September 2012 NY Hockey OnLine

All Amateur All Hockey All New York State

NY Hockey On-Line

September 2012 Volume 1; Issue 4

www.NYhockeyonline.com

Haseks Heroes Teams with Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Cole Tournament Big Success On- and Off-Ice! each Section-A Magazine!

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In This Issue: Sabres Development...........4 NHL Teams with Youth......6 CENTRAL..........................7 Dream Big .......................8 Men’s College................11 Central News..................12 Women’s College...........13 EAST................................15 News...............................16 Men’s College................17 Women’s College...........20 NORTH............................21 Men’s College................22 Women’s College...........23 Wounded Warriors..........24 Potsdam Arena................25 WEST...............................27 News...............................28 Nichols Camp.................30 Men’s College................32 Women’s College...........33 Kids Page..........................37

Dear Readers,

Well the hockey season is upon us and NY Hockey On-Line has been in touch with many of you talking about what your organizations did over the summer and the plans you have for the 201213 season.

With the possibility of some really great stories coming up in each Section, we decided to make another change to the magazine. Each State Hockey Section--Central, East, North and West--will have a sub-section in the magazine that you can print out, just for yourself. It’s like your own little mini-section.

The more information each organization provides, the better the magazine will become. We still plan to run our major feature stories in the front part of the magazine, followed by the sections.

We are still working on our email lists and ask that you continue to forward this to your coaches and players. We have taken as many email addresses from your websites as we can access and within the next month will be inputting them into our distribution list.

We are asking that you add nyhockeyonline.com, as well as janet@nyhockeyonline.com and randy@nyhockeyonline.com to your address books so that our mail to you does not go into ‘spam.’

Well, enjoy the season, keep us informed of what’s happening and we’ll see you at the rink!

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

Best wishes, Randy Schultz, Publisher and Managing Editor

Columnists Warren Kozireski, Koz@nyhockeyonline.com Janet Schultz Randy Schultz NY Hockey OnLine is an equal opportunity employer.

Contents 2012 NY Hockey Online All rights reserved NY Hockey OnLine is published monthly at no charge and can be accessed via the publication’s website

NY Hockey OnLine

Announcement / Page 4

Buffalo Sabres Receive Approval for Major Development Project

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ayor Byron Brown was pleased to announce today the selection of HARBORcenter Development, LLC (the development company affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres) as the preferred developer of the Webster Block. He also released the term sheet, outlining the plan to create two new ice rinks, which coupled with the existing rink, makes this facility the “first of its kind” in the United States. The project also calls for a hotel, retail, a restaurant and new parking, for a total estimated project cost of $123 million.

“This is an exciting day for Downtown Buffalo and its waterfront,” said Mayor Brown. “I want to thank HARBORcenter Development, LLC and the Buffalo Sabres for putting before us a remarkable proposal that will re-make this prime piece of cityowned land, and bring tremendous economic impact to the community.”

“We are proud to be named the preferred developer of the Webster Block,” said Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Sabres.

“This project will further enhance the current development at Canalside and in the process, create a destination attraction to draw hundreds of thousands of people to Buffalo’s waterfront on a yearly basis. Canalside has seen a rebirth the past few years and we expect our project to act as a catalyst for future development on the waterfront.”

The Webster Block, a 1.7 acre city owned site located directly across from First Niagara Center, is considered a prized downtown parcel due to its location in downtown Buffalo, its proximity to Canalside, two major sports venues, and the Peace Bridge. The HARBORcenter Development project is expected to provide approximately 1,500 construction jobs. Once complete, the facilities are expected to create 350 full-time jobs, and generate $4.1 million in state and local taxes, $48 million over the next ten years.

“The City received two excellent and competitive proposals for the Webster Block, and there was strong support for each plan,” said Mayor Brown. “In the end, the Selection Committee recommended the project it believed would be best for the City of Buffalo, and selected HARBORcenter Development and the Buffalo Sabres.”

Two major development proposals were submitted to the City of Buffalo after Mayor Brown issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in April, 2012, encouraging developers to

put forth their best ideas to create something great downtown Buffalo.

HARBORcenter Development, LLC (the development company affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres) submitted a $123 million hockey-themed proposal that included plans for two new ice rinks, (one with seating capacity for at least 1,800 people, and the other with seating capacity for at least 200 people) a hotel, retail and a restaurant. Ellicott Development Company led a team that proposed a $64 million plan that included office space, retail, a hotel and apartments.

A selection committee of Mayor Brown’s Senior Management Team, led by Brendan Mehaffy, Executive Director of the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning, was named to review the proposals and submit a recommendation to Mayor Brown. A group of community leaders, including business owners and professionals, block club representatives and clergy, were also identified to work with the selection committee to review proposals and submit a recommendation.

On July 27, 2012, both Ellicott Development Company and HARBORcenter Development presented their proposals to the selection committee and community representatives. The presentations were recorded and played repeatedly on public access television and made available on the City of Buffalo’s website.The public also submitted comments in response to the presentations viawebsterblockrfp@city-buffalo.com.

Following the presentations, the two development companies were invited back individually to meet with the selection committee and clarify any information. HARBORcenter Development met August 7th. Ellicott Development Company met August 8th.On August 20, 2012, both Ellicott Development Company and HARBORcenter Development returned to present additional information to the selection committee and seven community representatives.

When all the factors were added up, including the size of the overall $123 million investment and the purchase price for the land, the HARBORcenter Development proposal gained favor. In addition to building the new facilities, the Buffalo Sabres agreed to the following terms:

Continued on Page 36

NY Hockey OnLine

Featire / Page 5

Haseks Heroes Teams with Big Brothers Big Sisters for Hockey Adventure

By Randy Schultz Photos Courtesy Big Rrothers, Big Sisters

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ig Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County (BBBSEC) and Hasek’s Heroes are two wellknown entities in the Western New York area. Interestingly, the two have combined forces to make an interesting hockey adventure.

It also turns out that the two organizations have a common thread with their silent partner, the Buffalo Sabres.

“It just worked out that we had a board member from the Sabres named Rich Joeller and Hasek’s Heroes had the same person on their board,” stated Alicia Bartsch of BBBSEC. “I think Rich was the key because he sat on both boards and could see the similarities between the two organizations,” added Sean Green executive director of Hasek’s Heroes.

“He set up the meeting between the two boards.

“He saw that it was a win-win situation for both organizations.”

The mission of BBBSEC is to help at-risk children reach their full potential through professionally supported mentoring relationships with carefully screened, well-trained mentors.

A Big Brother mentor is asked to spend several hours a month with their Little Brother and are encouraged to participate in everyday activities like cooking a meal together, working on a school project or enjoying local sporting events.

It’s through these experiences and the conversations that occur during them, that the child receives the guidance and support needed to navigate the social, emotional, development and educational issues they face.

Hasek’s Heroes, founded by for-

mer NHL goaltending great Dominik Hasek, provides a foundation of athletic development and educational support, enabling children from

low- to moderateincome families to achieve their future life goals through the opportunity to learn basic skating and hockey skills.

Green feels that Big Brothers and Hasek’s Heroes are a good fit for each other.

“We have been going out and trying to find new participants with Hasek’s Heroes,” said Green. “Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters have the participants that are looking for the need and we have the need and we were looking for players.

“So we brought the two organizations together.”

It’s turned out to be a solid match.

“We felt that so many of the principles important to Big Brothers Big Sisters, like sportsmanship, healthy lifestyles, education and leadership, were found in the Hasek’s Heroes program model,” said Thomas Guagliardo, COO/Director of Development for BBBSEC . “This partnership will give the Big Brothers and their Little

Brothers a chance to share a new experience together and use lessons learned on and off the ice at the event during other outings or when applicable in the child’s life.”

BBBSEC has teamed with Hasek’s Heroes to provide a monthly skating and educational activity for the Big Brother mentors and their Little Brothers. The program had its first outing last November at the Bud Bakewell Riverside Ice Rink in Buffalo.

The first hour is dedicated to time on the ice practicing skating techniques and to instruction from trained Hasek’s Heroes staff about the game.

The second hour is spent in a classroom setting with discussions, lessons and training focused on hockey technique, sportsmanship, health and wellness and other issues that effect young men.

In the warmer months the ice was replaced with turf. The first hour was then dedicated to learning a number of other sports including soccer, field hockey and lacrosse.

“We are delighted that this program will operate year-round and we plan to expand the program to more Big Brothers Big Sisters and Little Brothers Little Sisters,” concluded Guagliardo.

“This is a great program with a lot of potential ahead of it.”*

NY Hockey OnLine

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ack in late January, 40 Canadian children, ages 7 to 12, came to Ottawa, Ont. to participate in the first ever NHL Junior Skills competition. It was part of the Tim Horton’s NHL All-Star Weekend.

The event took place outdoors at the city’s famous Rideau Canal. The event was the finale of the Junior Skills competition which saw almost 4500 kids participate in 15 cities across Canada.

But none of this would have happened if it weren’t for the Buffalo Shamrocks.

Let’s turn back the clock to August 2011.

“Over the past three years, I have made a lot of great hockey contacts across hockey, especially with the NHL, since winning the Mark Messier Award back in 2009,” remembered Tom Barnett, president of the Buffalo

Feature / Page 6 Shamrocks. One day last August I received an email from an NHL official in Toronto.

“He asked me if I would be around during the month of Au-

“The Shamrocks were to be the test group for the NHL’s newest concept, the Canadian Tire NHL Junior Skills competition.

The NHL wanted to launch this across Canada when the NHL season began.

“I believe it was based on the NFL’s ‘Punt, Pass and Kick’ competition, staged across the United States and ending up with the finalists at the Super Bowl.

“So before the NHL could roll out this new idea, they had to see if it would work or not. For instance, how many kids could be on the ice at one time?

“How fast could they do a drill? Where would they stand on the ice?

“How were they going to coordinate it? How would they get the names?

“Could the NHL accomplish all the goals they wanted to with the Junior Skills competition? The Buffalo Shamrocks provided all the kids to get the answers.”

It turned out to be quite a day for everyone involved.

Hockey Skills Focus of New Initiative!

By Randy Schultz Photos by Tom Barnett

gust. He also asked if there would be a chance to roundup a group of 30 Shamrocks.

“Then he asked if I could get both boys and girls. Could I get House-quality as well as travel players?

“Could they be in game uniforms?

“My answer to all of those questions was a resounding yes!”

So a date was selected in August.

“I got 30 kids together and brought them over to Riverside Rink,” continued Barnett.”

I was told by the NHL to plan on having them there all day.

“When the NHL arrived in town with all of their trucks , they came in with lots of cameras and lighting, as well as interactive computers with the people to run them.

Continued on Page 35

Central New York State Hockey Erik Cole’s Dream Big Tournament A Success at Oswego!

NY Hockey OnLine

Sepember 2012 / Page 4

NY Hockey OnLine

Erik Cole Makes Dreams Come True!

By Randy Schultz Photos by Janet Schultz

W

hen the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup back in 2006, Erik Cole got his “day” with the Cup. His day included a trip back to his hometown of Oswego, NY. “He had the event at Ft. Ontario,” recalled Tim Graber, a close friend of Cole. “All the kids from the Oswego Minor Hockey Association were there.

“When Erik arrived, the kids did a honor guard salute with their hockey sticks. Erik came through that tunnel of sticks with the Cup. “It was pretty emotional and exciting for everyone.

And ever since that time Erik has really made an effort to support Oswego Minor Hockey.

“That is where he started out with his hockey career.

So I think that is where the idea came for Erik’s Dream Big Foundation.”

And this past August the Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation held its Fifth Annual Hockey Classic at the SUNY

Dream Big / Page 8 Oswego Campus Center Arena in Oswego. The three-day event is a 3-on-3 Cross-Ice Hockey Tournament that consists of 48 total games.

The event includes five divisions of players including Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam/Midget and Sled. Due to the popularity of the event, the Mite and Squirt divisions expanded from four to six teams each. The Pee Wee Bantam/Midget and Sled divisions had four teams each.

It should be noted that when the Sled division was added in 2010, it became the first tourney ever in the United States or the World to feature sled teams playing in a cross-ice, 3-on-3 format.

The only things missing from this years event was Cole himself and the golf tournament he hosts to cap off the hockey weekend.

“Erik wanted to be here,” said Graber, tournament director, “but his off-season commitment to his team, the Montreal Canadiens, and his role as a player rep for the NHLPA and their on-going contract talks with the NHL, prevented him from being at the event.

“But Erik is always thinking about his hometown.

During the hockey season when Erik is playing for the Canadiens, a lot of people around here watch his games.

“When he gets interviewed between periods, Oswego may be mentioned several times. People around here pay attention to that and are proud of the fact that Erik thinks so much of his hometown.”

Kevin Caraccioli is one of three directors on the “Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation.” He talked about the Foundation.

“The Foundation was formed about five years ago,” remembered Caraccioli. “It was organized to help establish a Foundation to assist children.

“Our primary purposes are to further the interest among youth in the area in youth hockey and other sports, as well as support children who are battling things like cancer or other diseases. We try to help them out as well as their families.

“The name of our organization came from a saying of Erik’s. He dreamed big as a kid growing up and he realized his dreams.

“He’s not only made it to the NHL, but he’s won a Stanley Cup as well. So Erik wanted to form a Foundation and give something back to his community.

“And to show you how the people support this event, we gave teams the opportunity to back out this year when we found out that Erik wouldn’t be here in-person. Instead of backing out, we actually added more teams.

NY Hockey OnLine “So this event has really gotten a life of its own, despite the absence of Erik this year. We continue to raise money for great causes including hockey at all levels in the amateur hockey scene.

“And it is only going to grow more.”

Since 1964 the OMHA has been providing area youth with the opportunity to learn to skate and play hockey. Through the generous sponsorship of numerous local businesses, as well as a variety of successful fundraisers and an expanding equipment-lending program, the association works hard to support participation from boys and girls of all economic backgrounds.

Located on the scenic shores of Lake Ontario in Central New York, Oswego is a compact city with a long tradition of quality hockey. With three ice rinks located within two miles of the downtown area, Oswego is home to the Oswego State Lakers Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams, the Oswego High School Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Hockey teams, as well as the OMHA. The OMHA is a member organization of the New York State Amateur Hockey Association (NYSAHA).

The OMHA is considered to be a “Tier II” (or “B” level) organization.

“Oswego really likes to think of itself as a hockey town,” stated Graber. “We have somewhere between 300 and 325 kids involved in

Dream Big / Page 9 the Association.

“That is really good for a community the size of Oswego, which is around 18,000 people. And we have three hockey rinks for our use, including the college rink as well as two owned by the city.

“That really helps when you have 28 teams and you need times for practices as well as games.

You need a lot of ice and we have it.

“We have about 80 kids involved in the initiation program. We provide the kids with the equipment at that level.

“If they stick with it, they have the equipment. If they don’t, they can turn the equipment back in

“We also have a parents program set up to donate equipment back to the Association. It is sanitized, put into storage and made available for future players to purchase and use at a discounted price.

“The other thing we really pay close attention to is how much we

charge for registration fees. We hold three or four invitational tournaments during the hockey season.

“Those are big money makers for us. That money goes right back into the Association.”

Continued on Page 10

NY Hockey OnLine Continued from Page 9

Dream Big / Page 10

There is a Snow Belt League for the House teams.

That covers the Central New York organizations from Oswego to Utica, New Hartford to Clinton and the Syracuse area. There are also organizations in Elmira and Ithaca areas.

The Crown Jewel of Oswego is the Campus Center Arena.

“That facility is only six years old and it is truly a Crown Jewel,” commented Graber. “The old arena, Romney Field House, had an old-time feel to it.

“The new arena has brought things to another level.

The nice part to this new arena is that in its initial season, the Oswego men’s team won the National Championship for Division III. “During the regular season this arena is packed for games and this place holds over 3000 fans.”

On this particular day, while many people are enjoying the warm weather outside, their thoughts inside drift to winter.

“People really embrace summer when it comes,” concluded Graber.

“It’s great that we’re located on the lake and you can go boating and have many outdoor activities.

“But come September, their thoughts will turn to the cold weather and hockey. They want to get back to their regular routines that includes the hockey season.

“After all, this is a hockey town.”*

OSWEGO HOCKEY RESULTS FROM THE ERIK COLE DREAM BIG FOUNDATION INC. 2012 HOCKEY CLASSIC SQUIRT EAST DIVISION Gold Medals were awarded to East 3 – Alex Koproski, Jadon Lee, Adam Michalski, Tyler O’Grady, Will O’Toole, C.J. Watts. Coached by Eric Koprosky and Brien O’Toole

Gold Medals were awarded to Pee Wee 4 – Caleb Clarke, Bill Greene, Drake Morgia, Derek Morgia, Connor Pratt, Tyler Wallace, Robert Welch.

Coached by Bill Greene Jr. and Randy Pratt

Silver Medals were awarded to East 1 – Calexander Connolly, Colin DeBejian, Katie Fierro, Dylan Husted, Mason McKie, Ryan Mosher, Benjamin Rattray. Coached by Duane Debejian.

Silver Medals were awarded to Pee Wee 1 – Jack Irwin, Derek Kohut, Patrick Langlois, Brendan McRitchie, Ethan Proud, Dylan Reitz, Eric Shear. Coached by Daniel Langlois and Mark Proud

Bronze Medals were awarded to East 2 – Nathan Christaldi, Joseph DiBlasi, Trevor Humez, Daniel Laurenti, Aidan Taylor, Alex Thorpe, Frankie Winchek. Coached

by Ken Humez and Dan Taylor

Silver Medals were awarded to West 2 –Ryan Bartlett, Aiden Caroccio, Riley Goodwin, Mark Jones, Matthew Pelsue, Spencer Stepien, Alex Vescio. Coached

by Dan Bartlett

SQUIRT WEST DIVISION Gold Medals were awarded to West 3 – Ike Calverase, Cole Cullinan, Richard Duvall, Branden Lynch, Zairrin O’Neil, Caeden Ross, Tyson Smith. Coached by George O’Neil

Bronze Medals were awarded to West 1 – Marcus Baker, Lukas Cady, Connor Grzeszczuk, Ryan McRitchie, Seamus Nicholson, Kevin VanBuren, Matthew Walker. Coached by Phil Cady PEE WEE DIVISION

Bronze Medals were awarded to Pee Wee 2 – Katrina Grzeszczuk, Shane McCarthy, Benjamin Peri, William Rattray, Julia Roman, Ethan Varney, Carter Vashaw. Coached by Tom Roman Bronze Medals were also awarded to Pee Wee 3 – Athony DiBlasi, Jonathan McCann, Blue Lagoda, Nathaniel Lindsey, Derrick Mosher, Hari Nanthakumar, Jack Ryan. Coached by Mark Lagoda Continued on Page 37

NY Hockey OnLine

Men’s College Hockey-Central / Page 11

COLGATE RAIDERS

Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL and played in 177 career games with 85 wins and eight shutouts. He went 25-7-3 in his final season with the Hawks with he Raiders magical run ended with a late seaa 2.69 goals against average and a .915 save person stumble with just two wins over the final centage. He was an OJHL All-Star in 2010 and was nine games. Add the departure of top scorers named the league’s most improved player.

Austin Smith and Chris Wagner to the pros and the Ryan Johnston comes to Colgate as the reignrebuilding starts. But the cupboard is hardly bare. ing CCHL Defenseman of the Year with the Nepean Joe Wilson (North Syracuse) and Robbie BourRaiders. He also helped the don both eclipsed the ten Raiders to the CCHL title and goal mark last season while was voted playoff MVP. He sophomore John Lidgett will had 18 points in the postseason be counted on to better his and led the league’s defense15-point first year. men in regular season points The defense is solid in with 71 in 56 games. Johnston front of junior goaltender recorded 135 points in two seaEric Mihalik with senior and sons with the Raiders and was Vancouver draft pick Jeremy

by Warren Kozireski a CCHL First Team All-Star.

Price, sophomore Spiro Gou Kevin Lough joins the team aflakos (16 assists) and Columter four seasons with the Cumbus selection Thomas Larkin berland Grads of the CCHL, back for his last go-around where he was team captain.

He played in 227 career with classmate Nathan Sinz. games and recorded 95 points on defense. He was a A strong incoming class of eight is all from Ontario and six of the eight are coming from the Central silver medalist at the World Junior A Challenge and was voted CCHL Defenseman of the Tournament. He Canadian Hockey League, while two are products of was a CCHL First Team All-Star. the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Half of the new Darcy Murphy makes the trip to Hamcomers played for the Cornwall Colts of ilton after two years with the Wellington the CCHL and made the league champiDukes of the OJHL. He led the league in onship series. goals with 52 in 48 games and was a first Kyle Baun comes to Colgate after team all-star. He went from 14 goals in playing two seasons with the Colts, 2010-11 to 52 in 2011-12 and was voted amassing 103 points in 98 games. He the league’s most improved player. His 52 had 48 career goals and 55 helpers. He goals were a franchise record and overall was second on the team in goals and he finished with 86 points, which was fourth in points in 2011-12 and also second in the league. played in the U19 World Junior A Chal Tylor Spink comes to Colgate after lenge as part of Canada East.

250 career points with the Colts and 81 last season.

Mike Borkowski also makes the trip to HamilHe helped guide the Colts to the CCHL championship ton from the Colts, where he tallied 116 points in series against Nepean and also competed twice in the 77 games in 2011-12 and was a second team CCHL World Junior A Challenge. He recorded 108 points, All-Star. He led all CCHL players in postseason points in 2012 with 20 on eight goals and 12 helpers. including 21 in the postseason in 2010-11 with 35 goals.

Borkowski finished his junior career with 214 points Tyson Spink is another Cornwall Colt to be in 249 games and was a two-time CCHL All-Star joining the Raiders. He played three seasons for the selection.

Colts and tallied 275 points in 178 career games. He Spencer Finney is the lone goaltender among the newcomers. He joins the Raiders after a stint with the recorded 92 points last season with 42 goals and 50

T

Central New York Men’s College Hockey Report

NY Hockey OnLine helpers. He was second in the league in goals and was a first team CCHL All-Star.

Non-conference home games with Niagara, Bowling Green and RIT sandwich a trip to Miami of Ohio to begin the season. The team also will play in the Cape Cod Classic October 26th for the third straight season as well as travel to UMass and host Sacred Heart before and after the holiday break.

CORNELL BIG RED

A

fter finishing one game and one goal from the Frozen Four one year ago and losing just four seniors, anticipation is high in Ithaca this fall.

Junior Any Iles (Ithaca) will likely find his name among the statistical leaders in the country again after playing in every minute of every game last year posting 19 wins with a 2.12 GAA and .919 save percentage.

Greg Miller returns for his senior season after leading the Big Red in scoring with 31 points. Dustin Mowry, Boston draft pick Brian Ferlin, LA Kings selection Joel Lowry and Edmonton pick John McCarron return up front as well on a deep unit with Cole Bardreau (Fairport) potentially filling a top-two line center spot.

Nick D’Agostino and Joakim Ryan are back to anchor the usually solid defense which lost two seniors and will need to sort out the pairings picture early. Lightning selection Kirill Gotovets and Chicago property Braden Birch will get first shot at moving up into the top four.

Freshman defenseman Reece Willcox (Philadelphia Flyers) should be an everyday defenseman and may challenge for the top four right away. He spent the last two seasons with the Junior A Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League, a popular pipeline to Cornell. He posted 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points in 105 games over two seasons from the blue line, including four power-play goals. He was named the team’s Top Defenseman and Academic Scholar in 2012,

Central / Page 12 as well as the Most Promising Player in 2011. He was selected as a BCHL Second Team All-Star during the 2011-12 season and also played five games with gold medal-winning Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in November.

Forward Christian Hilbrich figures to be an everyday player immediately after scoring 13 goals to go with 20 assists for 33 points in 58 games last season with the USHL’s Indiana Ice. Pittsford native John Knisley also arrives via the Vernon Vipers.

The Big Red will oppose the three teams that joined the Big Red in the NCAA Midwest Regional in March—Michigan, Ferris State and Denver—as part of their non-conference sked. Also slated is a return to Madison Square Garden in front of a likely SRO crowd to battle Michigan and a season opener with the U.S. National Development October 19th.

Central News and Notes... ...Central State Youth Hockey will hold a Try Hockey for Free day on September 29 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Morrisville State College’s Ice Plex. There will also be an informational meeting at 2:30 p.m. for anyone interested in a learn to play program. For information call 315-825-5058 or email Centerstate.jp@gmail.com

Central Board Members, Coaches, Players, Parents--send your story ideas, press releases and photographs to: Nyhockeyonline@ nyhockeyonline.com Deadline for October is September 25

NY Hockey OnLine

Central Women’s Hockey / Page 13

Hamilton College

H

amilton is searching for a new assistant coach after Brendon Knight accepted a position with the Syracuse University Women’s Ice Hockey Team.

Colgate

F

Sciba is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the hockey team for four seasons. He was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2005-06 and was given he Monogram Award for

Utica College

Central Women’s College Ice Hockey Report

ormer Niagara University Women’s Ice Hockey Head Coach Josh Sciba has found a new home at Colgate as an assistant coach.

Sciba served NU for three years as assistant coach before being named Head Coach in 2011-12. After leading Niagara to a 10-16-8 season the program was eliminated from the sports offerings at NU. While serving NU Sciba ran the offense and worked with the special teams during games and also implemented game strategies during practice. He coordinated all individual and group video sessions in each facet of the game and made all travel arrangements and handled community service activities for the team.

Sciba participated in USA Hockey Select Festivals the past four years and was the assistant coach of many of those teams that featured the top14 and 15 year old players in the country.

Prior to his coaching career, Sciba played professional hockey in the East Coast Hockey League for three different teams during the 2007-08 season, including the Las Vegas Wranglers, Bakersfield Condors and Dayton Bombers.

by Janet Schultz

all four years. He finished his college career with 141 games played and tallied 72 points. He was also an assistant captain for the USA National U17 and U18 teams.

New Recruits:

Head Coach Greg Fargo has added six recruits including Forward Jenny Currie (Chelmsford, Ma/ New Hampton School); Forward Katelyn Parker (Bellingham, Wash/Gilmour Academcy); Defenseman Cacy Maciejewski (Yorkville, Ill/ Yorkville High School); Defenseman Nicole Gass (Cookshire Eaton, Que/ Ontario Hockey Academy); Defenseman Aime DiBelli (Nelson, BC/ Penticton High School) and Goalie Ashlynne Rando (Sugarland, Tx/ Dulles High School).

Colgate opens their season with an exhibition game against Etobicoke at home on Sept. 23 and then travel to play teams in Minnesota. They open their ECAC season at home on October 5 against Northeastern.

U

tica opens its season on October 21 in an exhibition match against the Toronto Aeros on October 21. Their ECAC season opens November 2 against Oswego State College on November 2 at home and then they travel to Oswego the following day for the second of the two-game stand.

Cornell

T

he Cornell women’s hockey program released its 2012-13 schedule that features a challenging set of contests that the team hopes will prepare it for a run at a fourth consecutive Frozen Four appearance.

The highlight of the early season is a weekend trip to Boston for two games against Boston University. The Boston Terriers were in Ithaca three times last year, including the NCAA Quarterfinal contest that went into triple overtime and sent Cornell to the Frozen Four. The Big Red is undefeated in its last three meetings with Boston.

Another strong out-of-the-conference game features the return of Mercyhurst to Lynah Rink. The teams split a series on Mercyhurst’s ice.

Cornell has also scheduled an out-ofconference game against Syracuse on January 15.

In ECAC action, the Big Red will square off with St. Lawrence three times, Harvard twice and Dartmouth twice. Other games include Ivy League and ECAC battles against Princeton, Yale and Brown along

NY Hockey OnLine with ECAC Hockey contests against Union, RPI, Quinnipiac, Colgate and Clarkson.

The ECAC Hockey Tournament begins on March 1 with semifinals and finals taking place the following weekend in the home rink of the highest remaining seed. The NCAA Tourament opening round takes place March 15-16, and the 2013 Frozen Four will be held in Minneapolis, Minn. on March 22-24.

Looking at new recruits, Cornell has brought in Churchville, NY’s Anna Zorn. Anna is the second of her family to play at Cornell, as sister, Liz (‘10) had the sixth-most power play goals for Cornell in the NCAA era.

Anna, however, will be looking to carve out her own identity for the Big Red after playing her club hockey for the Rochester Edge. She captained the team last season.

Other recruits include Jess Brown (Wellington, Ohio), Victoria Pittens (Whitby,Ontario), Taylor Woods (Morden, Manitoba) as forwards. On defense, Kelly Murray (Calgary, Alberta), Morgan Richardson (Ottawa, Ontario) and Cassandra Poudrier (Montreal, Quebec). Stefannie Mosak (Sackville, Nova Scotia) is the incoming goaltender.

Oswego

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swego opens their season with an exhibition game against the Toronto Aeros on October 26.

Their first ECAC contest will be at home against Utica on Saturday, Nov. 3 followed by the Alumni Weekend Green Night on November 9 and the Alumni Weekend Gold Day on November 10, both games against Potsdam.

On December 8 the Lakers will

Central Women’s Hockey / Page 14 hold their United Way Food and Toy Drive when they take on Amherst and on January 26 and 27 they will Pink the Rink and face off against Stevenson.

As they move to close their season they will hold Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day on February 8 and Senior Day on February 9. Both those contests will be against Elmira.

Syracuse

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he Orange will welcome Freshman Julie Bengis from Stormville, NY as a goaltender this season.

Bengis played for Kent School last season.

Other incoming players include Nicole Renault, (Plymouth, Michigan/Little Caesar’s U19), Danielle Leslie, (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Balmoral High School), Melissa piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass/Assabet Valley U19) and Emily Auerbacher (Gladstone, NJ/Boston Shamrocks).

Also watch other New Yorker’s including Marathon’s Brittney Krebs, Buffalo’s Jacquie Greco and South Mannsville’s Kaillie Goodnough.

The Orange open at home on October 5 against New Hampshire followed

by Northeastern on October 6.

Elmira

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ean Jackson has been named Head Coach of the Elmira Women’s Ice Hockey Team.

Jackson has spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach with the Soaring Eagles men’s hockey team.

Over the course of his tenure as an assistant, Elmira went 90-39-13 and advanced to five consecutive NCAA tournaments including the NCAA Semi-Final his first season.

As a player for the Soaring Eagles from 1999-2003, Jackson became a member of the prestigious 100 point club, garnered ECAC West Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the ECAC West All-Conference Second Team in 2003.

Following his collegiate career he played professionally for the Elmira Jackals (UHL), Fayetteville Fireantz (SPHL) and Richmond Renegades (SPHL). He was named Southern Professioal Hockey League Player of the Month in November 2005 and a SPHL All-Star in 2006.

Jackson has also served as a head instructor and program coordinator for World Class Hockey Development Canada.

Elmira will open their season against Norwich on October 27 and open their ECAC contests against Cortland on November 3.

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East Hockey

College Previews Schedules Announced

NY Hockey OnLine

East News and Notes... ...The Lady Islanders began their season on Tuesday, September 4 with practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Six Hills Rink, Dix Hills.

John Jay Tournament Benefits Local Hockey Programs

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he First Annual John Jay Patriots Ice Hockey Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, Sept. 17 at James Baird State Park.

This tournament is being held to raise funds for the John Jay Ice Hockey Club program. It will help high school athletes pay for ice costs, hotels, meals, and travel for overnight tournaments. The hockey program is entirely self-supporting and receives no school district funds.

The golf course is a beautifully designed by nationally renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones with scenic views and selectively challenging holes.

Registration for the 18-hole “Scramble� begins at 8 a.m. The shotgun golf start will be at 9 a.m. There will be tournament prizes, as well as raffle ticket and silent auctions.

For further information e-mail: JohnJayHockeyClub@gmail.com.

Online registration can be done at: http://jjpuck.com.assn.la/

East / Page 16

Attention: East Board Members, Coaches, Players, Parents!

Send you organization/ team news, press releases and photographs to: Nyhockeyonline@ nyhockeyonline.com Deadline for October Issue is September 25!

NY Hockey On-Line is looking for semi-professional and/or NHL players who played in your organization and have returned to help you today!

NY Hockey OnLine

ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS

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East Men’s College Hockey / Page 17

Eastern New York Men’s College Hockey Report

ollowing a season with the fewest conference victories (three) since joining the MAC/Atlantic Conference in 2000, the Black Knights begin their rebuild with 13 freshmen joining 14 returning lettermen.

“We are excited about our 13 newcomers who will make an immediate impact both on and off the ice here at West Point,” said head coach Brian Riley, who enters the season two wins short of 100 behind the Knights bench.

“Our main goal will be to be playing in our best hockey coming down the stretch so we can compete for an Atlantic Hockey Association championship.”

Pearl River, NY native (F) R.J. Burns (New Jersey HitmenEJHL), (F) Willie Faust (Odessa Jackalopes-NAHL), (D) Jonathan Gehrt (Austin Bruins-NAHL), (F) Shane Hearn (Hebron AcademyPrep), (F) Thane Heller (Boston Jr. Bruins-EJHL), (D) Luke Jenkins (Amarillo Bulls- NAHL), (F) Joe Kozlak (Amarillo Bulls-NAHL), (F/D) James McNulty (Flin Flon Bombers-SJHL), (F) Andrew O’Leary (Topeka Road RunnersNAHL), (D) Christian Pomarico (Muskegon Lumberjacks-USHL), (F) Josh Roberts (New York Apple Core-EJHL), (F) Michael St. Denis (Phillips Exeter Academy-Prep) and (F) Kyle Vogel (Wenatchee Wild-NAHL) join the squad.

by Warren Kozireski

Senior Ryan Leets will again enter the season as the number one goaltender, but sophomore Rob Tadazak had a better save percentage and goals against average and will push for more time.

Sophomore defensemen Maurice Alvarez and Mac Lalor will be expected to again generate the offense from the blueline while Whitesboro, NY native and senior Andy Starczewski will be looked to for most of the offense one year after his 13 goal-24 point campaign.

The Black Knights begin the season at Nebraska-Omaha with Notre Dame and Maine for the Stampede tournament. New Division I squad Penn State, Brown and Merrimack dot the non-conference schedule as well as traditional games against the Russian Junior All-Stars (12/27) and the Royal Military College (1/26).

RPI ENGINEERS

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PI is hoping their final regular season weekend sweep of top-tier teams Cornell and Colgate along with

a first round playoff upset at Clarkson propels them into the start of the 2012-13 campaign.

And they begin by returning nine of their top-ten scorers from one year ago led by junior Brock Higgs and senior defenseman Nick Bailen.

Seniors C.J. Lee and Marty O’Grady will help lead a quartet of impressive sophomores in Ryan Haggerty, Jacob Laliberte, Zach Schroeder and Mark McGowan who each had 11 or more points in their inaugural collegiate seasons.

The defense is a veteran crew with the senor Bailen plus juniors Guy LeBoeuf, Bo Dolan and Washington draft selection Pat Koudys along with sophomore Luke Curadi filling primary roles in front of senior netminder Bryce Merriam.

Three New Yorkers are listed among the nine recruits to the program as listed on the RPI website with quotes from head coach Seth Appert.

FORWARDS: Milos Bubela (6-2, 190) from Banska Bystrica, Slovakia/Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) • 29 regular season games … 5 goals and 13 assists for 18 points … 6 penalty minutes.

• 5 playoff games … 0 goals and 2 assists for 2 points … 6 penalty minutes “Milos is a highly skilled forward with good size to compliment his game. He was one of the top scorers on the Slovakian World Junior team before he joined

NY Hockey OnLine Dubuque.”

Andrew Commers (5-10, 180) from Edina, MN/St. Thomas Academy (USHS) • 31 regular season games … 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points.

“Andrew is a highly competitive forward who is a leader and a winner. He was a two-time state champion at STA including as a captain this past year.

Travis Fulton (5-10, 165) from Oakville, ON/Vaughan Vipers (OJHL) • 45 regular season games … 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points … 43 penalty minutes.

• 7 playoff games … 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points … 10 penalty minutes.

“Travis is a high energy competitive forward who also produces offense. He led the Vipers in goals, assists and points and will fit well with the way we play. He was an assistant captain this year.”

Mark Miller (5-11, 185) from Massena, NY/Omaha Lancers (USHL) • 57 regular season games …

11 goals and 9 assists for 20 points … 43 penalty minutes.

• 4 playoff games … 0 goals and 1 assist for 1 point … 4 penalty minutes.

“Mark is a highly competitive forward and a leader who was captain for Omaha this past year.

The way he plays is a great fit for our style.”

Mike Zalewski (6-2, 200) from New Hartford, NY/Vernon Vipers (BCHL) • 60 regular season games … 38 goals and 37 assists for 75 points … 83 penalty minutes.

East College “Mike is a skilled power forward who has the size and talent to be a strong two-way player for our program. He was an assistant captain for Vernon, which he led in goals, assists and points.”

DEFENSEMEN: Craig Bokenfohr (6-3, 195) from Spruce Grove, AB/Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) • 60 regular season games … 8 goals and 22 assists for 30 points … 114 penalty minutes.

• 4 playoff games … 0 goals and 2 assists for 2 points … 19 penalty minutes.

“Craig is a strong defender and captain of one of the best junior programs in Western Canada. He has the talent to become a top twoway defenseman for our program.”

Chris Bradley (6-2, 190) from Williamsville, NY/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) • 54 regular season games … 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points … 10 penalty minutes.

• 6 playoff games … 0 goals and 3 assists for 3 points … 0 penalty minutes “Chris was one of the best two-way defenseman in the USHL this past season. He can run a power play but also shut down the top players on the other team. He was also an assistant captain for Youngstown.”

Phil Hampton (5-11, 185) from Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades (OJHL) • 40 regular season games … 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points … 10 penalty minutes.

• 10 playoff games … 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points … 2 penalty minutes.

/ Page 18

“Phil is a skilled, puck-moving defenseman who was a captain for two premier programs in Canada, the Oakville Blades and Team Canada East.”

GOALTENDER: Jason Kasdorf (6-3, 190) from Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) • 35 regular season games …

10-16-3 … 2.75 GAA … .913 SV PCT. “Jason is a talented and big goalie with a strong junior pedigree. He is a draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets who took his former junior team, the Portage Terriers, to the Canadian National Championships.”

The Engineers jump right into the first hosting Frozen Four runner-up Ferris State October 12-13 before heading to Minnesota State. They also host Mercyhurst and Sacred Heart with a trip to St. Cloud State among non-conference opponents.

UNION COLLEGE

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fter the most successful season in program history which featured a trip to the Frozen Four, the Statesmen hope for a repeat minus just a few of last season’s key components.

Top scorer Jeremy Welsh left a year early to sign a pro contract and leading assists man Kelly Zajac graduated leaving two holes on the top line and power play.

Junior

NY Hockey OnLine Daniel Carr was a 20-20 man as a sophomore and will fill one of the roles with seniors Wayne Simpson and Kyle Bodie along with juniors Josh Jooris in the mix as well after all recorded 20+ point campaigns.

The defense also lost two key components but returns solid with Mat Bodie, Shayne Gostisbehere offensively and seniors Greg Coburn and Shawn Stuart defensively.

Junior goaltender Troy Grosenick is back after his stellar 22-6-3, 1.65 GAA season.

The Statesmen welcome six recruits this fall including defensemen Timothy Boyle (Noble & Greenough School) and Sebastien Gingras (Brockville).

Boyle, a puck-moving defenseman with size, helped Noble & Greenough to one of its best seasons in program history as the team finished with a record of 215-1 and earned a spot in the finals of the NEPSAC Open Tournament for the first time. In two seasons at Nobles, Boyle recorded 46 points (nine goals, 37 assists) in 53 games. Boyle was selected in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He is the younger brother of Brian Boyle of the New York Rangers.

Gingras played three of the last four seasons with the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League. An offensive defenseman and a threat on the man advantage, Gingras helped the Braves reach the CCHL playoffs, leading all defensemen with 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) including 17 points on the power play (three goals, 14 assists).

East College / Page 19 In 141 career games with Brockville, Gingras totaled 126 points (33 goals, 93 assists). He is the son of former NHL defenseman Gaston Gingras, who played parts of 12 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues.

At forward Nick Cruice (South Shore), Theo DiPauli (Chicago Steel), David Roy (Brockville) and Matt Wilkins (Brooks) enter the mix.

Cruice has played the past two seasons with the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League and led his team to the EJHL Semifinals after the Kings won the Southern Division title with a record of 37-8. In 87 games with the Kings, Cruice totaled 105 points (37 goals, 68 assists), finishing fourth on the team in scoring this past season with 53 points (19 goals, 34 assists).

DiPauli has played the past three seasons with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. A solid two-way forward, DiPauli served as captain of the Steel and recorded 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 47 games over the past two seasons. A member of the 2010 USA Under-18 Select Team, DiPauli helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Theo was born in Italy and moved to the United States when he was 13 years old.

Roy, a big centerman, played each of the last four seasons with the Brockville Braves and was a teammate of fellow recruit Sebastien Gingras for three seasons. An assistant captain for the Braves, Roy finished second on the team in

scoring in 2011-12 with 69 points (32 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games, including a team-best 12 power play goals. In 199 games with the Braves, Roy totaled 185 points (80 goals, 105 assists).

Wilkins spent the last two seasons as a top forward for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Wilkins was the league’s leading scorer with 99 points (34 goals, 65 assists); including a team-best 15 power play goals in 60 games. Wilkins served as a team captain in 201112, and helped lead his team to a regular-season and postseason titles. In 120 games with the Bandits, Wilkins totaled 176 points (64 goals, 112 assists).

Union opens at home October 6th against Merrimack before a five game road swing to Bowling Green, AIC and UConn starting ECAC play at Troy against rival RPI November 2nd. The team will also play in the Catamount Cup in Vermont during the holiday against Vermont and Merrimack.

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NY Hockey OnLine

East Women’s College Ice Hockey Report

by Janet Schultz

Manhattanville

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he women’s ice hockey team opens their season with a ECAC East-West Classic against SUNY Plattburgh on October 26 and Elmira College on October 27. Their regular season begins against the University of Massachusetts/Boston at the Playland Ice Casino in Rye.

Union College

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ssistant Coach and threetime Olympian Julie Chu was named to the Team USA Development squad. Chu led the US to a Silver medal in 2010 and 2002 and a Bronze in 2006. She has played in over 200 games for

East Women’s Hockey / Page 20 Team USA.

Union opens at home against the University of Connecticut on September 29 and opens their Liberty League season against Clarkson at Potsdam on October 26.

RPI

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ordan Smelker was selected to play for the U22 USA Women’s Ice Hockey Team in a three-game series against Canada in August. The Junior comes from Anchorage, Alaska where she played for Team Alaska’s 19U team.

Whitney Naslund, a 2011 RIT graduate was selected to attend the USA Development Camp, along with Smelker. She played four years of DI hockey and is RPI’s all time leader in career games at 142 and played the 2011-12 season with the Boston Blades of the CWHL.

RPI opens their season at home against the University of Connecticut on October 5 and 6 and opens their ECAC season at St. Lawrence o October 26.

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Hockey North

Sled Hockey Comes to Fort Drum Soldiers!

NY Hockey OnLine

North Men’s Hockey / Page 22

points, including 31 assists.

In goal, two newcomers will vie for playing time right away in Andrew Hunt and Greg Lewis.

Hunt arrives via the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) where he was a BCHL Coastal Conference First-Team All-Star after playing in 52 games recording a 30-19-1 record while posting a .913 save percentage

by Warren Kozireski and a 2.92 goals against average.

Lewis played in the NAHL with the Wenatchee Wild. In 26 games he recorded a .923 save percentage and a 1.77 goals against average with four shutouts.

He sparkled in the postseason with a 1.71 GAA and a .942 save percentage. ne year after finishing tied for sixth with a 9-9 “We are excited about the upcoming season,” said 1 regular season record and being eliminated in head coach Casey Jones, who begins his second season the first round of the ECAC playoffs by RPI, the behind the Clarkson bench via email. “The veterans have Knights embark on a new season without their four-year been training hard over the summer, and have really starter in goal (Paul Karpowich) and their top two scorers benefited from working with our strength & conditioning (Nick Tremblay and Louke Oakley). coach, Jaime Rodriquez.

The coaching staff welcomes nine freshmen who will “The incoming freshmen provide us depth in a lot of be asked to step into key roles, but it will be last year’s areas. They will push our returning veterans and should juniors and sophomores who hold the key. compete to earn a regular role in their rookie season. With Juniors Ben Sexton (Boston draft pick) and Allan a young team, we will have some growing pains at the McPherson will be likely first liners with sophomore destart, but as the season progresses, we feel we have the talfenseman Sam Labrecque quarterbacking the power play ent and competitiveness to challenge for a top four spot in and out to prove his omission from the ECAC All-Rookie the ECAC.” Team was an oversight.

Six of the incoming recruits come from the Ontario Ju- The non-conference schedule begins with a pair of games at Colorado College and two weekends of home nior Hockey League (OJHL), including three who played games against Holy Cross (one game) and Niagara (two for the 2012 OJHL Champion Stouffville Spirit. games). They travel to Canisius for a pair before the Forward Simon Bessette netted 34 points in 46 as captain of the Wellington Dukes (OJHL) and forward Todd Chris- conference schedule starts November 9-10 at Yale/Brown.

UMass/Lowell visits post New Year’s for two games as tian was named the Notre Dame Hounds Most Valuable Forward after leading them in scoring with 57 points in 57 well. games, including a team-high 25 goals.

Forward Jeff DiNallo recorded 38 points in 38 games with Newmarket (OJHL), Christian Finch was RBC National Junior Tier II Player of the Year and OJHL Most Valuable Player as the Stouffville Spirit (OJHL) leading fter rebounding from a 5-10 start, the Saints built scorer with 104 points, including a league-high 67 assists. some late momentum in winning six of their The other two forwards are Patrick Megannety, who netfinal eight conference games before falling in ted 26 goals in 41 games with the Georgetown Raiders first round of the playoffs. They hope to build on that late (OJHL) and Christian Powers of Stouffville and Hamilton, run heading into their 75th season with head coach Greg who tallied 61 points in 47 games and added 23 more Carvel beginning his first official season after sharing the points in 23 playoff games. duties last season with Mike Hurlbut. The team is just On defense Paul Geiger was voted the OJHL Best De- eight wins away from the 1,000th in program history. fenseman with Stouffville averaging 1.25 points per game Continued on Page 24 and led all OJHL defensemen in playoff scoring with 34

Northern New York Men’s College Hockey Report

CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS

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ST. LAWRENCE SAINTS

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NY Hockey OnLine

Feature / Page 23 “My plan was to raise money to buy sleds for the wounded soldiers to play sled hockey with at Fort Drum.

“But I also knew that I would need hockey equipment for the players. So I called on the hockey coaches I knew from around the area including those from St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam, Clarkson and even Syracuse University to see if they could donate any equipment, which they did.

“But I was still short by about $1200 worth of equipment. So I talked to my suppliers (McKenna owns and operates a hockey equipment business

T

o many Canton, New York residents, Mark J. McKenna is known as a civil engineer at Fort Drum in the Northern part of New York State. But to a group of Fort Drum’s Warriors in Transition Battalion, McKenna is a “shaker and mover.”

Early last March McKenna was able to present two sled hockey games, one in Canton and the other in Watertown, to raise money for the benefit of the Warriors in Transition Unit.

And it all started from something McKenna had witnessed just a few weeks earlier.

“A group of us were working out in the gym at Fort Drum when a soldier came though the doors in a wheelchair,” recalled McKenna. “He looked around the room, did a 180 and when back out the doors.

“As I was leaving the gym later that day, I asked one of the attendants what they did for the wounded soldiers at Fort Drum. I could see that the weight room was not conducive for those in wheelchairs.

“I asked if they played wheelchair basketball. The attendant told me they had it , but that it was nothing that was really organized.

“So being the hockey nut that I am, I began to think about the possibilities of playing sled hockey. So I wrote to Laurie Kennedy (New York State Amateur Hockey Association Disabled Hockey Coordinator) and Norm Page (USA Hockey sled hockey representative) if they could help me with this idea.

Fort Drum Puts Wounded Soldiers On-the-Ice

by Randy Schultz Photos by Janet Schultz

on the weekends) of equipment and they helped me with the rest of the hockey equipment needed.

“A guy I know in nearby Massena made hockey bags for the players. They were all red, white and blue in color with the Wounded Warrior logo on one side and the 10th Mountain logo on the other.

“Then I got two major sponsors, the Canton VFW Post 1231 and the Society of American Military Engineers at Fort Drum. They bought the hockey jerseys and the sleds for the events.

“It ended up that the sleds were donated by Mobility Sports, located in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Because I was hosting a two-day event, USA Hockey took care of the shipping and Mobility Sports loaned them to us, rentfree.

“Despite that, I still needed to buy six sleds for the event. That came at a cost of $500 each.

Continued on Page 35

NY Hockey OnLine

North / Page 24

North Women’s College Ice Hockey Report

by Janet Schultz

Clarkson

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even members of the Clarkson Women’s Ice Hockey team were chosen for the Canadian U22 Development Team Selection Camp.

Selected were Shannon MacAulay (Mt. Herbert, PEI), Erica Howe (Ottawa), Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata), Carly Mercer (Exter), Erine Ambrose (Keswick) and Renata Fast (Burlington). Cayley was unable to attend.

Rattray was then selected for the U22 Team to play in the Canada vs USA tournament in Calgary in August.

Joining the Clarkson squad this season are Erin Ambrose, a defenseman out of Keswick, Ontario. She played for the Toronto Junior Aeros of the PWHL last season; Olivia Howe, forward, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and the Notre Dame AAA Hounds; Shannon MacAulay, forward, Mt. Herbert, Prince Edward Island, warner Warriors of the JWHL; Renata Fast, defense, Burlington, Ont., Burlington Junior Barracudas (PWHL) and Cayley Mercer, Exeter, Ontario and the Bluewater Junior Hawks.

Going into their 10th season, Clarkson will open in a non-confer-

ence game against their arch rival St. Lawrence.

They open their ECAC play against Mercyhurst.

Plattsburgh State

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he Plattsburgh women’s team opens their season with an exhibition game againt Etobicoke on October 20.

They will then play in the Norwich East/West Classic against Manhattanville and Norwich on October 27 and 28 before beginning their ECAC season against Chatham on November 3 and 4.

Potsdam

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otsdam’s rink is under renovation.

(See related story and photos on following page).

The will open their season on the road at Newport, Rhode Island against Salve Regina University and stay on the road until their home opener on December 1 against ECAC rival SUNY Cortland.

Continued from Page 22

Their top four point-getters are back in 30+ point men Greg Carey and Kyle Flanagan (Canton) while sophomore Chris Martin is hoping to build on his ten goal-26 point freshman season. Senior defenseman George Hughes dished out 20 assists last season and will again play a key role on the power play.

The team lost just four senior forwards and one on defense, but only one of the group scored more than two goals all season.

Junior Matt Weniger gets the nod in goal following his 13 win and two shutout season. He needs to improve on his .896 save percentage if the Saints are to move into the upper half of the ECAC. The Saints begin the season with road trips to NCAA playoff participant Western Michigan and Maine before returning for their home opener against AlabamaHuntsville November 2nd. They also have on-ECAC contests at Northeastern and Boston College Thanksgiving weekend along with Clarkson, Vermont and RIT over the holiday break.

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NY Hockey OnLine

North / Page 25

$8.7 Million Renovation at Potsdam’s Maxcy Arena!

(Story and renderings submitted by Potsdam Sports Information Dept.)

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early 40 year’s after Maxcy Hall Ice Arena’s opening, SUNY Potsdam has begun major renovations to the facility. This year-long, $8.7 million project will feature several new amenities and a brand new ice surface for the Bears, students and community members when it reopens in the fall of 2013.

“We’re tremendously excited as we witness the beginning phase of our ice rink renovation project,” said SUNY Potsdam Director of Athletics Jim Zalacca.

“This will certainly serve as a huge boost to our own men’s and women’s intercollegiate programs, but additionally will mean extensive programming opportunities for our campus and extended Potsdam communities, certain to provide a

full and enriching ice skating experience. When this state of the art renovation is completed next fall, it will provide our countless number of Bears hockey supporters the opportunity to enjoy an exciting night of college hockey in a comfortable, fan friendly atmosphere.”

With the changes being made, Maxcy will continue to be one of the leading athletics venues in the North Country and the Northeast as it hosts recreational skating, youth hockey, and both Bears’ hockey teams.

In early August, the contracting company Bette & Cring started work on Maxcy’s renovations. These major altera-

tions are the first to building since Maxcy Hall’s construction in 1972. The biggest changes to the arena include a new high efficiency refrigeration system, ice surface, boards and glass as well as expanded team benches.

For the fans, the most important improvements include a new climate control system and new seating. Permanent individual seating will replace the lower section of bleachers, while new bleachers will be installed in the upper level. The bleachers will be retractable to allow for multipurpose use. Balcony seating areas will help to expand the fan capacity to 1,124.

In addition to the fan accommodations, the Bears’ hockey teams and coaches will be able to enjoy new and modern team locker rooms, coaches’ offices and a center ice player entrance.

NY Hockey OnLine

North / Page 26 A locker room for referees will also be added. The new enlarged press box will be constructed above the team benches, putting scorekeeping staff and media right on top the action.

Bears men’s coach Chris Bernard and women’s coach Jay Green are understandably pleased to see the project underway.

“I’m exceedingly excited about our rink renovation project and all that it can generate for the continued development of our program,” said Bernard.

“It will give us an opportunity to provide all of our current players and future recruits a playing experience

second to none.”

Green, who served as Potsdam’s facilities director before assuming the women’s head coaching duties, agreed with Bernard.

“We look forward to the completion of renovations at Maxcy Hall, as well as a new beginning for both of our hockey programs,” Green said. “The new look is a long awaited upgrade for the arena and will compliment all of our athletic facilities here at Potsdam. In my opinion, we rank among the top universities in regards to overall facilities in the SUNYAC Conference.”

Due to the renovation, the Bears hockey teams are preparing for a year away from home. The men will play their home games at Massena Arena in neighboring Massena, N.Y. The women will stay closer to home, moving just across town to Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena.

The Bears men open up their 2012-13 campaign against Saint Michael’s College in Massena on Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. Potsdam’s women travel to Newport, R.I. the following day to battle Salve Regina in their season opener at 7 p.m.* (This is one of several ice arena renovations taking place throughout New York State. We will have stories on Lakeshore, East Aurora, West Seneca coming. If you have a rink in your area undergoing major renovations, please let NY Hockey On-Line know. Email us at nyhockeyonline@nyhockeyonline with your story, photos, renderings or contact person’s name, email and phone number.)

Hockey NY West

Development Camp for Girls A Success!

New Program to Benefit Kids Escaping Drugs!

NY Hockey OnLine

Western New York Hockey News and Notes... ...Congratulations to Eric Guzdek, general manager of Northtown Center, Amherst for being re-elected to the Board of Directors of Serving American Rinks (STAR).

Buffalo Stars Open

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he Buffalo Stars Hockey Season opens Saturday, September 15 with games running from 2 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

First up, the Minor Bantam Team will take on the Bud Bakewell Bruins at 2 p.m. They will be followed by the Squirt Minors vs Hamburg Hawks at 3:15 p.m., Bantam Major vs East Aurora at 4:30 p.m., Midget 15 vs Wheatfield Blades at 5:45 p.m. Midget 16 vs Niagara Junior Purple Eagles at 7:15 p.m. and the puck drops on the final game of the day at 8:45 p.m. when the Midget 18 team faces the Bud Bakewell Bruins.

All games will be televised live on the Stars Internet Television Channel, http://www.ustream.tv/channel/buffalo-stars-junior-hockey. The Stars will also kick off their monthly internet show, The Press Box, with hosts Tom Mullen and Keith Amondis. Their premiere show will be at Noon on Sept. 15.

Following each game the teams will be having a lunch with their opponents and enjoy a replay of their game.

The Stars will also hold a Chinese Auction to benefit SABAH (Skating Athletes Bold At Heart) and WINGS Flights for Hope.

For the Buffalo Stars schedule and additional information go to www.buffalostars.com.

Buffalo Bisons Host Tournament

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he Buffalo Bisons U14 Girls wil host a four-game mini-tournament with the Pittsburgh Pens Elite, Ohio Flames and Buffalo Regals on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9 at the Nichols School and the North Buffalo Rink in Buffalo.

The first game is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with the Bisons facing the Ohio Flames at Nichols. The schedule continues: 3:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh Elite vs Buffalo Regals

at Nichols 3:15 p.m.

Team/Player meal 6:30 p.m.

Ohio vs Pittsburgh at North Buffalo

West / Page 28

8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 9 8:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

Regals vs Bisons at North Buffalo Bisons vs Pittsburgh at North Buffalo Regals vs Ohio at North Buffalo Ohio vs Buffalo Bisons at Nichols.

The Bisons U14 will also travel to Union College on October 20 and 21 to play in a mini tournament that will include Syracuse, Assabet Valley, Mid Fairfield Stars, and the Bisons.

Hasek’s Heroes and Kids Escaping Drugs Announce Game for a Goal

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he Sabres Foundation has teamed up with Hasek’s Heroes and Kids Escaping Drugs in an effort to strengthen awareness for healthy life choices. The organizations are asking all youth hockey athletes to pledge this season to playing and living healthy.

All participants will receive an incentive and be entered into an All Star drawing for unique hockey experiences. In addition, the top four fundraising teams that meet the program’s Rink Rat requirements will be eligible to win one of the following prizes: team’s season banquet in the party suite at a Sabres game with $350.00 of sponsored food for the Florida Panthers’ game on March 3rd, a pizza lunch during a Sabres practice at First Niagara Center and tour of the locker room, (30) 300-level tickets to a Sabres game along with a post-game meeting with a player or autographed mini-sticks for the entire roster delivered by a Sabres Alumni at a team practice.

The teams participating are required to raise a minimum of $300.00. The proceeds will be split evenly between Hasek’s Heroes and Kids Escaping Drugs.

The contest period runs from October 15th to December 21st, 2012.

Check out http://ked.makeachangewny.org/ for registration forms, full list of prizes and contest rules, as well as up to date information.

The Domink Hasek Youth Hockey League, Inc. also known as Hasek’s Heroes, was founded by former Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek in 2001. Hasek provided $1 million in financial support with the intent to provide underprivileged children the opportunity to play hockey.

Hasek’s Heroes touches the lives of over 500 kids annually. For more information visit: www.haseksheroes.org .

The Kids Escaping Drugs Campaign supports the

NY Hockey OnLine Renaissance Campus, a long term residential treatment facility in Western New York for adolescents suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. The Campus consists of five buildings with a total of 62 patient beds that treats boys and girls ages 12 to 20. For more information visit: http:// ked.makeachangewny.org/ .

Buffalo Sabres Team with Perry’s Ice Cream for United Way’s Day of Caring!

West/ Page 29 ever. The average age of the player is 16 years, 3 months, making the Stars one of the youngest teams in Junior Hockey.

“Not only did we go with a youth movement,” said Owner/GM Peter Preteroti. “We recruited from outside the area.”

Preteroti has stepped down as head coach of the team, turning that job over to long-time Stars/Hornets Coach Jerry Wheeler.

“I really like the group of kids we selected this year,” said Wheeler. “They are young and hungry and eager to compete. That is the edge we are looking for.”

The Stars camp ended with the Annual Greater Buffalo Challenge Labor Day Tournament. Prior to that they spent three days of intense training at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center.

Their season officially opens on October 13 when they take on the Jersey Wildcats in the Buffalo Stars Annual Salute to the American Troops Weekend.

Buffalo Bisons at Beantown

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he Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Perry’s Ice Cream, in partnership with World Vision, provided school supplies to over 4,000 disadvantaged youth in the Buffalo City School District for the upcoming school year. The event is part of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County’s Day of Caring. Over 200 volunteers joined together at First Niagara Center to put together backpack filled with pencils, pens, paper, crayons, rulers and other necessities.

Buffalo Stars Hold Training Camp

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he Buffalo Stars Junior Hockey Club began their 11th season with a training campu on August 1.

The month-long camp included on-ice and off-ice sessions as well as a rigorous conditioning regiment, team and system work.

The Stars enter the season with 27 players, including veteran Forwards Brandon Boyle, Dakota John, Patrick Schmelzinger and Luke Swimline. On Defense are Mike Harris and Angelo Sarro.

The Stars will play in the Empire Junior Hockey League American Conference with their youngest team

he Buffalo Bison’s 19U team headed off for Boston in July to take part in the Beantown Classic College Showcase.

With 41 teams in the tournament, the Bison’s went 3-0-1 in the preliminary round. That pitted them against Assabet Valley, a rematch of last year’s National Championship game. The Bison’s took an early lead off a face-off.

They held the lead until 8 minutes were remaining when Assabet tied the game at 1.

Assabet took the lead for good with four minutes left in the game on a scramble in the Bison’s crease.

The Bison’s have scheduled to play in several college showcase tournaments this season including the North American Hockey Academy Tournament being played at press time. They will then play at the Stoney Creek College Showcase, the Can/Am Challenge and the prestigious Connecticut Polar Bear Tournament. They will also barnstorm against top teams from North America.

The Bison’s have two players committed to colleges as they enter their senior season with Maddie Elia verbally committed to Boston University and Kelly Seward to Penn State.

NY Hockey OnLine

West / Page 30

Penn State Coach Brandwene Instructs Camper on technique!

Camp Director Scott Welch works with player!

Below: Ohio State Assistant Coach MacKenzie holds team meeting

NY Hockey OnLine

Feature / Page 31

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cott Welch had an idea for a hockey camp; just for girls!

What he ended with was a filled camp, with a waiting list; other hockey coaches coming to check it out and calls to see if he’ll do it againt next year.

What more could you ask.

For an entire week the girls worked out onand off-ice with coaches from women’s collegiate teams at Nichols School in Buffalo.

The girls also had a chance to meet with each coach and ask whatever they wanted in a special “Ask the Coach” session. The questions the girls asked went from recruiting to coaching styles.

There was also a special on-ice “Goalie SesOff Ice activities and workouts were just sion” each day. as important as the on-ice skill building.

“The goal was to have 60 players attend the camp,” said State; Chris MacKenzie, Ohio Welch. “The demand was so State; Gregg Fargo, Colgate high, that the camp sold out very and Scott MacDonald, RIT. quickly.

Mercyhurst Coach Mike Sisti “We decided to add an adwas unable to attend at the last ditional group making a total of minute but sent his assistant 3 groups and 94 participants. coach.

“Unfortunately it was sold

“Along with the coachout to many others who wanted es each group had collegiate to participate.” women ice hockey players “We were excited to have who served as counselors

by Janet Schultz coaches from Colgate, Penn from Mercyhurst, University State, Mercyhurst, RIT, and of Connecticut, Union, RIT, Ohio State to run the on ice Syracuse, Utica, and Cortsessions for three hours each land.” day,followed by an off-ice lec Following the camp, ture and Q and A session,” said Welch. each player received an evaluation.

The coaches included Josh Brandwene, Penn Welch has scheduled the Second Annual Nichols Camp for August 12-16, 2013.*

First Nichols Camp A Huge Success!

NY Hockey OnLine

West Men’s College / Page 32

CANISIUS GOLDEN GRIFFINS

“B

eing young last year, our players gained valuable experience and playing time,” head coach Dave Smith said in an email. “It’s time for that knowledge to propel us to wins and a trip to Rochester for the league Final Four.”

The Griffs were in the mix to at least host a first round playoff series one year ago, but dropped all but one of the final six regular season games before losing to UConn in the first round.

It will be junior Tony Capobianco stepping into the number one spot in goal after his 3.09 goals against average and .913 save percentage from one year ago.

Juniors Kyle Gibbons, Taylor Law, Patrick Sullivan (Derby) and senior penalty keeper Torrey Lindsay anchor the now-veteran frontline. The defense also returns intact with seniors Ben Parker, Chris Barrea (West Seneca) and junior Ben Danford are the elder statesman among four sophomores.

Griffs top recruit Matthew Backhouse will compete for playing time right away. He arrives from Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL where he dished out 28 assists in 57 games last season and added 12 more points in 22 postseason games.

Orchard Park native Josh Kielich also arrives via the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and Shane Conacher from Burlington.

Shane’s older brother, Cory, is the all-time leading scorer at Canisius and was just named the American Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable player with Norfolk on their way to the Calder Cup championship.

Canisius begins the season with

two grueling road trips to Anchorage, Alaska for the Kendall Hockey Classic and to NCAA playoff partici-

Western New York Men’s College Hockey Report

by Warren Kozireski

pant Western Michigan. Their home opener is October 25th before they again fly to play Minnesota. Bowling Green at home for two the weekend after New Year’s completes the nonconference portion of the schedule.

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES

A

10-2-2 finish to the regular season launched the Purple Eagles into second place just one point out of the top spot. A sweep of rival Robert Morris resulted in Niagara’s first trip the Atlantic Hockey final four where they fell in overtime to RIT. The unit loses just three seniors, but the key question will again be who steps into the top spot in goal with Chris Noonan’s departure after setting several single season school marks. The C-squad of juniors Cody Campbell and Carsen Chubak with sophomore Colby Drost will all throw their hat in the ring to start.

The Purps return their top 13 scorers from one year ago including three defenseman led by forwards Giancarlo Iuorio, Marc Zanette, Patrick Divjak, Isaac Kohls and Ryan Rashid who all surpassed the 20-point

mark.

The defense also is virtually intact led by power play quarterback C.J. Chartrain, Kevin Ryan (Eden), Dan Weiss, Matt Williams and Tyler Matthews (Buffalo).

Competition for playing time arrives in the presence of seven newcomers in Dan Kolenda, Hugo Turcotte, Matt Dineen, TJ Sarcona, Matt Chiarantano, Mike Conderman and Nick Cecere.

Up front, Kolenda scored 30 goals, 65 assists and 95 points in 111 games with the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL). Turcotte spent last year with the Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) scoring a team-high 23 goals. T.J. Sarcona (West Islip) played with the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL) the past two years scoring 23 goals and 35 assists for 58 points in 56 games this past season.

UMass-Lowell transfer and Rochester native Mike Conderman will seek playing time after sitting out a season. Prior to his stint with the River Hawks, Conderman suited up for 57 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) where he scored 11 goals, 21 assists for 32 points.

On defense, Matt Dineen spent the last four seasons with the Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL). His 25 points in the 2011 season was tied for second best among defensemen on the club. Matt Chiarantano has scored 18 goals, 80 assists and 98 points in 182 games in the OJHL, split between the Orangeville Crushers, Aurora Tigers and the Georgetown Raiders. And transfer Nick Cecere played for the Michigan Tech Huskies last season.

On the non-conference slate are road trips to Colgate, Michigan State, Clarkson and Bowling Green. Four of their final five regular season games also come away from the Dwyer Arena compound.

Continued on Page 34

NY Hockey OnLine

West Women’s Hockey / Page 33

Buffalo State College

standing Player and earned CCM/Old Time Hockey Second Team All-American honors. She was also named to the ECAC West he Championship All-Tournament Bengals Team and garnered All-ECAC open their West second team honors. season with Chamberlain led all Divian exhibision III goalies in lowest goals tion game against the Niagainst average (1.09), highagara Falls Midget AA team est save percentage (.951) and on October 22. That will be winning percentage (.921). followed by back-to-back She finished 17-1-1 with four

by Janet Schultz games against Stevenson on shutouts. In just two seasons at the Bengal’s home ice on RIT, Chamberlain is the univerOctober 26 and 27. sity’s all-time leader with a .890 career wining percentage (35-3-3) and .947 save University of percentage. Her 35 wins are the third most at RIT.

RIT now moves to DI hockey in College Buffalo Hockey America.

They open their Inaugural Season as a DI he Lady Ice Bulls school with a game against Oakville on September schedule has been re23 and then take on their first conference opponent, leased. Their first opponent Mercyhurst, on September 28 amd 29 at Ritter is Niagara University featurArena on the RIT campus. ing players who had played with the DI team that was

Among their CHA opponents this season will eliminated after last season. The game will be played be the newly formed Penn State team. Other CHA at Niagara University’s Dwyer Areana on October 5 opponents are Syracuse, Lindenwood and Robert at 8:20 p.m.

They will then face the University of Vermont Morris.

T

Western New York Women’s College Hockey Report

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a ACHA DI program on October 6 and 7.

RIT

S

ophomore Goaltender Laura Chamberlain was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic AllAmerican Divsion III Women’s At-Large Team. The honor was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Chamberlain, a second team selection, is the first RIT student-athlete to receive Capital One Academic All-American honors during the 201112 academic year.

Chamberlain had a 3.78 grade point average as a business administration major and was named the NCAA Championship Tournament Most Out-

We are looking forward to sharing information from some Women’s Ice Hockey Club teams including Brockport, Niagara, Canisius and D’Youville!

NY Hockey OnLine Continued from Page 32

RIT TIGERS

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third place regular season finish and a shutout lose to Air Force left a bad taste in the mouths of the Tigers and the team will need to find new leadership in all three areas of the ice to bounce back.

Goaltender Shane Madolora signed a pro contact, forward Cameron Burt finished his eligibility as the Tigers all-time scoring leader and defensemen Chris Haltigan, Daniel Spivak and Trevor Eckenswiller all finished their four-year degrees.

Junior Michael Colavecchia led the team in goals and points with sophomores Matt Grabovsky and Brad McGowan both looking for top-two line spots after impressive freshman campaigns.

Greg Noyes, Chris Saracino, Nolan Descoteaux and Eliot Raibi form the nucleus of the defense that will need help from newcomers in front of either junior Josh Watson or sophomore Jordan Ruby in net, who played in seven games combined last season.

Eight newcomers, including the first Division I hometown recruit, will compete for open spots in forwards Dan Schuler (Rochester, NY/Powell River Kings), Andrew Miller (Chicago Steel), Josh Mitchell (Alberni Valley) and Anthony Hamburg (Omaha Lancers).

Schuler, from Penfield, returns home after playing for the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League last season. He finished the year with 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points, leading his team to a first place finish in the Coastal Division. In 15 playoff games, he recorded 10 points on six goals and four assists, helping lead the River Kings to the Fred Page Cup Finals.

He finished his two seasons in the BCHL with 68 points on 28 goals and 40 assists.

West / Page 34 Miller finished second on the Chicago Steel last season with 43 points on a team-high 24 goals and 19 assists. Mitchell led the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League with 58 points on 13 goals and 45 assists last season.

Hamburg, RIT’s first NHL draft pick, joins the Tigers for his sophomore season after skating with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League last season, where he finished with 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points. The 6-1 forward, who was picked 194th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2009, played seven games for Colgate University during the 2010-11 season, tallying three assists, before returning to the Lancers.

On defense, Rajan Sidhu (Coquitlam Express), Brad Shumway (Chicago Steel), and Zander Kuqali (Sioux City Muskateers) will look to fill the void.

Sidhu split time last season with the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Coquitlam Express, finishing the year with 11 points on two goals and nine assists.

The 6-3, defenseman skated in three full seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League, finishing with 46 assists and 52 points.

Shumway appeared in 26 contests last season for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, tallying one goal and four assists. The 6-1 defenseman led the Steel with a +22 rating last season.

Kuqali finished last season with nine points on four goals and five assists in 30 games. The 6-2 defenseman began the season with Indiana, where he had 11 points on two goals and nine assists. In three seasons in the United States Hockey League, Kuqali had seven goals and 31 assists for 38 points in 142 games.

Ken MacLean (Kalamazoo Wings) will provide depth in goal for

the Tigers, as he is expected to compete for playing time immediately.

MacLean comes to RIT after playing last season in the North American Hockey League where he finished with a 20-9-2 record with two shutouts, as well as a 2.76 goals against average, and a .911 save percentage.

“We are very excited about what this group brings to the proud history of our program as once again we hope to achieve our goal of winning the Atlantic Hockey Association Championships and advancing to the 2013 NCAA Tournament,” said Wilson, now entering his 14th season behind the bench at RIT. The Tigers open the season at Michigan for two games before hosting new Division I program Penn State at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena for Homecoming October 20th. Colgate, Clarkson and St. Lawrence mark the rest of the non-conference schedule. The team opens Atlantic Hockey play October 25th home against Robert Morris.

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West/ Page 35

Continued from Page 6

“NHL alumni Bryan Trottier and Kevin Weeks were there to help out,” commented Barnett. “The NHL put our kids through the paces.

“It turned out to be an all day and into the evening affair.

And after the on-ice events were over, the Shamrocks coaches went over the video to point out what they thought worked and what didn’t and what changes could be made.

“The kids and coaches did a great job. The kids got hockey bags with all sorts of NHL fun things inside.

“Of course the biggest reward the Shamrocks organization got came in late January when we could watch the Junior Skills competition in Ottawa. It was nice to know that we had a part in making this event a huge success for the NHL.”* Continued from Page 23

Sgt. John Stanton and Wounded Warriors Founder Mark McKenna

“I got several groups in the Canton area to each buy one of the sleds. Things turned out well.

“We actually had 24 participants in the event, 22 males and two females.”

A silent auction was also held with items like an autographed jersey from Potsdam native, Craig Conroy (who plays for the Calgary Flames), an autographed jersey from Erik Cole of Oswego (who plays for the Montreal Canadiens), an autographed photo of the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team signed by Mike Eruzione and a goalie stick signed by ’80 USA teammate, Jim Craig, among other items.

“It was a great outpouring by everyone involved,” said McKenna. “We had so many volunteers as well as

The Buffalo Shamrocks who took part in the NHL video.

people who donated so many items to be auctioned off.

“The game in Canton drew over 600 people at SUNY Canton’s Roos House. We even had the Canton Minor Hockey Association helping out the players with their uniforms and sleds.

“We did very well at the Watertown event on that Friday. We were at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.

“A clinic was conducted for the Wounded Warriors team by a sled hockey team, led by coach Chuck Gridley, who came up from Syracuse. A game followed.”

Lunch that day was provided by Sboro’s Restaurant and Fairgrounds Inn in Watertown. Josie’s and Sergi’s restaurants donated the wings and pizza and the VFW ladies auxiliary made chili for the Canton event.

“In the end we raised enough money to buy 30 sleds (you do the math at $550 per sled),” concluded McKenna. “The final total came to almost $20,000.

“And now I want to do more. I would like this to become an annual event.

“We don’t do enough for the soldiers of our country. I think we can do more and we will.”

Our hats are off to McKenna and the people of Canton and Watertown for a job well done! *

NY Hockey OnLine

Continuing Stories / Page 36

Continued from Page 4

*Construct a facility that attracts new hockey themed events/tournaments, and creates new opportunities for other special events

*Committed to public, community and youth

hockey use

*Receive additional community input through

the charette process

HARBORcenter Development also committed to the

start of construction in March 2013, with the projected completion of the parking ramp, retail and ice rinks by the beginning of the 2014 Buffalo Sabres Hockey Season. The hotel is projected to be completed by spring of 2015. The Mayor’s Administration will inform the Buffalo Common Council today about the preferred developer and provide them with the term sheet that better describes the process. *Pay $2 million for the Webster Block

Mayor Brown concluded. “I want to thank the Selec *Seek city residents for post-construction jobs tion Committee and community representatives for their

*Agreed to use local workforce for construction input. I had confidence in the selection process from the and meet 25% minority and 5% female hiring goals start and knew that the committee would choose the project

*Agreed to 25% minority business and 5% they felt was best for the city. We look forward to working women business enterprise participation goals with HARBORcenter Development and the Sabres Organi *Pay Living Wage for employees of ice rink and zation on this exciting shared initiative that will strengthen parking ramp the city and region, and continue the remarkable progress in

*Attain the highest reasonable environmental downtown Buffalo by reinventing this prime piece of city standards for building owned land.”*

*Expand parking in the building to make atten(Press release from Buffalo Sabres) dance at Canalside events more convenient for the public

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Kids Page / Page 37

Kids--Color these players waiting to go on the Ice. And if you are from Oswego, you may be one of these players.

This coloring book page was developed from a photo taken at the Dream Big Tournament in August.

Continued from Page 20

Proud

MITE DIVISION MITE EAST DIVISION Gold Medals were awarded to East 1 – Connor Catanzarite, Kyle DeBejian Jayne DeBejian, Gianpaolo Giamartino, Michael Giamartino, John Wallace, James Welch. Coached by Duane DeBejian

Bronze Medals were awarded to West 1 – Duncan Baker, Ian Cady, Connor Calabro, Ian Kohut, Louie Roman, Neil Roman, Chase Towers. Coached by Phil Cady

Silver Medals were awarded to East 2 – Jack Caraccioli, Logan Crannell, Daniel Donahue, Keegan Lynch, Brayden Miller, Nicolas Schremp, Trey White. Coached by Ben Miller

BANTAM//MIDGET DIVISION Gold Medals were awarded to Bantam/Midget 1 – Austin Forte, Kristopher Grow, Donald Husted, James Jaskula, Chad Leotta, Austin Vashaw, William Volkomer. Coached by Duane Debejian

Bronze Medals were awarded to East 3 – Matt Conzone, Jonathan Dingman, Isabella Koproski, Sutter Lewin, Kaeden Livesey, Connor Sugar, Carter VanBuren. Coached by Eric Koprosky and Jason Livesey

Silver Medals were awarded to Bantam/Midget 3 – Cameron Clarke, Anthony Donabella, Dominik Donabella, Trent Grimshaw, Zackery Humez, David McNulty, Matthew Thomson.

Coached by Ken Humez

MITE WEST DIVISION Gold Medals were awarded to West 2 – Matthew Carner, Tanner Douglass, Mia Fierro, Michael Fierro, Erica Greene, Jacob Greene, Riley Wallace. Coached by Bill Greene and Kevin Douglass

Bronze Medals were awarded to Bantam/Midget 2 – Aaric Celeste, Michael Chesare, Ryan Gunther, Jack Lee, John Rice III, Evan Burdick, Timothy Woodard. Coached by John Rice II

Silver Medals were awarded to West 3 – Colin Beers, Cole Broadwell, Cameron Johnson, Mason Kurilovich, Lucas Nelson, Bradan Proud, Justin Thies. Coached by Ted Beers and Mark

Bronze Medals were also awarded to Bantam/Midget 4 – Whitney Daino, Taite Phillips, Devyn Hutcheson, Karisaa Favata Nessa McKie, Madisyn Whalen, Sarah Mancuso, Alaina Celeste.

Coached by Tom Daino and Brian Daino*

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