NYHOL 2018-19 Season Wrap Issue

NY Hockey OnLine Magazine

Volume 8, Issue 3

2018-2019 Season Comes to End

Letter From the Editor Dear Reader,

In This Issue: Boys Varsity News NYS...............41 Burgess, Melissa............................48 Cecconi..........................................47 Canton vs Sufferin........................33 Cheektowaga Champs.................50 Collegiate Wrap, Womens...........4 Decker Foundation Formed........53 Dugan.............................................51 Evancho.........................................45 Haseks Heroes...............................37 Howell Motors HOF....................29 Lake Placid Miracle......................43 Mazza, Jimmy................................44 NWHL...........................................11 Putnam Awards............................19 Queensbury vs John Jay...............34 NYSPHSAA...................................32 NYS Boys Varsity..........................41 Riley, Brian....................................42 RIT Players in Pros.......................49 Rutherford.....................................46 Skaneateles vs Corcoran..............36 Trivigno, Bobby............................52 USA Nationals..............................23 WNYGVIH...................................15

The 2018-19 season has drawn to a close. This issue is packed with stories and photos that wrap up the season; but not without new news coming from the NWHL and even some high school teams. For us hockey never ends just keeps moving forward!

We’ve tried to compile a comprehensive wrap on the season, we’ve had some help with stories from a few coaches who kept us up on news from the Nationals; so we thank both Matt Miller and Tom Ruggerio for their continued support.

Enjoy and if you have some news, send it over and we will make sure it gets posted on our website. We update that on a daily basis with press releases from all over New York State.

I will be writing my usual features throughout the summer and Janet will still be taking all those great action photos. There are several hockey camps coming, the NHL combine, 11 Day Power Play, the NHL Draft and we are sure, more news from the NWHL. NYHOL will be covering it all.

Randy Schultz Publisher/Editor/Writer NY Hockey OnLine Magazine

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 Michael Meyers NY Hockey OnLine is an equal opportunity employer.

Contents 2018-19 NY Hockey Online All rights reserved NY Hockey OnLine is published twice a year at no charge and can be accessed via the publication’s website www.nyhockeyonline.com

T

he 2018-19 hockey season is over for the women of New York State and tryouts, signings and plans for 2019-2020 are well underway.

It’ time to take a look back at a great hockey season at the collegiate level.

West Section

The latest news from Buffalo State is the appointment of Buffalo’s own David Dee as head coach. Dee has been serving as an assistant coach with the women’s team and in the past was an assistant to the Bengal’s men’s hockey team. He also served as recruitment coordinator for the women’s team.

Dee has been active with the Buffalo Saints Youth Hockey association and was instrumental in the development of the girl’s program.

He served as Hockey Director for the Saints from 2012 to 2017. Dee played his collegiate hockey with North Country Community College and the University of Wisconsin/Superior as a goalie. Dee has spent the past 30 years as a TV sports producer/director in Buffalo.

Buffalo State College, under Interim Coach Jim Fowler, ended

with a 7-16-2 overall record and 4-11-1 in the NEWHL (Northeast Womens Hockey League).

Dunkirk’s Bri Gawronski, who also played in the WNYGVIH League with Monsignor Martin, was named NEWHL Co-Goalie of the Year and to the First Team All-NEWHL. She played in all 25 game finishing with a .916 save percentage and 3.07 GAA.

It’s A Wrap...

On the 2018-2019 Collegiate Season Teammate Emma Ruggerio was named to Second Team NEWHL with 24 points (14 goals/10 assists) The Bengals beat Potsdam 3-2 to close out the season in a rescheduled game from January 19.

Ruggerio finished tied 10th in school history with 52 points (28 goal/24 assists) after a 2 point game vs Potsdam.

Finishing in the top in scoring were Lily Toczek with 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points and Cheyene Matson with 4 goals and 7 assist for 11 points.

Graduating this year are Mad-

eline Kromer (Angola/Regals/ WNYGVIH) Ruggerio (Buffalo/Regals) and Megan Reukauf (Depew/Regal/ WNYGVIH).

Rochester Institute of Technology, ranked #5 going into the playoffs, lost to #4 Penn State 4-1 to end their season at the CHA (College Hockey America) Quarterfinal in Buffalo.

In that game Brinna Dochniak scored her first goal of the season to make is 2-1.

Playing in their final game as a RIT Tiger were Brooke Baker, Kendall Cornine, Jenna deJonge, Logan Land, Kandice Sheriff and Christa Vuglar.

Junior Goaltender Terra Lantergne led the CHA DI program with a .944 save percentage giving her Player of the Year honors.

Chad Davis, in his first year as coach, was named CHA Coach of

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the Year. He led the Tigers to an eight win improvement from last year with the Tigers tied for fourth in the CHA with 17 points.

They ended with a 12-17-5 overall record and 8-11-1 in the CHA. Last season they won one game.

In other news at RIT, they are mourning the loss of Kristine (Pierce) Brassie, alumnus and former outstanding hockey player for the Tigers. She passed away April 3.

The defenseman played from 1994 to 1999, overcoming Hodgkins Disease in her sophomore year and returning to the ice her junior year.

She served as an assistant captain for three seasons and was the first RIT athlete to have a jersey retired.

In their inaugural season Nazareth College’s Coach Chris Baudo was named UCHC (United States Collegiate Hockey) Coach of the Year. With 23 freshmen and 3 sophomores the Golden Flyers were 19-4-2 overall and 13-4-1 in

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the UCHC placing them second in the league.

Named to All Conference were Stephanie Kubis (Central Square NY/ Syracuse Nationals), honorable mention; Hailey Redders, honorable mention, All Rookie Team; Keeley Rose (Clayton/Northwood School) Second Team All Rookie Team and Adriana Brehm, Goalie of the Year and First Team All Rookie Team.

Their season ended with a 2-1 loss to William Smith in the UCHC semi-finals of the UCHC tournament.

Redders led the team in scoring with 15 goals/22 assists and coming in at second place was WNY’er Emily Kromer with 14 goals/22 assists.

Along with Kromer from WNY playing for the Golden Flyers is Gabby DeMeo and from Wheatfield is assistant coach Rhea Coad.

The University of Buffalo made their fifth consecutive visit to the Nationals with a 16-1-1 overall record. They lost to Liberty 3-2 in overtime and beat the University of California/Pa 13-0 to head to the

finals. They were seeded second in the ACHA D2 East. Last season they beat Liberty to take the title.

This year they beat Iowa state 4-0 in the first game and then lost to Lakeland 3-0 and beat Adrian 6-4 which ended their run in the tournament.

Goalie Finley VanHouten had a 12-0-1 record in 14 games with a .955 save percentage. Backing her was MaKenna Wal;p with 4-10-0 in five games.

BREAKING NEWS: Head Coach Mark Lauber has stepped down as Head Coach and the team is on the search for a new coach.

Central

Cortland Head Coach Rick Filighera was named NEWHL Coach of the Year after leading the Red Dragons to a 15-9-3 season and to the championship game of the League. This was a school record for victories. They were 8-15-7 last season.

Cortland had its share of honors with Grace Schnorr (Camillus) being named to Second Team All

Conference and All Rookie Team and Amanda Gaffney (Williamsville/Williamsville of WNYGVIH) All Rookie Team.

Schnorr tied for second in the NEWHL in goal scoring; fourth in points and tied for first in Game Winning Goals. Gaffney had 6 goals and 10 assists in 26 games.

The Red Dragons closed out their season with a 5-0 loss to Plattsburgh in the NEWHL Championship game.

Honors went to Katelinn Cummings (Johnson City/Norwood) and Emily King (Buffalo/ Regals/Kenmore-Grand Island of the WNYGVIH). Cummings was honored with the NEWHL Elite Academic Award for highest grade point average and King was named to the All Tournament Team.

Saying goodbye this season are Seniors Victoria Gibson, Samantha Pippi and Katy Kennedy (East Greenbush/Troy Albany Ice Cats.

Elmira hosted Adrian in the DIII NCAA Quarterfinals, losing 3-2 i overtime. Katie Granto and Meg Lakey were named to the First Team CCM Hockey/ American Hockey Coaches Association All American Team. Elmira closed out their season with a 24-3-1 record.

Graduating this year are Maddie Evangelous, Kristin Chivers, Shannon Strawinski, Maddie Jerolmann, Meg Lahey (Latham/Millbrook School) and Katie Granto.

Erin Gehen of West Seneca served as an volunteer assistant coach this season. Gehen played for West Seneca in the WNYGVIH League and then had an outstanding collegiate career at Buffalo State College.

The Syracuse Orange ended their “cinderella� season 13-22-3 overall and 10-8-2 in the league.

They suffered a 4-0 loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Quarterfinals after beating Lindenwood (4-1), Mercyhurst (4-3) and Robert Morris (6-2) in the CHA finals. They were seeded #3 in the CHA. Allie Munroe had 5 goals and 22 assists for 27 points this season followed by Abby Moloughney (10g12a), Brooke Avery (10g12a), Emma Polaski (11g10a) and Lauren Bellefontaine (7g13a).

In goal were Maddie Welch with a .874 save percentage and Ady Cohen .893 save percentage.

Graduating this season are Brooke Avery, Sarah Stuehr and Maddie Welch (Amherst/Nichols/ NJPE).

Utica traveled to Manhattanville for the UCHC (United Collegiate Hockey Conference) for their 17th postseason appearance in their 18 year history. They were eliminated after a 3-2 loss to Manhattanville but finished their regular season 16-8-1 overall and 11-6-1 in the UCHC. Lexi Stanisewski, Danielle Haabeek and Kayla Dion were awarded honorable mentions to All-UCHC.

Elizabeth Dohner led the team with 13 goals and 13 assists and next was Stanisewski with 8 goals and 18 assists.

Bria Reilly kept the team in the game with her goaltending and a .924 save percentage over 18 games played.

Graduating this

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season are Colby Begis, Noelle Capriglione, Kirsten Johnson, Taylor Dion along with Dohner, Kaylay Dion, and Haasbeek.

The Red Raiders of Colgate ended their regular season with a 4-2 victory over RPI for a 21-8-5 overall record and 15-4-3 in the ECAC. They closed out their season

with a 2-0 loss to Clarkson in the playoffs. Colgate’s senior class had the winningest season in program history with 101-36-10 record.

Jessie Eldridge (#9) was named Third Team All USCHO and Tanner Gates to the All Rookie Team USCHO. Leading the team in scoring were Eldridge (30g, 45 a); Shea Labbe (16 g/29a) and Malia Schneider (19g/23a).

Among the graduating seniors is Olivia Zafuto (above) of Niagara Falls. Zafuto played for Nichols School and the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles. She had 8 goals and 26 assists this season and had com-

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mitted to playing for the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League.

Also graduating are Eldridge, Shannon Ormel, Chelsea Jacaques, Livia Altmann, Julia Vandyk and Bailey Larson.

Livia Altmann and Nemo Neubauerova played for Finland in the 2019 IIHF Women’s Worlds.

Colgate is welcoming seven recruits for the 2019-2020 season.

Coming from New York is Sydney Bard of New Hartford. The defenseman played for the Toronto Junior Areos of the PWHL and was also a member of Team USA U18 team that played in the IIHF Women’s Worlds in 2019.

Oswego headed into the playoffs as the fourth seed, facing Plattsburg they lost 7-1 to end their season with a 10-13-3 record.

Katie Ran-

dazzo and Philomena Taggert were named to the Second Team All NEWHL and Sara Cruise to the All Rookie NEWHL Team. Randazzo was also named 2019 NEWHL Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Honors also went to Head Coach Diane Dillon as she received the Spirit of Community Award from the United Way of Greater Oswego County.

Graduating this season is Mikaela DiTonto of Orchard Park.

DiTonto played for the Buffalo Stars and for Frontier/Lakeshore/ Orchard Park in the WNYGVIH League. She made 32 career high saves in a 2-1 win over Plymouth.

Also graduating are Victoria Rankin, Eryn Stewart and Sara Cruise.

The Big Red of Cornell took the ECAC regular season crown after a 2-1 win over Union. They close out with a 20-3-6 overall and 17-3-2 league record.

In the ECAC Quarterfinals they win two games in overtime and suffered one loss before losing 4-1 to Clarkson in the Finals.

Head Coach Doug Derraugh

was named Ivy League Coach of the Year. Joining the list of honors were Kristen O’Neil and Jamie Bourbonnais named to the First Team All Ivy Team and Maddie Mills, Michah Zandee-Hart and Marlene Boissonault to the Second Team All Ivy Team.

With an invite to the NCAA Frozen Four they beat Northeastern 3-2 in overtime and then lose the second game to Northeastern in the Quarterfinals to close out the season.

Honors from the CCM/AHCA were given to Derraugh as National Coach of the Year and to Bourbonnais named to Second Team All American.

Bourbonnais and Zandee-Hart were named to All USCHO DI First Team and Third Team, respectively.

Seniors are Pippy Gerace (Jamestown/Etobioke Jr. Dophins), Lenka Serdar and Diana Buckley.

Hamilton ended its season with a 16-8-2 overall and 9-5-2 NESCAC record. They beat Colby in the NESCAC Quarterfinals and lost to Middlebury in the semi-finals.

Nancy Loh lead the team with 11 goals and 15 assists. In goal Gabrielle Venne had a .949 save percentage.

Graduating are Captain Andrea Rocky, Olivia Hawes, Assistant Captain Teagan Blackwell, Assistant Captain Jenna Jewell and Emily Williams.

William Smith hosted Neumann in their first-ever playoff game. It was the Heron’s second appearance in five seasons in playoff action. They

beat Neumann in the Quarterfinals; beat Nazareth in the Semi-Finals and then lost to Elmira 8-3 in the Championship game.

Honors went to Abby Luth, UCHC Rookie of the Year and All Rookie Team; Gina Scibetta and Jules Kennedy, UCHC Second Team; Laura Rollins, Emily Martino and Olivia Williams, Honorable Mention.

Scibetta was also named AHCA All American.

This year’s graduating class includes Jordan Roetzer (Williamsville/Manhattanville/Williamsville High School of WNYGVIH), Stephanie Hampton, Lindsay Brown, Maura Mulligan (Troy/ NJPE), Egan Sacks-Hecht (Plainview/Lawrence) and Laura Rollins.

Morrisville headed into the playoffs with a 16-9-2 overall and 6-4-2 league record. They faced Salve Regina in the Colonial Hockey Conference Quarterfinal and won 6-1. In the Semis they beat Nichols College 4-2 and then in the CHC Championships lost to Endicott 1-0 in overtime.

Maddison Devlin led the team with 11 goal/21 assists for 32 points.

Graduating seniors include Kaitlyn Schlake, Maria deWilde, Ciara Lark, Kimberly Hughes and Megan Kirk (Breezy Point/NJ Rockets/ Aviator).

East

Union College closed at home against Colgate, who in 35 meetings is 0-32-3 against the Big Red. It

continued with a 5-2 loss in the first game and a 2-1 loss on Senior Day. Arianna Kosakowski is the only senior, so Union will return with an experienced group of players in 2019-2020.

Kosakowski leads the scoring with 4 goal and 8 assists for 12 points and is closely followed by Katelynn Russ with 5 goals/6 assists and Grace Herteg, 5g/5a and Rachel dePerio, 4g/6a. dePerio is from Amherst and played for the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles.

Union College’s Head Coach Josh Sciba has been named an assistant coach for the U18 USA Women’s National Team for the second consecutive season. The Team will play Canada August 15-18 in Lake Placid and then in the 2020 IIHF Women’s U18 Worlds in January 2020 at a place to be announced.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ended their season after the ECACH Quarterfinals. Seeded #8 they had two losses and one victory over Cornell.

Lovida Selander was named to the First Team All American by CCM/AHCA. RPI loses eight to graduation including Jaimie Grigsby, Josefine Hansen, MacKenna Thomas, Taylor Schwalbe, Aly Tremblay, Kira Bombarg and Selander along with Tonawanda native Ana Orzechowski. Orzechowski played for the Pittsburgh Penquins Elite.

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Manhattanville ended its season with a 3-2 loss against Elmira in the UCHC semi-finals. They had beaten Utica 3-2 in the Quarters to advance.

Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck/ Northwood) led the scoring with 17 goals and 16 assists this season.

She was named to First Team All Conference in her final season.

Zoey Pellowitz as also named to First Team All Conference and Amanda Sabia received an Honorable Mention.

Also graduating are Morgan Wilm and Rose Pijaca and Buffalo’s Ellie Smith (Nichols/NJPE).

North Potsdam hosted Cortland in the NEWHL semi-finals and lost 3-2 to the Red Dragons ending their season with a 9-14-3 overall record.

Miranda Kolb had 6 goals and 8 assists to lead the team in scoring with Natalie Wasielewski with 6 goals and 6 assists coming in close behind.

Alexa Pfeiffer and Samantha White split goaltending duties this season.

Graduating are Tatum Walber (Orchard Park/Buffalo Regals) and Rylie Murray.

Clarkson’s season came to an end at the hands of Wisconsin in the NCAA Frozen Four Semi-finals. They beat Quinnipiac 3-0 and 4-3 in the ECAC Quarterfinals and then beat Colgate 2-0 and Cornell 4-1 to take the ECAC title. It

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Keenan, Cassidy Vinkle, Rhyen McGill, Kelly Mariani and Josiane Pozzebon.

Clarkson had a 30-8-2 overall and 16-5-1 league record.

was their third consecutive ECAC championship.

It took a 2-1 overtime win over Boston to get them into the semifinals of the Frozen Four.

Lauren Gabel was named Most Outstanding Player in the ECAC Championship. Gabel was also awarded the 2019 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. She was also named ECAC Player of the Year for the second time and was also tapped for First Team All American for the second year.

Elizabeth Giguère was awarded the USCHO D-I Women’s Player of the Year honor. She led the country in points this season with 73.

Through her first two seasons at Clarkson, she has racked up 144 points, tied for the most with teammate and linemate Loren Gabel.

Giguère’s scoring average of 1.82 points per game this year is tied for second. Her 47 assists ranked first.

She lead the nation with five shorthanded goals.

Gabel and Giguere were named to the CCM/AHCA Womens All American Team.

Six seniors leave the Golden Knights including Gabel, Emma

Plattsburgh season was a winning one. They went 29-2-0 overall and 16-0-0 in the NEWHL. Heading to the playoffs they beat Oswego in the semi-finals and Cortland in the finals to take the NEWHL title.

Off to the DIII NCAA Finals they had four wins over Endicott, Williams College, Adrian and then Hamline University in the finals, taking the DIII NCAA title for the seventh time, and fifth time in six years. The 4-0 win was only the second shutout in tournament history.

Kassi Abbott and Annie Katonka were named to First Team; Courtney Moriarty and Hannah Kiraly, Second Team and all were named to the 2018-19 CCM/AHCA Women’s Division III All American Team.

Katonka led scoring with 31 goals and 23 assists for 54 points. In goal Abbott had a .956 save percentage.

Graduating this season are Maci Hoskins, MacKenzie Millen, Ashley Songin (Springville/Nichols School), Courtney Moriarty and Kassi Abbott.

As the season comes to a close St. Lawrence named Kalie Grant captain for the 2019-2020 season, assisted by Amanda Butterfield, Maggie McLaughlin, Kayla Vespa.

The Saints went 14-15-7 overall and 9-7-6 in the ECAC, closing

the season with two losses in the ECACTournament; both to Princeton.

Justine Reyes led the team in points with 10 goals and 16 assists.

Graduating seniors include Reyes, Rachel Smith, Lydia Grauer, Allison Compeau (Potsdam/North Country Ice Storm), Grace Harrison and Sonjia Shelly.

Last but not least Canton closes its season with a 10-11-5 overall record and 5-5-2 in the Colonial Hockey Conference.

They head to the CHC tournament, lose to the University of New England and end the season.

Honors went to Noelle Niemiec, named to the CHC First Team; Ashley Gillies and Brooke Susac, CHC Third Team and Sarah Kosnaskie and Kelly Leathen, All Rookie Team.

Niemiec led scoring with 6 goals and 9 assists.

Canton loses eight seniors including Grace Page (Hamburg/ Regals), Kaylah Menchaca, Whitney Bernier, Jessica Pele, Noelle Niemiec (Staten Island/NJ Rockets), Tia Tassava, Emily Dolpin and Hannah Brady.

Williamsville native Rachel Grampp is an assistant coach with the team. She played for Elmira

and in the WNYGVIH league.

e2 h t m o Fr

ls a n i F A 019 CH

T

he Buffalo Beauts opened their 2018-19 season looking to recapture the Isobel Cup they won in 2017 and lost to the Riveters in 2018. It wasn’t to be, but they came very close.

The Beauts (11-4-1) ended their season in second place to the Minnesota Whitecaps (12-4-0), who just happened to have played their Inaugural Season.

The Beauts went to the NWHL semi-finals facing the Boston Pride for the second consecutive year. It was also the fourth time in the history of the league that they faced the Pride in post-season play. The Beauts won 4-0 and moved on to face the Whitecaps in Minnesota. The Beauts lost 2-1 in Overtime and the

Hayley Scamurra

NWHL Closes Out Fourth Season Beauts Take Second!

Kelly Babstock Julianna Iafallo Maddie Elia

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expansion team, Whitecaps, took the Isobel Trophy.

Scamurra led the team in scoring with 10 goals/10 assists followed by Maddie Elia, 12 goals/7 assists; Dani Cameranesi, 4 goals/11 assists; Julianna Iafallo, 6 goals/7 assists and Blake Bolden, 1 goal/12 assists.

The Beauts have two goaltenders in Shannon Szabados with a 1.50 gaa and .935 save percentage and Nicole Hensely with a 1.49 gaa and .934 save percentage.

The Beauts also have lots of local players on their roster making for several fan favorites including Emily Janiga, East Aurora; Emily Pfalzer, Buffalo; Anna Zalewski, New Hartford; Hayley Scamurra, Williamsville; Maddie Elia, Lewiston; Julianna Iafallo, Eden; Meghan Fonfara, Elma; Jacquie Greco, Buffalo; Jordan Juron, Latham and Julia DiTondo, Kenmore.

Blake Bolden

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The Beauts had several players take NWHL honors.

Kelly Babstock was recipient of the NWHL Foundation Award for the player who most actively applied the core values of hockey to her community, as well as growing the game and improving hockey culture.

Blake Bolden was named NWHL Defender of the Year; Shannon Szabados, NWHL Goaltender of the Year; Maddie Elia, NWHL Player of the Year and Hayley Scamurra too the Player’s Top Player of the Year honor. Scamurra was selected by the NWHL Players Association for the award, which was presented for the first time.

Overall, the NWHL broke league records this season. Among those were attendance records with Minnesota leading the way but Buffalo coming in second with an average of 1,101 fans per game. Buffalo’s Szabados’ jersey was the top seller followed by Emily Pfalzer in third and Bolden in sixth in sales.

The NWHL also grew their social media followers by gaining 5,000 followers on Instagram, a 143 percent increase on Facebook and 23 percent increase on Twitter.

Two Buffalo Beauts draftees made their mark at the 2019 IIHF Women’s Worlds with Megan Keller for Team USA helping the team to a 4-00 finish and the gold. She had 2 goals and 2 assists.

Lauren Gabel played for Team Canada and had 3 goals and 1 assist for a 6-0 win over Switzerland and then 2 shots on goal in a 3-2 loss to the USA. She also had 2 goals

HC Cody McCormick

and an assist in a 6-1 victory over Finland.

The Beauts made some coaching moves this season as they released Ric Seiling and Craig Muni of their co-head coaching duties in December and appointed Cody McCormick interim head coach.

McCormick, as Seiling and Muni, is a former Buffalo Sabre. Nik Fattey is serving as interim assistant coach. McCormick is the third Head Coach for the Beauts in four seasons.

In other NWHL news:

Kate Whitman Annis was named general manager for the Metropolitan Riveters. She played four years for Wesleyan University and has coached mites to high school. She is currently the head coach at The Pingry School for the girls varsity team.

Bray Ketchum was named general manager for the Connecticut Whale. She is a Yale graduate, where she played from 2007 to 2011 and is currently co-president of the

Yale Hockey Association. She is co-founder of the Mandi Schwartz Foundation. Ketchum played 51 games with the Riveters from 2015 to 2018.

With the dissolving of the Canadian Womens Hockey League, Dani Rylan made a statement to the public regarding possible discussions of the two leagues merging.

Talks were initially scheduled for April but with the current situation, all talks have been called off.

“I am saddened the CWHL is discontinuing,” said Rylan. “The NWHL is committed to building the value of women’s professional hockey players, not just in the US but around the world.”

NWHL Players Talk Boycott

The question at the time of this publication is whether or not the women will play for any professional hockey league in 2019-20.

With the discontinuance of the Canadian Women’s Professional Hockey League and with players in the NWHL upset with the business plan of that league, several players have banned together and asked for women to boycott North American professional women’s play next season. Over 200 players have banned together.

“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for — our moment to come together and say we deserve more,” the group wrote in a statement issued in April.

“It’s time for a long-term viable professional league that will showcase the greatest product of women’s professional hockey in the world.”

“We cannot make a sustainable living playing in the current state of the professional game,” the players said, noting the lack of health insurance and salaries that can be as low as $2,000 per season for some players.

Dani Cameranesi

“I mean, we have women who changing ideas, and to collaborate have to work full-time jobs in with the players on one league. order to play professional hockey,”

In the meantime, our plans Meghan Duggan, a three-time continue for Season 5 of the NWHL Olympian for the U.S. national to begin in October. After a series team, said in an interview. “We, as of highly constructive and posiplayers, think that the players and tive discussions with the NWHL the sport deserve more. We have Players’ Association over the last faith there’s a partner who’s going month, we are offering increased to step up and see the players’ true salaries and a 50-50 revenue split value.” from league-level sponsorships and

media rights deals. Coming off an

On May 2 the NWHL released this statement:

NWHL leadership respects the wishes of all players to consider their options, and they know we are always available to meet, to participate in open communication addressing their concerns and ex-

incredible 2018-19, we are confident another fantastic season is ahead.

After the CWHL announced it was ceasing operations, the NWHL immediately went to work and embraced the opportunity to build the one league for North America that many people, including the national team players, said they desired.

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Thanks to you, the NWHL’s efforts to advance the sport, build the value of women’s hockey players, and show future generations that they can See It, Dream It and Be It, will continue for many years to come. We are excited about the future, and we welcome everyone who wants to join us.

MORE BREAKING NEWS:

This story broke as we were putting magazine to “bed.”

Beauts Revert Back to League Ownership

NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan at a Buffalo Beauts game this Season

Buffalo Beauts Hockey LLC and the NWHL have reached an agreement to turn operational control of the Beauts back to the league.

“Our main goal has always been fostering the growth of women’s hockey across all ages,” said Kim Pegula, President and CEO of Pegula Sports and Entertainment.

“We thank our Beauts players, staff, and fans for their support this past season. We will continue to look for ways to successfully grow the women’s game.”

“The NWHL thanks Pegula Sports and Entertainment for their stewardship of the Beauts during the last two seasons,” said NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan.

“We have a deep appreciation for the remarkable, ongoing commitment of the organization to advance the sport of hockey at all levels.”

We raised significant investments and met with top brands wanting to support one thriving league featuring the best of the best from around the world.

Of everyone working in women’s hockey, we are among the players’ biggest fans. In 2015, there wasn’t a professional women’s hockey league in the United States. Prior to our launch just four years ago, there was never a movement for others to take over women’s hockey, or for any wide-scale league in North America.

In a challenging climate for women’s sports, our leadership has been proud to invest a great deal of time and resources in women’s hockey and these athletes. We believe in them.

We want to thank the fans for their passionate support of the NWHL. Last season, you sold out 16 games, made the Minnesota Whitecaps an historic success as our first expansion team, were a part of a record crowd for our All-Star Game in Nashville, purchased a record number of your favorite players’ jerseys and shirseys, and more of you watched our games on Twitter than ever before. Sponsors, partners and supporters took notice.

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WNYGVIH Continues It’s Story

T

he Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League continues to grow in popularity and with teams. This season Niagara County iced a team with Starpoint and Niagara-Wheatfield Central Schools combining to form the team. Next season they hope to add another school to the mix.

Five non-league games prior to the season gave us a look at Williamsville, Kenmore/Grand Island and Monsignor Martin, as well as a visit from Central New York’s Ithaca.

Frontier/Lakeshore/Orchard Park looked to defend their Federation, Section VI and New York State Championships. As always, their triple repeat was not a sure thing.

Nor was trying to guess who might take the titles home.

Niagara County opened the 2018-19 season at home against Monsignor Martin. They fought a valiant fight but lost 9-3. Unfortunately Niagara County suffered all losses this season but proved they could be competitive and the girls had a wonderful time.

FLOP, Monsignor Martin, Williamsville and Lancaster/Iroquois/ Depew battled for those top positions with Clarence/Amherst/Sweet

Home, Kenmore/ Grand Island and West Seneca/Hamburg/Eden giving them stiff competition.

In the end statistically FLOP topped with 37.5 points followed by Monsignor Martin, 34.5 and Williamsville, 33.

Remembering that Monsignor Martin isn’t eligible for Section VI playoffs, the Quarterfinals found Niagara County facing Williamsville; Kenmore/Grand Island vs LID and HEWs v CASH. The outcome and set up for the Semi-finals found CASH facing FLOP and LID against Williamsville. FLOP and Williamsville won and they fought the Championship game into overtime with a Williamsville 4; FLOP 3 final score.

Williamsville

headed off to the NYSPHSAA semi-finals against Potsdam hosted

by Section VI. They handed Potsdam a 6-1 defeat and moved to face last year’s second place winner,

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Skaneateles. Once again, Section VI prevailed with Williamsville taking the NYS Championship when Jeanne Cavalieri scored, assisted by Elisabeth Sidorski and Emma Roland ending the game 5-4 in Overtime. Williamsville’s Ella Huntly opened scoring in the second, after a scoreless first period.

In the WNYGVIH League, it isn’t over until the Federation championship is awarded. Now Niagara County had to face FLOP, Kenmore/Grand Island against Monsignor Martin, HEWS vs Williamsville and CASH faced LID. Kenmore/Grand Island took on FLOP in the semi-finals and LID faced Williamsville.

In the end it would be last year’s triple champion FLOP facing LID. FLOP prevailed.

FLOP scored the first three goals in the

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first period and LID answered back with seconds left in the first. LID scored the only goal in the second period and then FLOP’s Brooke Becker sealed the night with an unassisted goal in the third. This is the first time in the League’s history a team took the championship three consecutive years.

Williamsville’s Emma Roland took the scoring lead with 36 goals and 26 assists in 24 games for 62 points. Brooke Becker had 23 goals and 18 assists for 41 points and Emma Faso came in third with 22 goals and 14 assists for 36 points.

Monsignor Martin’s goaltenders shared the top spotlight as Sophia Will and Izzy Battaglia had a .957 save percentage. Sophia had 1 shutout and Izzy had two.

Statistics don’t always tell the full story.

Niagara County’s Annie Riek

played in every game for the expansion team which included 719 minutes of play, making 419 saves out of 559 shots on goal. CASH’s Kylie Paige played 763 minutes, making 428 saves on 428 sog.

The shut-out record goes to LID’s Dylan Gorski with four.

Emma Faso moved into the All League Record book as she took third place in Total Career Points at 151 with 104 goals and 51 assists.

Ahead of her are Erin Gehen (West Seneca 2010-14) at 189 and Julia Mings (CASH 2011-17) with 155.

This season’s honors went to First Team All Federation: Emma Faso, CASH; Emma Roland, Williamsville; Jersey Phillips, LID; Brooke Becker, FLOP; Abigail Blair, KGI; Izzy Battaglia, Monsignor Martin.

Second Team All Fed: Izzy Friedman, Monsignor Martin; Natalie O’Brien, Niagara County; Camryn Brownschidle, Monsignor Martin; Elisabeth Sidorski, Williamsville; Sissy Harman, HEWS. Third Team All Fed: Emily Matthews, Monsignor Martin; Kaitlyn Morris, HEWS; Jessica Peters, FLOP; Lilli Adimey, CASH; Anna Pitz, LID; Tori Cottrell, FLOP. Coach of the Year went to Niagara County’s Greg Grosskopf and the Dr. James Rusin Award

Goaltender of the Year; Abigail Blair, Defensive Player of the Year; Emma Roland, Offensive Player of the Year, Abigail Lillis, Unsung Hero and Brooke Becker was was presented to Dan O’Brien, for his work in bringing the Niagara County team into the league.

This year Hasek’s Heros held an awards banquet for the Section VI men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. Niagara County was named Team of the Year for the WNYGVIH League and Rick Hopkins was named Coach of the Year for the league. Hopkins was instrumental in bringing high school girls hockey to WNY nine years ago.

Also honored in the WNYGVIH League were Isabella Battaglia, Monsignor Martin as

named Player of the Year.

They also recognized the All Federation Team.

In addition Bee Publications and WNY Athletics named All Fed teams, selected by members of their respective organizations.

All Bee Awards: Forwards: Emma Faso (Clarence/Amherst/ Sweet Home), Jersey Phillips (Lancaster/Iroquois/ Depew, Emma Roland (Williamsville) Defensemen: Abigail Blair (Kenmore/Grand Island), Elisabeth Sidorski (Williamsville)

Goalie: Sissy Harmon (Ham-

burg/Eden/West Seneca) Player of the Year: Brooke Becker (Frontier/Lake Shore/Orchard Park) Coach of the Year: Rick Hopkins (Williamsville) WNY Athletics Honorees: First Team All WNYA Dylan Gorski, Jersey Phillips, Emma Faso, Elisabeth Sidorski, Emma Roland, Brooke Becker,

Mary Kromer We also congratulate the Class of 2019: Clarence/Amherst/Sweethome: Sam Czora, Emma Faso, Caroline Yoder, Amanda Freiheit, Kylie Nelson, Charleigh Rondeau, Anna Ablove, Chloe Esch.

Kenmore/Grand Island: Jaclyn MacVittie, Chloe Moore, Emma Epstein, Hannah Munley Lancaster/Depew/Iroquois: Jeanette Szefler, Anna Pitz, Madelyn Moran, Alexis Missel, Jillian Blas, Emily Hoeflich, Morgan Zaccarine, Williamsville: Elisabeth Sidorski, Lindsey Powers, Kylie Rosen Niagara County: Julia Gerspach, Sarah Jackson, Jordan Pearson,

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Monsignor Martin: Emily Matthew, Marcella Rodgers, Ava Towers, Isabella Battaglia, Izzy Friedman Hamburg/Eden/West Seneca: Sissy Harman, Kaitlyn Morris, Frontier/Lakeshore/Orchard Park: Maggie Spyche, Jessica Peters, Abigail Lillis, Tori Cottrell The WNYGVIH League will enter its 10th season in 2019-2020 and it promises to be a season of celebration!

Photos from the NYS Girls Varsity Championship held at Harborcenter in Buffalo

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2019 Tyler Putnam Awards

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The Class of 2019 Putnam Award honorees include Nick Cira, Aquinas Institute; Evan Dusky, Batavia/ Genesee; Zach Quinton, Pittsford High; Devin Mulcahy, Webster Thomas High; Jack Skakuj, Brockport High; Jack Gramlich, Monroe County Youth Hockey; Riley Hauf, Victor High; Cameron Misiure-

wicz, Greece Storm; Cameron Kuzniar, Rush Henrietta High; Erin McCarthy, Rochester Girls Edge; Charlie Merkley, McQuaid Jesuit High; C.J. Mason, Hilton High; Patrick Nowak, Rochester Jr. Monarchs NCDC/Premier; Jack Feola, Rochester Jr. Monarchs 18U AAA; Max Letta, Irondequoit High;

Ryan Pitka, Canandaigua Knights Youth Hockey; Joe Papin, Syracuse Nationals 15U AAA; Aiden Hill, New Edge Hockey Development Academy; Zac Case, Spencerport High; Hunter McDonald, Rochester Youth Hockey; Joshua Fitzpatrick, Canandaigua High; Matt Rockhill, Penfield High; Alexa O’Neil, Roch-

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ester Coalition Girls; Jude Cole, Brighton/E Rochester/ HFDL High; Matthew Nielson, Tri-County Youth Hockey and Cory Foster, Fairport High.

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Blake Humphrey (left with Shannon and Lindsay Putnam) of Rochester Youth Hockey was the recipient of the first Colin Montesano Unsung Hero Award. The Award is given in memory of Montesano who played for Webster Schroeder High School, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh and tragically passed away at the age of 21.

The Joshua Opladen Goaltender Award went to Lenny Perno (right with Jim Weimer and Rob Sedia) of Aquinas Institute. This award is presented to the Goaltender who shows the passion for the sport and commitment to being the best he can be, like Josh did.

HAVE YOUR NEWS SHARED THROUGHOUT NYS! Send news and photographs to Janet@nyhockeyonline.com or contact Randy@nyhockeyonline.com to cover your story!

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Off to Nationals

by Janet Schultz

N

ew York State was well represented at the USA Hockey Nationals after all teams worked extremely hard at the NYSAHA tournament in March.

First hats off to the 12U teams, who do not participate in a national tournament.

At Girls 12U Tier 1 the Buffalo Bisons beat the Buffalo Regals in the championship game with Tessa Morrissey and Cecila Stewart both having hattricks.

Monroe Girls beat Amherst 7-3 in 12U Tier 2 play with Annabelle Fanale having 5 goals, all unassisted and at even strength.

In boys Tier 1 12U play, Midstate beat the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-3 with Cooper Faughman scoring the winning goal at Tier 1 12U. At Tier 2 12U it was the Long Island Rebels 1-0 in overtime over Cheektowaga. Jessie Lemza had the winning goal.

At Tier 3 12U it a Pelham 4, Chazy 1.

Representing NY State at the Nationals at the Tier 1 14U level were the Buffalo Jr.

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Sabres who beat the Buffalo Regals 6-1 at the NYS Championship.

Tier 1 15 sent the Buffalo Jr. Sabres after winning 8-0 over Rochester Youth Hockey. Mason LaCivita had a hattrick in that game.

Tier 1 16U was also be represented by the Buffalo Jr. Sabres after a 6-0 win over PAL Jr. Islanders.

At 18U Northwood Prep headed to the Nationals after their 3-1 win over Rochester Youth Hockey.

Tier 2 NY were represented by Canton Youth at 14U; Cheektowaga at 16U and Clarence Mustangs at 18U.

Canton beat New Hartford 3-1; Cheektowaga took Syracuse 6-3 and Clarence beat Syracuse Blazers 6-1 in the finals at the 14, 16 and 18U divisions, respectively.

Tier 3 nationalbound teams include the MidState Nationals after a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. Nathan Johnson got the winning goal at 7:35 of the third .

The Bedford Bears beat Norfolk/Norwood 3-2 at the 16U division and at 18U South Westchester after they beat Louisville 6-3 in the finals.

The Girls representing NYS...

Tier I...

The Buffalo Bisons beat the Buffalo Regals 11-1 with both Tessa Morrissey and Cecila Stewart having hattricks at the 12U championship. 12U do not move on to nationals.

It was the Buffalo Bisons at the 14U level after a 6-0 win over Valley Eagles. The Buffalo Regals 16U and the Rochester Youth Hockey 19U teams also went to the Nationals.

Tier II...

Playing in Amherst (NY) for the national title were 14U Norfolk/Norwood; 16U Potsdam and 19U Canton. The Amherst Lady Knights also competed at the 14U and 16U levels and Monroe at the 19U level.

The Nationals were held throughout the United States with Youth Tier 1 in Pittsburgh; Youth Tier II 14U in South Bend, Indiana; Youth Tier II 16U, Plano, Texas; Youth18U in San Jose, California. The girls were in Irvine, California (Tier I) and Amherst, NY (Tier II). The women’s division played in San Jose, California.

Now for the outcome of the Nationals, relative to New York State Teams:

Youth Tier 1: 14U: The Buffalo Jr. Sabres placed second in Pool Play and then moved on to the playoffs.

There they lost to Little Caesars.

15 Only: The Buffalo Jr. Sabres placed first in Pool Play and then lost to Little Caesars in the first round of the playoffs.

16U: Buffalo Jr. Sabres placed 11th overall.

18U: Northwood Prep ended 7th overall.

Youth Tier II:

14U: Canton ended in 8th place.

16U: Congratulations to Cheektowaga who won the USA National Championship with a 6-0 record, winning one game in a shoot out and one game in overtime.

18U: Clarence placed fifth overall and then lost in the playoffs in round one to

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Minnesota Moose.

Girls Tier 1:

14U: Buffalo Bisons placed ninth.

16U: Rochester Youth Hockey placed seventh and the Buffalo Regals ended in ninth.

19U: Rochester Youth Hockey ended in eighth.

Girls Tier II:

14U: Norfolk/Norwood placed sixth overall and then moved to the Playoffs. There they lost to North Shore Vipers in the first round. As the host team

and ended in ninth overall.

The Saratoga Storm represented NYS in the Women’s C Division and ended with a 1-2 record.

Top Performers at Nationals

While NYS had only one National Champion, Cheektowaga in the Youth Division, there were a number of players that made it to the top five in scoring.

Rhett Palmer and Bryan Jones from Canton took first and second, respectively in scoring with Palmer having 9 goals and 2 assists and Jones having 8 goals and 1 assist at the 14U Tier II level.

At 16U Tier II Jorden Riley placed fifth with 4 goals and 4 assists for the USA Champion Cheektowaga Warriors.

Rochester Youth Hockey’s Laila Edwards placed second in the Girls 16U Tier I division with 8 goals and 5 assists.

Potsdam boasts two outstanding scorers with Kennedy Emerson placing first with 10 goals and 1 assist and Elly Gamble in third with 4 goals and 4 assists.

NYHOL covered a few of the State games in Amherst in March and the photo gallery with this story is from those games. All photos are the property of Janet D. Schultz, NYHOL and cannot be used without written permission. Two Bisons photos on page 24 are courtesy of Jim Simmons.

the Amherst Knights ended in last place.

16U: Potsdam placed first overall and then lost in the second round of the playoffs to the B/R Black Cats. The Amherst Knights, as host, lost all three games.

19U; Canton/St. Lawrence ended third overall and then lost in the first round of the playoffs. Monroe County represented the host team

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National News from our Correspondents:

away. Mia Wendell played the first two periods and Hannah Barrett came in as Recap by Matt Miller relief early in the third to The Regals lost a great game to combine for the shutout.

Shadduck St. Mary’s 1-0. They Unfortunately the girls got into penalty trouble early but needed some help from the kept the door closed until halfway Connecticut Polar Bears, through the second. They scored who fell 2-1 to Shattuck St. on a great point shot through Mary’s. The Regals did not traffic. We outchanced them late cross over to quarterfinals but couldn’t score. Mia Wendell but have a great Nationals had 31 saves. performance, going 2-1 and

The Regals won a thriller National photos above courtesy of Matt Miller, allowing just 2 goals against Buffalo Regals in OT against Connecticut Polar 3 strong teams.

Bears 2-1. Autumn Mish opened In another NYS game the the scoring in the first period on a powerplay shot from 16u Selects Academy (BK) squared off with the Chicago the point. They tied it in the second with a 2- on-1 rush.

Mission for the Natiomal Championship game, a reChances at both ends, but Abby Ruggiero scored the match of last year’s title game in which Mission won. game winner off a forced turnover as Ellie Schau shot

BK got off to a great start, controlling the puck the puck from the top of the circle and Abby redirected it and the play early. Mission got a huge boost of energy low. The puck barely crossed the line. Great hockey! Mia killing a mid-period penalty off and began to turn the Wendell played outstanding making at least 24 saves. tide. Mission got some puck luck when they dumped the

Needing to beat the Pens Elite in regulation and puck on net from just outside the blue line and it landed get a little help from Connecticut over Shadduck the 16u just in front of the goalie and snuck through the 5-hole.

Regals came out flying Saturday afternoon against the

In the second, Mission took advantage of a Pens Elite. Despite many chances, it was 0-0 after one powerplay to slap in a rebound during a scramble in until Annika Balk deflected a shot from Becky Holmes on front. The rest of the job was taken over by the Mission a delayed penalty. Moira Michalski deflected a point shot goaltender who played much larger than her tiny frame from Autumn Mish on the powerplay early in the third, would suggest. She quickly but calmly steered every BK then Balk netted another on the powerplay to put it shot aside to hold onto the shutout and the 2-0 National

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Championship win.

Congratulations to BK on an excellent run!

Buffalo Regals 16U Tier I Accomplishments

by Tom Ruggiero

- Currently 3 DI players (Jersey Phillips - Mercyhurst, Abby Ruggiero - Cornell, Mia Wendell - Yale) & many more will play DIII - Two USA hockey Nationals appearances (and counting) - Overall record at both 14U & 16U Nationals is 3-3 (never lost by more than a goal) At 16U Nationals: 1-0 loss to #5 Shattuck-St.Mary’s 2-1 Win v #6 CT Polar Bears 3-0 Win v. #18 Pens Elite - Other wins during the year: #4 BK Selects, #6 East Coast Wizards, #13 St. Louis Lady Blues, #14 Assabet

Valley and a tie v. # 2 Bay State - Girls went 6-0 in the NY State playdowns, won the Buffalo Inferno Showcase and were finalists in the East Coast Wizards Showcase and NY State Championships 14U- 2017 NY State Champions at Nationals: 2-1 loss to #8 ranked Little Ceasars 3-2 loss to #1 ranked East Coast Wizards 6-0 Win v. Washington Pride - Other wins: Beat both the eventual National Champions Bay State Breakers (2-0) & National runner-up Chicago Mission (2-0) on the same day in Boston at the East Coast Wizards showcase tournament. And beat the Canadian #1 ranked Stoney Creek Sabres.

Some Photos from the USA Nationals in Buffalo

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Congratulations 2019 Howell Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

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By Randy Schultz

E

leven new members were recently inducted into the Howell Motors Hockey Hall of Fame. The new inductees were inducted at ceremonies held at the Cornerstone Arena in Lockport.

The newest members included Contributors: Joe Dockery, Mr. and Mrs. James Geier and the Union Sun & Journal Sports Department; Coaches Jim Hildreth and Doug Puff; Players Len DeFazio, Ken French, Michael Marotta, Rich LaTona, Tim Mulvey and Madison Sansone.

Three-time Sled Hockey Paralympian gold medalist Adam Page was the guest speaker. Veteran hockey writer Randy Schultz was the Master of Ceremonies.

Dockery didn’t know much about hockey early in his life. But as he learned the game he moved up the ladder, eventually becoming the youth hockey chairman of the Lockport Amateur Hockey Association.

The Geier’s were involved in Kenan Center hockey for many years, with Jim serving in the coaching ranks and Linda appointed Kenan Arena Director in the mid-1980s.

She served in that capacity until her retirement in 2000.

The US&J Sports Department has covered hockey in the Lockport area since the early 1960s. The work of John Hoy, Craig Connell and John D’Onofrio has kept hockey in front of the public for over half a

century. Alex Chiara accepted the award on behalf of the US&J. Hildreth enjoyed success with all of the teams he coached. He is especially remembered for his final coaching stint with the Lockport High School Club Hockey team.

Coaching hockey became a large part of Puff ’s life. He cred-

that year.

LaTona played on the 2006 Lockport HS team that qualified for the WNY High School Club Hockey Sectionals and with a win over Hutch Tech, advanced to the semi-finals and qualified for the State Championships.

Mulvey didn’t begin playing organized hockey until he was 12. But he made the most of it in a short time, playing for teams in the Kenan House League as well as Club Hockey for Lockport High School.

Sansone is the first female player selected for the Hall of Fame.

She excelled at hockey throughout her life including the four seasons she spent at Providence College. There Sansone was a two-time Captain’s Award recipient, named Hockey East Player of the Week, Hockey East Top Performer, and received the All-American Scholar award.

The Honorable Judge William “Bill” Watson accepted the award on Sansone’s behalf because of a prior work commitment she had.

Congratulations to the 2019 Howell Motors Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees its his success to the cooperation, understanding and patience of his wife, Karen, and two faithful and valuable assistant coaches including Jim Geier and All Kramp.

DeFazio played hockey for many years including his years spent playing for Lockport High School. He was part of the 1982 and 1983 New York State Championship teams and was selected for the Western New York All-Star Team in 1983.

French was also a member of the Lions NYS Championship Teams of ’82 and ’83. He was also named All-Western New York in 1983.

Marotta co-captained the Lockport HS team in 1988 that finished the season unbeaten at 39-0-1. He scored 22 points in a five-game run in the New York State tournament

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4

NYSPHSAA ICE HOCKEY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

NY Hockey OnLine covered the 2019 NYS Boys Varsity Playoffs in Buffalo.

The Regionals were held March 2 with Sufferin beating Bethlehem 3-3 in a shootout; Canton beating Monroe-Woodbury 7-2; Orchard Park over Ithaca 2-1 and Corcoran beatin Pittsford 2-1 in Division I.

In Division II Queensbury beating Plattsburgh 6-1; John Jay over West Seneca 3-0; Webster-Thomas taking Norwood-Norfolk 4-1 and Skaneateles beating Grand Island 4-0.

The Division I semi-finals found Suffering beating Canton 8-3 and Orchard Park losing to Corcoran 5-1.

In Division II it was Queensbury over John Jay 4-0 and Skaneateles over Webster-Thomas 5-2.

Corcoran won the NYS Championship in Division I with a 4-2 win over Sufferin and Skaneateles beat Queesbury 6-1 for the Division II title.

(All photos by Janet Schultz, NYHOL)

CANTON VS SUFFERIN

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QUEENSBURY VS JOHN JAY

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SKANEATELES VS WEBSTER-THOMAS

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ORCHARD PARK VS CORCORAN (SYRACUSE)

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F

Haseks Heroes Honors Local Hockey Players

or the first time Haseks Heroes honored local high school hockey players for their contributions to the sport.

On March 27 they presented the 2018-19 WNY High School Hockey Awards at a banquet held in the Lexus Club at Keybank Center.

And the honorees: Goaltender of the Year:

Kyle Karoleski, St. Marys (Fed)

Izzy Battaglia (WNYGVIH)

Defensive Player of the Year

Offensive Player of the Year

Mitchell Floccare (Fed)

Ethan Yotter (Fed)

Abigail Blair (WNYGVIH)

Emma Roland (WNYGVIH)

Ray Wasielewski (WNY Club)

Zachary Mecca (Club)

Corey Westfall (WNY Club) 37

Player of the Year

Unsung Hero

Chase Chodkowski (Fed)

Abigail Lillis (WNYGVIH)

Brooke Becker (WNYGVIH)

Tyler Connors (Club)

Michael Wolf (Fed) Issac Murray (Club)

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NYHOL apologizes to Michael for his photo did not come out, a technical clitch!

Meg Gifford, Cazenovia Hockey, was awarded the Hasek’s Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award for her “lifetime of energy, compassion and generosity working on behalf of others so that they may have the opportunity to experience the game of hockey.”

Faustin Unshindi received the Hasek’s Heroes Fred Korey Award for the person who best represents the Hasek’s Heroes Program and their mission.

Hannah Lockwood, Cazenovia Lady Chief, received the Hasek’s Heroes Youth Hockey Impact Award for her decision to captain a team of peers to play in the 11-Day Power Play. Her team currently leads in fundraising over $20,000 for the cause.

The Niagara County Girls of the WNYGVIH League were named Team of the Year in their inaugural season for demonstrating teamwork, sportsmanship and respect for the game.

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Coach of the Year

Rick Hopkins, Williamsville of WNYGVIH

Don Pray, Grand Island (Fed)

WNY Varsity Hockey Federation First Team All Fed (Large School)

Zachary Mecca, Orchard Park

Anthony Scoma, Lancaster

Will Redding, St. Joe’s

Sammy Nichols, Canisius

Mitchell Floccare, St. Joe’s

Joseph Fronczak, St. Joe’s First Team All Fed (Small School)

Chase Chodkowski, West Seneca West

Ethan Yotter, Kenmore West

Dylan Russo, Grand Island

Fergus Gould, Bishop Timon

Trevor Samplkinski, Grand Island

Nathan Stroh, Grand Island WNYGVIH All Fed Team

Emma Faso, Clarence/Amherst/Sweethome

Jersey Phillips, Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew

Emma Roland, Williamsville

Brooke Becker, Frontier/Lakeshore/Orchard Park

Abigail Blair, Kenmore/Grand Island

Isabella Battaglia, Monsignor Martin (Photos by Janet Schultz, NYHOL)

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Thomas Grupp, Depew (Club) High School Club Hockey League 1st Team Red

Zachary Mecca, Orchard Park

Jack Kinsman, Orchard Park

Kyle Flynn, Orchard Park

Jason Kuchey, Royhart/Barker/Medina

Kyle O’Brien, Orchard Park

Ryan Albert, Orchard Park 1st Team White

Issac Murray, Buffalo

Danny Dy, Wilson/Newfane

Michael Martin, Eden/Lakeshore

Zach Tomnick, Depew

Ray Wasielewski, City Honors/Cardinal O’Hara

Dante Direnzo, Depew

NYS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY NEWS & NOTES Here is a wrap up of how the New York State Boys Varsity teams ended their season, and in some cases moved on to the States.

Section I

Hendrich Hudson took the Conference I Championship and Mahopac took Conference II. (I apologize for so little information but I could not fine the details online and no one submitted any information).

Section II

In the Capital District Bethlehem took first place and won the Delvecchio Cup Championship. They were 12-2-1 overall with 18.5 points.

Section II Honors went to Mike Bievenue as Player of the Year; Mike Cuyrdziolek, Goaltender of the Year, Bethlehem; Mike Bievenue, Leading Goal Scorer of the Year, Bethlehem.

All Section II Team: Justin Chenaille, Bethlehem; Anthony Sericolo, AA; Hunter Pemerick, CBA; John Thibofeau, Bethlehem; Brayden Ordway, Queensbury and Curdziolek.

All-Section First Team: Brenan Alheim, Shenendoah; Jack O’Bryan, LSI; Gary Blanchard, Toga; Ryan Warnick, AA; Dylan Kowalsky, Bethlehem; Tony Cotugno, NSA.

All Section Second Team: Connor Carroll, Bethlehem; Miles Grebb, BHBS; Tyler Sullivan, Shenendoah; Mike Desmarais, CBA; Grant Rice, BHBS and Owen Smith, Queensbury.

Section III

Syracuse was the DI Champion with a perfect 12-0-0 record and Skaneateles was the D2 Champion with a 10-2-0 record.

Skaneateles beat CortlandHomer 4-1 and Syracuse topped West Genesee 3-2 in the semi-finals.

In Section III D2 play Johnny Malandruccalo had 55 points for Auburn to led the league in scoring.

Goaltender Adam Casper had a .92 save percentage in 522 minutes of play for Skaneateles to lead the goaltenders.

In Section III DI play Ryan Eccles had 54 points for Cortland and Goalie Brandon Heyman had a .945 save percentage in 905 minutes of play to lead the league.

Section V

Fairport was the DI champion; Victor, DII and Spencerport, DIII. It was McQuaid for the Independents.

League Award Winners for Division I were Jack Schlifke, Penfield as Player of the Year; Ray Werner, Greece, the Pugliese Sportsmanship Award; Chris Moretter of Fairport was named Coach of the Year; Connor Fox, Penfield, Top Scholar/Athlete and the Fraser MacKenzie Team Sportsmanship award went to Brighton/ER/HFL.

Named to First Team were Connor Stuewe, Penfield; Dan Judge, Pittsford; Jude Cole, Brighton/ER/HFL; Nick Krug, Fairport; Hunter McDonald, Fairport; Bobby Bradley, Penfield and Cameron Kuzniar, Rush-Henrietta.

Named to Second Team were TJ Catanese, Rush-Henrietta; Hayden Feck, Pittsford; Grant Dowler, Brighton/ ER/HFL; Jake Matlock, Hilton; Dom Dentino, Hilton; Gunnar VanDamme, Pittsford; Tyler McMillan, Fairport.

At Division II Josh Albert Victor took Player of the Year honors. Devin

Mulchay, Webster Thomas, The Pugliese Sportsmanship Award; Mike Ferreri, Victor, Coach of the Year; Luke Molnar, Churchville-Chili, Top Scholar/Athlete and Brockport took the Fraser MacKenzie Team Sportmanship Award.

Named to First Team were Carter McWilliams, Canandaigua, Lukas Miller, Victor; Roman Czornobil, Victor; Cullen Hennessy, Webster Thomas; Connor Gelabert, Victor; Matt Kotsch, Churchville-Chili and Peter Bartelse, Victor.

Named to Second Team were Zack Wolfe, Webster; Jack Feola, Ironequoit; Reed Currie, Webster Thomas; Josh Fitzpatrick, Canandaigua; Tyler Phillips, Irondequoit; Ryan Pitka, Canandaigua and Cody Rougeux, Webster Thomas.

In Division III of Section V Lenny Perno was named Player of the Year from Aquinas.

Roger Barnes, Genesee, was presented the Pugliese Sportsmanship Award; Ryan Ford, Spencerport, Coach of the Year; Maeghan Kennard, Aquinas, and Pierce Vorbrelli, Genesee the Top Scholar/Athlete Award and the Fraser MacKenzie Sportmanship Award went to Aquinas.

Section X

Canton took the Divisional title with a 14-4-1 overall record. They beat Salmon River 4-3 for the title in Division I.

In Division II it was Norfolk/ Norwood after a 13-6-1 season and a 4-2 win over Potsdam.

(For Section VI, see the Haseks Heroes article)

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RILEY CELEBRATES FAMILY HISTORY AT HOLIDAY LEDYARD TOURNAMENT

By Warren Kozireski

A

rmy head coach Brian Riley was able reminisce about his family and their legacy at Dartmouth University while his Black Knights participated in the 30th annual Ledyard Bank tournament held the weekend after Christmas.

Brian’s father, Jack, along with uncles Joe and Bill helped the Big Green reach the finals in 1948 and 1949. All three are inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

“I walked around the rink today and I stopped and read the 100 years of Dartmouth hockey and the parts about my dad and my uncles, Riley said. “I was actually rubbing their names to see if we could get some good luck.

“Dartmouth hockey is really special to the Riley family and, as a kid growing up, just to hear all of their stories…and then to be able to come up here and kind of feel it and see it.

“We were here a couple of years ago and it really gives me goosebumps to see the Riley name up here and Dartmouth has been really amazing in keeping the Riley legacy alive up here and just thankful that we had an opportunity to come to this tournament and hopefully we’ll have another chance.”

William Riley, a member of the class of 1946 due to military service during World War II, played the 1943 season as a freshman and then resumed competition for 1946-1949. Over four varsity seasons, William Riley appeared in 71 games, scoring 118 goals and 110 assists for 218 points. He was the team leader in all seasons except 1947, ranked fourth all-time for Dartmouth goal scorers and

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was tied for 12th in total points after just two seasons and went on to represent his country at the Winter Games that year in St. Moritz, Switzerland. ago at the age of 95.

He was playing as a Dartmouth sophomore in 1941 when he was called into war service into the U.S. Navy.

After returning from the war, he played alongside his brothers and guided Dartmouth to a 162-2 record during the 1946-47 season to tie the University of Toronto for the North American title. He joined the coaching staff at Army in 1950, became head coach in 1951 and remained with the Black Knights until his son, Rob, took over the team in 1986. Jack Riley won 542 games for Army and was twice named the NCAA’s coach of the year.

“I wish there was video to see them,

Brian Riley Looks Back at Family Hockey History

Joe Riley set the record for most goals in a season in his senior year. Playing two varsity seasons, Riley appeared in 47 games and netted 67 goals and 49 assists for the Big Green, ranked fourth all-time for Dartmouth goal scorers and was tied for 12th in total points.

In 1960, Jack Riley coached the U.S. Olympic Team to its first-ever gold medal in Squaw Valley, California, as the Americans defeated Canada, Russia, Czechoslovakia and Sweden.

Jack Riley was a two-time recipient of the Lester Patrick Award, presented annually for outstanding service to hockey in the United States, in 1986 and 2002.

He was inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame in 1998. He died almost two years

but I did see pictures,” Brian Riley said. “My dad had a lot of success as a college coach, but if you wanted to see him have a twinkle in his eye, I tell people it was when he talked about his family, when he talked about serving his country and when he talks about playing up here at Dartmouth and being a coach at West Point.”

(West Point/Army Photo)

BY RANDY SCHULTZ–

L

ake Placid is a small village located in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State. The village has a population of less than 2700.

Known as a great vacation location for its beauty, fishing, golfing and simply relaxing, Lake Placid is also known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. And one of the stops a person has to make while visiting the area is the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum.

It was designed to commemorate both Olympics that were held in the village. It is the only Olympic museum in the U.S. and is located in the only American city to have hosted two separate Winter Olympics.

Among the items on display in the museum include the “Fram III” bobsled and skates used by Jack Shea from the ’32 Olympics as well as memorabilia from the 1980 “Miracle On Ice” U.S. men’s hockey team. The museum’s collection also provided materials for the 2004 Disney movie, “Miracle,” based on that ’80 hockey team.

The museum is also housed within two ice arenas.

There is the 1932 Rink, known today as the Jack Shea Arena, which hosted six of the 12 ice hockey games played in ’32.

The 1980 Rink, now known as the Herb Brooks Arena, hosted the famous “Miracle” game that saw Team USA defeat the Soviet Union, 4-3. The arena was named after Herb Brooks, coach of the ’80 Miracle hockey team, as part of the 25 anniversary of the American victory in 2005.

It is hard to believe that it has been over 32 years since Team USA won the gold over a heavily favored Russian team.

Who could forget those heros of 1980? Mark Johnson, who led the team in scoring.

Or how about the top scoring line of Buzz Schneider, Mark Pavelich and John Harrington? The defense was anchored by Dave Christian, Mike Ramsey, Bill Baker and Ken Morrow.

Lake Placid: Home For “The Miracle On Ice”

Remember goaltender Jim Craig? Who will ever forget him with an American flag draped around him, looking for his father in the crowd after the Soviet game?

Mike Eruzione was captain of that victorious U.S. team. He recalled that special time which caught the fancy of all of America.

“We went into the Olympics figuring that we would win a medal,” said Eruzione. “But we never dreamed that we would win the gold.

“I guess the moment that we realized that we would win it was the night before the Russian game.

I guess we all felt that the tide had turned our way.”

After tieing Sweden, 2-2, in the opening game, the young U.S. squad upset Czechoslovakia, 7-3. That was followed by victories over Norway, Rumania and West Germany.

That set the stage for the showdown round for the medal against the Soviets. With the crowd chanting, “USA, USA, USA” throughout the game, the Americans produced a stunning 4-3 victory, assisted in part by Eruzione’s goal midway through the third period.

Two days after defeating the Soviets, the Americans beat Finland, 4-3, scoring three goals in the third period. Hockey fever swept the country.

“I know that I was shocked and amazed to see how people, who didn’t even know the first thing about hockey or were from areas of the United States that didn’t even have hockey, reacted to us,” remembered Eruzione. “They were all just caught up in our success.

Continued on Page 44

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Kings Park Native Mazza Inks Pro Deal

By Warren Kozireski–

F

ormer Canisius College defenseman Jimmy Mazza completed his collegiate career and signed a professional contract with the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League.

Mazza appeared in 141 games during his four-year career with the Golden Griffins, recording 18 goals and 50 assists for 68 points. He ended his career as the program’s fourthhighest scoring defensemen in its Division I history and third in among Division I blueliners in career assists.

The 6’2, 195lb. led all Canisius defenseman and ranked fourth on the squad in scoring this season with 24 points on six goals and 18 assists and wrapped up his career on a high note, notching three goals and an assist in the Griffs Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament first round series loss to Niagara.

“We had our senior speeches about three weeks ago and since then myself and the other seniors have just been having fun and enjoying the moment,” Mazza said prior to his final game.

“This season we faced a lot of adversity, but…we played for each other, we played for the Griffs and all the alumni.”

Mazza played his youth hockey with the Long Island Royals and junior with the PIL Jr. Islanders and NY Bobcats along with one year in the USHL with Youngstown. And some high school hockey with St. Anthony’s, who defeated St. Francis in Buffalo in Mazza’s senior season in the state championship.

“We have memories from that class of 2012. We were the first downstate school to win.”

As for a favorite memory from his four Division I years in Canisius,

Mazza said, “It was really special winning the regular season championship with a 17-game undefeated streak in my sophomore year.”

(Canisius College photo)

Continued from Page 43

“It was something I’ll never forget.”

That 1980 U.S. hockey team were conquering heros. Even today people will tell Eruzione just where they were when Team USA won the gold.

“It was the shot in the arm that our country needed at the time,” commented Eruzione. “Because of what we did it gave our people a new sense of pride, something that had been hurting in our country.

“Coming back to Lake Placid brought back many of those memories. I had people come up to me and tell me how proud they were of us and what it meant to them.

“It was just that kind of moment.”

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Jr. Sabres Alum Evancho Making College Hockey Impact With Army

By Warren Kozireski–

T

he Buffalo Jr. Sabres have sent dozens of players on to play various levels college hockey.

One of them was Army junior Zach Evancho (Derby).

Evancho, through the first 21 games of the season, was tied atop the Black Knights scoring chart with 18 points and was seeing probably too much ice time on both the power play and penalty kill.

“He’s scored goals for us all year; little guy that plays big and can really shoot the puck and sees the ice really well,” Army head coach Brian Riley said.

At 5’8” and 165 lb. Evancho often gives up four to six inches and 20 pounds on some opponent forwards, but he often takes the hit to make a breakout pass or is feathering a pass tape to tape to an open teammate.

“I try to play as big as I can,” Evancho said. “I don’t want to rely

so much on skill because with the guys we play against it’s hard too, so I try to lay a little grittier, a little harder just because people don’t expect it from someone who is five-eight on a really good day.

“It’s the reason I’ve gotten this far in hockey, so I take ride in it.”

Evancho started his junior hockey career with the Jr. Sabres, jumped to the USHL in Youngstown for two years and came back to the Jr. Sabres for two more, the second where he served as team captain.

“When I left the Jr. Sabres I thought it was a good opportunity to play against top competition and it was a great organization and they treated me well. But I wasn’t getting the playing time…so I went back home and it really helped my career a lot just getting to play a lot and being a top guy on a team.

“Both organizations helped me to get where I am, but Jr. Sabres let me develop my game more and get more offensively skilled.”

His older brother Gavin played club hockey at the University of Buffalo.

“He’s the reason I got into hockey. We had a rink every winter;

being in Buffalo it’s kind of natural and we would go out and skate as soon as we got home from school and then get the skates off, get in the car and go to hockey. The whole neighborhood played. It’s really been in our blood for years.

“I think it has to be the second born. We just have that drive that we want to be better than our big brother. It’s definitely pushed me to want to push past what he does, not out of jealousy, but because I want to be able to tell him I was better than him I guess.”

(Photo by Janet Schultz)

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Regals/Jr. Sabres Alum Rutherford Making Impact at Dartmouth

By Warren Kozireski—

T

he Buffalo Regals and Jr. Sabres have sent dozens of players on to play various levels college hockey. Dartmouth sophomore Collin Rutherford (Tonawanda) is one of them.

Rutherford got off to a slow start offensively this season after his six goal, eight assist freshman campaign.

But he was getting his points when it mattered most, with all but one coming against conference opponents.

Rutherford played midget-minor hockey with the Regals before two full seasons in the Jr. Sabres organization followed by two more with as USHL Clark Cup champions with Tri-City and one year later helping Des Moines earn a playoff berth for the first time in a decade before heading to Dartmouth.

Hockey is in his family blood as well as his father played at Buffalo State.

“I started off (this season) pretty well, had a couple of points at the beginning and there’s been a switch in lines so it’s nice to get some chemistry with Matt Baker and Alex Jasiek. We’re jelling pretty well. We’re a smaller line, so we like to use our speed to our advantage.

“I’m trying to play to my strengths a little more, trying to get some more confidence.”

When he first made the decision to head to the USHL from the Jr. Sabres, he first was in Cedar Rapids where he was in the line-up sporadically.

“(In) Cedar Rapids I played one game out of

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eight, so they traded me to Tri-City and I got in the lineup a little more and tried to make a name for myself.”

A U-18 state championship with the Jr. Sabres, a USHL league championship and helping Dartmouth to the ECAC quarterfinals last season as a freshman.

The Harvard men’s hockey team dueled familiar Ivy League foe, Dartmouth, last weekend for a spot in the ECAC’s annual mid-March pilgrimage to Lake Placid, NY.

Harvard followed its 3-1 victory on Friday with an emotional 4-3 OT clincher on Saturday, knocking out Dartmouth (13-17-4, 10-9-3) in the 13th meeting in the past four campaigns with its Hanover, NH counterpart.

(Dartmouth photo)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan ice hockey senior defenseman Joseph Cecconi has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Dallas Stars, the club announced today (Tuesday, March 19). Cecconi will report to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate in Cedar Park, Texas.

“I am extremely excited to sign my first NHL contract with the Dallas Stars,” said Cecconi. “I cannot wait to get to Texas and get started on my next journey. I want to give a special thank you to the coaching staff, my teammates over the past four years, and the Children of Yost for an amazing four years at Michigan.”

Cecconi, Michigan’s captain, was selected by the Stars in the fifth round (133rd overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft. He decided to return for his senior season last summer. He appeared in all 36 contests this season, recording 20 points (three goals, 17 assists). He ranked second on the team in assists and second in blocked shots (66) while also seeing significant time on the team’s power-play and penalty-kill units throughout the season.

Cecconi finished his Michigan career with 62 points (nine goals and 53 assists). The Youngstown, New York, native was a part of teams that won one Big Ten Tournament title and made two NCAA Tournament appearances. He helped lead Michigan to a 2018 Frozen Four appearance after a breakout junior season in which

Cecconi Signs Professional Contract with NHL’s Dallas Stars

he set career highs in points (27), goals (five) and assists (22).

Internationally, Cecconi earned a gold medal as a member of Team USA’s World Junior Championship squad in 2017.

Cecconi becomes the 11th Wolverine to join the Stars organization and joins former teammate and Michigan captain Tony Calderone, who signed a two-way entry level contract with Dallas last spring (2018).

(Michigan Hockey Photo)

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SABRES MELISSA BURGESS WINS OJHL VOLUNTEER AWARD ‘Family’ affair for team’s Buffalo-born social media expert Mississauga, ON – Melissa Burgess of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres is the 2018-19 recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).

The Buffalo native is in her fifth season with the franchise. Her job description is vast.

“Melissa is a tireless volunteer, always looking to enhance experience for our fans both in game and via social media,” said Jr. Sabres General Manager Charlie Mendola. “She leads all social media platforms, ensuring content is aligned to our overall mission of promoting our program and players.

Additionally, she organizes special events like our 20-year-old player recognition ceremony, player community involvement and our organization’s holiday food drive.

Melissa also manages the team’s Pointstreak online scorekeeping for each game day, ensuring diligently other volunteers are ready to track the game. She has also pinch-hit as colour commenta-

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tor for a few Hockey TV broadcasts this season.

An NHL Sabres fan since the age of 5 – thanks to her mom – she was looking for ways to combine her loves of writing and hockey after graduating from State University of New York College at Buffalo. Enter blogging, social media posting – and the Jr. Sabres.

The 28-year-old has written about hockey for several outlets during the past six years, covering the NHL Buffalo Sabres, prospects and women’s hockey.

By day, she’s a Development and Communications Clerk at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Like her home and the Jr. Sabres’ home rink, HarborCentre, the library is in downtown Buffalo.

That convenience is important when you attended 63 home hockey games this season.

“It’s like a family (with the Jr. Sabres),” she told the OJHL. “I really like that. After our Game 7 win (Wednes-

day), our captain (Adam Tretowicz) came over and thanked me for the ceremony honouring the graduating players. That sort of thing makes a difference.

I like that family atmosphere.”

Family? Her husband of almost three years, Ryan Burgess, is the OJHL team’s public address announcer and music director. They met on Twitter.

“Melissa is well rounded, dedicated and always looking for ways to make our organization better,” Mendola said.

(Photo by Melissa Burgess)

RIT men’s hockey captains Erik Brown and Abbott Girduckis sign professional deals ROCHESTER, NY – Senior captains Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/ Kemptville 73’s) and Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) of the RIT men’s hockey team have signed professional contracts for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. Brown signed with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), while Girduckis joined the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.

Brown, a 2018 All-Atlantic Hockey first team selection and 2019 third team pick, led RIT with 18 goals this season and added 11 assists for 29 points. On. Jan. 11, Brown became the 11th player in RIT’s Division I history to reach 100 points in his career in a win over American International. He also tallied a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Colgate on Oct. 20. He is also one of 10 finalists for the 2018-19 Senior CLASS Award.

Brown, who set a Division I team single-season mark with 29 goals last year, finished his four-year career with 70 goals, which is RIT’s Division I school record. He is seventh in RIT’s Division I era with 115 career points on 70 goals and 45 assists in 148 games. Brown finished second all-time in the Division I era with 26 power-play goals and 11 game-winning markers.

Girduckis, a 2019 All-Atlantic Hockey second team selection, led RIT in scoring in 2018-19 with career-best totals of 11 goals, 25 assists and 36 points in 38 games. Girduckis, the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week on Jan. 8, recorded 10 multiple-point games in 2018-19, including a career-best four assists in a 6-1 win over Colgate at Blue Cross Arena as part of RIT’s Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend on Oct. 20.

In four seasons, Girduckis recorded 93 career points on 30 goals and 63 assists in 146 games, while taking just 20 minutes in penalties.

RIT finished with 17 wins and advanced to the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals in 2018-19.

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CONGRATULATIONS USA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CHEEKTOWAGA WARRIORS 16U TII

By Eric Bell

T

he Cheektowaga Warriors 16U Tier II Tournament Bound team went undefeated through 6 games, fighting from behind in all 3 playoff games, including the shootout in the championship game, to bring home a national championship to Cheektowaga.

Down 4-2 early in the third, the Warriors went on the power play with 12:43 left scoring 28 seconds into the PP to close the gap to 4-3. 3-1/2 minutes later, with 9:20 left in the game, they went to the PP again scoring 1:17 into that PP to tied the game. The balance of the third and a full overtime could not bring an end to the game which ended up going to a shootout. Cheektowaga’s goalie stood tall as 4 Falcon shooters tried to solve him with no luck.

Cheektowaga only needed 3 shooters as 2 of the 3 con-

50

verted. The third shooter would end up being the dagger Cheektowaga needed to bring home a national championship!

Congratulations to Tony Pierino, his staff and the boys for bringing home the national championship!!!

Way to go boys!!!

ROCHESTER’S DUGAN ENDS FRESHMAN YEAR RUN WITH PROVIDENCE

By Warren Kozireski–

P

rovidence College received an at-large bid to the NCAA hockey tournament after their 21-win season and defeated Minnesota State and Cornell to win the East Regional to advance to the fifth Frozen Four in program history.

A huge part of that success has been McQuaid grad and native Jack Dugan’s 39-point campaign; the second most on the team.

That road ended Thursday night with a 4-1 loss to defending champ Minnesota-Duluth, which included twoempty-net goals.

“It’s really hard obviously; I can’t imagine what the seniors feel like,” Du-

gan said in the post-game locker room.

“We obviously thought we could win it and I think we played a helluva game tonight and could have won, but it just came down to a bounce and they got it.

“I think we were the better team for most of the game.

“These guys brought me and all the freshmen in and were welcoming with open arms and accepted us. A lot of teams aren’t like that…so for me it’s been outstanding. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to be playing with and I think next year we’ll have a really good team as well, but this definitely stings.”

defenseman Rob Michel to an AHL Amateur Try-Out for the remainder of the season.

Michel, 24, has just completed his four-year career at the University of Maine. Michel served as Maine’s captain for the 2018-19 season and played in all 36 games for the Black Bears. He finished the year ranked second on team with a +12 rating and second in penalty minutes with 55.

A native of Camillus, New York, Michel played 137 games during his career at the University of Maine. He totaled 17 goals, 36 assists, and 53 points during his four-years with the Black Bears. The defenseman is a right-handed shot and stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 194 lbs.

Prior to his college career, Michel played two seasons for the Ottawa Jr. Senators in the Central Canada Hockey League from 201315. He appeared in 117 games and registered 85 points on 24 goals and 61 assists and was named the CCHL Defenseman of the Year

Phantoms Sign D Rob Michel to ATO

Michel Played Four Years at the University of Maine LEHIGH VALLEY, PA. – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, proud AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, have announced that they have signed

51

Trivigno Plays On The Edge

By Warren Kozireski–

“A

nother blue-collar kid that you want on your team,” University of Massachusetts head coach and Spencer Penrose Award as National Coach of the Year winner Greg Carvel said about Setauket native and freshman forward Bobby Trivigno. “He’s 5’8″. I watch him weigh in. It’s always see if he got up to 150 (lb.) or not.

That’s after every other kid is 200, 205. He jumps up there. I love him. He’s tough as nails, scores big goals, plays every situation.

“As coaches, there’s certain kids you want on your team. Bobby is one of those kids. Plays the game on edge. He knocks down as many guys of the opponents of anybody on our team every night. We’ll always start video on Monday showing good, physical hits. He’ll knock down three guys a game. He’s 5’8″, 148 pounds, scores goals, goes to the front of the net, does it all. We’re very fortunate to have him. Unbelievable player.”

The top scoring freshman on the Minutemen with 13 goals and 28 points scored a power play goal from his office in front of the net two minutes after Denver took a 1-0 lead in the Frozen Four semifinal; a game UMass won in overtime 4-3.

“When I’m in front of the net, it’s just take away the goalies’ eyes, try to bang in any rebounds and that particular play (senior forward Jacob Pritchard) “Pritch” shot the puck and I just tipped it into the goal and got lucky,” Trivigno said in the postgame locker room.

“When I’m in tight to the net I can use my speed, spin off players and it plays to my pros (strengths).”

Trivigno was fourth on the team in scoring and won an Anderson Cup as regular season champs last season with Waterloo in the USHL. Prior to that he spent three years starting at age 16 with the Shattuck St. Mary’s program winning a national title in 2016 with the Shattuck St. Mary’s U-16 team.

“My sister (Dana) went there before me; she was heavily recruited by them and I saw what success it brought her so I wanted to go there. (Dana was a captain as a senior at Boston College),” Trivigno said.

“While I was there it was a great experience, great culture, great coaches, teammates and you’re surrounded by players who want to do the exact same thing as you and when I got the opportunity, I wasn’t going to turn it down.”

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Prior to that he played most of his youth career with the Long Island Royals program and one year prior to prep school with the P.E.L. Jr. Islanders.

Now UMass will try to deny Minnesota-Duluth a repeat championship.

“We’re super-excited, but we’re looking at it as just another game. We’ll rest, re-gen (regenerate) and be ready to play Saturday night.”

As this is written, the NCAA announced that Trivigno has been suspended for one game under the NCAA’s supplemental discipline process as a result of an incident that occurred during the third period of the Men’s Frozen Four semifinal game between Massachusetts and Denver.

The action was taken by the committee after a review of the incident, which occurred with 3:10 remaining in the third period, in which Trivigno made contact with the head of a Denver player.

USA

Hockey announced today the establishment of the Brianna Decker Endowment for Girls Hockey, a fund created through the USA Hockey Foundation by 2018 Olympic gold medalist Brianna Decker (Dousman,

com/DonateNowand select Brianna Decker Endowment Fund for Girls Hockey in the dropdown menu.ABOUT DECKERDecker is a two-time U.S. Olympic medalist and six-time International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship gold medalist who

Montreal in the Clarkson Cup Final.

She also previously helped the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League win the 2016 Isobel Cup. A 2013 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Decker helped the Badgers to the Division I national championship in 2011

Brianna Decker Endowment for Girls Hockey Established to Grow Female Hockey Wis.).The fund will provide grants to 8U and 10U female hockey programs within the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association in its first year with the intent to grow nationwide in years to come. The first grant from the Brianna Decker Endowment Fund will be awarded to the Waukesha County Youth Hockey Association, the organization where Decker herself played growing up.”I’m so excited to be able to create a fund that will help give more girls access to the sport that has given me so much,” said Decker. “Growing up a Waukesha Warhawk, I’m especially proud to be able to give back to the organization that helped foster my love of the game. I can’t wait to see the impact it will have for the next generation.”Awards specific to this fund will be used exclusively to develop programs focused on increasing female youth participation in hockey by alleviating costs around ice and equipment, advertising and marketing, and overall development. To contribute to the fund, please visit USAHockeyFoundation.

has been a mainstay at forward for the U.S. Women’s National Team for the past decade. Most recently, Decker helped the U.S. Women’s National Team claim its fifth consecutive world title at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Espoo, Finland, and she was also a member of the gold medal-winning 2018 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team that claimed victory in thrilling shootout fashion at the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.Decker spent the 2018-19 season playing for the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, which culminated in a victory over

and earned the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top player in women’s college hockey in 2012.Decker was also recently named an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team for the second consecutive year after making her debut behind the bench last year at the 2018 Under-18 Series vs.

Canada. She has previously served as a coach at various Central District camps and at USA Hockey Girls Under-18 Select Player Development Camps underscoring her commitment to growing the game and helping girls achieve their full potential in hockey.

NOTES: The Brianna Decker Endowment Fund was created by the USA Hockey Foundation using the funds donated by the National Hockey League in Brianna Decker’s name following the 2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition…

The USA Hockey Foundation has been the charitable arm of USA Hockey, Inc., since 1989. The Foundation’s purpose is to enhance the mission of USA Hockey, Inc., by supporting USA Hockey teams, programs and initiatives, in addition to making grants to various member organizations that share its values which directly impact hockey in the United States.

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#8 Nationally for Hockey News! ...Your Source for All Hockey News in New York www.nyhockeyonline.com We accept news/stories/photographs from hockey from developmental through the NHL/NWHL. Daily updates on www.nyhockeyonline and our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NyHockeyOnline/?ref=bookmarks We are also on Twitter NYHockeyonline For information: Email Randy@nyhockeyonline.com For Girls/Womens hockey or to have Janet come out to photograph: Janet@nyhockeyonline.com Or Call 716-751-6524 or Randy at 716-870-4258 Janet at 716-628-1966