wheatfield Blades system. “Brampton offered me a great opportunity to come in and play top-four minutes every day as an
From the 2012 NHL Draft Floor by Warren Kozireski
underage player. I thought it was a great chance for exposure so I went with it and it has turned out great.” At 6’3”, 193 lbs., the 18-year old right shot is being touted as a player who can get his “heavy shot” through traffic, according to one scout quoted in The Hockey News Draft Preview. He also is being asked to toughen up his game and develop his shutdown defense to partner with his offensive abilities. “My confidence is probably the thing that has developed the most so it lets me be the player I am playing both ends of the ice. I’m always looking for competition and to push myself to the next level, so we’ll see what I can do with this.” Tampa Bay just changed their American Hockey League affiliate from Norfolk (who won the 2012 Calder Cup) to Syracuse beginning with the 2012-13 season. But Blujus has two more seasons to play in Brampton as part of the NHL-Canadian junior hockey agreement before he could be signed to play with the Crunch. Until then, it’s either an NHL job or back to Brampton. “(Lightning General Manager)
Steve Yzerman is a world class guy and has a great team with Steve Stamkos and everyone around him. They (Tampa were) as one of the few teams I talked to during the year before the combine and they showed a lot of interest in me. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much, but in the back of my mind I thought I had a chance (of going there).” As for his development in the Buffalo region prior to going north, Blujus said “I always played up an age group so coming out of there I always knew I could play with older kids and I just wanted to show that I could and I think I did pretty well with that.”
Baldwinsville’s Nieves Selected by NY Rangers
H
is name was officially listed as on the giant screen at Pittsburgh’s ConSol Energy Center as Cristoval Nieves, but the New York Rangers know they drafted “Boo” Nieves with their second round selection (59th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. “It feels great—not a hometown team quite yet, but pretty close,” said Nieves. “I didn’t get to down on myself (for not being selected in the first round) because I knew I would eventually get picked. “I had a feeling it was going to be New York because our conversations went well and they like to draft college guys.” Continued on Page 29
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Legends continued / 29
“So I “It’s the ‘Dan McFall Full suggested mov- Stride Hockey Training Program.’ ing to Burling- It started with adult beginners. ton and we did. “Since then it has expanded And we have into running all of the hockey been there ever leagues for adults in the Burlingsince. ton area. I also do a big beginners “After program for both kids and adults. being cut by “I also do a lot of clinics for the Jets I went kids, both for the beginner and the to Burlington advanced player. I have also exand became a panded into doing power skating carpenter. Then instruction. about 20 years “It’s anything and everything The McFall Brothers--Dan, Tom and John--at McFall Hockey ago my brother to do with hockey. And for me, Camp in Jamestown. (Photo by Janet Schultz) Tom opened up life has always been about hockContinued from Page 27 a hockey camp ey. “It’s a natural thing.”# during the summer. After being cut by the Jets or- “I decided it was time for me ganization following the 1986-87 to get back into hockey. So I went season, McFall had to make some and helped my brother with his decisions. camp. So how did McFall end up in “That’s when Burlington? I decided to get “I was playing for the Sherinto the hockey brooke (Que., Canada) Canadiens business myself.” of the American Hockey League Today, at 49, (during the 1985-86 season) at McFall not only the time,” remarked McFall, a lives but works in graduate of Kenmore West High Burlington. School. “A couple of other play “I’ve been ers and myself had a day off from living there playing and decided to take a trip since 1988,” said across the boarder to Burlington. McFall. “I also “I really liked the city and own and operate never forgot it. After my wife and my business from I got married we were looking for there. a place to live. Dan gives instruction at McFall Summer Ice Hockey Camp in Jamestown. (Photo by Janet Schultz)
Nieves continued from page 28
And as for the nickname…“when I was younger, my mom called me Boog-a-Boo but when I got older it wasn’t really appropriate, so she just called me Boo.” Nieves just graduated from the Kent School, a prep school in Connecticut and is heading to the University of Michigan next season. He scored seven goals with 32 assists in 26 games in 2011-12. Before moving on to prep school, Nieves was in the
Syracuse Stars system. “I played under Steve Cibelli for about seven or eight years and he grew up a Rangers fan, so this is pretty exciting for me,” explained Nieves. “He helped me over my last years of youth hockey and was there for me and a huge part of my success so far.” “I would say speed is the top part of my game. I plan to skate as much as I can this summer. I’ve been criticized for not shooting enough, so I have time to change that.”#
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Unscramble the Hockey terms below:
yekcoh _____________________ ckist _____________________ kcup _____________________ aaner _____________________ ltnaepy xob _____________________ iec srfcreauer _____________________ cchao _____________________ meta _____________________ drwrfao _____________________ loagdreent _____________________ eeansmnfd _____________________ sinoesccon tsnda _____________________ erocs _____________________ rlock moor _____________________ lstyane pcu _____________________ ffsoaylp _____________________ ogal _____________________ eeeerrf _____________________ iealnnms _____________________ noilatan ykheco ueglae ____________________ ejesyr _____________________ mhleet _____________________
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Damian Adams Scores in the Developmental Atoms Program at West Point Military Academy. (Photo by Janet Schultz)
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