February 2014

NY HOCKEY February 2014

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5

ONLINE

The Olympic Issue!

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA NEW YORKERS GOING FOR THE GOLD

Pucci Talks to NY Hockey NYC Sled Hockey * Roeder’s Journey *

Your Source For NYS Hockey News!

NY HOCKEY E-Magazine

In This Issue: 2014 Olympics.............................. 5 Adirondack Classic....................44 Bison Beat.....................................47 Buffalo Stars...................46, 52-54 Central NY....................................25 Eastern NY....................................32 Empire State Games................... 4 Gridley...........................................12 High School Standings.....62, 68 Homegrown................................17 Insight Hockey............................15 Iroquois HS...........................20, 51 Northern NY................................39 NY Spotlight/Nickson..............21 NY Spotlight/Rost......................23 NYC Sled.......................................33 Photo Pages...........................60-61 Pucci................................................. 9 Roeder...........................................13 Tournaments...............................64 Sedia..............................................11 USA Prospects Game................12 Western NY..................................45 WNYGVIH......................................55 Last Minute News......................69

Dear Readers,

An exciting time for hockey is upon us and NY Hockey Online. The 2014 Olympics will open in just days and in this issue we have tried to give you an armchair look at Sochi, provided you with the times to watch our Teams and rosters to help you along.

We’ve also gained several advertisers and urge all of you to at least take a look at their websites. There may be something they offer that is just what you are looking for. We welcome Icemen Lacrosse, the Buffalo Stars and welcome back to Janosz Goaltending!

We also have a major advertiser, KiPo Motors. Janet and I have been purchasing vehicles and having them serviced by KiPo since they moved to Ransomville several years ago. They purchased a long-standing dealership and have maintained the home-town and caring feeling that had been established many years ago. Janet actually won’t let any other mechanic touch her car! Please check out their website. They have several locations in the Niagara County area!

As always, please forward this to your players and coaches. We use the email addresses provided on Association and College websites, which only give us the Board members, some coaches, Athletic Directors and coaches. Since we focus on players we want players to read the magazine and your cooperation helps.

We also want to thank the numerous contributors this month. It seems the Magazine has really taken hold and Associations are now contacting us with their news; thus saving us time to visit each website.

Koz, Janet and I provide this magazine because we love hockey and we love to promote our youth. We hope your love of the game is reflected in NY Hockey Online. Make sure to visit our website www.nyhockeyonline.com regularly as we post updates on a regular basis.

Keep the news coming!

See you at the rink, Randy Schultz Publisher Randy@nyhockeyonline.com

NY Hockey On-Line (E-Magazine) 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, Wkozires@brockport.edu Janet Schultz Randy Schultz Rob Sedia Chuck Gridley Tom Barnett 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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Empire State Games / Page 4

Empire State Winter Games 2014 Empire State Winter Games Women’s Hockey Venue: Tupper Lake Memorial Civic Arena FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 TIME HOME TEAM VISITING TEAM GAME 1 GAME 2 GAME 3 GAME 4 GAME 5 GAME 6

10:00 AM-11:20 AM 11:40 AM-1:00 PM 1:10 PM-2:30 PM 2:40 PM-4:00 PM 4:10 PM - 5:30 PM 5:40 PM - 7:00 PM

CENTRAL NEW YORK CITY HUDSON VALLEY VS ADIRONDACK LONG ISLAND WESTERN NY NEW YORK CITY HUDSON VALLEY ADIRONDACK WESTERN NY CENTRAL LONG ISLAND

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 GAME 7 GAME 8 GAME 9 GAME 10 GAME 11 GAME 12

9:00 AM 10:20 AM 10:40 - 12:00 NOON 12:10 AM-1:30 AM 1:40 PM - 3:00 PM 3:10 PM - 4:30 PM 4:40 PM - 6:00 PM

WESTERN NY HUDSON VALLEY LONG ISLAND WESTERN NY ADIRONDACK NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK CITY CENTRAL ADIRONDACK HUDSON VALLEY CENTRAL LONG ISLAND

HUDSON VALLEY WESTERN NY ADIRONDACK

LONG ISLAND CENTRAL NEW YORK CITY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 GAME 13 GAME 14 GAME 15

8:00 AM-9:20 AM 9:35 AM-10:55 AM 11:10 AM-12:30 PM

2013 Medal Winners

1st- Adirondack 2nd - Western 3rd - New York City

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Welcome to Sochi -Site of the 2014 Winter Olympics

by Janet Schultz

Janet@nyhockeyonline.com

S

ochi, Russia will be the host of the 2014 Olympics from February 6 to 23. In addition to the 98 events in 15 sports the 2014 Winter Paralympics will also be held in that city.

Sochi was selected as the host city in July 2007. It is the first Olympics held in Russia since the breakup of the USSR. The USSR hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Sochi, noted in one article, is the Florida of Russia, is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the Black Sea coast near the border between Georgia/ Abkhazia and Russia. The population is about 343,334, making it Russia’s largest resort city.

The climate is generally a humid subtropical climate at the lower elevations with average temperatures 52 degrees at night and 65 degrees during the day. In the coldest months, January and

Olympics / Page 5 February, the temperatures range from the 50’s during the day down to freezing in the evening.

Sochi has aspects of a subtropical resort with the scenic Caucasus Mountains, pebble and sand beaches and numerous parks, monuments and Stalinist architecture.

It doesn’t snow in Sochi, so outdoor events will be held in the Caucasus Mountains and utilizing snow from snow guns and snow taken from the mountains last winter and kept in storage.

The basic industries of Sochi are in trade and catering, construction, resort and tourist complexes and large-scale industry.

Long Beach, California has been a sister city of Sochi since 1990.

For the Olympics the government has spent about $3.26 billion for upgrades including almost $2 billion for an upgraded electrical power system in Sochi. They have also constructed a rapid transit system.

In addition to construction and weather, areas surrounding Sochi are in conflict thus a need for high security in and around Olympic Village. With world-wide concern the Russian government is trying to root out militants and suicide bombers. In addition to heightened security around the Village, the U.S. Military has sent two ships to sit in the Black Sea, available if any evacuations of Americans is necessary.

Men’s and women’s ice hockey will be played in the Bolshoy Ice Dome and Shayba Arena. The two arenas sit less than 1,000 feet apart.

Shayba means

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Olympics / Page 6

“puck” in Russian.

Shayba will be home to the first six hockey games with the women opening first against Finland on February 8. The men open February 13 against Slovakia. After the Olympic, Shayba will be dismantled and moved to another Russian city.

The Bolshoy is larger of the two, seating 12,000 people. Bolshoy means large or great in Russian. This is also a showcase for hockey with its domed roof that lights up at night with 38,000 LED lights.

For those of us not able to travel to Sochi, the games will be telecast and the USA schedule follows.

Shabay Arena

Women’s Hockey

Sat. Feb. 8 Mon.Feb. 10 Wed. Feb. 12 Sat. Feb. 15

Mon. Feb. 17

Thu. Feb. 20

Thu. Feb. 20 Bolshoy Arena

(All times are EST)

Thu. Feb. 13 Sat. Feb. 15 Sun. Feb. 16 Wed. Feb. 19 Fri. Feb. 21 Sat. Feb. 22 SN) Sun. Feb. 23

Men’s Hockey

vs Slovakia 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) vs Russia, 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) vs Slovenia, 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Quarterfinals TBA Semifinals TBA Bronze Medal Game, 10 a.m. (NBCGold Medal Game, 7 a.m. (NBC)

vs Finland, 3 a.m. (NBCSN) vs Switzerland, 5 a.m. (NBCSN vs Canada, 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Quarterfinals, TBA (NBColympics.com) Semifinals 7 a.m.

(NBCSN/MSNBC) Bronze Medal Game, 7 a.m. ( NBCSN) Gold Medal Game Noon, (NBC)

Paralypmic Hockey

Sat. March 8 vs Italy, 7:30 a.m Sun. March 9 vs Korea, 8:30 a.m.

Tue. March 11 vs Russia, 8:30 a.m.

Thu. March 13 Semifinals TBA Sat. March 15 Gold & Bronze Medal Games TBA

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Olympics / Page 7

F

irst up are opening ceremonies for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games are Friday, February 7 at 12:14 p.m. (ET). The USA contingent will be wearing opening ceremony attire designed

by Ralph Lauren.

The outfit was totally made in the United States using USA materials including yarn from Oregon, spun in Pennsylvania, dyed in North Carolina and assembled in California. The design includes USA symbols and the Olympic rings.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, the women’s ice hockey team will take the ice against Finland at 3 a.m. (ET) followed by Switzerland on Monday, February 10 (5 a.m.

ET) and Canada on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:30 a.m. (ET).

The Quarterfinals will be held on Saturday, February 15, semifinals on Monday, Feb. 17 and the Gold Medal Game on Thursday February 20.

All games but the Gold Medal game will be carried on NBCSN. The Gold Medal game will be on NBC. Goaltenders are Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield, Ohio/Robert Morris University); Molly Shaus (Natick, Mass/Boston College) and Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis/ University of Wisconsin).

At Defense along with Pucci, Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass/ University of New Hampshire), Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill/University of Minnesota), Gigi Marvin (Warroad, Minn/University of Minnesota), Michelle Picard (Taunton, Mass/Harvard University), Anne

Hockey in Sochi

N

ext up, the men open their play on Thursday, Feb. 13 against Slovakia at 7:30 a.m.

by Janet Schultz Janet@nyhockeyonline.com (ET). Russia is up next on Saturday, February 15 and Slovenia on Sunday, February 16, both games are 7:30 a.m. (ET).

Men’s quarterfinals will be played Wednesday, February 19, semis on Friday, Bronze on Saturday and the Gold Medal Schleper (St. Cloud, Minn/Univergame will be 7 a.m. Sunday, Febsity of Minnesota) and Lee Steckruary 23. lein (Roseville, Minn/University of Ogdensburg’s Jimmy Howard Minnesota). is one of three goaltenders along Forwards include Alex Carpenwith Buffalo Sabres Ryan Miller ter (North Reading, Mass/Boston and Jonathan Quick from the Los College), Kendall Coyne (Palos Angeles Kings.

Heights, Ill/Northeastern Univer Amherst’s Brooks Orpik (Pittssity), Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn/ burg Penguins) and New RoHarvard University), Brianne chelle’s Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis Decker (Dousman, Wis/University Blues) represent New York on the of Wisconsin), Meghan Duggan defene. Other forwards include (Danvers, Mass/University of WisJohn Carlson (Washington Capiconsin), Lyndsey Fry (Chandler, tals), Justin Faulk (Carolina HurAZ/Harvard University), Amanda ricanes), Cam Fowler (Anaheim Kessel (Madison, Wis/UniverDucks), Paul Martin (Pittsburgh), sity of Minnesota), Hilary Knight Ryan McDonagh (New York Rang(Sun Valley, Idaho/University of ers) and Ryan Sutter (Minnesota Wisconsin), Jocelyne Lamoureux Wild).

(Grand Forks, ND/University of Two Western New Yorkers North Dakota, Monique Lamouand one from Central have reux (Grand Forks, ND/University been named to forward including of North Dakota) and Kelli Stack Dustin Brown (Ithaca/Los Angeles (Brooklyn Heights, Ohio/Boston Kings), Ryan Callahan (Rochester/ College.

New York Rangers) and Patrick Head Coach is Katey Stone.

Kane (Buffalo/Chicago Black hawks). Other forwards for Team ****** USA are David Backes (St. Louis

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Olympics / Page 8

Lancaster NY’s Adam Page (Janet Schultz Photo)

Blues), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs), T.J. Oshie (St. Louis Blues), Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens), Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild), Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche), Derek Stepan (New York Rangers), James van Riemsdyk (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Black Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets).

The men will be coached by Dan Bylsma. ****** ne month later the Paralympic Olympics will be held in Sochi.

On March 8 Team USA will face off against Italy, followed by Korea on March 9 and Russia on March 11. The Semi-finals will be held on Thursday, March 13 and the Medal

O

Roybal (Northlake, Ill), Greg Shaw (Merritt Island, Fla) and Josh Sweeney (Phoenix, Az).

On defense are Tyler Carron (Fort Collins, Colo.), Taylor Chace (Hampton Falls, NH), Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo) and Andy Yohe (Betendorf, Iowa). games on Saturday, March 15.

Goaltending duties will be Game one is at 7:30 a.m.; handled by Steve Cash (Overland, games two and three are 8:30 a.m. Mo) and Jen Lee (San Francisco, starts and the semi-finals and fi- Ca). nals times will be announced.

Jeff Sauer, Madison, Wi, will Lancaster’s Adam Page and serve as head coach.

Buffalo’s Paul Schaus will be playing forward for Team USA. Along with them are Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla), Taylor Lipsett (Plano, Texas), Dan McCoy (Cheswick, Pa), Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa), Josh Pauls (Green Brook, NJ), Rico Roman (Portland, Ore), Brody

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Olympics / Page 9 Connecticut. There she was a fouryear member of the varsity hockey team, serving as their captain as a senior and named MVP in both her junior and senior years. In 2008 she led the team to the Founders League Championship.

The multiple-sport athlete was also a three-time MVP shortstop on the varsity softball team and captain in her senior year and was a Striker on the varsity soccer team for three

W

hen Team USA takes the ice on February 8 against Finland, a young lady from Pearl River, New York will have another of her dreams come true!

Josephine Pucci was still overwhelmed as NY Hockey OnLine talked to her recently.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Pucci. “I don’t know where to start.”

She started playing hockey when she was five years old, thanks to her Dad. “I loved sports,” said Pucci.

“Dad was a hockey fan and took us to Sports-A-Rama and I got excited. I learned to figure skate and then transitioned to ice hockey” At the time Pucci was playing there wasn’t a lot of girl’s hockey so she played her Mite through Bantam years with the Ramapo Youth Hockey organization of the New Jersey Youth Hockey League. Ramapo is located in Rockland County (NY) just 28 miles northwest of NYC. When she got to high school age, there weren’t a lot of opportunity for high school girl’s hockey so she choose to go the prep school route, enrolling at Choate Rosemary Hall in

rial Award and was a finalist for the league’s Best Defenseman Award in her junior year.

She withdrew from Harvard for one year (2012-2013) due to her concussion and serves as Captain this season, her senior year.

Pucci didn’t take the national development camp route, mainly because she played boys hockey through AAA and the camps were held while she was playing in tournaments. In addition, the camps were a distance from her home.

However, she was a member of the Mid-Connecticut Stars that took second in 2005 and third in 2008 and 2009 at the

By Janet Schultz USA Girls National Janet@nyhockeyonline.com Championships.

In College she was invited to attend the 2007 USA Hockey Player Development Camp and then years. was a member of the U22 Team for “My goal was to play collegiate the 2010 U22 series. hockey so I knew I had to go to Prep Her dreams kept coming true, School to attain that goal,” she ex- as she was a member of the 2011 plained. women’s team that played in the IIHF Following Choate Pucci entered Women’s World Championships garHarvard University. She earned All- nering a gold; a member of the same Ivy League First Team and All ECAC team that took silver in 2012.

Hockey Second Team honors in her She also played in four Four Nafreshman year; led the team with 25 tions Cups (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) points, ranking sixth among the na- and the 2011 IIHF Twelve Nations Intion’s blueliners in her sophomore vitational Series. year and was named to the New “I’ve been on the team ever since England Writers All-Star Team, nomi- 2010, with the exception of some nated for the Patty Kazmaier Memo- time that I was out with a concus-

Dreams Do Come True!

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sion,” said Pucci.

Her experience playing with boys was a very positive one for her.

“It’s a high level of hockey and I played 3 to 4 years with checking,” she explains. “It gave me a more physical presence. “ “It’s amazing how girl’s hockey has grown and developed,” said Pucci.. “For me, though, playing with the boys was my opportunity to play.”

Pucci doesn’t have one role model but has developed her own style of play as she grows older.

“I pay attention to players that play similar to me, but I follow my own instincts,” she continues.

Coming from the NYC area, she favors the New York Rangers and when she was younger was a Brian Leech fan and wears Number 2.

She is also a fan of Ryan McDonough.

What’s in store for her in Sochi” After a loss to Finland in the Four Nations Cup, she knows that the Finnish team will be strong, as will USA’s biggest rival—Team Canada.

“For us there isn’t an opponent we can take lightly,” said Pucci. “We need to be prepared for each and every game; but right now we are focused on Finland (first team they face).”

Team USA leaves February 1 for Russia.

Olympics / Page 10

“Right now we are fine tuning a lot of things, playing a couple of scrimmages (before they leave) and just trying to get ready for the trip,” she continued.

With all the political unrest in the area how are the players handling it.

“This is where the games are, we jut go where they tell us and focus on how we are going to play,” she said.

“No matter where we play, we are ready to go!”

Every four years the Olympics inspire more young girls to take to the rink and lace up a pair of hockey skates.

Pucci just wants these girls to due what they love.

“This is the path I took (referring to boys/prep/college) and worked for,” she continued. “It doesn’t mean it’s the path that is right for everyone.”

“Make your own path, doing what you enjoy doing,” she advises. “Don’t be discouraged.

I wasn’t always the best player on the team, you won’t be,” she continued. “Be motivated and work hard.”

Pucci is the daughter of Victor and Ursula Pucci. She has two sisters, Samantha and Victoria, both play hockey.

Victor is head coach of the Ramapo Pee Wee B Team.

Pucci is 5’8” and shoots right as a defenseman. She will be wearing #24.

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Sedia / Page 11

On the Bench with Rob Sedia:

When Did The Word “Win” Become Taboo?

I

remember many wonderful things from my time playing youth hockey and I always think about the differences from my generation compared to now. We can go on and on about the AAA dilution as well as the growing number of orgbunnies (people who hop from organization to organization looking for a youth hockey utopia) but I plan to leave those alone for now.

Instead, I would like to talk about how the word “win” has almost become a negative for organizations and coaches. Believe me, I get it, youth hockey (and hockey in general) needs to be fun and the goal of the organization and coaches should be to ensure the kids have a great hockey experience, instill a love and passion for the game, provide quality development, and ultimately give the paying families their money’s worth among several other very important things.

That being said, hiding from the word “win” can become a negative for organizations and coaches.

In addition to the deliverables listed above, “winning” is important to more parents and players than one might admit to. This is not bad or negative at all – it is quite healthy and natural and needs to be talked about openly and honestly. When an organization and/or coaches do not talk about it, its absence can be misconstrued as irrelevant. When an organization and/or coaches take the lead on the topic, it can be

controlled, expressed and defined properly as well as help defuse potential thoughts such as “this organization (or coach) doesn’t care if we win or lose”.

When I young, we were coached to have an expectation to “win” and we appreciated that.

It wasn’t at all costs and it wasn’t without a healthy dose of discipline. We didn’t lose our minds, crawl under a rock or need counseling when we lost. Sure, we did not like to lose and a loss stung for a bit but it was put in the past relatively quickly and we left the arena normal, healthy, and happy kids.

We were always taught to play as hard as we could, to be selfless, and to do as many good things as possible in an effort to help give our team a chance to win. We worked very, very hard in practice because that was the expectation and we knew that we had to practice exceptionally well just to play good so we could be competitive when it was game time.

Another very important part of this expectation to win was learning how to properly handle losing. We were taught to leave it out there, to battle hard and to try to win. Whether we won or lost, we were required to show discipline and sportsmanship. I played at a time when we shook hands after a game. Win or lose, we lined up at center ice, removed our glove, looked our opponents in the eyes, shook their hands, and congratulated them or told them “great

game”. Anything else was unacceptable and not tolerated. My team currently plays in a division that requires the players to shake hands BEFORE the game and I (personally) am appalled and embarrassed by this rule. In my opinion, this “rule” represents a huge step backwards for youth hockey.

This rule clearly states that this generation of players cannot control themselves and our coaches cannot instill discipline and/or sportsmanship. This embarrassing rule even comes with fines if not followed properly.

Yes, I have seen the YouTube videos that show players and coaching fighting during a post game handshake but incidents like that are very rare and represent the smallest percentage of players and/or coaches who are not mature enough to properly shake hands after a hockey game. The National Hockey League represents the absolute highest level of the game and playoff hockey is the most intense, brutally hard-fought, must win hockey during an NHL season. Ironically enough, the end of a playoff series is the only time NHL players shake hands. I encourage you to pay close attention to a post playoff handshake and you will witness the most sincere display of respect from both teams.

(Continued on Page 20)

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Coaching With Gridley!

by Chuck Gridley

Canadian Development Model??

F

Coaching With Gridley / Page 12

or a few years now, those of us involved in the game of hockey in the United States have been discussing ways to bring about what we thought were some much needed changes.

The result of all of that was what we now call The American Development Model.

The introduction of ADM spawned a whole new dialogue, driven mainly by those who disagreed with some of these changes. I read an article recently by Damien Cox . It appeared in the Canadian Press on Jan.6th 2014 following Canada’s ousting from the World Junior Championship. We would probably all agree that Canada knows a little about the game of hockey. In light of our ADM, I think it’s interesting to see what some of our neighbors to the north are thinking about their own youth hockey system. That article can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2014/01/06/ world_juniors_want_to_change_hockey_in_canada_ follow_ontario_soccer_cox.html

(You will have to copy this into your url space; the Hyperlink isn’t working properly).

Buffalo Sabres to Host Prospects T

he Buffalo Sabres will host the 2014 and 2015 CCM/USA Hockey AllAmerican Prospects Game. The 2014 game will be held September 25.

“We are extremely pleased to be returning to Buffalo, the site of the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in 2012,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “The enthusiasm and support for hockey in Western New York will provide a great environment for the future stars of the NHL who will play in this game. It’s terrific to be working with the Sabres organization and we appreciate their continued commitment and support of hockey at all levels.

The 2014 Prospects Game features the top 40 American players eligible for the 2015 draft and the 2015 game will feature players eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.. Players are chosen by USA Hockey, in conjunction with NHL Scouting. Rosters will be announced in August.

“We are thrilled to again partner with USA Hockey to provide our terrific fan base with a glimpse at the future stars of the NHL,” said Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black.

...In other news, the sports-themed restaurant to be located in HarborCenter will be called (716) Food and Sport. The 13,000 square foot dining facility will feature locally grown ingredients in their menu items, a 40-foot bar and seating for 350 patrons. It is scheduled to open in Fall 2014.

Jim Johanssen, Dave Ogrean, Pat LaFontaine, Ted Black following the press conference announcing Buffalo to be the site of hte 2014 and 2015 CCM/USA All-American Prospects Game.

(Photo by Janet Schultz)

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From On-Ice to Behind the Bench: A Young Hockey Player’s Road to Recovery

By Randy Schultz Randy@nyhockeyonline.com

M

att Roeder stands behind the player’s bench watching the Victor High School boy’s hockey team skating on the ice. He watches intently as the players go through hockey drills inside Thomas Creek Rink in Fairport.

Roeder is back where he is comfortable. Inside a hockey rink watching hockey.

Roeder is a volunteer coach with the team. His road to this point in his life has been a long and difficult one.

A year ago not many people would have ever imagined Roeder ever being associated with hockey again.

For Matt Roeder, it began as a simple stomachache and going to the doctor to see what was causing it. Soon after it was discovered that it wasn’t his stomach that was causing the problem.

It was a brain tumor.

Upon that discovery Roeder’s life changed forever. But through all of his trials and tribulations there has been one constant factor in his young life.

Hockey.

“This all began with a nine year-old having a stomach ache” recalled Matt’s father, Mike. “He would go through a routine almost everyday with the stomach ache, vomiting and then he would be fine.

“We took him to stomach specialists. Finally took a scan and found out what was wrong. Imagine going into the doctor’s office with a stomachache and coming out with a brain tumor.

“At that time his hockey team and families got behind us. Matt kept active and played through all of this.

“And, it’s true, Matt never missed a hockey practice during that first time. He would get chemo and head right to

Feature / Page 13 hockey practice. He just felt that he couldn’t miss hockey.

“It’s hard to believe that this began when I was nine years old,” recalled Matt, now 19. “That’s when I had my first brain surgery.

“I had a tumor that was located on the brain stem. The doctors couldn’t get the whole thing out.

“I had the surgery in Boston’s Children Hospital. I more or less walked out of the hospital.

“The only reason I kept going was because of hockey. I played hockey through chemo and radiation.

“I made the varsity hockey team as a sophomore. I was on the practice squad in my freshman year.

“I also seemed like I was hurt every year. I had ankle problems in 10th grade. I had back problems in my junior year.

“My senior year everything seemed to be OK. Everything was going great.

“Then in November (2012) I began to lose my balance and my eyesight. Things weren’t going well on the ice.”

That’s when a return trip was made back to Boston to Children’s Hospital. That’s when it was discovered that cysts were growing around the part of the tumor that had been left from the first operation.

“I ended up having surgery in January of 2013,” continued Roeder, now a freshman as Finger Lakes Community

www.nyhockeyonline.com College. “The day after the surgery was my birthday.

“I was in ICU for two weeks. I couldn’t really move or do anything.

“It was weird. It was scary.”

Matt’s father explained.

“When Matt went through the second surgery, we thought everything would be pretty good like it was the first time,” stated Mike.

“Infact, when Matt came out of surgery we talked to the Neurosurgeon and he said everything went well and things couldn’t have been better.

“But as Matt was in ICU things began to deteriorate. He could move his hands and feet but he couldn’t feel anything.

“If he closed his eyes and you touched him, he couldn’t feel you touching him. So somewhere after surgery, some swelling may have cut off his nerves that went to his extremities.

“Matt couldn’t set up in bed. It was like he was paralyzed, but yet he could move everything. It was the strangest thing.

Matt remained in the Boston hospital for about two more weeks before being moved back to Rochester to a facility named St. Mary’s (described as an in-patient, brain injury, therapy hospital).

He remained there for six weeks. He went through Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Physical Therapy every day, two to three hours per day.

Matt went from being in a wheelchair to using a walker to using crutches during this time period. Matt’s goal was to be able to walk up and get his high school diploma in June.

“He accomplished that,” said Mike.

But hockey always seemed to be there for Matt. His team was there including coaches and players.

“They were so supportive,” continued Mike.“They would hang his jersey up when he wasn’t there. His number two was put on every players helmet as a reminder.

“Players and coaches visited him during his stay at St. Mary’s.”

Through all of this Matt stayed focused on his goal to walk across the stage and receive his high school diploma.

“While I was at St. Mary’s I had to get a tutor to help me finish up school,” said Matt.

And finish he did.

“When Matt graduated and walked across that stage last June, everyone in his class stood up and gave him a

Feature / Page 14 standing ovation,” remembered Mike. “It was a very emotional moment for all of us.”

Which leads Matt now to his next chapter in his life, that of being a hockey coach. He was offered a position as a volunteer coach on the Victor High School boy’s hockey team.

“We wanted him back on this team,” said Victor hockey coach, Mike Ferreri. “He’s great with the kids.

“Matt’s a tough kid, especially after everything he’s been through. He’s been an inspiration to others.

Matt Roeder “Matt is very positive. He’s got the respect of the other kids on the team.

“Remember, he played with many of these kids for the past three years. They respect him a lot.

“It also puts things in perspective for me with life and hockey. I think Matt is going to be a great coach someday.”

Matt welcomed the opportunity.

“I think the coaches wanted Matt around,” said Mike.

“They felt that he was a big influence on the team and the players.

“The doctors believe they got most of the tumor out this time. He still has to go in for MRI’s every three to six months.”

“There is still some of the tumor there. We can’t be guaranteed that Matt is 100 percent cured at this time.

“We just move forward and keep things monitored.”

But Matt stays focused.

“My goal right now is to get back on skates,” concluded Matt. “I want to prove everybody wrong.

“Balance is still a problem for me. Feeling, or lack of, is still a problem.

“I’ve always known that my team and coaches were behind me. That has been my strength.

“I don’t take things for granted with hockey or life in general.

“I want to stay connected with hockey. It’s my favorite sport. I don’t care how I do it, but I want to stay involved.

“I live by the thought that you can do anything you put your mind to. I just keep trying every day.”

“I’ve always known that my team and coaches were behind me. That has been my strength.”

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Hockey Insight / Page 15

Hockey Insight

by Tom Barnett

I

’ve been around the rinks for years, as a player, parent, and coach. During these delightful but alas fast moving decades, a guy like me witnesses and experiences a lot of things around the arenas. Although parents may argue on the contrary, it is not the parent who spends more time at the rink. It’s someone who stays under the radar, silent, stoic witness to a lot of stuff out there and is indispensable – the Zamboni driver.

Over the years, I’ve kept in touch with a few of those essential guys we rely on to make the ice smooth as glass, ready for the next practice or game. And, on the “condition of anonymity” as they say in the investigative journalism field, I recently sat down for coffee with one of these “resurfologists” and asked him some questions. Here is a snippet of my “Q&A” with him: Women sometimes ask guys “boxers or briefs.” But, let’s have it: long underwear or no?

(Laughs), Well, I’m sure it’s a personal option like everything else. For

me, I always wore my long pajama bottoms under a pair of quilted dungarees. Gave me five more minutes of sleep when I had the early morning shift. The earlier the shift, the colder it was.

Driving the Zamboni looks like a lot of fun. Is it?

My first few times were nervewracking. The ice cut, speed, the amount of water, all that stuff is manual and it’s harder than it looks. After a while it does get fun to drive once you get the hang of it. Hey, and by ending the previous ice time and preparing the sheet for the teams ready to take the ice next, heck, at least for a few minutes, I’m the most popular guy in the building! But, there’s always something about watching the Zamboni. Even to this day, when I go to Sabres’ games or my grandkids’ hockey games, I love watching that thing move around. Did I say that out loud?

Do you remember the first Zamboni you took out for a spin?

(More laughs) Spin? Zamboni?

Push is more like it! 43 years ago, with our skates on, it was a barrel on wheels with a towel distributing water behind it, after we shoveled!

There have been tremendous changes in hockey in so many aspects. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen?

The biggest? The number of Tim

Horton cups in the trash cans.

I can’t name just one. The first thing that comes to mind is the focus on winning and some end game which seems to be driven by the parents. And that brings out the worst in their kids. There’s always been that loud obnoxious minority of parents, and the equally insufferable and occasional cow bell, but it seems to start at the younger age groups these days.

It is nice to see girls playing hockey. I’m old school; I never thought to get my daughters involved and I wish I had thought to. But my granddaughter plays and she loves it. Girls’ hockey is growing and girls have so many opportunities to play. The nastiness seems to be getting to the younger kids, too. I’ve been to games where the teams run up the score, celebrate like they won the Olympics while the other kids try to make sense of it. The nastiness isn’t being addressed. Sportsmanship is being ignored and forgotten. It’s gotten so bad that the teams shake hands before they play; now that’s a change not only in hockey but youth sports!

What does that solve?

Oh, and the sweater numbers!

Hockey has always been linked to and built on the traditions and values of the past in a very worthwhile way, so I’m always taken by numbers like 49, 64 and 86, that seem better suited to a linebacker, guard or tight end.

The thing that hasn’t changed is the smile on kids’ faces when you see them finally figure out how to stand on skates. Or get the puck on their stick and push it ahead. Or even play in a game. You can see the smile and pink cheeks through the younger kids’ cages.

www.nyhockeyonline.com Recently a dad went after a coach following a game.

I’ve heard and seen parents go at it against each other, but I don’t think I’ve seen a parent attack a coach. How about you?

Ugh, the sad thing is, as I’ve said before, there’s always been a loud obnoxious minority. It’s bad enough when you see a couple mites swing at each other. I’ve seen parents push each other. Last year during a game here, a parent in the stands was very vocal, very loud, and extremely negative and just would not let up. The louder and more toxic he became the quieter the rink became and eventually he was the real focal point in the arena.

Between periods as the teams gathered at their benches and the usual quiet that lull produces engulfed the rink, that parent once again started up, breaking the silence, but was met with near immediate resistance, from his son who looked up into the stands and said: “Dad, stop it, you’re ruining everything!” That was a moment for the ages. I would have given anything to be a fly on the wall of that car on the ride home!

You’ve been around the rinks longer than most of us.

What would you like to see more of with hockey around here?

Just let kids be kids. It must be kept safe and fun… for everyone involved including spectators. The kids just want to have fun playing hockey. I admit I get wrapped up in my grandkids’ games and get frustrated when a ref misses a call, but then you look around and it’s a mite game. Some kids don’t even care about the score. They care more about being able to play and maybe going out with family after the game for lunch or a snow cone.

Speaking of food, what is your favorite rink cuisine?

That’s easy, the classics: freshly popped popcorn and hot chocolate, though I see by all the french fries on the ground that they may be the new most popular food group. I remember the old barn up in Canada where I learned to skate, the saltiest, best popcorn ever, you could smell it all the way out into the parking lot, oh, and I remember that oil painting of Queen Victoria perched up in the rafters next to the flag. By the expression on her face and look in her eyes, I can tell you I wouldn’t have wanted to go into the corners with her…

So, you did you play hockey?

A long time ago when the sticks were made of wood, gear seemed to have a slightly more endearing odiferous quality and each skate weighed a hundred pounds each.

Hockey Insight / Page 16 I played defense, left wing, and center. Never wore a cage but never lost a tooth until last year when I bit into an olive.

Tell me one of your favorite hockey memories.

When I was working at the rinks, I didn’t mind the first shift, in-fact I loved it. That perfect sheet sitting all night long for you to pounce on. To me, hockey has always been ‘an early to rise’ sport, optimistic, positive, starting at the rink, the whole day out in front of you. I’d open the rinks up, they would be dark, silent and cold. A few minutes later, kids would come in, quiet at first, but then in a few minutes the locker rooms would be noisy, and the kids would be excited to play. Even parents are in good moods even though it’s early in the morning. Secretly, I can also tell you one of my absolute best moments at the rink is the wonder and amazement on the young kids faces as they stand mesmerized by the Zamboni.

I have wonderful memories. I have memories of being a kid, playing on an outside rink all day long. I have memories as a dad, watching my kids learn how to skate, how excited they were to get an assist. It was always fun discussing the games, the personalities, the teammates, the friendships.

What was your favorite position in hockey?

Zamboni driver.

(Tom Barnett, a native Western New Yorker, participated as a player from the youth through collegiate level, and has been involved in coaching hockey and program development for more than 30 years.

As founder and president of The Buffalo Shamrocks Hockey Club, a USA Hockey program, Tom was recognized by the National Hockey League as the 2009 recipient of the inaugural Mark Messier Youth Leadership Award. )

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NY Goalies / Page 17

NEW YORK GOALIES LEADING COLLEGE PROGRAMS (An Update to January’s Story)

By Warren Kozireski Wkozires@brockport.edu

H

o c k e y Month for Novem- ranking this season and the top of f a n s ber. the ECAC standings with his 9-1-1 h a v e R e n s - record. talked selaer’s Scott Robert Morris University in over the last few Diebold is in his Pittsburgh is off to a rough start years how the junior season with with a relatively young roster. Part state of New York the Engineers of that youth is Penfield native Terproduced three and took over ry Shafer, who had played in 12 of of the 30 curthe top spot ear- the team’s 14 games and earned Branden Komm (Sports Fixed Photo) rent NHL caplier this season both the Colonials wins while seetains in the New w h e n ing 373 shots on goal—better than York Rangers Ryan Callahan J a s o n one every 120 seconds.

(Hilton), Los Angeles’ Dustin K a s - RIT’s freshman goaltender Brown (Ithaca) and the Mond o r f f Mike Rotolo (Greece), who got his treal Canadians Brian Gionta was lost first collegiate start November 23rd (Greece). for the against St. Lawrence and hasn’t And three western New York s e a - been out of the lineup since. He natives were recently named to son to racked up a five-game winning the U.S. Olympic hockey roster s h o u l - streak and a six-game unbeaten in Callahan, Brooks Orpik and der sur- run heading to 2014.

Scott Diebold (RPIPhoto) Patrick Kane.

“We’ve put a Not nearly at the same level, gery. few wins tobut the state has also produced the All the gether, but it’s a top goaltenders for five of the 59 Buffalo nateam game and Division I college hockey programs tive has the guys have in the country. done for played very well Add Division I back-up goalten- the 8-6-4 in front of me ders and Division III starters and Engineers over my first the number jumps six more. is register six starts,” said Williamsville’s Branden Komm is a a 2.17 GAA Rotolo. multi-year starter at Bentley in the (20th in na “It’s nice Atlantic Hockey Association where tion) with (getting so much he has an 8-6-1 record, a 2.43 a .922 playing time Mike Rotolo (RIT Photo) goals against average and .928 save perhis freshman save percentage while playing all c e n t a g e year) and hopefully I but one period-plus for the second (25th in nation) over 17 games. can keep contributing. The most place Falcons. He was named At- Colin Stevens (Niskayuna) has important thing is the wins. To be lantic Hockey Goaltender of the backstopped Union to a top-ten able to play in my hometown, there

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NY Goalies / Page 18

is no better feeling than going out there in front of my friends and family and putting that jersey on most importantly.”

In addition to the five Division I starters, Terry Shafer (RM Photo) Scott Racine (Williamsville) is splitting time in net for the Michigan Wolverines and Buffalo native Parker Gahagen is in his freshman season as the number two net-minder for Army.

Parker Gahagen (JDS Photo)

And, if you extend the reach to Division III, Geneseo, ranked 14th in the nation, is being backstopped by Hilton’s Bryan Haude’s 7-1-0 record and 2.64 GAA to second place in the SUNYAC standings plus Zach Sorensen (Fairport) is the top guy in net for Western New England, Buffalo native Lyle Rocker had helped put Cortland in a SUNYAC playoff spot as of mid-season for the first time in six seasons and Sal Magliocco (Roslyn) is starting as a freshman with ECAC West second place Elmira Purple Eagles.

“Maybe it’s just something in the water here, I don’t know,” said Haude. “Western New York has been a really good area for hockey and I feel like we’re really developing a lot of good players and not just goalies.

“I think it’s good coaching and having a good team around you.”

It can’t be denied that New York has produced more than its share of on-ice leaders with three team captains. But the next generation may make its mark in the blue paint.

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Home Grown:

Chris Higgins

by Randy Schultz Randy@nyhockeyonline.com

L

ike millions of Americans, Chris Higgins remembers exactly where he was on September 11, 2001.

“You never forget 9-11,” said Higgins, a forward for the Vancouver Canucks and a native of Smithtown. “I had only been at Yale for about a week.

“I was coming back from a Spanish class when I heard the news. It was something I knew my dad would be involved in.

“He is a New York City firefighter. I figured he was close by where everything was happening.

“It was a bit scary.”

Higgins, now in his 10th National Hockey League season, is in his fourth season with the Canucks. The left-winger has also seen time with the Montréal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Calgary Flames.

Despite his success in the NHL, Higgins keeps things in perspective. Not only is he the son of a fireman, Higgins is the brother of a policeman (younger brother, Kevin, is a New York City policeman).

“I look up to both of them,” said Higgins. “They are both in jobs where they have to take risks.

“I know my dad was down there at the World Trade Center quite a bit after the buildings came down. He lost friends that day.

“It really puts things into perspective for me.”

Higgins recalled when he began his hockey career.

“I began playing organized hockey when I was about seven with the Suffolk PAL,” remembered Higgins. “My dad was the guy who got me involved with the game.

“We travelled all over the State. We played games in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, among other places.”

A pivotal moment in Higgins career came as he was getting ready to enter his high school years.

Home Grown / Page 19 “It was decided that I would move on to go to high school at Avon Old Farms, a Connecticut prep school,” remarked Higgins. “I was 14 when I made that move.”

“Following graduation from there, it was on to Yale University. It was an easy decision for me to make going to Yale.

“I had always been good in school. When I was growing up it was school first and hockey second.

“I wasn’t even thinking about the NHL at that time.”

Following his first season at Yale, Higgins was drafted by the Canadiens in the first round, the 14th player taken overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

“I really wasn’t expecting to be taken that high in the Draft,” remembered the 30-year-old Higgins. “I really opened my eyes.

“I really began making more of an effort on training for pro hockey.”

Ironically the team he had followed as a kid growing up on Long Island drafted Higgins.

“I was a Canadiens fan because my father was one,” stated Higgins. “He was probably the only Canadiens fan on Long Island.

“I played a lot of street hockey as a kid and was a goalie. My favorite player was goalie Patrick Roy. “My favorite player as far as forwards go was Kirk Muller.”

Despite his busy hockey schedule, Higgins still manages to get back home to Smithtown during the summer.

“I will usually spend about a month on the Island,” concluded Higgins. “It’s a great place to be in the summer.

“I like to hear what’s going on in everyone’s life, especially with my father and brother. I’m very proud of what they’ve done in their careers.

“To put their lives on the line everyday makes my career in hockey seem somewhat trivial. I’m proud of what they do.

“Actually we all support each other. That’s what a family is supposed to do.”

www.nyhockeyonline.com (Sedia Continued) They do this because they know that both (Sedia teams battled as hard they could with the mission to win. When it is all said and done, they respect the game and each other. I make an example of this to my players all the time.

Winning, losing, and sportsmanship all go hand in hand. I want my players to want to win and talking about it with my players and parents has proven to be beneficial. They both fully understand my objective is to ensure the kids have a great hockey experience, instill a love and passion for the game, provide quality development, and ultimately give the paying families their money’s worth. Beyond that, I respect my player’s and parent’s desires to “win” as part of the total package so I make it part of it.

Sedia & Gridley Continued / Page 20 Of course “winning” is not everything but it is something and that something is all around us. Scoreboards, league standings, tournament metals, and championship banners, are examples of how “winning” is measured and recognized. I encourage organizations and coaches to talk about “winning” with their players and parents. Let them know that it does matter to you but it will never be with an “at all costs” attitude.

(Rob Sedia is a Partner/Professional Instructor with the NewEdge Hockey Training Company, a seasoned and successful head coach and a columnist for NY Hockey Online. If you would like to comment on this article, ask questions, provide feedback, or share your thoughts, please send an email to: rob@newedgehockey.com)

Iroquois JV Team Upsets Keep In Touch With Us! West Seneca East

P

laying against a formitable foe the Iroquois JV Chiefs came from behind in dramatic fashion to upset the West Seneca East Trojans 3-2. After trailing 2-0 midway through the second period, Alex Held pounced on a loose puck and scored five hole on a breakaway. Minutes later Held chipped in again following up on a rebound to tie up the score at 2. Playing solid and veteran like in net was Tyler Fredette. His calming presence under pressure allowed the Chiefs to keep it close until the waining minutes of the game. It when was then that the “better late than never” Jake Vitello converted a 2 on 1 opportunity with six seconds left to win the game 3-2.

The team showed their true colors in this win. Each teammate, while maybe not on the scoresheet, contributed to the win. The mistakes were limited and the feeling that they were going to win was apparent. As the Chiefs are entering their playoff push they appear to be fully rostered, healthy and only getting stronger.

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NY Spotlight / Page 21

NY Spotlight:

Nick Nickson

by Randy Schultz Randy@nyhockeyonline.com

“T

he long wait is over. After 45 years the Kings can wear their crown.

“The Los Angeles Kings have won the Stanley Cup.” That was the call that Nick Nickson had always dreamed of making in his sports broadcasting career. He finally got to make that call on the evening of June 11, 2012 when the Kings finally won the Cup. “It really was a dream come true,” recalled Nickson.

A dream that began for Nickson 38 years earlier in Rochester as the play-by-play voice of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League for the 197576 season. In 1977 he moved on to the New Haven Nighthawks where he would spend four seasons.

In 1981 Nickson moved from the east coast to the west and joined the Kings. Thirty-three seasons later the Rochester native is still the radio voice of the Kings.

“I grew up in a broadcasting family,” recalled Nickson, who has broadcast over 3300 games of hockey during his career. “My dad was in radio for 60 years, 20 of them as a broadcaster and the other 40 in management.

“But even though I grew up with broadcasting around me, when I went to Ithaca College I really didn’t know for sure what I wanted to do as a freshman. As it turned out

I became Communications Management major.

“The great thing about Ithaca College was that you could go on the air immediately as a freshman at the college’s radio station, which is what I did. I wanted to be a disc jockey.

“But I also began handling sports.

A spot opened up with the Amerks and I sent a tape to them.

“I actually took the only tape I had of a hockey game I had done at Ithaca.

I thought it was aw-

ful.

“I worked all night and cut out all the bad parts, spliced it together and sent it to the Amerks. They asked me to go on a road trip with them and do a couple of those games.

“I guess they liked what they heard. They hired me and here I am, 38 years later, still doing hockey on radio.”

Nickson admits that making that move from New Haven to Los Angeles wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“I had just gotten married in 1977. Our first son was born in 1981.

“Two months after he was born, I was on my way to LA. Pete Weber (now the voice of the Nashville Predators) had left the Kings for another job.

“This was in November. I left my wife back home with a two-month old baby.

“You also have to know that I wasn’t the great world traveler. As a kid growing up, I had never been any farther west than Ohio.

“I knew nothing about the area. Didn’t know where I was going to live.

“My wife and son joined me after the holidays that year. At the time my wife and I decided to try it for a couple of years.

www.nyhockeyonline.com “If we didn’t like it we could move back east. I guess we liked it because we’re still in LA.” For several years Nickson was teamed up with veteran broadcaster, Bob Miller. They broadcast games on the radio as well as simulcast those games on television.

Then came the summer of 1988.

“That summer the Kings traded for superstar Wayne Gretzky and hockey, not only in LA, but in the NHL was changed forever,” remembered Nickson, who grew up in Brighton, near Rochester and attended Penfield High School. “That trade put Los Angeles on the hockey map.

“We quit doing the simulcast and had separate TV and radio broadcasts. I was given the opportunity to do play-by-play on radio which is what I really enjoyed doing.

“I’m now in my 33rd year with the Kings and Bob is in his 42nd.”

As a tribute to his broadcasting excellence, Nickson was inducted into the Southern California Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also inducted into the Frontier Field Walk of Fame (media) in his hometown of Rochester.

In addition in 2006 the Kings held “Nick Nickson Day” at the STAPLES Center. In honor of his service to the organization the Kings named the broadcast center at STAPLES Center the Nick Nickson Broadcast Center in his honor.

The high point of Nickson’s career came two years ago when the Kings won the Stanley Cup. “I think it’s how they won it that people will look back on with amazement,” remarked Nickson, who resides with his wife, Carolyn in Santa Clarita, CA. They have two sons, Nicholas (married to Alexandra) and Timothy. The couple also has two grandchildren, Casey and Avery. “A number eight seed beating a number one, two and three seed to get to the Finals.

“What are the odds of that? It has never been done before.

“They started every series up three games to none.

Never faced an elimination game throughout the whole playoffs.

“They won 10 straight road games to start the playoffs. We still talk about it today and ask, ‘did we really do that?’

“We won 16 of 20 games and won the Cup. No Kings team had ever done that in the regular season or playoffs.

“Yet we did it. And the best part for me is that I was there to describe it to our faithful listeners.

“I was glad to be a part of it.”

NY Spotlight / Page 22

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NY Spotlight / Page 23

Soldier/Hockey Player Sets NCAA Record That Stands Today!

By Randy Schultz Randy@nyhockeyonline.com

W

hat began as a dream for Dave Rost as an eighth grader living in South Buffalo in 1969 became a reality for him four years later. In 1973 Rost entered the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Not only did Rost fulfill his dream of becoming a soldier, but he would also set NCAA scoring records that still stand today.

In 114 games Rost scored 226 assists, first on the NCAA All-time list, ahead of Wayne Gagne, who had 199 and did it by playing in 48 more games. He also scored 104 goals and has the most points of anyone ever to play college hockey with 330.

Not bad for a guy who began his hockey career on an outdoor rink for the Cazenovia hockey organization in South Buffalo.

“From there it was on to the Buffalo Regals organization,” said Rost, who played for Army from 1973-77. “As a midget I played in Ft. Erie, Ontario.

“Following that I played two years of Junior hockey in Ft. Erie. Hockey was a passion for me.

“I played other sports as well. I was a pretty well rounded kid as far as sports went.

“But my parents also stressed education. When I was in eighth grade I had the opportunity to visit the Unit-

“Hockey players always give back.” ed States Military Academy.

“A friend of the family was attending there at the time. From that moment on I set my sights on going to the Academy.

“We went there on a football weekend and got to see Army play

Boston College. I walked around the place, felt comfortable there and felt it was the right place for me.

“Getting to play hockey for Army was just plus, a bonus.”

Rost came from a family of six.

Besides Dave, there was Gary, Tom, Mary Kay, Michael and Susie. All give credit for their hockey interest to their parents, Barbara and Clayton.

Upon graduation from Bishop Timon High School, Rost was on his was to West Point. As for Rost playing hockey, that almost didn’t happen.

“That year before I went to the Academy, Chris Curry, an assistant coach from Army was going to come to see me play,” recalled Rost. “But two weeks before he came I broke my ankle.

“Fortunately the ankle healed and assistant coach came back again to see me play. And fortunately for me, my parents didn’t tell me he was coming that second time.

“I think had they told me I would have been a bag or marbles and possibly not played well.”

But play well he did. Upon entering the Academy’s iron gates, Rost went on to become one of the finest hockey players to ever play for the Black Knights.

Rost’s coach at the time was the

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legendary Jack Riley.

“Anybody who knows hockey knows that Coach Riley coached the first ‘Miracle On Ice’ team back in 1960,” stated Rost. “He coached the 1960 U.S. men’s Olympic Hockey Team to a gold medal.

“He was a tremendous coach as well as tremendous person.”

Rost’s most memorable season came in his senior year (1976-77).

That season saw Rost break Dave Merhar’s single season scoring record by one point with 108 points.

Merher set the record in 1968-69 with 57 goals and 50 assists for 107 points in just 28 games. Rost broke the record with a 43 goal and 65 assist campaign for 108 points.

That 76-77 season was a memorable one for Army. They finished with a 22-6-1 record and outscored

NY Spotlight / Page 24 their opponents by a twoto-one margin.

One of Rost’s most memorable games that year came against Bryant when he scored nine times in an 11-2 victory for Army. Rost tallied a point in every game that year for the Black Knights.

Rost also had a 10-point weekend against Canada’s College Militaire Royal, and tallied a hat trick and an assist on the last day of the season against the Royal Military College.

For the record, Rost had four point games in each of his last three contests, including two hat tricks. By the time Rost had finished his career at Army he was their all-time leading scorer, had set the school’s single-season mark for assists (66) and the record for most career assists (226).

All three records still stand today.

But Rost takes it all in stride.

“I never watched numbers,” said Rost. “The chips fall where they fall based upon the collective group.

“I was fortunate of being in the right place at the right time.”

The former center also gave a lot of credit to his linemates at the time.

“I had George Clark and George Reynolds my first two years,” remembered Rost. “Then I had this kid, Tom Rost, and Danny Murrett.

“Tom was my younger brother and Danny was also from Buffalo. We had the Buffalo line playing for Army those last two years.

Rost also had the opportunity to play all four years for Army on the legendary Smith Rink.

“That was an outdoor, 200 by 85 rink that got pretty cold during the winter,” recalled Rost. “It was a big ice surface and we were able to handle the surface pretty well.

“Opponents who came to place us, who weren’t used to playing on that size rink, had problems with us.

At one time they had the old chainlinked fences at both ends of the rink.

“You could also see the compressor setting behind the penalty box.

That wind would be blowing and the fans would be huddled up.

“But those fans could really rock the rink when they got going.”

Following his 12-year military obligation, Captain Rost settled into civilian life. Did the thought of a pro hockey career enter his mind.

“No,” said Rost. “I knew I had my military obligation.

“That was fine was me.”

Today, at 59, Rost works for Kenco Logistics Services in Kalamazoo, Mi. He resides in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife, Debbie. They have two children, Ashley and Courtney.

He is still involved in hockey.

“I’ve been involved in coaching and officiating,” concluded Rost. “I actually got out of coaching two years ago.

“Now I officiate. It keeps me active.

“I’ve been very blessed. Hockey is still fun.

“And if I can give back something to a kid and help them along to their next step, then I’ve done my job.

“But then again that’s a hockey player. Hockey players always give back.”

CENTRAL NEW YORK HOCKEY

Utica vs Nazareth Earlier this Season!

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Central Hockey / Page 26

Central New York Men’s College Hockey Report

Rookie goalie Charlie Finn was named the Mariucci Classic MVP and earned two weekly honors from ECAC Hockey as rookie and

by Warren Kozireski goalie of the Wkozires@brockport.edu week for the Period ending January 5th.

He finished the weekend with a .964 save percentBROOME CCC age and a 0.96 goals against average, allowing only two goals against The Hornets took a 5-6 confer- two of the top scoring teams in the ence record into their final three nation. He also registered his first NJCCA games with freshmen oc- collegiate shutout in the title game cupying the top three scoring slots win over ranked Ferris State. in Cory Della Stua (Pittsford), Mat Darcy Murphy leads the team Culcasi and Michael Ferranti (Bing- with 11 goals on the year and has alhamton). Freshman Wayne Buerkle ready eclipsed his goal output from (Cortland) was the top point-getter a season ago. The top six team scoron the blueline. ing spots are taken by sophomores Two of their six conference loss- with Mike Borkowski’s 20 points the es were one-goal affairs. leader. He has four game-winners Freshman goaltender Dustin among his first seven tallies.

Stevens appears to have secured to The Raiders lost sophomore top spot with a 2.64 goals against goaltender Spencer Finney, who average and a .926 save percentage. transferred to Division III Plattsburgh State, at the break.

COLGATE The Raiders were not ranked as of January 23rd, but were gaining recognition thanks to a six game unbeaten streak that included two wins against ranked teams at the Mariucci Classic in early January.

CORNELL With a six-game unbeaten streak and without a home loss since November 2nd, the Big Red head to the final 11 games in search of a first

round playoff bye.

Six players were in double figures in scoring led by Brian Ferlin’s 18 points including five of his eight goals with the man advantage. Junior Cole Bardreau (Fairport) has scored half of his 12 career goals this season in his comeback from a broken neck.

Senior goaltender Any Illes (Ithaca) is one of 18 finalists named January 16th for the Hockey Humanitarian Award. The winner will be presented at the Frozen Four in Philadelphia immediately prior to the Hobey Baker Award announcement.

Freshman have scored just five goals total through the first 17 games, and that includes the one by goaltender Mitch Gillam.

CORTLAND The Red Dragons are usually fighting to move into the sixth and last playoff spot heading down the stretch, but find themselves this year in fifth place as the second half of the conference schedule resumed.

Their last conference victory came in late November though and they were winless in 2014 as of January 23rd.

“Right now we’re in the playoffs,” said interim head coach Tom Cranfield. “We haven’t won a lot of games, but we’ve won the right games.”

Leading scorer Nick Zappia’s 16 assists had him tied for seventh

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nationally. All four of Mike Davie’s (Brooklyn) goals have been on the power play.

Sophomore Sam Pinsler netted his first career goal January 14th against Elmira.

The school will commence their search for a new fulltime hockey coach in mid-February.

ELMIRA The Soaring Eagles were 4-2 against SUNYAC schools in January for the last non-conference games of the season including victories over nationally ranked Oswego and Geneseo.

Leading scorer Josh Burnell was tied for third nationally with seven power play markers and the team was second in the nation converting at 32.1% clip.

Three of their final nine games in the regular season will feature Hobart as the opponent.

HAMILTON The team has just one win since December 7th, but three of their January losses were one-goal affairs.

Senior Michael DiMare was ten points shy of the 100-career mark with ten games remaining while Robbie Murden was making a bid for the NESCAC All-Rookie team with nine goals and 18 points— good for second on the team behind DiMare.

Central Hockey / Page 27

The Continentals play their final four home games in a row starting February 7th with Bowdoin.

HOBART A winless December preceded a six-game winning streak when the calendar turned to 2014 including a 3-1 win over host and nationally ranked Plattsburgh in the Cardinals Winter Classic.

Sophomores Mac Olson, Bo Webster and Ben Gamache sat atop the scoring list, but the team was getting balanced scoring of late.

Junior defenseman Ryan Michel (Camillus) was named ECAC West Player of the Week for the period ending January 19th after he shared a team-high five points on five assists over the weekend. Nick Bingaman (Bedford) was named Rookie of the Week for the same period after he recorded three points on two goals and an assist in a win over Potsdam.

Freshman defenseman Carl Belizario was named the ECAC Men’s West Hockey Rookie of the Week for the period ending January 12th.

He shared a team-high with four points, notching a goal and three assists in Hobart’s road wins over Nichols and Salve Regina.

Lino Chimienti was named ECAC West Goaltender of the Week for the period ending January 5th after posting a 1.50 GAA and a .955 save percentage and named MVP in

helping Hobart top two opponents who were both nationally ranked and previously undefeated on its way to winning the Buck Supply Winter Classic.

Their final four regular season contests come on the road, but the team was 5-2-1 over their first eight away games.

MOHAWK VALLEY The Hawks were allowing an alarming 6.64 goals per game, but two of their season total five wins came against conference competition.

Individual player stats have not been provided by the school. Their final schedule game is February 7th at Erie CC.

MORRISVILLE The Mustangs were on the outside of the SUNYAC playoff picture as the second half started, but had four games against teams either tied or behind them in the standings, so opportunity to make up ground.

Senior Ryan Marcus was leading the team with 17 points in 15 games with freshman Darren Young right behind. John Doyle’s ten goals had him tied for fourth in the nation among rookies.

One alarm is that the team had allowed more than three goals in all but one game through January 23rd—and the one game was against independent SUNY Canton.

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Central Hockey / Page 28

Snowbelt Teams Clinch Divisions

Central New York Hockey News and Notes

J

ust before press time we learned that three teams have clinched Division Championships in the Snowbelt Hockey League.

Camillus 1 took the Pee Wee White Division; Binghamton Pee Wee Blue clinched the Blue Division and the Geneva Bantams are the Bantam Blue Division Champs. (pending score confirmations).

The next Snowbelt League meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on February 12 at the Onondaga Nation Arena.

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Valley Takes Championship

T

he Valley Youth Hockey Bantam Team won the Clifton Park “Between the Pipes” Tournament. They outscored their opponents 17-2 and recorded two shut-outs in four games.

The Valley Squirts travel teamwon the Connor LaFrance Squirt Tournament in Saratoga.

(Mens College Continued)

OSWEGO

UTICA

The Lakers ten game unbeaten string was ended at Elmira January 18th just prior to resuming SUNYAC action. The team is fourth in the conference as they begin the second half and were in danger of having to play a first round playoff series for the first time since 2003-04.

Sophomore goaltender Justin Gilbert earned his first career shutout stopping 21 Connecticut College attempts January 7th.

Mike Montagna was named the Most Valuable Player of the Oswego Classic after scoring a goal and an assist as well as burying the team’s first shootout goal on Saturday. Also being named to the All-Tournament team from Oswego were goalie Matt Zawadzki and Kenny Neil after the Lakers defeated Utica on a shootout goal from David Titanic in the title game. Montagna was named SUNYAC Player of the Week and Zawadzki Goaltender of the Week as a result of their efforts.

The team suffered just their third loss and second tie just prior to resuming their ECAC West schedule.

Jon Gaffney was named ECAC West Player of the Week for the period ending January 5th after he netted three goals in two games on his way to earning AllTournament Team honors at the 2014 PathFinder Bank Oswego State Hockey Classic. Luc Boby was named ECAC West Rookie of the Week for the same period as he totaled five points during the tournament.

Sophomore defenseman Don Olivieri transferred to fellow ECAC West program Nazareth in mid-January.

He had one goal and three assists in 11 games for the top-ten ranked Pioneers.

Either freshman Jide Idowu or Jordan Hanth will need to step into the third air on defense. The two teams play each other February 14th.

www.nyhockeyonline.com come at the hands of No. 3 Elmira, and No. 4 Norwich. UC has outscored opponents 50-28 so far on the year.

Senior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) ranks sixth in the nation and second in the conference with 1.64 points per

by Janet Schultz game. Her 13 goals Janet@nyhockeyonline.com and .93 goals per game rank fifth nationally.

Freshman Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle

Tire) is fourth in the country in scoring The Utica College amongst freshmen with 1.14 points per women’s hockey team game. Sophomore Morgan Reed (Fort was ranked No. 10 in Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) is second the January 20 USCHO. on the squad with 17 points (six goals, 11 com national poll. UC assists). has been on the brink Myers was named ECAC West Player of cracking the top-10 of the Week for January 6 for the second for the last few weeks, however this is the time this season. She extended her pointfirst time the Pioneers have been ranked scoring streak to ten games as she tallied this season. four points in a sweep of SUNY Canton Utica, currently 11-3 overall, is out January 3/4. On Friday, she had one goal to one of the best starts in program his- and one assist in the Pioneers’ 3-2 victory tory. Their only losses this season have at Canton and followed that up with two goals, including the game-winner in UC’s 4-1 win over the Kangaroos. On the season, she leads the conference and ranks sixth in the country with 1.00 goals per game. She is also seventh in the nation in points per game (1.80). She is the active career points leader with 122 points (65 goals, 57 assists) in 87 games.

Freshman Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) was named ECAC West Rookie of the Week on January 14 for the first time in her career. Pelton netted a career-high two goals, just 1:54 apart, to lead the Pioneers to a 4-1 victory over visiting Manhattanville. With the score knotted at 0-0 early in the second period, Pelton exploded with two straight goals to help the Pioneers earn Victoria Pelton (Utica Photo)

Central Women’s College Ice Hockey Report

Utica College

Central Hockey / Page 29 the early momentum against the Valiants. Her second tally proved to be the game-winner. On the season, Pelton has three goals and two assists in 12 games.

Syracuse University

After a three-point game against RIT, freshman forward Jessica Sibley was named the College Hockey America Rookie of the Week. (January 20) This is the first weekly honor Sibley has earned in her career joining classmates Larissa Martyniuk and Heather Schwarz who have each been named a CHA Rookie of the Week this year.

Sibley scored three points en route to a 5-4 overtime win against RIT on Friday. Sibley now has 18 points on the season, the most on the team, and is tied for the most goals with nine. Her points came on three consecutive goals. Sibley scored the game-tying goal in the second period to bring the score to 2-2, assisted on Syracuse’s third goal and then scored again to extend the lead to 4-2 in the middle of the third period. She scored the only SU power play goal of the game, which brought her season total to five man-up goals, the third-most in the country and tied for the most in College Hockey America. She has the ninth-most points among all rookies in Division I hockey and the second-most in the conference. She is tenth overall scoring in CHA and has the fourth-most power play points (10).

Senior forward Akane Hosoyamada (Banff, Alberta) earned the honor of Student/Athlete for the week of Jan. 13.

Hosoyamada, who was the 2013 College Hockey America Best Defenseman and an All-CHA First Team selection, has tallied eight points on four goals and four

www.nyhockeyonline.com assists and notched three goals in the last three games. Against Vermont she scored the game-winner with eight seconds left in regulation. Hosoyamada has 44 points in her career, the third-most among active SU players, and the second-most career assists (34). Hosoyamada is majoring in heath and exercise science in the School of Education.

Colgate

Colgate Senior Jocelyn Simpson does more than just play hockey. She is one of 18 players nationwide to have been named as a nominee for the 2014 Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award, in its 19th year, recognizes college hockey’s finest citizen and includes players from Divisions I, II and III and both genders. Finalists will be announced in February, and the 2014 recipient will be named at the Frozen Four in Philadelphia on Friday, April 11.

When most students are traveling and relaxing during winter break, the Colgate women’s hockey team had something else in mind.

The Raiders didn’t mind missing New Years Eve or even holiday parties because those special few weeks alone here on campus with one another brought more than just memories -- it has changed their lives forever.

During the second half of their winter break, the Raiders took time to teach children with autism how to skate. The successful multi-day event was organized by senior Jocelyn Simpson.

While many would believe that the Raiders were helping changes the lives of these special children, it was in fact the other way around. Senior Caroline Potolicchio wrote it best in her blog:

“Whenever I tell friends and family that I have to be back to school before New Years I get gasps of disbelief and sympathetic comments. However, what my friends and family do not realize is that the few isolated weeks we have on campus are some of our favorite times as a team. Over the past two weeks my team had the pleasure of teaching kids with autism how to skate. The feedback that we received was overwhelmingly positive.

One parent wrote: “It isn’t often that you meet people who make this world a better place. Well, I can tell you that the women’s ice hockey team at Colgate is doing just that. I cannot even put into words how nice it is to see young women making lives better. Seeing my boys participate in something together is great. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. Thank you for teaching them to skate. Thank you for showing them that, differences or not, they matter. Thank you for embracing them,

Central Hockey / Page 30 playing with them and being great role models!!!”

However, what the parents don’t realize is how much these kids are making our days. We genuinely looked forward to seeing their children for each session. The pearly white smiles and shrieks of excitement that they portrayed as they made progress with their skating translated into us feeling a sense of pure bliss and happiness. These kids are so much fun to be around.

They make us forget any Jocelyn Simpson (Colgate Photo) worry that we may have had that day and remind us how much fun our competitive sport can be. They are our teachers and role models, because they persevere with a smile and big heart despite any obstacles that might be in their way.

They keep us young, and we sincerely want to thank all of our skaters and their dedicated parents for participating.

I also want to thank senior, Jocelyn Simpson, for organizing the entire event with the generous help of Regina Conti. The time, commitment, and energy you put into the intensive learn to skate program was impeccable. Not only did you take the time to learn about each kid that would be participating, but you also took even more time to teach us about the child we would be skating with for the next five days. You are an amazing person and I am so proud of you for all that you have accomplished and I can’t wait to see your future successes post graduation.

As the semester gets underway this week, our Autism Awareness game is only a few short days away. Come out and show your support for a big ECAC match up as we play Brown in our new autism awareness jerseys. We thank everyone for their generous support over the past three years and we look forward to making this the best year yet!!

The Raiders were excited to yet again host their annual Autism Awareness game, which took place Jan. 31 against Brown in Starr Rink. During this event Colgate raises awareness for autism.

(Women’s College continued on next page)

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Elmira College

For the second week in a row and the third time in the last four weeks, Lisa Marshall ‘14 of the Elmira College women’s ice hockey team has been selected as the ECAC West Goaltender of the Week. Marshall made 15 saves on the road en route to a 5-0 shutout win against Stevenson University. With the win, Marshall improves to 8-2-1 on the Lisa Marshall season, matching her 2012-13 sea(Elmira Photo) son total for wins. Also for Marshall, it is her third shutout win of the season and the 10th of her career.

Her first honor came on January14 after two wins against No. 4 Norwich University and Hamilton College. She made a career high 33 saves to guide Elmira to a 3-1 win over No.4 Norwich, EC’s first win over a nationally ranked team this season.

She also made 14 saves in Elmira’s 2-1 win over Hamilton, Marshall’s seventh win of the year.

After a 5-0 win over Stevenson University, the Elmira College women’s ice hockey team held steady at No. 3 in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) national poll.

The top four teams in the nation remained unchanged as Plattsburgh State stayed at No. 1 with Middlebury College following at No. 2. The Soaring Eagles checked-in at No. 3, followed by Norwich University at No. 4 and Wisconsin-River Falls at No. 5.

Following a perfect week on the ice, Sal Magliocco ‘17 of the men’s ice hockey team and Ashley Ryan ‘15 of the women’s ice hockey team have been named the EC Athletes of the Week for the week ended January 19, 2014.

Ryan and the women’s ice hockey team dominated in their only contest of the week, picking up a 5-0 victory at Stevenson University. The junior forward was one of two EC skaters with three points on the night as Ryan added two goals and an assist to her season total. Ryan scored the first two goals of the game and assisted on EC’s fourth goal of the first period as the Soaring Eagles took complete control of the game. Ryan now has 27 points on the season and 81 in her career.

Oswego College

The Oswego State women’s ice hockey team completed a weekend sweep of Buffalo State with a 3-0 victory on the road

Central Hockey / Page 31 on Sunday afternoon. Oswego’s win improves the team’s overall record to 10-4-1 on the season while its conference mark moves to 6-1-1.

Cortland

The Red Dragons are 2-10-2 as they head down the home stretch of this season. Closing out February they will play Oswego, Elmira and Chatham.

Hamilton College

Hamilton’s women are 5-6-2 overall as they head into February. Coming up are Middlebury, Weslyan, Bowdoin and Colby.

Cornell

Cornell freshman goalie Paula Voorheis (pictured below) has been named the ECAC Rookie of the Week for January 20. It is Voorheis’ first career ECAC honor and she becomes the first Cornell goalie to be named Rookie of the Week since Lauren Slebodnick earned the award on Jan. 11, 2011.

Voorheis posted her first career shutout on Jan. 4 and helped Paula Voorheis the Big Red to a four-point week(Cornell Photo) end with a 3-0 victory over Yale in New Haven, Conn. In just her second career start she posted 16 saves against the Bulldogs, half of which came in the crucial first period as Cornell took a 1-0 lead.

A native of Shanty Bay, Ont., Voorheis has seen action in four games for the Big Red, posting a record of 2-1 to go along with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.

The Big Red’s only other Rookie of the Week selection this season came when Hanna Bunton won the award on Nov. 11.

East Hockey

Mariners Warm Up and Moving Forward!

And Meet a Very Special Ice Hockey Team Growing in NYC!

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“D

East Hockey / Page 33

ynamic Duo.” himself.”

Just the mention Greenberg then got together of that title and one may with Calise, who was a 1998 automatically think of “Batman and paralympian, and organized the Robin.” That’s not the case this sled hockey program for youth. time.

“We started with a rag-tag This Dynamic Duo is located in group of eight kids and their New York City and have strong ties families,” continued Greenberg. to sled hockey. Their names: Wil“When we began, none of the liam Greenberg and Victor Calise. kids knew that they could play A little over a year ago the duo competitive sports. started the first New York City “None of the parents knew that based sled hockey program for their kids could play competitive disabled youth. sports. As the practices and the “Back in 2012 Victor and I, season progressed, I saw first along with my son Sam, began hand the effects and benefits, for this program,” recalled Greenberg. both the kids and their families “Sam was born with a rare birth that I saw with my own son. defect of his spinal cord, ren “We were glad that we were

By Randy Schultz dering him paralyzed below the able to get eight families to Randy@nyhockeyonline.com waist. commit to a venture like this.

Photos Provided by Williams Greenberg “Sam’s favorite sport in sled Victor and I knew how successhockey. Besides the fun and caful it could be. We just had to maraderie of playing sports that all children feel, Sam find others to follow us. has particularly benefitted from an increase in self- “Probably the moment that grabbed my attention esteem and self-confidence. immediately came the first night at our first practice. I “When he rolls into his classroom in his wheelchair heard one of our 10-year old players turn to his mom he tells his able-bodied friends that he is a hockey and say, ‘Mom, I’m finally on a team.’” player. He found that it changed the way his friends Calise has been disabled since 1994, following a treat him and interact with him. bicycle accident. He immediately got involved playing “That, in turn, changed the way that Sam per- sled hockey. ceived himself. Sled hockey has shown Sam what is Following the 1998 Paralympics Calise attempted possible and what he can achieve. It has made him to start a kids sled hockey team in New York City, but realize that his only limitations are the ones he puts on with no success.

“I really tried because I thought there would be popularity in it following 1998,” said Calise. “But things didn’t come together and we never really got it going.

“Then I ran into Bill Greenberg a few years ago.

We started to organize our team.

“Bill was the parent of a disabled player and he could relate to the parents who had a child like he did.

I was the disabled hockey player that could relate to the kids.

“Things just seemed to work out for us from that point on. That’s when we became the dynamic team that was able to grow the sport.”

In just a year the group has now grown to 23 disabled athletes that are called the Wheelchair Sports Federation (WSF) Sled Rangers. The athletes range in age from five to 23 and come from Manhattan, the

Meet Hockey’s Dynamic Duo

www.nyhockeyonline.com Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island and Rockland/ Westchester Counties.

“We are known as the New York Sled Rangers,” added Greenberg. “The New York Rangers are our sponsors.”

The team has become quite popular. They skated between periods of the New York Rangers/ Los Angeles Kings hockey game in November.

They were also featured in the December episode of 60 Minutes Sports that is scene on Showtime.

“Seeing how we are changing perceptions and awareness, I have become determined to expand this opportunity to play sled hockey to even more kids,” stated Greenberg. “I’m told that there are over 9000 physically disabled kids in New York City.

“If I can get 100 then I can create a New York City Sled Hockey League. We are 100 per cent committed to paying the costs for any disabled athlete who wants to play.

“We have had a lot of groups who have given us help in different ways. Plus, we have been able to secure several grants to help us out as well.”

“If we can form a league, that would cut down our travel quite a bit,” added Calise. “I know what the sport did for me.

“I want to see that same thing happen with these kids. And someday I would like to look down that USA Paralympics roster for sled hockey and see a bunch

East Hockey / Page 34 of players from the New York City area on it.

“It should also be noted that not only do we have the kids team, but we have an adult team as well. That is the team I play on.

“Both teams are sponsored by the New York Rangers.”

The WSF will be holding a fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York City. The team will be skating and there will be an opportunity for guests to try out sled hockey.

Event proceeds will go towards paying for sleds and equipment for new athletes, ice time, transportation to games and tournaments, league and tournament fees, sled hockey development opportunities and outreach to attract new players.

“Our goal is to form our own league in New York City,” concluded Greenberg. “I think that will become a reality sooner than later.”

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T

he last weekend of 2013 saw the Mariners’ squirts win it all at the annual Hershey Christmas Holiday Tournament.

The Mariners’ squirts won their Squirt B title in a field of 11 Submitted by Steve Tosi, teams made up of Mariners’ Squirt Head Coach largely Pennsylvania and New Jersey hockey organizations. It was a grueling test of endurance for the Mariners’ squirts who played six games in three days, including three games on championship Sunday. A free wheeling Mariners’ offense dominated play in the first three games against two Quaker Valley teams and the Valley Forge Colonials, outscoring their opponents with 17 goals while only allowing their opponents 4. The scoring punch came from Aidan Gorman, Liam Hurley, Myles Broderick and Jack Reisner while Dylan Gorman provided strength in goal, lifting his teammates to an auspicious beginning to the tournament.

As the tournament progressed and the competition tightened on Sunday, the Mariners continued their winning ways with a 5-3 victory over the Union Thunder in an early morning contest and a noon game, 4-1 win over the Palmyra Black Knights. These two Mariners victories were provided by tenacious forechecking brought on by Mariners’ forwards Austin Harvey, Braeden Keane, Jordan Donatone, Michael Grbic and Benedetto Galluzzo.

In the late afternoon championship game against the Easton Ice Hawks, Mariners coaching opted for a defensive lock down with an opportunistic and patient offensive approach. Mariners’ defensemen Lenny Esposito and Keith Kelly foiled Ice Hawk attacks time after time with their keen defensive skills while Ashton Benkwitt stopped every shot, including a breakaway, with another of his stellar goaltending exhibitions. The first and winning goal came three and a half minutes into the third period when a backchecking James Tosi broke up a play at the Mariners blue line while the Easton squad attempted a defensive change which opened the gate for a speedy Jason Katz to step up, charge down the ice and beat the Ice Hawk goaltender for the winner. Two more Mariners goals were later added to bring the tally to 3 in the 3-0 shutout win.

It was a herculean effort and a ton of hockey in one weekend but the Mariners squirts played with as much intensity in the final period of the championship game as

Mariners Hockey

East Hockey / Page 35 they did with fresh legs on Friday afternoon. Congratulations boys!

NY Raptors News Submitted by Michael Meyers,

T

he New York Raptors had a successful trip to the Winter Classic when they beat the New Jersey Dare Devils 8-7 on January 11.

They headed off to their next competition with a 3 win/2 loss record.

On January 18 the Raptors beat the Albany Cougars 9 to 7, in a come-from-behind game. The Raptors lost their first game but won it the next day.

On January 19 the Raptors lost to the Buffalo Sabres Thunder 11 to 9.

The Raptors tried to comeback and tie the game Reporter/Player boing for the win, but came Michael Meyers up short.

Next up is a tournament in Rochester in April.

LI Royals

T

he LI Royals 05 Mite A (AAA) Team’s Joseph O’Neil had a shutout against the East Coast Elite Wizards.

The team won their first four games but lost a close game in the quarter finals of the John W. Kennedy Memorial Winter Classic. They played in the 05 elite bracket. (O’Neil pictured left and team photo is on Page 38)

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East Hockey / Page 36

Eastern New York Men’s College Hockey Report

rating in two contests.

Seniors make up three of the top four scoring spots in Mark Rivera, Simchuk and Luc Van Natter while starting a senior most nights in goal, so they could be a sleeper to watch come playoff time.

by Warren Kozireski

Wkozires@brockport.edu

R.P.I. HUDSON VALLEY CC

ARMY

Army rode a seven game losing skid into late-January while scoring one or zero goals in five of those and looking more and more like a team headed for the road in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs.

Senior forward Mike Santee is one of 18 finalists named January 16th for the Hockey Humanitarian Award. The winner will be presented at the Frozen Four in Philadelphia immediately prior to the Hobey Baker Award announcement. Santee played two seasons for the Black Knights—the last in 2010-11 during his sophomore year.

C.J. Reuschlein leads all AHA rookies in goals scored with seven as of January 24th.

Rookie forward Kyle Plageman scored his first collegiate goal December 20th against Providence.

The team was in the middle of their longest road stretch of the campaign with six games before returning to Tate Rink February 8th against American International.

The Vikings rode a six game winning streak and were 6-2 in conference play heading into their final four regular season contests before hosting the national championships February 22-23.

William Huber (Hopewell Junction) and James Murphy (Port Jefferson Station) continued to pace the offense with over 20 points each in just 11 games.

Matt Wagner (Clifton Park) was also in double-figures and Ethan Bleau (North Greenbush) was third on the squad in assists.

Ricky Piper was emerging as the top goaltender with a 1.69 goals against average and .938 save percentage through his first eight appearances.

MANHATTANVILLE

The Valiants gained some momentum with a 7-2 record since Thanksgiving—all in non-conference games.

The final nine will all be played against ECAC West opponents where team was a pedestrian 3-3 over the first month.

Senior forward Craig Simchuk was named ECAC West Player of the Week for the period ending January 12th as he helped the Valiants to a pair of non-conference wins with a goal and four assists to go with a plus-5

In a position to host a first round playoff series as of mid-January, the Engineers were stumbling in 2014 without a win. The finish doesn’t get any easier either with half of their remaining dozen games coming against ranked opponents, so points will be precious.

Ryan Haggerty was second nationally in goals (18) through January 23rd and, with Brock Higgs and Matt Neal, had accounted for 15 of the team’s total of 18 power play goals.

Chris Bradley (Williamsville) was the team’s top scoring defenseman with 11 points.

Former Engineer netminder Allen York was chosen for Team Canada for the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Held annually since 1923, it is the oldest professional international hockey tournament in the world. York, who is currently with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, spent the three years backstopping the Engineers.

Men’s College Continued on Page 38

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East Hockey / Page 37

East Women’s College Report

by Janet Schultz Janet@nyhockeyonline.com

Union College

The Union College women’s hockey team raised $4,018.50 for Kristen’s Kause during Pink at the Rink festivities in January. The women’s hockey student-athletes sold pink bracelets, ribbons, tee shirts and raffle tickets all week long during common hour in Reamer Campus Center.

The Union College Athletics Department staff continued collecting donations and selling merchandise at the seventh annual Pink at the Rink game on Saturday.

The game is dedicated each year to raising cancer awareness and helping members of the Union College campus community battling

Union College Skates for a Cure (Union Photo)

cancer and supporting those living the effects of the disease. This year, the game was dedicated to members of the Union community affected by cancer, Lauren Wash (RPI Photo) including baseball student-athlete Jusup two assists for nine points. The tin Lloyd, men’s lacrosse student-ath- former New Jersey Rockets standout lete Nate Greenberg and 11 year old has one power-play and one gameUnion fan Kristen Shinebarger. winning goal to her credit, while All proceeds were donated to drawing just two penalties for four Kristen’s Kause, a Union College Ath- minutes. She has a goal and an assist letics Department wide imitative for two points in eight ECAC Hockey that was put in place two years ago contests, including a game-winning to support 11-year old Kristen Shine- tally. Through 55 career games at RPI, barger as she continues to overcome Wash has 14 goals and four assists for the devastating effects of Ewings Sar- 18 points. She recorded seven goals coma. and two assists 36 games last year, including one on the man-advantage.

Lauren Wash has Two of her markers were game-winbeen named ECAC ners.

Player of the Week for January 7 after help- Manhattanville ing the Engineers The Valiants are 6-9-2 as they to a weekend split. head into February and the final A sophomore from games of the season.

Belle Mead, N.J., Wash scored her Three home games remain first collegiate hat-trick as the against UMass/Boston on February Engineers earned a two-games 1; Norwich, Feb. 7 and Saint Michaels, series split with Providence Col- Feb. 8. They finish this season on the lege. Scoring the three goals on road to Slave Regina and Holy Cross. just three shots in a 4-3 overtime defeat, she became the first RPI player to do so since Eleeza Cox netted three against Yale, on November 12, 2011. Wash currently leads the Engineers with seven goals, while also picking

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East Hockey / Page 38

(Men’s College Continued)

UNION

The top-five ranked Dutchmen were on a roll going 14-2-2 since being swept by Lake Superior State was back on October 18-19 including a 4-1-1 holiday road swing.

Senior forward Daniel Carr scored January 17th against New Hampshire for the 131st point of his career, moving him into a first place tie with Adam Presizniuk (2007-11) on Union’s all-time Division I scoring list.

Freshman forward Eli Lichtenwald was named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Division 1 Rookie of the Month for December after leading all freshmen in points (seven) and tied for most goals with four, while guiding the Dutchmen to a 5-0-1 record. Lichtenwald, goaltender Colin Stevens (Niskayuna) and Carr swept the ECAC Rookie, Goaltender and Player of the month awards for December.

Junior goaltender Colin Stevens (Niakayuna) was named ECAC Goaltender of the Week for the period ending January 19th after he recorded a career-high in saves (38 and 40) both nights in Union’s sweep of 17thranked New Hampshire on the road.

Senior forward Cole Ikkala is one of 18 candidates for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, given to college hockey’s finest citizen. Ikkala is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has participated in the Team Impact project, which assists children with life threatening illness. He has also worked alongside his teammates in several community service projects. Service commitments have included serving Thanksgiving dinner at the YMCA, buying Christmas gifts for a needy family, organizing a book drive and helping beautify local neighborhoods through litter pickup. During the summer, Cole spent time working with youth players at hockey camps.

OTHER AREA NOTES: • Mercyhurst forward Matthew Zay (Glendale) was named Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Month for December after leading the Lakers in scoring with four goals and five assists.

Long Island Royals 05 Mite A team after the JWK Winter Classic (Oneil photo)

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North Hockey

Beekmantown vs Kenmore at the 2013 NYS Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Championships in Canton The 2014 contest will be in Clayton February 7 and 8!

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Northern New York Men’s College Hockey Report

by Warren Kozireski

Wkozires@brockport.edu

CLARKSON

Clarkson snapped out of a 1-4-1 stretch in non-league action by gaining its first ECAC Hockey weekend sweep at home since early February, 2010 as they defeated Yale and Brown in mid-January. The Golden Knights improved their record in one-goal games this season to 12-3-2.

Senior forward Allen MacPherson entered the final 12 games of the regular season needed 11 points to become the 79th player in school history to reach the 100-career point mark.

All but one of leading scorer Ben Sexton’s first five goals this season came with the man-advantage.

The three consecutive games played against UMass-Lowell earlier in January marked the first time the Knights have played the same opponent three straight times during the regular-season since opening the 1946-47 campaign with three games against Princeton.

Five of the regular season’s last nine games will be played at Cheel Arena including Quinnipiac on the final day—maybe for the ECAC title.

PLATTSBURGH

Two non-conference stumbles in January resulted in the Cardinals being knocked out of the top-three nationally for the first time in weeks as they prepared to reenter the SUNYAC schedule for the final five weeks.

The Cardinals added a goaltender at the break in

North Hockey / Page 40 Division I transfer Spencer Finney from Colgate and lost freshman Connor Creech. The other two goaltenders—longtime starter Mathieu Cadieux and Sam Foley—are both seniors so Finney will enter next season as number one. Finney picked up his first win as a Cardinal against Skidmore January 10th.

Freshman forward Josh Koerner (Montgomery) picked up his first collegiate goal January 10th against Skidmore.

POTSDAM

The Bears entered the second half of the conference schedule with six wins overall, but just one in SUNYAC and on the outside of the layoff picture with nine games remaining in the regular season.

Junior goaltender Shane Talarico stopped 60 shots and was named SUNYAC’s Goalie of the week for the weekend ending January 5th after picking up a pair of wins against Saint Anselm’s.

Senior forward Mike Arnold was seven goals from becoming the first Bear since Connor Treacy (2006-07 to 2009-10) to reach 50 career with nine games left in his collegiate career.

(Continued on Page 43)

Brad Campagna (Potsdam Photo)

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North Women’s College Report

by Janet Schultz Janet@nyhockeyonline.com

Potsdam Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) (pictured below) and Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/ Brampton Thunder) have been honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference West for their play during the week ending Jan. 20. Ott has been named the conference’s Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season and Silveira earned a spot on the ECAC West Honor Roll.

Ott had a monster week with four goals and three assists for seven points in three games. She recorded an assist in a contest against Hamilton. She then added a power-play goal and a helper in a 4-3 win at Neumann.

She topped the performance with a hat trick and an assist for a four-point day in Potsdam’s 4-4 tie with the Knights.

Two of her three tallies came on the man advantage. Ott, a freshman, has 13 goals and six assists for 19 points in 15 games this season to tie her for the team lead with Silveira. Her 1.27 pointsper-game rank her 16th in the nation in scoring and second nationally among rookies. Ott is eighth in the country in goals-per-game with 0.87 and second in power-play-goals with seven.

Silveira continued her hot streak last week. She scored

North Hockey / Page 41 a goal in each of Potsdam’s three contests and added two assists for a five-point week. The senior notched the game-winner in Saturday’s victory over the Neumann.

This season, Silveira has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points. She has recorded 11 of her points in just the last six games. Silveira is currently 24th in the nation in scoring with 1.19 points-per-game and is tied with teammate Brittany Lucky in assists-per-game with 0.81.

Clarkson

The backbone of the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team’s success, senior Erica Howe gained another honor for her stellar play this season as she was named ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week (January 14) for the third time of the 2013-14 campaign. Howe was perfect on the weekend in the 6th-ranked Golden Knights’ home-and-home sweep of arch-rival St. Lawrence, turning aside all 36 shots she faced in the 6-0 and 3-0 victories. Howe made 15 stops in game one, a 3-0 win to record her nation-leading ninth shutout of the year. The Ottawa, Ontario native has now logged 1307:09 minutes, which is the most of any goaltender in the nation and has improved her goalsagainst average mark to 1.01, which is also best in the country.

Plattsburgh

Chelsea VanGlahn (pictured) of the Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team has been selected as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 19. VanGlahn tallied six points in a 3-0 week for the top-ranked Cardinals. First, VanGlahn chipped in the primary assist on a power-play goal in a 4-1 win at Williams. In an 8-0 victory over Cortland later that week, she netted Plattsburgh State’s first goal with just 1:21 gone in the game before adding an assist in the third period.

(Continued on Next Page)

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North Hockey / Page 42

(Womens Hockey Continued)

The Cardinals’ senior co-captain wrapped up the weekend with her second career hat trick, which included the game-winning goal and a short-handed goal in a 10-1 win over Cortland. The honor is VanGlahn’s first of the 2013-14 season and the second of her career.

Sydney Aveson of the Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team has been named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West Goalie of the Week for the week ending Jan. 5. Giovanna Senese was also recognized on this week’s Honor Roll.

Aveson picked up her eighth shutout of the season in Sunday’s 6-0 win over Norwich.

She made 27 saves to improve to 8-0-1 on the year. With 25 career shutouts, Aveson is the all-time program leader for the Cardinals. Aveson leads all Division III goalies with a 0.11 goals-against average and a .994 save percentage. Aveson has earned five of the eight weekly goalie honors this season from the conference.

Senese earns a spot on the ECAC West Honor Roll for the second time this season. Senese tallied two goals in the Cardinals’ win against Norwich. She scored the eventual game-winning goal, getting the Cardinals’ first of the afternoon just 3:10 into the game. Senese added another with 6:38 left in the game to give Plattsburgh State a 5-0 lead at the time.

On January 18 Chelsea VanGlahn had a hat trick in a 10-1 win over Cortland.

Maggie Kolcon (Rochester) had her first collegiate goal in the game against Clarkson.

St. Lawrence The Saints are 6-14-2 overall. They finish out their season in February against Union, Syracuse, Princeton, Quinnipiac, Dartmouth, Harvard, Union and their final game at home on February 22 against RPI (North women’s college continued)

Canton

Maddy Hetman, (Troy,NY) (pictured) had her first collegiate goal in a 4-2 loss to Hamilton College. Hetman scored an unassisted goal, the first of her young career, as she beat Schuchardt five-hole to make it 4-2 at the 6:08 mark of the third period.

Bernadette O’Connell, (Buffalo, NY) had the first goal in that game for the Roos, scoring on a power play.

The SUNY Canton women’s hockey team scored three of the game’s first four goals en route to a 3-2 victory against visiting Sacred Heart University January 17 at the Roos House. The victory is the first for any Roo program against a varsity NCAA Division I opponent.

Sophomore Karley Cree (Hogansburg, NY) had a hand in all three goals finishing with a goal and two assists, while freshman Jessica Kistabish (Pikogan, QUE) scored once and added an assist for SUNY Canton (6-10-2).

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North Hockey / Page 43 (Men’s Hockey Continued)

Freshman center Vinny Caliguiri (Shoreham) netted his first career hat trick January 3rd also against Saint Anselm.

Freshman forward Alex Goodhue scored his first career goal January 11th against Skidmore while sophomore defenseman Brad Campagna (Monroe) (pictured) scored his first collegiate goal January 18th against Hobart. (Continued on Page xx) (Mens Hockey Continued from Page xx)

ST. LAWRENCE

The promising start for the Saints continued to fizzle with just two wins since November 10th and a seven game losing streak as of January 23rd.

And that was in site of the Carey brothers— Greg and Matt—setting a blistering offensive pace. Greg was second nationally in points per game and tied for second in assists while Matt was the top freshman in the nation with 1.23 points per game.

The key was allowing a bottom-ten nationally 3.77 goals per game.

Greg Carey is among the Hobey Baker finalists for the second consecutive season. His two points against Yale January 18th pushed him past Terry Slater for third in school history for career points (168) and was 17 and 19 behind Mike and Pete Lapin with 185 and 187 career points respectively for second and first all-time in school history.

The road doesn’t get any easier with top-ofthe-ECAC standings Union and Quinnipiac twice each over the final ten contests as they try to avoid a first round playoff road series.

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North Hockey / Page 44

Adirondack Winter Classic Results

Skills competition at the Adirondack Winter Classic (Photo ADK)

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he 20th Annual Adirondack Northstars Winter Classic girls hockey tournament is over. The Northstars hosted 34 teams from 6 states and Ontario, with 63 games played over 4 days in 5 age divisions.

Not only was there some great hockey, but over $6,400 was raised for this year’s local charity, the Under the Woods Foundation which provides Summer camp opportunities for children with Autism and Autism-spectrum disorders.

The tourney has now raised over $40,000 in the 10 years they have been raising funds for worthy charity recipients.

In addition to the hockey tournament, a skills competition was held that included skating relay, stickhandling, pass and shoot and a goaltender breakaway event.

A “Team Spirit” Award was given to the Camillus Cougars for showing the most team spirit in support of their skills event participants. They received an engraved plaque with a Cowbell attached.

The high-spirited Camillus Cougars (ADK Photo)

The championships, with final game results, went to:

12U Tier II: Kanata(ON) 1 with a win over Ottawa Valley(ON) 0 14U Rec: Brewster(NY) 5 over Camillus(NY) 2

14U Tier II: Lady Quakers(PA) 6 over EssexCSB(VT) 0

16U Tier II: Monroe County(NY) 2 over Lake Placid(NY) 1 (shootout)

19U Tier II: Cazenovia Park(NY) 2 over Northern Lights(CT) 1 (shootout)

West Hockey

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West Hockey / Page 46

Buffalo Stars Expanding to Niagara Falls (NY)

By Randy Schultz Randy@nyhockeyonline.com

W

hile many hockey organizations are focused on their 2013-14 season, the Buffalo Stars Hockey Organization are already looking ahead and planning for next season.

The Buffalo Stars will expand their footprint for the 2014-15 hockey season with the formation of the “Buffalo Stars North” or “Niagara Falls Stars.” The Stars will form Multiple Organization House League (MOHL) teams in the Squirt, Peewee, Bantam and Midget levels.

In addition, the Stars will offer a Beginner/Learn to Skate hockey program.

“It’s not really and expansion,” said Pete Preteroti, President of the Stars organization. “It’s more about establishing more of a footprint in the Niagara Falls area.

“We’re already up to 17 hours a week with ice time at the Hyde Park Ice Arena. Next year we will be up to around 22 to 23 hours.

“So it made sense to us to base a couple of teams out of there. We’re going to try and establish a MOHL team at every level.

“We’ll continue to have our presence up there with our travel team. We would like to have more ice time at Holiday (Twin Rinks), but that is not possible.

“If we tried to expand our House League at Holiday, that would hurt our travel team. So it makes sense to expand our House League in the Falls.”

Does Preteroti expect a growth in applicants from the Niagara County area or will the Erie County area continue to expand?

“I see both,” responded Preteroti. “There’s only so many kids playing hockey.

“I think we’re looking at kids coming in from Northern Erie County as well as the Niagara County region.”

“We are pleased to be able to offer Niagara County residents an opportunity to play for a team with the name of Niagara Falls in it,” added Stars Vice President of House, Dave Lynch. “It makes perfect sense since we already have so much ice available to us at Hyde Park Ice Rink now.”

A logo and the official naming of the team will be introduced in the near future.

The Stars will continue to offer Erie County residents a MOHL Program as well with those teams continuing their base at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga.

The Buffalo Stars are one of Western New York’s oldest hockey organizations. They came into existence and are still officially known as the Buffalo Hornets in 1972.

Since then they have been rebranded as the Buffalo Stars and offer over 300 boys and girls, ages 4-19, the opportunity to compete in both competitive and recreational levels of hockey.

Interested players or coaches should contact Lynch at 716-253-3157 or email Preteroti at sportsniag@aol. com.

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West Hockey / Page 47

Bisons Beat!

Buffalo Bisons 19U Capture the East Coast Wizards Christmas Tournament (Submitted by the Bisons)

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he Buffalo Bisons 19U team won the East Coast Wizards Christmas Tournament in exciting style after winning the Championship at the Connecticut Polar Bear Tournament the past 2 years. The Buffalo Bisons broke their Christmas tradition of attending the Connecticut Polar Bear Tournament in their quest to play tougher competition and continue to provide exceptional exposure for their players. The Wizards Tournament would provide a field of teams that are ranked in the top 20 in the country.

The Bisons would open up the tournament with a great team win over Team Pittsburgh by a score of 4-2. This is a team that the Bisons have faced at the USA Hockey National Championships a number of times over the last few years.

The second game would be against the Chicago Fury with the Bisons coming out on top by a score of 5-1. The Bisons would close out the preliminary round by beating the Massachusetts Spitfires by a score of 4-2. By going undefeated, the Bisons were ranked as the first seed going into the playoff round. In the Quarter-Finals the Bisons would take on the Dallas Stars and win by a score of 6-1 in convincing fashion. The Bisons playing shorthanded due to injuries, faced the Bay State Breakers in the Semi-Final Game and would take

an early 2-0 lead. The Breakers would answer back with 2 goals to tie the game at 2-2 and send the game into overtime.

The Bisons successfully stopped an Overtime penalty shot to send the game to a Shootout where they scored the only goal to advance to the finals.

The Bisons would be playing their third game of the day against the Chicago Young Americans and came out sluggish with only 90 minutes between the semi final and the final game. The Bisons fell behind 2-0 after the first period, but somehow the Bisons got their second wind and scored 2 third period goals to tie the game at 2-2.

The game would go into overtime with neither team scoring. In their second Shootout of the day, the Bisons once again came out on top as the only team to score in the Shootout.

As all of the Bison players will be resuming their High School season, they will get back together at the beginning of March as they begin to prepare to defend their state title and to make another run at a USA Hockey National Championship. The Buffalo Bisons record for the season is 20W-7L-7T. The team is currently ranked 6th in the United States according to the MYHockeyRankings.

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West Hockey/ Page 48

West News and Notes ...The Monroe County 19U Won the Polar Bear Tourney! ...The Buffalo Regals 12U finished 2nd in their division at the Polar Bear Tournament. ...The Buffalo Stars 19U team claimed the top seed spot at the 2014 Adirondack XIX Wintert Classic. They had a 5-1 win to go to the semi-finals with 120 shots in three games. ...Best wishes and a speedy recovery goes out to Williamsville High School Player Sarah Scolnick. It was reported

she has a broken collar bone. ...Max Aroesty, Maksymum Hockey, had a hat trick in a Pee Wee game on January 19. ...The Cazenovia Chiefs 19U team won the Adirondack XX Winter Classic with a 2-1 win over the Ct. Northern Lights. ...Frontier HS Boys won the Batavia Holiday Tournament, 4-3 over Bishop Timon.

Purple Eagles Win Silver Stick Pee Wee Title

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he Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles Pee Wee Team won the International Silver Stick Pee Wee Tournament final in Forest, Ontario.

Before they took Championship 2-1 over the AYR Flames (Ontario), they won the Regional Silver Sticks Regional tournament in Rome, NY.

The prestigious Silver Stick International was named after the Ottawa Silver Seven Hockey team that won the Stanley Cup from 1903-1905. It is the largest North American minor hockey tournament, hosting over 65,000 players and coaches each year from across North America. It is the only minor hockey association to have it’s own display in the Hockey Hall of Fame, which will now include the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles.

The philosophy of the tournament is to promote “Citizenship and International Goodwill” through Silver Stick hockey.

The NJPE current record is 30-4-5, and they are ranked 30th in the nation out of 904 teams.

Pictured are: Top Row: Head Coach- Mark

Mendel,Alex Pronobis,Dylan Lugris, Assistant Coach- Rick Desimone, Vince Capolupo, Kyle Lee, Chris Cacciatore, Peter Lysiak, Rhys Mendel, Patrick Brady, Michael Barker, Assistant Coach Keith Harlock, Jackson Burns, Assistant Coach- Jeff Pronobis, Nick Harlock Bottom Row: Om Acharya, Dylan Russo, Anthony Desimone, Tyler Lehan,and Drew Merino (Not Pictured- Cam King)

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West Hockey / Page 49

Nichols Girls Prep A Hockey-Ranked 4th in the Country

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he Nichols Girls Prep A hockey team is off to a great start for the 2013/14 Season. As of the most recent MYHockeyRankings, the Prep A Team is ranked 4th in the Nation. The team’s overall record is 14-4-3.

Nichols Prep A team competes in both the Canadian Prep School League as well as the North American Prep Hockey League.

Nichols is currently in first place in both leagues and is looking to defend it’s back-toback titles in both. They captured the prestigious Deerfield College Tournament for the first time in over 10 years and also traveled to Boston, MA to play Noble and Greenough Academy, the reigning New England Prep Champion with a number of US 18 players on its roster.

Nichols also played Buckingham Browne and Nichols School with Nichols going 1-1-1 on the trip. Nichols then participated in the Northwood Invitational Tournament in Lake Placid and went 1-2 against some very strong competition including the top teams from the Ontario Hockey Academy and North American Hockey Academy. The team has been able to accomplish this in spite of missing a number of key players due to injuries Nichols is very excited that all six of the team’s seniors will be continuing their hockey careers next season in college.

Madison Sansone will be playing at Providence College, Allison Gasuik and Julianna Iafallo with play at Ohio State University, Lizzy Viola at Plattsburgh State College which is currently ranked number 1, and Annika Zalewski will be playing at Colgate University.

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West Hockey / Page 50

A Tribute to West Section Empire State 2005 Games Contributed by Mark Clark!

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he Women’s Empire State hockey team won the open division gold medal at the 2005 Winter Games in Lake Placid February 25-27th. It was generally believed that with the loss of many veterans including last year’s stellar goalie, this year’s team might not be able to compete for the gold medal. However,

with a team makeup of speed, experience and attitude, Western beat a previously undefeated and top seed Adirondack, 5-2 to earn the gold medal.

Western came out strong during the qualifying round, by beating a skillful Central team 4-2. Emily Koren, Nicole Scuteri, Lisa Gimlin, and Shawnee Oberholtzer tallied for Western. Mary Jo Kubiak earned the win in net In the second game of the qualifying round Western beat a competitive but undermanned New York City team 12 - 0. Western outshot NYC 72 - 0. Megan Herald lead the team with a goal and 3 assists. Also scoring for Western were Shawnee Oberholtzer (2), Kelvey Richards, Jen Gorczynki (2), Linda Groff (2), Lisa Gimlin (2), Emily Koren and Adrianna “Age” Riggio The third game saw Western lose to the tough Adirondack team 2-1, in spite of out-shooting them, 29-17.

Only Cathy Cummings was able to score leaving Western in need of at least one point to make the gold medal round.

NY Hockey OnLine

West Hockey / Page 51

Iroquois Chiefs Report One Loss, One Win for Varsity Chiefs

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he Iroquois Chiefs lost 5-1 to Starpoint at the Hockey Outlet on January 11. Steven Kaufmann scored the only Chiefs goal off of an assist from Sasha Hawkins.

The Chiefs looked to get back into the win column in their game against City Honors/Cardinal O’Hara.

Iroquois beat CH/CO 6-4.

After falling behind mid-way through the first period, the Chiefs tied the score less than a minute later with a goal by Ryan Marshall, assisted by Aiden Abraszek and Steven Kaufmann.

In the second period, the Chiefs were again down by a goal when Sasha Hawkins tied the score off an assist from Spencer Jones. It was then that Daniel Taggert and Tyler Hirsch went to work battling along the boards for loose pucks and controlling the play until Hirsch fed Taggert in front and he hammered the puck home for the Chiefs first lead of the game.

Ryan Marshall added his second goal minutes later and the Chiefs led by two. After CH/CO scored to make it 4-3, Abraszek scored unassisted and the 2nd period ended with the Chiefs holding a 5-3 lead.

CH/CO again closed within one goal mid-way through the 3rd period and pressed hard for the equalizer. Strong defensive play by Andrew Wilson, Eric Rogers, and Jonathan Lavis allowed the Chiefs to

Patrick Stenzel and Ryan Marshall pursue the puck at the New Year’s Day 4-3 win over East Aurora. (Iroquois Photo)

hold the lead. Marshall completed the hat trick and put the game away for good, with less than a minute remaining. Ryan Fehr, playing his first game back on defense, looked like he had played there all season long and was solid throughout. Mark Morganti played a strong physical game, delivering many punishing checks throughout.

Playing his best game in net for Iroquois was Matt Majeski. He was exceptional with his rebound control and made several keys saves in the third to keep the game close.

Offensively, Sasha Hawkins was a force. Hitting anything and everything with a red jersey. Providing the scoring touch was Cameron Ellis.

His nifty moves gave the Red Raiders fits all night long. Also with a great showing was Owen Greene. His two separate attempts down the left wing also both found the net. The defensive corp was compromised of n a tilt against the St. Francis White only four players: Lucas Haberl, Alex Held, Kyle Kupczyk and Patrick MarJV team it was a highly contested battle by the junior Iroquois Chiefs. rone played big minutes and kept the St. Francis offensive charge at While the scoreboard might bay. With the playoffs nearing in the indicate a loss the JV Chiefs battled junior Chiefs record stands at 5-8-1. hard. With only 10 players on the Updated stories on Iroquois can bench against a Francis team with be round at 19, Iroquois put a fight that their www.nyhockeyonline.com opponent will certainly remember.

Iroquois Drops 3-1 to St. Francis White

I

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West Hockey / Page 52

Stars’ Players Honored

The Buffalo Stars are pleased to name Mitchell Thornton as our Student/Athlete of the Week for January 17.

He was selected for for his consistent outstanding Student record.

He has been on the High honor roll every semester.

Mitch has played with the Buffalo Stars for 4 years and plays Varsity hockey for Depew High School. He aspires to play hockey and go to college.

The 14 year old is in tenth grade and enjoys Global Studies. His favorite NHL player is Ryan Callahan and his favorite college team are the Niagara University Purple Eagles.

“Eddy” enjoys skateboarding, classic rock and rap and runs CrossCountry.

His hockey role model is Chara because he’s a hardworking defenseman and his hero is his Dad because he introduced him to hockey.

This year’s goal is to develop a quality slap shot that produces in front of the net.

The Buffalo Stars Youth Spotlight Player of the Week ending January 19 is Jacob Gennaro of the Peewee Major Team.

Jacob is 12 years old and plays Center. He lives in Clarence and enjoys Physical Education with plans on becoming a teacher, engineer, doctor or professional athlete.

His favorite NHL player is Jonathon Toews and his favorite team are the Chicago Blackhawks.

He enjoys golf and loves the X Box. His role model is Fred Jackson because he was undrafted and plays hard every game. His personal hero is his Dad because he is a hard worker. In addition to hockey, Jacob plays Soccer.

His goal this year is to make the playoffs and be a play-maker.

The Buffalo Stars Youth Spotlight Player of the week ending January 12 is Ben Cichowski of the Peewee Major Team.

Ben is 11 years old and is in sixth grade. His favorite subject is science and he plans on being an NHL player His favorite NHLer is Patrick Kane and his favorite team are the Pittsburgh Penquins.

He enjoys taping hockey sticks and playing video games.

His role models are his parents because “they teach me how to know right from wrong.”

He also sites Wayne Gretzky as his personal hero because The Great One never gave up if he was losing a game.

Ben’s goal for this season is to get 15 assists and 25 goals.

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Buffalo Stars Announce Hockey Athlete Development Program

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West Hockey / Page 53

New for 2014-15: The Buffalo Stars will enter our U16 Full and U18 Full season teams into the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League (EJEPL) in addition to their Western New York League schedule. The EJEPL was created by members of the former EJHL to prepare players to become the Junior and College recruits of the future. The EJEPL is affiliated with a top Junior Development League on the East Coast----the newly formed Eastern Hockey League and is also affiliated with both the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MET), and the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL). The U16 and U18 will also continue to participate in the National Junior Prospects Hockey League.

Coaches for our teams will be announced shortly.

Visit the Buffalo Stars at: www.buffalostars.com Visit the EJEPL at: http://www.ejepl.com/page/ show/530744-home and visit the NJPHL at: www.njphl.com (This story was supplied by the Buffalo Stars)

he Buffalo Stars Hockey Athlete Development Program will be geared towards the high end hockey athlete who aspires to reach the Junior and College levels of hockey.

Open to Birth Year 1999 to 1996.

This program will be offered to the U16 and U18 player. In the 2014-15 season, the Buffalo Stars will once again ice teams at the U16 and U18 Full Season level, in addition to split season teams at U15, U16 and U18.

Full Season teams in this program will begin a 10 month training regimen that will follow the guidelines set forth in the USA Hockey American Development Model.

Our split season teams will participate with a slightly modified schedule which will not involve the 10 month model but will be equally intense.

Players will learn to compete. This will be the time to prepare athletes for the competitive environment, conMonday, March 10 @ Holiday tinue to refine technical skills and to develop their physical 7:30 p.m. Squirt Minor (2005) & Squirt Major (2004) abilities. The focus will be on optimizing fitness prepara8:30 p.m. Peewee Minor (2003) & Peewee Major (2002) tion and to begin to specialize in hockey. Training will be individualized to the athletes particular needs in skill develTuesday, March 11 @ Hyde Park opment, physical development and mental development.

6:45 p.m. Mite (2006-07) & Squirt Minor (2005) 7:45 p.m. Peewee Major (2002)

During the 10 month period, players will participate in a 60-70 game schedule and participate in 120-130 on ice Wednesday, March 12 @ Holiday development sessions and 60+ off-ice sessions. Training 5:45 p.m. Mite (2006-07) & Squirt Major (2004) will start in mid April and continue until mid June. Intense 6:45 p.m. Peewee Minor (2003) & Peewee Tier 3 training then picks up with the start of training camp in August.

All participants must present a release from their current organi All players will be charted, evaluated and ranked on a zation in order to participate in the tryout. Release required even monthly basis. The program will be overseen by a Hockey from House League.

Development Council and all players and staff will be held Tryout fee: $15 per session -- Coaches will be announced Feb. to the highest standards of accountability.

15 Each team will have a Head Coach and 2 Assistant Contact: SportsNiag@aol.com Coaches. In addition, there will be “organizational� coaches for Goaltending; Strength & Conditioning; Skating; PosiGeneral Information: Pete Preteroti, 685-1122 tional Development; and Nutrition. or online at www.buffalostars.com

Buffalo Stars Tryouts 2014-15

www.nyhockeyonline.com

West Hockey / Page 54 Buffalo Stars Spotlight Player for January 26

The Buffalo Stars Youth Spotlight Player of the Week ending January 26th is Sean Brown of the Midget U15 Team.

Sean is 15 years old and plays goaltender for the Midget U15 team. He is also a lacrosse, volleyball, track and surfing athlete and with his favorite subject Science, the tenth grader plans on becoming a doctor.

His favorite NHL player is Marc-Andre Fleury and his favorite college team is MIchigan State.

Dr. Joe Kling is his role made because Kling is a hard worker and knows how to have fun. His personal hero is his brother Ray.

His goal this year is to improve his performance.

Stars Announce Midget Travel Program for 2014-15 U16 & U18 Full Season; U15, U16 & U18 Split Season Spring & Summer Players will skate twice per week (Tuesday & Thursday) starting April 22nd and continuing through June 26th. This will be a part of the season program for the U16 Full Season and the U15 Split Season teams. It will be optional for the U16 Split Season team. The U18 Full Season and U18 Split Season players will skate Wednesday nights in April, May and June.

A Spring Team will be made up of 97’s and 98’s which will also participate in 2 Spring/Summer Tournament Events.

A team of 99’s will participate in one tournament event. These events will be announced by March 1st.

Training Camp Training Camp begins in August for all 5 of our Midget Teams. Players will be on ice 3 times per week the entire month of August and will participate in both on ice and off-ice activities as well as spend time in the weight room. Training Camp will conclude with participation in the Annual Buffalo Stars Labor Day Weekend Tournament.

Regular Season The Split Season teams will participate in the WNYAHL and will participate through mid November. In addition to the regular league schedule, each team will participate in one or two additional tournaments and a Showcase event on the East Coast. Split Season teams will practice twice per week during this time and have at least one off-ice session.

Full Season teams will participate in the WNYAHL, the NJPHL (National Junior Prospects Hockey League) and the EJEPL (Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League).

These teams will practice 3 times per week and will have off-ice and classroom activities twice per week through early March 2015. Both Full Season teams will participate in a 65+ game schedule.

Post Season The Split Season teams will come back in March to participate in the Buffalo Stars Niagara Falls Tournament. The Full Season teams will prepare for the State Tournament (if we qualify) or will participate in the March Niagara Falls Tournament.

Coaches (all Head Coaches are non parent) U15 Split: Pete Preteroti U16 Split: Ed Gajewski U16 Full: Jerry Wheeler U18 Split: TBA U18 Full: Mike Flatley Special Skills Coach: Mark Zarbo Video Coach: Mike Sutt Chief of Staff: Amanda Brennan www.buffalostars.com

www.nyhockeyonline.com

F

West Hockey / Page 55

The league, in its fourth season, have seen a ebruary will be highlighted by the Section VI growth with Nichols and Iroquois joining the and WNYGVIH Championship games. At league. The level of play has improved and the time of this column It’s Kenmore in the enthusiasm can be seen in each and first, followed by Monsignor Martin, Lanevery game as well as the competitivecaster/Iroquois, Amherst/Sweethome, ness.

Williamsville, Orchard Park/Frontier and There has also been some uniqueNichols tied with West Seneca in last ness to this season with a number of place. (These are unofficial with games games being cancelled due to weather, left to be played and some stat sheets a group of girl’s in a shoot-out comnot included). petition between periods at the Buf Before the February 7/8 New York

By Janet Schultz falo Sabres NHL game, two female State Championships in Clayton, the Janet@nyhockeyonline.com head coaches (Amherst/Sweethome and WNY girl’s will have the Section VI chamMonsignor Martin), Erin Gehen scoring pionship match on February 5 at 8 p.m. at the league’s first 100th goal, some more the Northtown Center at Amherst. media attention from the Metro Community The winner will take off for Clayton and News, Buffalo News and talkcome back to the WNYGVIH quarterfinals on ing girl’s hockey on WGR 55 February 10; semis on February 12 and championship radio. game on February 14.

A number of these young Kenmore took the Section VI in 2013 and Monsignor ladies have and will be moving on to the collegiate ranks at all levels including DI, DIII and club; depending on what they want. Some have been focusing on their studies but are fans of the game at their respective college (Mikela Ditonto at Cornell and Megan Roberts at Oswego to mention a couple that I have run into at games when they came home).

Lauren Pray What Coach Rick Hopkins, along with a group of parents and coaches, worked so hard on for four years move into its fifth season in 201415. The League would welWNYGVIH Head Coaches Linda Mroz (l) and Nicole Adimey (r) come additional schools to talk women’s hockey with WGR Radio Host Tony Caligiuri the league to make it even (Bill Pavone Photo) more competitive and add to the enjoyment of the sport Martin took the league championship. It looks like both and more opportunity for could be defending those titles. girl’s to be noticed by col Leaders on the score board include Kaitlin Drew-Mead leges.

(MM) with 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points; McKenna Rushford (Amh/SH), 9G/10A; Rachel Lenard (MM), 8G/11A; Missy Mallon (Amh/SH), 11G/7A; Erin Gehen (WSeneca), 10G/8A; and Jlia Mings Amh/SH), 12G/5A.

In the nets Lauren Pray (Kenmore) has 6 wins and 3 losses with a .925 save percentage. Monsignor Martin’s Brianna Gawronski and Maddie Aston (Amh/SH) both have 6 Kaitlin Drew-Mead wins and 2 losses. Gawronski also has a tie.

WNYGVIH Moving to End of 2013-14 Season

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West Hockey / Page 56

BROCKPORT

MCC transfer Dan Turgeon was one of the top power play specialists with six goals, which tied him for sev The Golden Eagles were on the enth in Division III. Senior Mike Zanella and freshman outside of the playoff picture as Tyler Pryce were also in double figures through the first the second half of the confer- 17 games. ence schedule begins January Ten of the team’s top 13 scorers are underclassmen 24-25 with a trip to Morrisville including freshman Nick Berst (Depew), who had eight points over 14 games, and Cory Gurski (Hilton), who for two games. had scored three goals over Sophomore Chase 12 contests.

Nieuwendyk was aver Taylor Pryce was named aging almost a point per SUNYAC Men’s Hockey game to lead a group of Rookie of the Week after six underclassmen atop the helping the Bengals to a team scoring list. Freshmen 5-4 win over Elmira January Nick Marinac and Jake Tay10th. The rookie forward lor along with sophomore had a goal and three assists,

by Warren Kozireski James Ryan are right beincluding a helper on the Wkozires@brockport.edu hind as is sophomore degame-winner in the victory fenseman Chris Luker (Jr. and was a plus-4 for the Sabres). game.

The team added fresh-

Western New York Men’s College Hockey Report

man forward Nate Pelligra (Webster) as a transfer from Manhattanville at the break. He becomes the third Pelligra brother to play for the Golden Eagles following Mark and Alex. It is the second time three brothers have worn the green and gold—Mike, Steve and Greg Raponi all played between 1972-79. Sixth other brother combinations have played in team history: Sean and at McCrossan, Brian and Mark Cavanaugh, Mike and Brian Tefft, Tom and Dan Galiani, Peter and Paul Stasko (Batavia) and Michael and Mark Cmunt.

Only 23 of the team’s first 120 points came from the blueline.

BUFFALO STATE

The Bengals needed to tighten up defensively after allowing 19 goals over the first five games of the second half of the season as they prep for conference action later in January. They were also third-from-last in the conference on the power play.

CANISIUS

The Griffs rebounded from a pair of losses at Vermont’s Catamount Cup to sweep Holy Cross for the first time in 14 years and began a season-long five game home swing January 11-12 with a split against Sacred Heart and earning a point against Bentley the following weekend.

Junior Keegan Asmundson was named Atlantic Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week for the period ending January 5th after he posted his first collegiate shutout—a 3-0 win at Holy Cross.

Senior Tony Capobianco became the third goalie in Griffs history with 2,500 career saves during the first period January 11th versus Sacred Heart.

Senior forward Taylor Law returned to the Griffs lineup after missing 11 games (since November 1st) with a back injury and scored against UMassLowell in the opening round of the Catamount Cup in Vermont. He missed the final 28 games last season with a shoulder injury.

www.nyhockeyonline.com Chad Wiseman scored the first 3-on-5 shorthanded goal in program history December 6th at Army.

The team entered the end of January in a position to host a first round playoff series, but with plenty of time to improve that standing.

ERIE CC

The Kats are coming off a 1-2 conference December and had five of their seven remaining NJCCA games on home ice starting with a loss to MCC January 20th.

Jacob Macchioni (Blasdell) and Brad Ferrell (East Amherst) were tied for the team lead with 12 goals while Cody Dynarski (West Seneca) led with 12 assists.

FREDONIA

The team was winless since November 16th, but finished their non-conference schedule with three wins and a tie prior to the restart of SUNYAC play January 2425 at home against Oswego and Cortland.

Stephen Castriota and Jared Wynia were leading the team in scoring, but both, along with defenseman Ryan Wilkinson, had just reached ten or more points during the latest streak and the recruits had not yet contributed as much offense as was hoped.

Freshman goaltender Chris Eiserman gave way to sophomore Jeff Flagler for the first two games of the second half and Flagler was a bit snakebit with a 1-0 loss to Neumann in the first of a two-game set despite making 43 saves.

West Section / Page 57 every game except the Elmira loss and seven goals three times. That had them in the top-eight in Division III in team scoring at 4.07 goals per game.

Included was a 3-2 squeaker over Nazareth at the Frozen Frontier event held just prior to the holiday.

“I knew we had a good team, but it all depended on how the chemistry was going to be in the room with ten first year players joining us,” said head coach Chris Schultz. “The two things that we’ve gotten are our first year guys are significant factors in the lineup and we have a very selfless room, which goes a long way.”

Tyler Brickler continued to lead the offense with 18 points—good for top-36 nationally—while freshman Stephen Collins was tied for 22nd in the nation in freshman scoring.

Senior Zachary Vit had ten goals over the first 15 contests and was just eight away from 50 career. He passed the 100-career point mark earlier this season.

The Knights host Nazareth January 25th before resuming conference action at home January 31st-February 1st against Plattsburgh and Potsdam.

MONROE CC

The first place Tribunes had a full month between games and more than a five week gap between conference games when they restarted in mid-January with a 12-2 win over Erie CC. With this the team’s final season, college scouts were regularly looking at many players; especially national scoring leaders Dominik Gabaj (64 points in 16 games), Martin Matejcek (55 points) and Pavel Kuzmin (40) among others.

The NJCCA national championships this year are at Hudson Valley CC February 22-23.

GENESEO

The Knights extended their season-high winning streak to six games before it was snapped at Elmira, before they rebounded with a two-game sweep at Neumann as play resumed following the break.

The team scored three or more goals in

(Men’s Hockey Continued on Page 63)

www.nyhockeyonline.com

Western New York Women’s College Hockey Report

by Janet Schultz Janet@nyhockeyonline.com JDSchultz3663@gmail.com

Buffalo State College

The Bengals won their first two games of the season when they beat Cortland in a weekend doubleheader.

Kara Goodwin had a hat trick and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Red Dragons in game one. The win was the first for firstyear Head Coach Candice Moxley.

Nikki Kirchberger (Buffalo/ Wet Seneca West) netted the first Bengals goal six minutes into the first period off a Kara Goodwin (Janet Schultz Photo) pass from Goodwin.

Melissa Ash (Binghamton/Chenanga Valley) and Jeyna Minnick (Rochester/Greece-Arcadia) had assists. Goaltender Jordan Lee had 28 saves for the Bengals.

In the second game of the series Megan Niesyte (East Amherst/Clarence) recorded her first collegiate goal and scoring the game winner in a 3-2 victory over Cortland.

West Hockey / Page 58 Minnick and Goodwin dropped the other two into the net. It was Goodwin’s eighth goal of the season with an assist from Morgan Haettich (Buffalo/Mt. Mercy). Baldwinsville’s Christina Zandri had one of Cortland’s two goals.

While Cortland outshot Buffalo, neither team had any success on the Megan Niesyty (Schultz Photo) power play. Lee had 30 saves in game two.

The majority of their final games are ECAC West Rivals, all working for a place in the ECAC Finals. The entire February schedule will be played at home. First up is Potsdam on February 7 and 8; followed by Neumann on February 15 and 16; and finally the University of England (non-conference) on February 21 and 22.

RIT

Freshman forward Cassie Clayton (Pickering, Ontario/PEAC School) of the RIT women’s hockey team was named the College Hockey America (CHA) Rookie of the Week on Monday, for the week ending Jan. 12, 2014. It is Clayton’s first weekly honor. Clayton scored the gamewinning shorthanded goal with 1:17 left in regulation on a sensational individual effort to lift the Tigers to a 4-3 win over. She scooped up a loose puck after Celeste Brown caused a turnover in the neutral zone, deked a Syracuse defenseman at the line to come in on a breakaway and roofed a shot top shelf over the Orange goaltender for the highlight-reel goal. She also caused a penalty in the final seconds while Syracuse had the goalie pulled to clinch the game for RIT. Clayton now has three goals and an assist for the Tigers in 21 games played this season.

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RIT Women Skate for the Cure in Special Puzzle Jerseys (RIT Photo)

RIT held their annual “Skate for the Cure” on Saturday, January 25, wearing special puzzle piece jerseys in conjunction with AutismUp. RIT’s special game worn jerseys will be auctioned off online in February, with all proceeds going to AutismUp through the RIT United Way campaign. For more information, visit autismup.org. Last year, the Tigers raised $5,939.86 for CURE Childhood Cancer Association in its Skate for the Cure game.

AutismUp is the leading autism organization in Rochester and the surrounding areas. Founded in 2004, by a small group of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their mission is to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and their families, by expanding and enhancing opportunities to improve quality of life.

The Tigers play their final 10

games, all against College Hockey America opponents. RIT is currently third in the CHA standings, a point ahead of Syracuse. The top two teams receive a bye into the CHA semifinals.

WNY Note: Buffalo’s Chelsie Hausberger is serving as Captain of the Cortland Red Dragons Women’s team. She played for the Buffalo Bisons and on the Orchard Park/Frontier Girls Varsity Team.

Niagara University

NU is currently 1-7-0. However, according to Coach Rachel Hauser this does not reflect the amount of effort that this group shows for the duration of a game.

“They work hard and play as if we have a roster of 20 skaters even though we only had 9 on the ros-

ter (including a goaltender),” said Hauser.

“They are a very disciplined group and do a very good job of staying out of the penalty box; something that is hard to do with a short bench. “Many of our goals have come from capitalizing on power play situations. Our win this season came on the road against the University of Rochester (11-6) which was a highlight for them. They also played extremely well against Syracuse losing 5-6,” Hauser continued.

The second semester of play for NU begins January 31 against the University of Buffalo.

Joining the Purple Eagles is Abigail Nashwinter a freshman forward from Lewiston, NY and a product of the Niagara Jr Purple Eagles organization.

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West Hockey / Page 60

The Depew Saints Girls showed their skill between periods of the Buffalo Sabres/Carolina Hurricane’s Game on January 23!

On January 18 with Buffalo facing the Columbus Blue Jackets the Buffalo Shamrock Mite Team took to the ice for a scrimmage with Sabretooth Refereeing!

Photos by NYHOL’s Janet Schultz

www.nyhockeyonline.com

West Hockey / Page 61

Nigh School Hockey Shootout at the Buffalo Sabres Top: It was Orchard Park on Canisius Goalie Lorenzo Guidi. Shooters for OP were Kevin McParlane, Jeff Palczewski, Cole Schiffman and TJ Maloney at the January 23 game.

Bottom: On January 18 it was East Aurora firing on Iroquois.

(NYHOL was unable to obtain the names of these players)

Photos by Janet Schultz Janet@ nyhockeynline.com

www.nyhockeyonline.com

High School Hockey / Page 62

New York State Girls High School Hockey Standings As of January 27, 2014

Section III

Bloomer Goes to All-Star Classic

Rochester Junior Americans 16U defenseman Matt Bloomer was selected to compete in the USPHL All-Star Classic. The inaugural event took place on January 20 at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Bloomer, who leads the Rochester Junior Americans 16U team with 12 goals in USPHL play, was of 12 defensemen chosen for the 16U Division All-Star Game.

Bloomer was on the American Team facing off against the National Team. Bloomer is second among defensemen in the 16U Division in goals scored.

“The Rochester Junior Americans family is very proud of Matt for this accomplishment. His All-Star selection is just the start for him,” said Junior Americans 16U head coach Brian Guck.

“Matt’s a hard worker on and off the ice and the improvement in his game since last April is incredible.

He’s just starting to scratch the surface in terms of what he’s capable of. “ The 16U Division All-Star Game is part of a leaguewide event that also includes Premier Division and 18U Division All-Star Contests. The 16U game was played at the Gallant Arena.

Skaneateles Alex Bay/Thousand Islands Oswego Ithaca

Section VI--WNYGVIH Kenmore Monsignor Martin Lancaster/Iroquois Amherst/Sweethome Williamsville Nichols Orchard Park/Frontier West Seneca

Section VII Beekmantown (Tie) Lake Placid (Tie) Albany Academies Saranac Lake

Section X Canton Massena Potsdam Salmon River St. Lawrence

www.nyhockeyonline.com (Men’s Hockey Continued)

NAZARETH

Ben Blasko netted two goals to lead the Golden Flyers to their second victory of the season—4-3 over Stonehill January 11th on home ice. The freshman was leading the team with 16 points in 16 games; upperclassmen Tom Seravalli and Mark Zavorin were next.

Packy Jones has been a disappointment after his 10-10 season last year with just two goals and one assist through 13 games. And the team had only gotten goal scoring from 11 of the 27 skaters on the roster.

ECAC West play resume January 24th when the team hosts nationally ranked Utica.

The Golden Flyers added forward Rocky Gruttadauria (Spencerport) and defenseman Don Olivieri as transfers in mid-January from Niagara and Utica respectively.

NIAGARA

After a dreadful first two months, things appeared on the upswing for the Purple Eagles as they earned six of a possible ten points before getting swept on home ice by Holy Cross for the first time since the 2008-09 season. They were still in position to host a first round playoff series, but needed to go on quite a run to earn a first round bye.

Junior forward Isaac Kohls jumped into the team scoring lead with four goals and seven points over three games.

“I’m getting to the front of the net now,” said Kohl’s.

“If you’re carrying the puck on the side and not getting

High School Hockey / Page 63 to the areas, you’re not going to score. After going home for break and coming back, I realized that I needed to get to the hard areas more and shooting more. If I assert myself more I get more touches and that helps.”

Senior forward Ryan Murphy, suspended by the school for 18 games earlier this season, is no longer on the roster or with the team.

Sophomore forward Rocky Gruttadauria transferred to Division III Nazareth in mid-January. The Spencerport native had played in just eight games this season with zero points after dressing for 36 f 38 last season and netting two goals and five points as a freshman.

R.I.T.

The Tigers lost four consecutive conference games for the first time as a Division I program in 2006-07. They also were swept in a conference weekend for just the fifth and sixth times in eight seasons. A sweep over Army one week later gave the team hope for a late-season spurt into a first round bye—a position they were four points out of as of mid-January.

Not helping matters was RIT sitting fifth from last in the conference in scoring led by Michael Colavecchia’s 23 points. Local Garrett McMullen (Churchville-Chili) had played just ten games, but had three goals with two assists while sophomore Dan Schuler (Webster) had 14 points in 20 games, but was suspended for one game by the league for charging.

Colavecchia became the sixth player in the program’s Division I history to surpass the 100 career point mark when he assisted on two goals January 10th at Bentley.

Junior goaltender Jordan Ruby stopped 35 shots to register his first collegiate shutout January 17th against Army and was named AHA Goaltender of the Week for the period ending January 19th. Danny Smith had a career-high three point effort in the same game and earned AHA Rookie of the Week honors.

The Tigers were the only team in Division I to neither score nor allow a shorthanded goal this season.

After going 35-3-10 on home ice over the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, RIT was just 12-11-2 over the past season and a half as of January 23rd.

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High School Hockey / Page 64

New York State Boys High School Hockey Standings As of January 1, 2014

SECTION I WRPDIIHL Conference I Pawling Hendrick Hudson Brewster Yorktown WRPDIIHL Conference II Pelham Scarsdale Mamaroneck ETB New Rochelle White Plains Sleepy/Irvington/Dobbs WRPDIIHL Conference III Ryetown/Harrison Rye Mt. Pleasant Horace Greeley Byram Hills Ossining Fox Lane WRPDIIHL Conference IV Sufferin Pearl River North Rockland Clarkstown Nyack/Tappan Zee

Section I Division I Suffern Scarsdale North Rockland White Plains New Rochelle Mahopac Clarkstown Mamaroneck Lakeland/Penas Nyack/Tappan Zee Section I Division II Pelham Pearl River John Jay Cross River Hendrick Hudson Pawling Horace Greeley Somers/N Salem Brewster Ryetown/Harrison Mt.Pleasant Rye Byram Hills Yorktown ETB Carmel Sleepy/Irvington/Dobbs Fox Lane Ossining

SECTION II

(Capital District) Shenendehowa Saratoga LaSalle Shaker/Colonie GF-HF-SGF Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa Niskayuna/Schenetady Bethlehem

CBA Guild/Hohon/S-G

SECTION III Division II American Coference Skaneateles Auburn Whitesboro Christian Brothers Acad.

Cortland-Homer National Conference New Hartford Clinton Oswego Cazenovia Ontario Bay Division I American Conference West Genesee Syracuse Watertown IHC Fayetteville-Manlius Fulton National Conference Rome Free Academy Liverpool Baldwinsville Mohawk Valley Cicero-North Syracuse

SECTION IV Divsion I Ithaca

SECTION V

Division I Athena/Odyssey Brighton/ER/HFL Fairport Penfield Pittsford Rush Henrietta Schroeder Division II Arcadia/Olympia Aquinas Canandaigua Geneva/Waterloo Irondequoit Thomas Victor Division III Batavia Brockport Churchville-Chili Gates-Chili Geneseo/Livonia Hilton NotreDame of Batavia

SECTION VI

Division I Canisius Bishop Timon-St.Judy Williamsville North St. Joseph Niagara Wheatfield Orchard Park Frontier Lancaster

www.nyhockeyonline.com Division II Kenmore East Hamburg Williamsville East West Seneca East Grand Island West Seneca West Sweet Home Williamsville south Division III Kenmore West Lewiston Porter North Tonawanda Niagara Falls St. Marys St. Francis Lockport Amherst

Catholic High School Hockey League of WNY A Division Iona Prep St. Joseph St. Anthony Msg. Farrell St. Mary Chaminade Fordham Prep B Division South Stepniac Holy Cross Xaverian Xavier St.Francis Prep St. Peters St. Edmund Prep St. Michael Mt.St.Michael St. Raymond Msg. McClancey

High School Hockey / Page 65 WNY HIGH SCHOOL CLUB Varsity Red Cheektowaga Starpoint St. Joes Maroon Canisius Iroquois Lancaster City Honors/Cardinal O’Hara Jamestown Varsity White South Park/Riverside Depew Southwestern/Maple Grove Olen Hutch Tech East Aurora Orchard Park White Eden/Lakeshore White Varsity Blue Dunkirk/Fredonia Maryvale St. Joes B Eden/Lakeshore Blue Williamsville Wilson/Newfane Niagara Catholic Orchard Park blue Pioneer/Springville JV Small Grand Island JV Depew Wildcats JV Lewport JV Wilson/Newfane JV City Honors JV Starpoint JV JV Large Ithaca Kenmore West

T NT Dunkirk/Fredonia Jamestown Niagara Falls Lockport

SECTION VII

Champlain Valley Athletic Conference NCCS Beekmantow Lake Placid PHS Saranac Lake Saranac SECTION X Division I Massena Potsdam Canton Salmon River Division II Northwood-Norfolk St. Lawrence Ogdensburg Malone Thousand Islands/Alex Bay Tupper Lake

Anyone from these Conferences and/or High Schools are asked to send stories, scores, outstanding players, revised standings and photos to Janet@nyhockeyonline.com

www.nyhockeyonline.com

NYS Tournaments / Page 66

2013-14 NYS Tournament* Schedule (We have compiled this list from your emails, websites and NYSAHA site. If your tournament is not listed and you wish to do so, please email us at nyhockeyonline@nyhockeyonline.com or Janet@nyhockeyonline.com

CENTRAL Center State Squirt AA Travel and B House February 14-16 Mite Shamrock Shootout March 15-16 lassitc@morrisville.edu Cortland Youth Hockey Fire On Ice Tournament February 28 - March 2 Mite, Red, White, Blue and Tyke Cortlandyouthhockey.com Onondaga Tournaments thunder Rumble Tournament March 14-16 Oswego 24th Annual Port of Oswego Authority Mites Invitational February 14-16 Mites, (3 Divisions) tournaments@oswegohockey.com Salmon River Bantam February 1-2 Midget February 15-16 PeeWee March 1-2 Mite March 15-16 sbnewton@me.com Schenectady i 2014 Shatterpoint Tournament for Squirts -- March 7-9 Pee Wees -- March 14-16.

Go to www.schenectadyyouthhockey. com for details Whitestown Youth Hockey

Rob Esche Squirt Travel & House Tournament: Feb. 7th - 9th Bob Mercurio Extreme Freeze Mite Tournament: March 7th - 9th dgrzeszczuk@twcny.rr.com

EAST Brewster Presidents Day, Feb. 17 March TBA These are for beginner novice teams following the ADM Model.

Go to Brewster’s website for registration information.

WEST Jamestown

Lakers Mid-Winter Classic, February 15-17.

The Mite Division is full ice. This is for Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee and Bantam teams. ccyhatournament@stny.rr.com for information. Or call 716-969-7192.

Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Patriot Day Tournament February 14-17 For information on both email Tournamentdirector@jrpurpleeagle.com Perinton Youth Hockey 24th Annual House Spring Tournament 2013/14 House A and B Teams In memory of Willard “Bud” Parker Jr. A Division: February 28 - March 2, 2014

B Division: March 7 -9, 2014 Thomas Creek Ice Arena, Fairport Contact Roger Salmons, BigThaw@ perintonyouthhockey.org Tri County Youth Hockey 13th Annual David Bidelow Memorial Tournament March 19-23, 2014 Mite B, Mite A, Squirt B, Squirt A, Pee Wee B, Pee Wee A Held at the SUNY Brockport Ice Arena Includes Saturday Skills Competition (like the NHL) Light/Music/MC show for Championship Sunday Coaches Game Go to www.tricountyyouthhockey.com for more information and registration.

Buffalo Stars Niagara Falls Classic Hockey Tournament March 21-23 Hyde Park Ice Arena Open to Midget U15 AA; U16 AA and AAA; 18U AA sportsnia@aol.com

Email us your tournament information: Janet@nyhockeyonline. com or Randy@nyhockeyonline. com

www.nyhockeyonline.com (Men’s Hockey Continued) The fourth and final qualifying game pitted a stubborn Hudson Valley team with Western. A Hudson Valley win could place them in the gold medal round.

Knowing that a loss would be devastating and at least a tie was needed, Western came out determined and was able to earn 1-1 tie. Hudson Valley goaltending kept the score close by turning away 64 of 65 shots put on by Western. After falling behind 1-0, Emily Koren scored her third and most important goal of the weekend by out muscling the Hudson Valley player to break in on goal and tie the game. Mary Jo Kubiak made several point blank saves holding Hudson Valley to one goal and sending the team to the gold medal round.

The Gold medal game was unlike the qualifying games. Prior to this game Adirondack had only allowed 3 goals the entire weekend. However, Western continued to play as a team with hard work and attitude coming out with determination right off the face off. Seven minutes into the game Western had a 3-0 lead and forced Adirondack to use their only timeout.

Nicole Scuteri, Linda Groff, and Sara Leckey jumpstarted the victory with the early goals and Captain Laurie Miller upped the score to 4-0 by the end of the first period. Strong play continued all game for Western with the exception of a late rally by Adirondack.

Western goalie Nicole Siwick earned the victory by stopping 24 of 26 shots including holding off the late Adirondack rally. Nicole Scuteri scored her second goal of the game in the empty net to seal the 5-2 victory and the gold medal.

The 2005 Gold Medal team roster included: Catherine Cummings, Molly Dever, Lisa Gimlin, Jennifer Gorczynski, Linda Groff, Meghan Herald, Cheryl Julicher, Emily Koren, Mary Jo Kubiak, Sara Leckey, Brenda Mattar, Ashley Meyers, Laurie Miller, Shawnee Oberholtzer, Nicole Paulk, Kelvey Richards, Adrianna Riggio, Nicole Scuteri, Nicole Siwik and Abigail Webb The team was coached by Mark Clark (Hamburg) and Julie Handzel (Saints). Managing and also an assistant coach was the teams architect and 4-time gold medal winner Linda Zielezinski (Saints).

NYS Tournaments / Page 67 (Women’s Hockey continued from Page 40))

“We are a very young team with six of the eight of our ten being underclassmen,” remarks Hauser.

“This year is truly a rebuilding year with eight of the ten being underclassmen (5 freshmen and 3 sophomores). As a coaching staff both Assistant Coach Danene Stevens and I are hoping to see them gel and come together more as a group in the second part of our season.

“The biggest test for us will be our upcoming games against UB.” NU’s women’s team schedule follows:

Fri. Jan 31 at 9:00pm at University at Buffalo

Amherst Northtowns Center Sat. Feb 8 at 8:20pm vs St. Lawerence University Dwyer Arena

Sun. Feb 16 at 6:30pm at University at Buffalo

Holiday Twin Rinks Fri. Feb 21 at 9:20pm vs SUNY Brockport Dwyer Arena Fri. Feb 28 at 9:30pm vs SUNY Geneseo Dwyer Arena

University of Buffalo

UB’s final games of the year will be against the Brockport Women’s Club team on February 1; Elmira College, February 9; Niagara University (at Holiday Twin) on February 16.

The ECWHL playoffs are scheduled for February 21 and 22 at the University of Massachusetts.

www.nyhockeyonline.com NYSAHA GIRLS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM – ZONE, DISTRICT & NATIONAL CAMP ELIGIBILITY PROCESS & PROCEDURES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Girls Player Development process has been changed to a model similar to what currently exists for the boys. In order to be selected for a USAH National Player Development camp, age eligible players must progress through a regional, and then district wide tryout. This is different than in the past, as players only needed to attend an Evaluation Weekend to be considered for the national level camp.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CAMP STRUCTURE APRIL 25-27, 2014: SECTION (REGIONAL) DEVELOPMENT CAMPS ($55 FEE) – 1 CAMP PER ZONE •Open to all females 12 to 17 years old. Players that are 12 and 13 year olds (02-01 birth years) would participate in the camp with the goal of being selected for a NYS High Performance Camp in June. Players aged 14 through 17 year olds (00-97 birth years) would participate with the goal to be selected to the DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT CAMP or the NYS High Performance Camp.

•Camps will try to be 2 days with a goal of a minimum of 3 ice sessions per player, and will include ADM skill sessions and 1 game.

•Camps will try to include at least one off-ice development aspect such as nutrition, or strength and conditioning.

•Specific Goaltending Sessions will be included as a part of the camp format.

•Camp curriculums will try to be consistent in all 4 zones.

•Camp staff selections are done by the G/W Zone Coordinator, and all notifications for advancement are done by the NYS G/W Coordinator.

SECTION (REGIONAL) CAMP LOCATIONS FOR APRIL 25-27, 2014 CENTRAL – SKANEATELES EVENT COORDINATOR: MARTHA BUEHLER EAST – WESTCHESTER SKATING ACADEMY EVENT COORDINATOR: MARK DESIMONE NORTH – TBD EVENT COORDINATOR: ANDREA KILBOURNE-HILL WEST – AMHERST NORTHTOWN CENTER EVENT COORDINATOR: JOHN CLEARY

NYS Hockey / Page 68 TO REGISTER AND PAY FOR A CAMP FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW. REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN BEGINNING JANUARY 23RD . https://nysaha.sportngin.com/register/form/461099224 THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR ALL SECTION (REGIONAL) DEVELOPMENT CAMPS WILL BE APRIL 18, 2014.

MAY 16-18, 2014: DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT CAMP ($75) – CICERO TWIN RINKS •Players are selected to this camp based on rankings from the SECTION DEVELOPMENT CAMPS. Players MUST attend the SECTION DEVELOPMENT CAMP to be eligible.

•Allotments from each SECTION DEVELOPMENT CAMP will be determined based on registration. Some at-large selections will be at the discretion of the NYS G/W Player Development Committee.

•Camp will be 3 days long with a minimum of 4 ice sessions to include 2 ADM skill sessions and 2 games.

•Based on player rankings, selections will be made for both the USAH National Camps and the NYS High Performance Camp.

•Camp staff selections are done by the NYS G/W Coordinator, and NYS Camp Coordinator. Notification for advancement WILL BE DONE VIA E-MAIL ON OR BEFORE MAY 4, 2014. Once players are notified of their selection to the District Camp they will have until MAY 11, 2014 to verify, confirm, and pay for their spot at the tryout camp. Failure to register by MAY 11TH could result in the player being replaced at the camp.

NYS HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMP ($350) •Players will be invited to this camp based on their previous participation in the SECTION DEVELOPMENT CAMP and/ or the DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT CAMP. •Camp format will follow the USAH National Camp model and will be staffed at the discretion of the NYS G/W Coordinator, and NYS Camp Coordinator. *** THE LOCATION AND EXACT DATE OF THE NYS HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMP IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. ICE AND HOUSING RESTRAINTS DURING THE JUNE DATES HAVE FORCED US TO CONSIDER OTHER LOCATIONS AND DATES. DETAILS FOR THIS CAMP WILL BE FINALIZED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINES FOR SECTION DEVELOPMENT CAMPS.

www.nyhockeyonline.com

Last Minute News! / Page 69

Last Minute News!

Editors Note: Right before Press Time we received some information that we couldn’t fit in the appropriate area of the magazine, but felt we needed to share it with our readers--thus a “Last Minute News” page! Enjoy!

Hockey Humanitarian Nominees

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ix collegiate hockey players out of 18 nominated for the Hockey Humanitarian Award have NY connections. The award is presented each year at the Frozen Four to players who are among hockey’s finest citizens.

From Cornell, Alyssa Gagliardi and Andy Iles. Andy’s hometown is Ithaca.

From Union College, Cole Ikkala and Ashley Johnston.

Also Mike Santee from Army and Jocelyn Simpson from Colgate.

West Names Empire State Team

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oach Scott Then has named the women who will represent the West in the 2014 Empire State Winter Games. All hockey will be played in Tupper Lake, NY. The schedule is printed on Page 4 .

In Goal will be Lauren Orynawka (Eden) and Ashley Scheengold (Tonawanda).

Out in front of Lauren and Ashley will be Shawnee Oberholtzer (Johnson Creek), Katie Stack (Corfu), Amanda Todd (Buffalo), Shoshana Levine (Buffalo), Brigid O’Gorman (Eden), Nicole Scuteri (Spencerport), Morgan Beikirch (Rochester), Tina Podrasky (West Henrietta), Alyssa Dollendorf (Tonawanda), Marissa Janiga (East Aurora), Courtney Carnes (Tonawanda), Blair Pembleton (Williamsville), Alexa DiTonto (Orchard Park), Victoria Benson (Webster), Margaret Giamo (Orchard Park), Deanna Ventura (Tonawanda) and Caitlin Adams (Pavilion).

Orynawka has served as a goalie with the D’Youville College Men’s Team.

O’Gorman was a member of the Connecticut College Women’s Team and was a finalist for the 2011 Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Beikirch played for Robert Morris College, and coaches in the Rochester Youth organization.

Several of the girl’s are “trailblazers” in that they were on teams in the WNY Girl’s Varsity Ice Hockey League formed four years ago. They include Dollendorf, DiTonto and Pembleton.

Returning for some Empire State action are Schneegold, Oberholtzer, Todd, Beikirch, Orynawka, Stack, Scuteri, Podrasky and Ventura.

Ott Reads to Students

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teve Ott of the Buffalo Sabres took a day to read to the students at Hillview Elementary School in Lancaster, NY. Ott read “Justin and the Bully” to promote Lancaster’s Bully Proof Partnership. The book has an anti-bullying theme along with kindness, teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Third grader Sydney Radecki received the “Take A Player To School” gift from her Uncle, who purchased it in a recent Sabres fundraiser.

After reading the story on stage to the entire school, Ott went to Radecki’s room to sign autographs and answer questions from the students.

In Lockport NY an old store comes down and a new ice arena will be built in its place. This photo was taken in early January; the entire building is now demolished. The new arena is scheduled to open in Fall 2014. (Photo by Janet Schultz)