WNY Hockey Report Late Summer 2014

Late Summer 2014 VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 8

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Contents

In This Issue:

P.O.Box 302 East Aurora, NY 14052 716-830-0182 info@wnyhockeyreport.com Managing Partner Ian C. Woods icwoods@wnyhockeyreport.com Vice President, Business Development Ned McDonnell Commish@wnyhockeyreport.com Publisher & Managing Editor Randy Schultz Randy@wnyhockeyreport.com Designer & Photographer Janet Schultz Janet@wnyhockeyreport.com Senior Columnists Warren Kozireski Warren@wnyhockeyreport.com Contributing Editor Jeff Kolcon Jeff@maksymum.com Communications & Marketing Director Val Andrews Val@wnyhockeyreport.com Columnists Janet Schultz - janet@wnyhockeyreport.com Michael Mroziak - michael@wnyhockeyreport.com Rob Sedia - rob@newedgehockey.com Lars Lewis - Lars@wnyhockeyreport.com Matt Ondesko - Matt@wnyhockeyreport.com Tom Barnett - Tombarnett@earthlink.net Anthony Fiorello - anthony@wnyhockeyreport.com Steve Thomson - steve@hphd.us Skylar Vitko-Woods

Lockport Express Junior Team........................................................................... 4 Sabres Continue Rebuild..................................................................................... 5 Roc City Royals Scout South Africa.................................................................. 6 Fattey Hockey League.......................................................................................... 7 HPHD Training......................................................................................................... 8 Around the Associations...................................................................................... 9 Women’s Hockey..................................................................................................10 Jill Battista Passion Pays Off..............................................................................12 Rink Systems Offering Tech for Rinks and Players....................................13 Tyler Mancuso Heads to the Brick..................................................................14 Cover Feature: Mike Robitaille.........................................................................15 Buffalo Junior Sabres..........................................................................................19 Top Shelf Training.................................................................................................20 Rochester Jr Americans......................................................................................21 Junior Hockey: Welcome Back!........................................................................22 Rochester Youth Hockey News........................................................................23 Senior Hockey........................................................................................................26 College Club Hockey...........................................................................................28 HarborCENTER Update.......................................................................................29

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Lockport Express

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Express Junior Team Debuts September 19 A new era in Western New York hockey begins on the weekend September 19, when the all-new Lockport Express junior hockey team makes its debut in the equally all-new Lockport Ice Arena.

The Express, an expansion franchise in the Tier III Junior-A level Northern States Hockey League (a league sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union), will commence their inaugural season with a three-game home stand against the Wilkes-Barre Miners, beginning Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The Miners were last season’s runners-up in the NSHL final against defending champion Jersey Shore Wildcats. They’re a formidable opponent for the Express to debut against but the staff believes the new guys on the block will be ready.

Training camp began August 1, but the players spent the entire summer conditioning by working out under trainer Rick Rodino.

“What we’re looking for is to teach these players good practice habits, a strong work ethic and just as importantly, skill sets that we feel are critical for our players to be able to move on to the next level,” said David Kasperek, associate head coach and skills instructor, in a prepared statement released by the team.

The Express administration are no strangers to junior hockey. The team is owned by Steve Bueme, whose

son is an alumnus of the former Buffalo Stars Jr. B program. The elder Bueme’s previous contributions to the Stars include leading capital improvements such as construction of the team’s private dressing room, press box and other amenities at Holiday Twin Rinks.

The Express’ general manager and head coach is Frank Vecchio, whose previous work includes a role as associate coach with the University at Buffalo’s club program.

Also on the staff is goaltending coach Anthony Micucci, whose son Trevor was drafted earlier this year by the USHL’s Bloomington Thunder.

“It is a great honor to be working with the Lockport Express Junior-A program and I am looking forward to helping the organization establish itself and grow in the hockey world,” said Micucci in prepared remarks. “It is very exciting that there is a new avenue for a junior hockey player to take in the Buffalo area. Mr. Bueme and Coach Vecchio will instill the proper philosophy in the players and the coaching staff has gained a great deal of respect through their years of hard work and dedication to the youth in our area.

“The staff is fully committed to moving players to the next level as the focus is player development and advancement. I can tell you firsthand that this staff has worked hard to promote my own son Trevor over the years. It is exciting to work with the young goaltenders

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More information about the team can be found on its official website, www.lockportexpress.com.

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Sabres

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Sabres Continue Rebuild Cornel had 62 points in 68 games this season, including 25 goals and added seven points in 11 playoff games.

by Warren Kozireski Warren@wnyhockeyreport.com

The Buffalo Sabres went with the hockey family strategy as they selected Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League with the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft held in Philadelphia. They followed later by selecting Brandan Lemieux and Jonathan Brown among their draft picks.

The third son of former NHL defenseman Paul Reinhart to be drafted after Griffin (a first round, fourth overall, selection by the NY Islanders in 2012) and Max, (Calgary’s third round selection in 2010), the 6’0”, 180 lb. Sam netted 105 points including 36 goals in 60 games at center for Kootenay this past season.

“We got the guy that we wanted,” said Sabres General Manager Tim Murray. “He’s a guy that I got to see a lot since the January day I was hired in Buffalo. I made it a priority see him in the Prospect Game, follow him that week, get back to him a few weeks later and then again in the playoffs.

“He makes the players around him so much better.

His hockey sense separated him from the rest of the players.”

“I am a two-way center; I try to model my game after Jonathan Toews,” said Cornel. “They (the Sabres) have a great opportunity with this draft with a high pick in the first and a bunch in the second, so they’re really going to benefit from this draft.”

Karabacek netted 21 goals and 26 assists in 65 games on right wing and added six goals and six assists in nine postseason games.

6’4” Swedish goaltender Jonas Johansson was taken with the first pick in the third round and was followed by defenseman Brycen Martin via Swift Current in the Western Hockey League with the 74th overall selection.

“I waited a little bit longer than I expected to, but allin-all it doesn’t matter where I go it’s what I do from here that matters and I’m happy to be a part of the Buffalo Sabres,” said Martin.

“They are definitely looking for a bunch of pieces in their rebuild, so I’m glad that they want me to be a part of that and hopefully I can fulfill everything they expected.

They stayed with the high school route in the sixth round as well with Christopher Brown from CranbrookKingswood HS in Michigan. The 6’0, 179 lb. forward is committed to Boston College, where his uncle is the Associate head coach—former Sabres defenseman Greg Brown.

With their final selection, Buffalo took forward Victor Olofsson, a speed demon who scored 32 goals in 44 games with MODO-20 team in Sweden last season.

Sabres General Manager Tim Murray was generally happy with the assets collected over the two days.

“For what we did yes—I think you know that the original plan was to get an extra pick in the first round and we weren’t able to do that; other than that I thought it went pretty well,” said Murray in the media area.

“I think we went after potential. They certainly are not ready-made players and like every other team at this draft, we like what we got.”

“We got a potential top-two center who could play for us next year and we added a lot of assets.”

“I definitely run a two-way style and I like to run the power play and I like to jump up in the play.”

Sabres General Manager stated publicly that he also wanted to use his extra second round selections (3) to move up for a second first round selection, but could not find a trade partner.

Brown University bound forward Maxwell Willman was the top choice in the fifth round. The WillistonNorthampton High School product in Massachusetts is 5’11”, 185 lb.

“I don’t know if I was close,” said Murray. “I offered teams in the late teens to the 20’s (first round draft position) two seconds and I offered one team all three seconds for one person.”

“I’ve been preparing for this for a long time, I’ve been visualizing myself in this uniform and I’m just thrilled and ecstatic to be an impact player and a Buffalo Sabres,” said Reinhart in the media room after his selection.

“It’s (Buffalo) a young team—I’m very familiar with the organization—and I picture myself in this uniform for a long time. I’m very motivated to stick in the league next year…and make an impact.

“It looks like a bright future and I’m excited to start the process of stepping in there and start the process of getting better every year.”

The Buffalo Sabres followed the hockey bloodlines strategy used on day one of the draft by selecting Lemieux with the 31st pick overall and the first in the second round.

Lemieux is the son of longtime NHL forward and agitator Claude.

“I was disappointed—I expected to be a first round pick—but things have a way of working out,” said Lemieux. “There were a few teams that passed me over and I’m just going to make it harder on their guys and just use it for fuel. I’m one of the more fiery guys in the draft so I’m definitely excited.

“My dad is my biggest role model on and off the ice.

I’m proud of the career he had, the way he played and how hated he was. I want to follow in his footsteps and I want to be that guy who steps up in the playoffs and come up big when it counts.”

The Sabres followed later in the second round by taking Peterborough center Eric Cornel 44th overall and Czech winger Vaclav Karabacek, who played last season with Gatineau in the Quebec League, 49th overall.

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Scouting South Africa

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Roc City Royals Scout South Africa

by Randy Schultz Randy@wnyhockeyreport.com Jack Slade has scouted in many places while travelling throughout the United States and Canada. But in the last decade he has taken his travels to an area not necessarily considered a hockey hotbed.

South Africa. Specifically Cape Town, South Africa.

Slade explained.

“Every couple of years I take a vacation and I usually go to South Africa,” said Slade, owner and general manager of the expansion Roc City Royals of the Northern States Junior Hockey League. “When I went there eight years ago I had done some research on their hockey program before I left.

“They have an IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) Division III team. I made contact with their coach (Ronnie Wood) and became pretty good friends with him.

“Ron was a former pro hockey player from the United Kingdom. He moved to South Africa and got involved with the hockey program there.

“I basically went to Cape Town. They have a beautiful hockey arena there.

“It was an old railway station that was remodeled. It is attached to the casino in Cape Town.”

Slade has been coaching youth hockey for 40 years, including stints as head coach of the RIT men’s club

hockey team as well as an assistant coach and scout for the men’s hockey team at Monroe Community College.

“I began looking at their players when I was at MCC,” stated Slade.

“The problem with any of their players coming over to the US to play hockey and go to college is the rate of exchange of money.

“Our money is worth a great deal more than their money. So it would be quite expensive for them to come over here to play hockey.”

South Africa has been a member of the IIHF since February 25, 1937. They have five indoor rinks.

There are a total of 483 players registered to play hockey in South Africa for both their men’s and women’s programs.

While Slade may have been unsuccessful in bringing South African hockey players to North America to play at MCC, one did arrive in the Rochester area and is currently playing for Nazareth College. Uthman Samaai completed his second season on the Nazareth men’s varsity hockey team.

“This all started when I began making visits over there to visit friends back in 1977,” continued Slade. “The country has gone through many changes since that time.

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“Interestingly, their winter is our summer and our summer is their winter. They play their hockey according to IIHF rules. “Their hockey season begins in February. It runs until September.

“And I know that this sounds a bit strange, but any place I visit I always do my homework ahead of time to see if there is hockey being played there.

“That’s how I found out about South Africa. And I’m glad I did.

“I think there’s some hockey talent over there. And I’m going to keep looking to find it.

“Who knows where future travels may take me. If there is hockey to be found, I’ll find it.”

Fattey Hockey League

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Fattey Hockey League Gives Local Elites Their Own Summer Place

by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com

When late spring turns into summer and the local hockey leagues of all levels have closed the books on their winter seasons, hockey diehards of course turn to summer leagues to continue their fun and get some exercise.

This is also true of elite local players, ranging from juniors to collegiate players to a few Western New York residents playing the game professionally. For them, there’s the Fattey Hockey League, which is open specifically for the above-average player.

“There was really no place for good players to play as far as summer hockey,” said Nik Fattey, who runs the league and is also a former college player, as well as Buffalo Sabres scout and Vice President/Director of Hockey operations at HARBORcenter. “There was different bar leagues or adult leagues and things like that, but the competition wasn’t always there and you’d have fights.”

Seeing an opportunity to give elite players a league of their own, where they could play to their level without a fear of going back to school or to their day jobs with a black eye or broken nose from the previous night’s bar league nonsense, the Fattey Hockey League was born in 2005. For many years prior, the Fattey family ran a hockey school based at Leisure Rinks in West Seneca.

When the elder Fattey decided to step down, Nik and his brothers utilized their available ice time to launch a small league that featured many St. Francis alumni and other local high-caliber players.

Years later, the league has grown to a dozen teams.

This year’s league includes well-known stars such as Patrick Kane, Cory Conacher, Tim Kennedy, Jay McKee and Zemgus Girgensons, all of whom bring NHL experience to the league.

There are also some unique rules which keep the games interesting and even force participants to keep pushing along.

Fattey explained some of the unique rules in the FHL. Teams play two games per night, both 30 minutes long on a running clock. During the games there is a horn which blows every minute and 15 seconds. When the horn goes, all players must no longer touch the puck and get off the ice for a mandatory line change.

“There’s a lot of good players, and no one was willing to tell them to get off the ice,” said Fattey. “Equal share.

Everyone’s paying the same price, everyone’s doing the same thing. So we put the horn in place.”

The league does waive the horn in the final five minutes of each game and at that time teams are allowed to make line changes as they see fit.

Penalties are settled by penalty shots instead of power plays, except for icing, which in the final five minutes of the game is punished with a one-minute penalty to the guilty player.

“I think it’s a cool rule because we’ve all seen lockdown defense and you’re on a clock, the clock is running, so if you’re icing you’re just slowing down the game too much. So we give a one-minute penalty,” Fattey said.

As high the caliber of hockey may be, there’s an element of humor thrown in. The league adopts a different theme for its team names each year. Last year, the teams were named for dog breeds. The previous year, the teams were named for nations not exactly known as hockey powers (Kane, for example, was skating with his teammates on Team Vatican City).

This year, the teams are named for 1980s pop bands, with teams named Wham!, Bananarama, Flock of Seagulls, Twisted Sister, Culture Club and Duran Duran, just to name a few.

Kane, Conacher and Girgensons are rostered on the same team, Milli Vanilli.

“We played them last week and we lost handily,” laughed Darren McCormick, who skated last winter with the Buffalo Junior Sabres and plays with the FHL’s Flock of Seagulls this summer.

When put up against players who have made it to the pros, folks like McCormick admit it’s an opportunity to experience firsthand just how good one needs to get to make it at that level.

“When you’re on the bench, yes you kind of sit back and watch them be amazing but for the most part when you’re playing you’re not really thinking too much of that,” said McCormick. “You’re thinking, ‘I’ve got an NHL player out here skating and backchecking, so I’ve got to try to go a little faster.’”

That serves as an added benefit to many of the players.

Max Mikowski, who will begin his college hockey career with Rochester Institute of Technology this fall, is another player who admits picking up pointers – and an allnew appreciation for the talent levels of the pros – when he’s skating in the FHL. “I was playing against Tim Kennedy in my very first FHL game. His head’s always up,” said Mikowski. “I remember I was trying to angle him to one side as he was coming out of his own zone. As soon as I turned my skates, he cut the other way.

It’s almost as if he was waiting for that. You always learn something just by playing against them.”

“They don’t sit back,” added McCormick about the pros on the ice. “If you want to get better you have to keep trying the whole time. Of course they’re not going 100 percent but they’re going 90

percent. They’re going hard and they’re trying to get better. That’s something you learn from them, you keep trying to be the best you can be.”

There is also no hitting and no fighting, which has kept the league clean since its inception and enjoyable for all participants. Off the ice, there’s also an added level of protection to help the more famous players be left alone to do what they came there to do, and that’s just play.

“We have a no autograph policy. If you ask one of these guys for their autographs, we ask you to leave and we ask parents of the players to enforce it,” said Fattey, who was quick to credit players’ families and Leisure Rinks staff for helping enforce the rules. “When those guys come to the ice, they get to go to their lockers, get dressed, be just like anybody else and go play.”

The league doesn’t formally advertise itself, though that hasn’t stopped the public from enjoying games, as long as they obey the no-autograph rule. For the most part, though, the players continue to look forward to playing in a league that lets them skate at a competitive level while having fun doing so.

“The only people that are really there, from what I can see, family members or people you have a personal relationship with,” said Mikowski. “It’s very relaxed and carefree. It’s nice. It’s almost like a fun day skate but at the same time it’s competitive.”

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HPHD Training

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5 Ways to Improve Your Stick Handling Hockey Skills at Home

by HPHD Coach – Jon Haun

1. HPHD Star Drill

1

Start by placing 4 strips of tape on the floor to form a star on the floor.

• Stand with your feet shoulder width, knees bent, and toes facing forward.

• Move ball over tape in a linear motion (keep ball moving at all times).

• Change the direction of the ball at the middle of the star shape.

2

Video - http://youtu.be/9LTRyeIItZY

2. Stick Handle Through Chair Place a chair on the floor with plenty of space to stick handle around it.

• Stand with feet shoulder width, knees bent, and toes facing forward.

• Move the ball through the legs of the chair Video - http://youtu.be/g2I3d-bT_-w

3. HPHD Walking Lunge Step forward until front knee is at a 90 degree angle and thigh is parallel with the floor (keep the front knee directly above ankle, do not let knee go over toes).

• Stick handle the ball on the side of your body as you lunge.

• When switching feet move ball to the opposite side of your body (which ever leg your lunging on, stick handle on that side of the body).

• Keep ball moving at all times

3 4

Video - http://youtu.be/5AeLciXEMiE

4. HPHD Lateral Bounding with Stick Handling Start on one leg bent at an angle with stick in hand and ball placed on the outside of the body.

• Jump for height and distance to the opposite foot.

• Land softly with knee bent and knee inside of the ankle.

• Move the ball side to side as you jump back and forth, as you get better stick handle the ball as fast as you can.

Video - http://youtu.be/O-BekoceGDE

5. Alphabet Stick Handling Begin with your feet shoulder width, knees bent, and feet facing forward.

• Move the ball to make capital block letters.

• Move the ball to make the letters of the alphabet.

When finished with the alphabet you can spell your name out with the ball, first, middle, and last name.

Hockey tools to aid in your stick handling skill development • Appropriately sized stick • Ball (hockey ball, golf ball, Swedish Stick Handling ball) • Tape • To improve your stick handling even more, put a cylinder over your stick and hold with your bottom hand. You can use a PVC Pipe, paper towel roll, or a toilet paper roll. When you stick handle with a PVC Pipe / roll on your bottom hand, it forces you to use only your top hand to control your ball. It also allows your bottom hand to slide up and

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down the stick to allow for more range of motion when stick handling.

HPHD Coach Jon Haun: Top trained player development coach currently with D2 Franklin Pierce University Ravens HPHD is WNY’s Premier Fulltime Hockey Training Center with private and small group training, on ice camps, clinics and The HPHD Hockey Academy www.HPHD.us

Around The Associations

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Around The Associations Edited by Michael Mroziak With Western New Yorkers enjoying the warm summer months, hockey rinks weren’t entirely quiet. Not with summer skills camps, clinics and a handful of leagues.

With that said, there’s not much news to report from the summer months but here’s what was forwarded to us over the past few weeks…

Amherst Youth Hockey

Amherst Youth Hockey will host a walk-up registration for its House program during their annual equipment sale, Saturday, September 13 from 8 a.m. until noon.

The House program welcomes both Amherst residents and non-residents for the following teams: Novice I (2010), Novice II (2009), Micron Red (2008), Mini Mite White (2007), Mite Blue (2006), Squirt (2004-2005), Pee Wee (2002-2003), Bantam (2000-2001), Midget MOHL (1996-1999), Girls-only House (1995-2005).

If you are new to Amherst Youth Hockey and interested in signing up, bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate.

Payment can be made on site either by check or credit card.

Applications can also be found on the association’s website at www.amherstyouthhockey.org

Bud Bakewell Bruins

Bud Bakewell’s Bantam Mixed team will be taking part in its first competition well before the school bells ring, as the team is entering the 2014 Early Bird Hockey Tournament at Dwyer Arena on the Niagara University campus. The tournament is scheduled for August 22 to 25 and is a USA Hockey-sanctioned event.

The Bruins will have plenty of presence this coming season with teams competing in the following divisions: Midget 18U Tournament Bound, Midget 18U Non-tournament

Bound, Midget 16U Tournament Bound, Midget 16U Nontournament Bound, Midget 15U, Bantam Major, Bantam Minor, Bantam Mixed and Mites.

The team reported a full coaching staff is in place, including some who have joined from the Buffalo Bisons organization: Mike Brown, Scott Waggoner, Tom Butkowski and Manager Tom Kubiniec.

Bud Bakewell is also working with Hasek’s Heroes and the City of Buffalo to make some cosmetic improvements to their home rink in Buffalo’s Riverside section. New ceiling tiles have been installed as well as updated lighting.

Last but not least, the organization is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, September 13 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Post 1041, located at 523 Amherst Street in Buffalo.

Tickets are $10 and will be available for purchase at the door. The event includes a spaghetti dinner, drinks and live music, plus prizes to be raffled including a flat screen television, signed Buffalo Sabres merchandise and prize baskets. Funds raised will support the teams, players and organization.

Buffalo Stars

As of early August, the Buffalo Stars had limited openings in their House League Hockey Program for their Multiple Organization House League (MOHL) teams, One of the Pee Wee level teams had an opening for one skater and one goaltender, while one of the Stars’ Bantam squads was looking for two skaters and a goalie. A skater’s position was also open with one of the U16 teams.

The Stars were also accepting applications for its Beginner Hockey Players and had openings in the Mite Cross-Ice program, the latter of which is available to children ages 6 and 7. Open registrations will be held at Holiday Twin Rinks on August 20 and 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. Contact Pete Preteroti

at 491-0375 for details.

The Stars’ Midget program, which began training camp in early August, will host their regular season home opener on Saturday, September 20 at Holiday Twin Rinks with what has become perhaps their best-known tradition, the team’s annual Salute to the American Troops day.

The Stars U18 team will play a full-season schedule and participate in both the WNYAHL and National Junior Prospects Hockey League. The U16 team will also compete in both leagues but on a more modified schedule that allows team members to also skate for their respective high school teams.

The U15 team will play the split-season schedule but also take part in tournaments in November and December.

Most of the program’s Midget home games will be broadcast on the Stars’ official online video channel at UStream.tv and is no cost to the viewer. The direct link is: http:// www.ustream.tv/channel/buffalo-stars-junior-hockey%20.

Southtowns Stars

Southtowns Stars Amateur Hockey Association (STSAHA) has launched a new and improved website: www. southtownsstars.com.

According to Southtowns Stars organizers, the newer website will provide an easier system for members (and potential members) to find needed information, including contacts, to help manage the upcoming season.

“As we continue to grow, it is important to recognize the commitment of both our players and families,” said Stars public relations director Lori Pohrte in a prepared statement.

“We are dedicated to keeping our players engaged and committed throughout the season, so keep us in mind for the coming years for your player.”

n o i t n Atte rls! i G & s Boy

Do you have what it takes to be a Niagara Junior Purple Eagle?

• Learn & play at NU’s Dwyer Arena – One of the newest, cleanest and best facilities in WNY! • Organizational Strengths: • Competitive Travel Teams that regularly make State and National Tournaments • Strong Instructional and House Youth Programs • Fun and Challenging House Select Teams • Excellent Girl’s Hockey Program • Affiliation with the Niagara University Division 1 College Men’s Team – skate and learn with Division 1 players.

• Two Features NO OTHER ASSOCIATION in WNY can match: • Minimal cost equipment loaner program for players new to hockey • Four weeks FREE Instructional Program • Lowest House Division playing fees than any other association!

Instructional Division

Girls Program

• All coaches are USA Hockey Certified • Niagara Junior Purple Eagles will teach your child how to skate • No prior skating lessons required • Players are invited to try an initial 4 weeks for free!

• $25 equipment loan per session • 24 week sessions / September – March • In-house goalie instruction program • Cost – (including the 4 FREE weeks): $240.00 Instructional sessions are Saturday and Sunday’s.

Practices are 50 minutes long with most times varying between 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Niagara Junior Purple Eagles offers an additional program for girls aged 5 – 10 enrolled in our Instructional ADM or Squirt House Programs.

This program includes: • Separate girls-only practices • Emphasis on skill development and fun • Cross-ice games against other local girls teams • Girls of all skill levels are welcome

For more information contact Greg Chenez, League CEO at: gchenez@jrpurpleeagles.com or 716-417-3022

For more information regarding our Travel Divisions, contact John Nichols, Travel President at: jnichols@jrppurpleeagles.com or 716-870-9642 For more information regarding our House League, contact Dave Robertson, House President at: drobertson@jrpurpleeagles.com or 716-472-8193

The Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles are home to over 800 boys and girls youth hockey players. Our travel & house programs are one of the largest in New York State!

www.jrpurpleeagles.com WNYHockeyReport.com

Women’s Hockey

10

Women’s Hockey

by Janet Schultz Janet@wnyhockeyreport.com

Women’s Worlds Come to Buffalo Girls, this is your opportunity to see the top players in women’s ice hockey. The 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women’s World Championship will be held in HARBORCENTER January 4 through 12, 2015.

The top eight nations in the world will compete for the gold.

Along with the Women’s Worlds, the International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship will be held April 24-May 2, 2015 in Buffalo.

In making the announcement Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey expressed USA Hockey’s love of the Buffalo area after hosting the World Juniors and several national youth and girl’s tournaments.

“We are so excited to bring the U18 back to the United States, and to Buffalo,” said Reagan Carey, director of women’s ice hockey for USA Hockey.

“This facility and the world class nature of the event contributes to the growth of women’s hockey.

“How far we have come from 19DI programs and 20,000 females to over 66,000 registered women’s players.

“New York State and Western New York are one of the strongest areas for women’s hockey; Minnesota and Massachusetts are huge and it is terrific to bring this event back to the U.S,” she told WNY Hockey Report.

“We haven’t won gold on American soil and look forward to doing that,” she concluded.

RIT

RIT raised over $8,800 for Autism Up from their jersey raffle.

The team wore the speciallydesigned jerseys at their January 25 Skate for the Cure and then auctioned them off on-line later in the season.

The defending College Hockey America RIT women’s hockey team unveiled its schedule for the 2014-15 season. The Tigers, who enter their third season at the Division I level, will play 34 regular season games, including 16 regular season home games and one exhibition contest in its inaugural season at the 4,200seat Gene Polisseni Center.

“We are ready to open up play in the Polisseni Center, which will be exciting for not only our players, staff, fans but the Rochester Community as well,” said ninth-year RIT head coach Scott McDonald.

Last year, the Tigers enjoyed a magical run, winning

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their final seven games, including a 2-1 double overtime win over top-seed Mercyhurst to win the CHA Championship. The Tigers were ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to a two-year probationary period from moving from Division III to Division I. The Tigers open on Monday, Sept. 29, RIT with an exhibition game against the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy out of British Columbia. They open their regular season play at the Polisseni Center with a pair of games against Union on Oct. 3-4 and host New Hampshire on Oct. 10 and Northeastern the following afternoon. RIT plays 20 games against conference foes, including its final 12 regular season contests.

Season and single game ticket information will be released in the upcoming weeks at www.ritathletics. com and HYPERLINK “http://www.rithockey.com” www. rithockey.com.

Coach McDonald has named Assistant Coach Matt Woodward to a full-time position as assistant coach.

Woodard served as a part-time assistant coach in his first season with the Tigers in 2013-14. He replaces Shivaun Siegl, who resigned in May to pursue other opportunities outside of hockey.

“With Shivaun’s (Siegl) departure, promoting Matt was an easy decision,” said McDonald. “Matt did a great job with the team last season and really excelled in recruiting and on-ice work with our players Before arriving at RIT, Woodard spent two seasons at Manhattanville College, serving as the assistant women’s hockey coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped lead the Valiants, a Division III perennial power,

11

of competition and in the classroom. At Manhattanville, Woodard earned a master’s degree in sports business management.

“Matt’s work ethic and passion for the game makes him a young, up and coming coach with a bright future,” said McDonald. “I am excited to keep him here at RIT and have him continue to develop our players and his coaching style”

Buffalo State

New RIT Assistant Coach Matt Woodward to a 33-18-5 record and back-to-back appearances in the ECAC East Championship game.

Woodard played four seasons of Division I collegiate hockey for RIT men’s rival American International College on defense, recording 29 points on six goals and 23 assists in 133 games played. His 133 games played are tied for fourth most in program history and are the most among all Yellow Jackets defensemen.

In the classroom, Woodard excelled, earning a double major in criminal justice and psychology.

He was a four-time member of the Atlantic Hockey Association All-Academic Team and was the recipient of the ECAC Award of Merit for excellence on the field

Buffalo State head women’s ice hockey coach Candice Moxley represented her native country as a member of Team Canada at the Federation of International Roller Sports (FIRS) World Inline Hockey Championships in Toulouse, France.

In the finals Moxley scored in the second half for Canada and Team USA came back to tie the game in regulation. In the end it was Team USA 3-2 in overtime.

Moxley made the final 14-player roster and competed with Team Canada in the 16-team tournament in France that ran from June 30 – July 6.

A native of Markham, Ontario, Moxley was a fouryear ice hockey player at Division I Niagara University from 2001-05, where she played in 135 career games and netted 34 goals and 78 points. She continued her playing career in the National Women’s Hockey League, and also earned a silver medal at the Esso Women’s Hockey Nationals and at the 2007 Provincial Championships. In 2013, she was also a member of the

Canadian National Ball Hockey Team.

In National news, Coach Moxley has been selected as the Video Coach for Hockey Canada’s U22 National Development Team for the second consecutive year. In addition Bengal’s Assistant Coach Lucy Schoedel has been named goalie coach for the U18 USA National Women’s Ice Hockey Team. She is currently working with the team in Lake Placid.

Around WNY… …Congratulations to girl’s from WNY heading off to college this fall including Kenmore’s Jill Battista to Merrimack. Merrimack’s inaugural season will be 201516 but the team coming in this season will spend the year conditioning in preparation for the opening game.

Lancaster/Iroquois players Caitlin Horvatits is headed to Buffalo State College and Megahn Fonfara to Elmira College to play hockey.

Amherst/Sweethome’s Missy Mallon will play hockey at Buffalo State College. Madison Kather will play soccer at Clarkson and Maddie Grisko is still chosing between RIT and Buffalo State. Emily Bitka will play Lacrosse for the University of Albany and Bri Stessinger is headed to Buffalo State College and Katelyn Koester is heading to RIT. … Congratulations to Emily Pfalzer, Getzville; Maddie Elia, Lewiston; Elizabeth Gerace, Jamestown and Emily Janiga, East Aurora on being invited to the USA Development Camp. The Camp will be used to select the U18 and U22 Teams that will play Canada in Calgary August 21-24.

Wheatfield Blades 2014 House League Information

• Saturdays and Sundays • Full 60 Minute of On Ice Sessions(not 50 minutes!!!)

• 24 Full Weeks of Ice Two Times A Week • Age Appropriate Training • All Skill Levels Welcome • Mini Mite(Cross Ice)-Mite-Squirt-PW-Bantam Divisions • $560 Includes $20 Chiavetta’s bbq Fundraiser • Runs 9/27 – 3/21 • Squirt, PW and Bantam will be in WNY MOHL League

2014 Novice Information Beginner Program • Saturdays 10:25 am • Sunday 10:05 am • Both Days for $299

• Runs 9/29 – 3/15 • All Ages Welcome

Tent Sale - 9.13 9:00am - 1:00pm Drop Off - 9.9 & 9.11 7:00 - 9:00pm Questions?

Contact Rob Kalota rob.kalota@wheatfieldblades.com

2014 Full Ice Mite House Program • Certified Coaches • Full Ice Games 60 Minutes!!

• Saturday Practice 60 minutes!!

• Full 60 Minutes not 50 Minutes

www.wheatfieldblades.com WNYHockeyReport.com

Questions?

Contact: duf1807@yahoo.com

Jill Battista’s Journey

12

Battista’s Perseverance and Passion Pay Off!

by Janet Schultz Janet@wnyhockeyreport.com When a young girl takes to the ice at age 3 or 4, many times they are doing it because their older brothers are and they want to do what big brother is. Then they develop a love and passion for the sport and move on to house, travel and high school hockey. Their eyes may travel to collegiate or the Olympics, and for some the few women’s professional teams that exist in the United States and Canada.

They work hard, know there are few spots for a lot of young women.

Jill Battista knows the journey.

She began skating at three years old and ventured to hockey at five. She played two years with the boys at Bud Bakewell and then moved to the Buffalo Bisons and played for them from 7 to 14.

She went to play hockey in Canada in her sophomore year of high school, first with the Burlington Barracudas and then the Brampton Junior Canadettes. She also was among the first to play in the Western New York Girls Ice Hockey Federation with her high school, Kenmore East.

With the Bisons she took four New York State Championships and went to the Nationals four times and with Brampton she went to the final eight.

With Kenmore Girls Varsity she was a member of the inaugural season and then took two sectional championships that sent Kenmore to the States for the first time. Kenmore then took the league and sectional championships this season, sending them for a second time to the New York State Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Championships. Battista will now become a member of the Inaugural Women’s Ice Hockey Team at Merrimack College when they take the ice in 2015-16.

The road there was one she drove with a passion and gave up a normal teenage girl’s life to work on her dream.

“My favorite memory of hockey is while my Dad was coaching, I tugged on his shirt and told him I wanted to play hockey like Donnie (her brother),” says Battista.

“He asked me what I meant.

“I told him I wanted to play in all the rinks that Donnie played in, which made him smile because that meant travel hockey,” continued Battista.

Her Dad has been the person she credits with making her hockey career happen.

“He worked two jobs to pay for hockey, and so did my Mom,” said Battista, as she explained their “normal” hockey schedule for a week.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays she would get home from school, gather her food and homework and drive one and a half hours to practice in Canada; practice for two hours and make the trek back home, finishing her homework. They’d arrive home at midnight and she’ d be up the next day for school. On Tuesdays and Thursdays her Dad would work from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., come home and rest and go to another job from 5:30 to midnight. And the weekends were entirely hockey.

“If it weren’t for my Dad, there is no way I’d be playing

college hockey.

“He sacrificed for me.”

There were even times she would play in two periods with one team and then head off to another game with another team in another arena.

“I love everything about the sport,” continued Battista. “When I step on the ice everything else goes away.”

Signing a Letter of Intent with Merrimack doesn’t end the work.

This summer the coaches have provided their players with a workout scheduled and nutrition list.

“I have to shoot 50,000 pucks by August,” explains Battista.

So she has a formula. She shoots 300 pucks a day. (I can attest to this because at this interview her hands were full of blisters)!

In addition there is a stick handling circuit which includes 10 drills she must do three times a week and three sets on each of those days.

Nutritionally her Coach want her to put a little more

meat on her body, but not enough to slow her down.

That includes 75 grams of protein per day in the form of shakes and eggs.

“The strength is for getting the puck out of the corner,” she explains.

For several years Battista has had a trainer. The up side of this is that in her evaluation they found she was leaning more to one side than the other and attributed it to the way she held her stick. That also was causing her back and knee pain.

“They found that my hamstring was weak and so we are working on that and they will increase my speed,” she continued.

“We went to doctors and none of them came up with the reason for the pain,” said Mrs. Battista. “The evaluation by the trainer found it and we decided to pay now, save later.”

They were also told a regular gym is great for cardio workouts but didn’t want her to work out there and then undo what they would be doing at Proformance

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Sports Training in Amherst.

“I’ve had a trainer since my freshman year,” says Battista.

When she arrives at Merrimack, her and four other teammates will have 18 months with their coaches until the team takes the ice. While they cannot play on any other team, according to NCAA rules, they will be working out together and playing some scrimmages with women’s ice hockey teams in the Boston area.

Merrimack will play in Hockey East as a DI school when they take the ice in 2015-16.

“The hockey part is great, “ said Battista, who will be majoring in exercise science or education.

“But in the end it’s the education. That’s what I looked at. Would I go to this College even if I didn’t have hockey and I would have.”

“I’ve loved Boston ever since I played in the Beantown Tournament.”

Beantown is one of her favorite tournaments because it brings together players from all over, its highly competitive yet fun and there are many colleges coaches and she found it a great place to showcase her talents.

“Jill has dedicated herself to hockey,” said Mrs. Battista. “I never had to pull her to go, she was always ready to play.”

“What you put in you get out of it, is my motto,” said Battista.

With that goes her Dad’s advice, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish so keep going!”

Merrimack College is located in East Andover, Massachusetts, just about an hour outside Boston. They introduced Women’s Ice Hockey as their 24th varsity sport and selected Erin Hamlen as their head coach.

Hamlen led the University of New England women’s hockey team during its inaugural season in 2012-13.

Prior to UNE he spend 10 years with the University of New Hampshire, guiding them to four straight Hockey East tournament titles, six regular season titles and two appearances in the Frozen Four. He will be assisted by Brent Hill.

Hill was the assistant coach for the past four years with RPI’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team. He Hockey East includes Boston College, Boston University, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Providence and Vermont.

Photos by Janet Schultz

Rink Systems

13

Rink Systems: Offering Tech For Players and Their Venues and accidental bumps by spectators on the other side.

The screens can be pre-programmed and left alone during the course of a game or be programmed over the course of a game, giving an operator a chance to upload live stats or other timely information.

by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com

Over the past couple of years one of Western New York’s local ice rink facilities, Northtown Center at Amherst, has undergone some updates to its rinks including new dasher boards on the Feature and Olympic rinks plus cross-ice dividers, glass and training equipment such as a “W” shaped practice net.

Those products were made and delivered by Rink Systems Inc., based in Albert Lea, Minnesota but whose regional representative is an Amherst native who’s working now out of the Rochester area.

through sold content on those boards.

The company also works closely with clients to address specific needs for specific rinks.

“If there’s a goal scored, then you could push ‘goal,’ or (player) scores his first hat trick of the season,” he said. “There’s more connection to the audience. There’s really two different levels of that display we have. One is where you would just download it and walk away. The other is where you stay connected and then input as you need it.”

Among the other items Adams is hoping to sell to rinks are training products such as a ‘W’ shaped net. It looks like three mini-nets, with a short opening at center flanked by two taller, more narrow nets. It simulates the spaces a human goalie might leave exposed, giving shooters a more challenging target in practice or scrimmages when a goalie isn’t available.

“It offers you a smaller surface to go after,” explained Adams. “Also, the front bar across the base, you have to practice lifting your puck.”

Rink Systems also offers cross-ice dividers including a line known as the Grizzly. What makes that line unique is a slot cut into the kickboard at the bottom of the dasher. Inside is a strong bungee which bounces a puck back into play.

“The Grizzly rebounder provides you with that level of being able to hit that one spot over and over again,” Adams added.

The systems, most notably the LED dasherboards, don’t necessarily come cheap. But what the company pitches is a chance to work with venues to make them within their reach to acquire, after which those rinks could make their money back – and perhaps more –

That representative is Rick Adams and if he has his way, fans and hockey participants at rinks throughout these parts might someday observe some more of his company’s offerings.

They include electronic light emitting diode (LED) panels built within dasherboards, panels that give rink operators the opportunity to offer a rotation of advertising within the space where that board is placed. Teams could also use it to broadcast stats or other graphics right at rinkside.

After years of working in architecture, Adams explained how he got on the path to joining Rink Systems.

“I had been since the late 1990s designing my own scrolling sign,” Adams said. “A scrolling sign was like something you still see behind home plate at Yankee Stadium or at baseball stadiums where it rotates from one ad to the next.

After working with that system for about four years, selling to clients including the Rochester Americans and a few other American Hockey League clubs, he was in Buffalo and met Rink Systems personnel while on a visit. The two sides came together and began selling strolling signs to the company’s numerous clients.

Then, it was time to go to the next step.

“I started saying we should really be focusing on the newest technology, which is the LED display.”

The screens, Adams explained, are protected on both sides of the boards to guard from pucks on one side

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“The one thing that Rink Systems does is, they’re a manufacturer,” said Adams. “Nothing is left to chance.

I’m one of the detail-oriented people. I did architecture for years, so one of the things I have to do is make sure all the details come together as far as how you attach these things, how the bungee is designed, the type of bungee cord that we used… I found the absolute best we could find.

“Everything needs to be precise and long-lasting because we want a product that’s going to go out into the marketplace and represent what we’re doing… We want something that’s going to be durable and longlasting.”

Tyler Mancuso

14

Buffalo Player Heads to The Brick Hawks and then he moved to the Buffalo Regals, where he now makes his home.

by Janet Schultz Janet@wnyhockeyreport.com

Tyler Mancuso is a high honors student in fifth grade at Southtowns Catholic High School near Buffalo.

“Moose,” as his teammates know him, is a hockey player who plays because he likes the game, likes playing with his friends and has a natural talent.

The 10-year-old also understand that a lot of hard work goes into being a good player, but he sees that as fun.

“I want to play with friends and against other good teams,” said Mancuso.

Tyler has also been to the Darryl Belfry Pro Playmakers H o c k e y Development Program.

Chris, who has coached youth hockey, feels that skills are the most important part of ice hockey. Belfry’s approach to hockey are the three speeds of hockey: speed of mind, speed of hand and speed of foot.

“As a Coach you focus on winning by teaching hockey systems,” said Chris.

“We don’t have time to teach the skills. From age 6 to 9 it’s important to learn those skills and not so important to learn hockey systems.”

“Now we are putting those pieces all together.”

Chris can see that Tyler is able to understand a play and read a play which is very important.

“It’s an organization’s place to go and have fun, learn and play the game; but the development comes on your own.”

That development comes from camps and clinics during the off-season.

Tyler spent one year in the Pro Playmakers Program and if his tryout in Pennsylvania is any indication, it worked.

If all of this seems similiar to your son or daughter, Tyler goes several more steps with the help of his family.

He was just selected to play in The Brick Tournament in Edmonton, Alberta. One of the most prestigious tournaments in hockey.

He will be playing for Team Pennsylvania, rather than Team New York.

The reason is geographical as his father, Chris, explained.

“New York is in a district with Connecticut making that an eight hour trip for us,” Chris says. “Pennsylvania’s tryouts were in Pittsburgh, a five-hour trip.”

“This is an honor for Tyler because each team is only allowed three import players and he is one of those for Team PA,” continues Chris.

But for Tyler, it’s hockey.

He began skating when he was three years old and moved to hockey at 5.

His first three years were spent with the Hamburg

He was one of the top standouts at the tryouts.

There were 120 players from different teams from the northeast.

“Tyler is one of the three imports and had to obtain a release from NY/CT to play for PA.” said Chris.

At tryouts the players were put on four teams where they initially did skills including stick handling, cross overs and then played a scrimmage.

“These kids didn’t know each other,” said Tyler’s Mom, Wendy. “They played well together.”

Following the one-day, two ice-sessions tryout, Tyler made it to the second tryout, which was held in Harrisburg.

Another two-day session and on the ride home they got the infamous phone call that he had made the squad.

Now its on to The Brick. Team PA will be cosponsored by the Philadelphia Flyers, GNC and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The players will receive 40 hours of instruction and play in two tournaments prior to The Brick on June 28 through July 6 at the West Edmonton Mall.

WNYHockeyReport.com

“The tryout was very good,” said Tyler.

About his future--he doesn’t know yet. But right now he enjoys the New York Rangers and his favorite player is Marian Gaborik.

“He was a Ranger but got traded,” explains Moose.

He also enjoys some television with one of his favorites being “America’s Got Talent,” and his gaming leans towards hockey with “Big One Hockey.”

His main interests outside hockey includes fishing and playing soccer and golf.

“He knows he’s smart and doesn’t flaunt it,” said Chris.

“Being a good student is the most important thing.”

“He just plays a high end of hockey and plays for fun.”

“His view of hockey is very realistic,” continued Chris.

“Tyler seems to excel at anything he touches.”

In the wings Mom just enjoys watching him play and she tries not to miss a minute.

“He loves it and it makes him happy to play,” said Wendy. “That’s what’s important.

Then there’s sister Jordan who also wants to play and right now is with the Buffalo Regals. She’s completed the Learn to Skate and is in the developmental program.

Jordan is already asking to play on Travel with a friend.

So it looks like the Mancuso family will be on the New York hockey scene for many years to come.

Photos by Janet Schultz

Mike Robitaille

15

Mike Robitaille Ready to Enjoy Life on His Terms

by Randy Schultz Randy@wnyhockeyreport.com Mike Robitaille remembers the first time he ever saw his face on a hockey trading card.

As Robitaille tells it, what was on the back of the card is what the former National Hockey League defenseman remembers most today.

“It was the first time I had ever seen my face on a hockey card,” recalled Robitaille, who played in the NHL for all or parts of nine seasons (1968-77) for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks. “I remember as a kid growing up dreaming about someday being on a hockey card and now it was a reality.

“But it was what was on the back of the card that I remember the most. Hockey cards used to have cartoons on the back talking about the player.

“What mine said is that I had an interest in broadcasting and considered that a career after my playing days were over with.

“It’s kind of spooky now to think back and that and see how my hockey life played out, especially with the broadcasting end of it.”

A staple of the Sabres broadcasting team for more than three decades, Robitaille retired following the recent 2013-14 NHL season.

Robitaille began his Sabres broadcasting career in 1980 when he was hired to be a color commentator and analyst on Sabres radio broadcasts as well as TV telecasts. Since then the former NHL defenseman has served in various roles on broadcasts including commentary and analysis for pregame, intermission and postgame reports.

He worked for WGR Radio, WGRZ-TV, Empire Sports Network and MSG. But one thing Robitaille was proudest of was being one of the founders of “Hockey Hotline,” the Sabres postgame show on Empire Sports Network in 1991.

In February of 2010 Roby was injured in a car accident,

suffering a spinal cord injury with neurological damage. for Robitaille Although he eventually returned to his broadcast duties, to handle.

Robitaille’s back was never the same.

He refused “It has really been difficult with my neck and back to report to in the cold, damp weather, to get around.,” stated the the Canucks Buffalo resident. “Plus I wanted to live life on my terms t r a i n i n g camp the for a change.

“As a player, I didn’t get to leave on my terms. I walked f o l l o w i n g in to play a game one night and never played a game season.

A lawsuit again. I ended up with a broken neck. w a s “I thought now was the right time to make the right l a u n c h e d decision for me. But believe me, it wasn’t the easiest by the decision for me to make.

Canucks against Robitaille. The defenseman then “But it was a good, long run.” countered with a suit of his own.

Robitaille had a philosophy when it came to hockey Finally in 1981 Robitaille was awarded a $355,000 by broadcasting. “I wasn’t working for the players,” he said. the Canucks. That’s when he returned to Buffalo.

“I was working for the fans. “I know I was critical of the “It was my comfort zone,” admitted Robitaille, who players at times. But I never wanted to cheat the fans.” was almost penniless at the time of the settlement. “It Along the way the Midland, Ontario native became just felt right coming back. “I had a lot of rehab to go an adopted Western New Yorker. There was a special through following my spinal injury as a player. But we relationship between Roby and Western New York got through that and the rest is history.” hockey fans.

Roby admits that his broadcasting career isn’t quite “It was a special relationship,” commented Robitaille. over with yet in Buffalo.

“I always felt like I worked for the Sabres fans and not “While I won’t be in the booth every night” said for ownership. “I would go as far as I could go on the broadcasts. I never wanted to shortchange the fans Robitaille, who resides with his wife, Isabelle. “I will drop back in occasionally to do some commentary on TV as intelligence. well as radio.

“And many of those players I criticized over the years, “I’m just going to try and enjoy life on my terms.” eventually grew up, matured, retired and became a fan of the game and listened to what I had to say. Many of them have told me over the years that I was right in what I had to say, not only about them, but the game today as well.”

Buffalo also played a role in Roby’s playing career. He spent nearly four seasons in a Sabres uniform.

“I had the opportunity to play with guys like Timmy Horton and Larry Hillman,” remarked the former defenseman. “I learned a lot in the two seasons I played with Horton.

“To me he was the best.”

Unfortunately, Robitaille was traded from the Sabres during the 1974-75 campaign to the Canucks where he career blossomed. He became known for his hard slapshot as well as his thundering hit checks.

It was with the Canucks that Roby began experiencing back pain. Then, during a game against the Pittsburgh FOR ALL PRODUCTS, SIZES & PRICING, Penguins during the 197677 season he was blindsided with a check that left him with a bruised spine at the base of his skull.

Although he tried playing through the rest of the season, the pain became too much

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Buffalo Jr Sabres

19

Local Colleges Scoring On Jr. Sabres’ Successes

by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com

As training camp opened for the 2014-15 Buffalo Junior Sabres’ Junior-A squad, the anticipation was building for the team’s eventual move to HARBORcenter in downtown Buffalo, which was anticipated as early as October.

New head coach John Tucker oversaw his first workouts on August 18. The team will play a pair of exhibition games with the Mississauga Chargers in late August then open their 2014-15 Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season Friday, September 5 at the Lindsay Muskies. Following a second road game, Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Georgetown Raiders, the Jr. Sabres will host their home opener at the Northtown Center at Amherst on Wednesday, Sept. 10 against the Milton Icehawks.

In the meantime, while Tucker was fine-tuning his roster for the coming season, several of the team’s recent alumni will be looking forward to skating at the HARBORcenter as future members of Canisius College hockey.

Josh Gabriel became the latest former Jr. Sabre to verbally commit to the Golden Griffins when he made the announcement in early August. He’ll join the program in 2015-16, after playing this season with the North American Hockey League’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

I’m really excited to go to Niagara,” said Kuhn, a Wheatfield native, in an article published by the Niagara Gazette on July 31. “It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. I grew up going to the games with my dad and my mom.”

Kuhn will join two Niagara Falls natives on the Purple Eagles roster, Patrick Conte and Vinny Muto, beginning in 2015-16 after playing one more season of junior hockey with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League.

Also coming to Niagara from the Buffalo Jr. Sabres is defenseman Dennis Gilbert, who like Kuhn will play this coming season in the USHL. In Gilbert’s case, it will be with the Chicago Steel.

Until the respective players sign their National Letters of Intent, coaches from Canisius and Niagara cannot comment on their prospects. Buffalo Jr. Sabres director of hockey operations and Junior-A team general manager Michael Peca, however, told the Niagara Gazette in late July that the Purple Eagles were most impressed with Kuhn.

“Talking to Niagara’s assistant coaches earlier in the year, Ryan really caught their eye early in the year,” said Peca.

“Whenever a first-year junior player catches the eye of a school, you want to make sure that the player is developing properly and, as the season progresses, is showing signs of improvement. Ryan did that.”

“It helps that they’re close to home,” said Kuhn when asked about Niagara’s appeal. “I’d like to stay home and go to school.

And, they’re always one of the better programs in Atlantic Hockey. I know they have a chance of winning it every year.”

Niagara and Canisius are not the only regional NCAA Division I programs that have secured Jr. Sabres players. Max Mikowski, for example, is about to begin his freshman year in Rochester at RIT. For the Jr. Sabres organization, it’s very encouraging to see the regional programs recruiting local players.

“It’s only smart for Niagara and Canisius to really look in their own backyard,” said Peca. “You look at the success of Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College, Boston University and the plethora of Massachusetts schools, you try and grow from within. Part of the goal, even with the Jr. Sabres youth program, is we want Buffalo to become a very hot hockey-committed town. I think it is, but we want to grow to become what Michigan has, what Massachusetts has, where kids grow up wanting to play for their local Division I school.”

Josh Gabriel

When he enrolls at Canisius, he’ll have former Jr. Sabres teammates Nolan Sheeran and Ryan Schmelzer there to greet him, as well as Josh Kielich, who joined the team in the 2013-14 season.

Meanwhile, up the 190 at Monteagle Ridge, Niagara University is also becoming a popular choice for former Jr. Sabres players. Ryan Kuhn became the latest to verbally commit to the Purple Eagles in late July.

“It feels good. It’s always been a goal of mine to play Division I so I’m excited to verbally commit somewhere, and

In the meantime, wouldn’t Peca prefer to have his recent players stay in Western New York for their final year of junior, rather than head to the Midwest before returning for college?

“I’m not one to fight with the USHL. I’ll be honest, if there’s a kid that I feel is not ready for the USHL, I’ll be the first one to tell him,” said Peca. “Too many people want to go there because they think it’s the best thing for them. That’s really only the case

WNYHockeyReport.com

if the player’s development is at a certain level to be able to compete there, because USHL for the most part is a win and result oriented league. We (the Jr. Sabres’ OJHL team) fancy ourselves more as a developmental league.”

Judging by the increased trend of local products getting courted by local Division I programs, it may not be long until the Jr. Sabres and Western New York youth hockey have the same model as in Massachusetts and Michigan.

Photo by: Dan Hickling OJHL Images

Top Shelf Training

20

Looking To Gain An Edge...

Try Double Shift Interval Training

By Mike Smietana info@topshelfhockey.us Players these days are all looking for an edge to gain on the competition. Interval training is a great asset to any players game looking to gain that edge. The key to interval training is to remember that time is your ally. Don’t try to over work your muscles and go right for the high amount of repetitions and high amount of allotted time to perform the set. Always start with lower numbers and then work your way up. Many times if you over-train in the early stages of an exercise program you will most likely burn out. Therefore when following this program remember to start at the lower amount of sets and work your way up! Also, always remember to become a top shelf athlete you must be willing to do things today that other players will not.

That means extra shooting in the driveway, extra stickhandling around the house and extra pushups, squats and situps every day! A great story I read years back was on the legendary future hall of famer Jaromir Jagr, and that was to perform 1000 squats a day! Jagr was known to perform these squats even on game days. Here is a interval program that each player young or old can add to his/her game. For more information on personalized ice hockey training please contact info@topshelfhockey.us

Pre Game Warmup

Always perform a pregame warm-up! Most NHL players, especially Europeans play soccer dribble games before they take the ice. Soccer Dribble is a sport skill game where players will try to dribble the soccer ball for as long as they can without letting the ball touch the ground.

The Game

See chart at right.

Post Game Cooldown

Be sure to cool down. Take a slow walk or jog for 5 minutes to relax your heart.

Flexibility

Mike Smietana, A.S., PHYS EDU, C.P.T. Aerobics & Fitness Association of America is the owner of Top Shelf Training. www.topshelfhockey.us

WNYHockeyReport.com

Rochester Jr Americans

21

Rochester Jr Americans Junior Americans Join USPHL Premier Division The Rochester Junior Americans will join the United States Premier Hockey League’s Premier Division for the 2014-2015 season. Rochester is joined by the Springfield Pics to bring the total number of Premier Division teams to 11 for the upcoming season.

“This achievement has been a decade in the making,” said Junior Americans owner Dave Maksymiu. “We sat around a table 10 years ago and discussed raising the level of hockey in Rochester to support the highest level of junior hockey. The idea was to improve the training, the coaching, and the overall experience for hockey players. There have been many contributors to this process. This is a huge success for everyone.”

save percentage for Rochester.

“Will had dedicated himself to improving over the past couple seasons and it has paid off,” said head coach Craig Macdonald. “I look forward to seeing him step up his game even more at the Premier level.”

Conlan Keenan, another local Rochester product, led the team in points last season amassing 25 goals and 36 assists in 40 games.

“Conlan has an incredible skill set and has the ability to change a game every night,” said Macdonald. “He will be looked at to help lead the way again next season.”

The USPHL Premier Division features teams that are owned and supported by NHL and AHL franchises, including the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Portland Pirates.

“We are excited to bring the highest level of competitive junior hockey possible to Rochester,” said Junior Americans owner Jeff Kolcon. “Local youth players are now able to play and develop at the highest level while living at home. This is an incredible step forward for Western New York Hockey.”

In its 2013-2014 inaugural season, the USPHL had well in excess of 150 participants that will go on to play collegiate hockey with approximately 70 committed to play NCAA Division I hockey, making it the clear leader in the East to help aspiring players reach their collegiate goals. The Junior Americans program has had over 60 players commit to playing college hockey in the past eight 8 seasons, as well as sending players to the major junior and professional ranks.

“The rest of the coaching staff and I are very excited about moving into the Premier Division,” said head coach Craig Macdonald. “Not only is it good for our program, but it’s great for our players, who will now be playing at the highest level of junior hockey in the east and in the heart of college hockey.”

Last season the Junior Americans fielded teams at four levels in the USPHL: the Elite and Empire Junior Divisions, and the 18U and 16U Midget Divisions. The Elite and Empire teams both won their regular season titles and the Elite team went 8-4-3 when playing against top-level Premier Division teams throughout the season.

“Last season we got a taste of the Premier Division and we held our own,” said Macdonald. “Our coaches and players know that we have a big challenge ahead of us but we can’t wait to start playing games against the top level of competition.”

“Shaun battled through a couple injuries last season and still had great numbers,” said Macdonald. “I will look for Shaun to continue his great play into the 2014-15 season.”

Conlan Keenan in game action.

Joining Keenan up front will be Shaun Patry, who had an impressive 2013-14 season accumulating 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 31 games with the Elite team.

All three players are local products and key contributors to the program for many years, with Patry and Massey entering their fifth seasons with the Junior Americans program, and Keenan entering his fourth.

This is the basis of the Junior Americans model which looks to take local players from the midget level and progress them to the junior level locally.

ROCHESTER YOUTH HOCKEY

TOURNAMENTS

Premier Team Re-signs Three Key Players The Junior Americans Premier team is proud to announce the re-signing of three key players from last season’s team. Although these are not new faces, they will be looked upon to be key contributors as the team moves into the USPHL Premier Division.

Will Massey will be leading the way in net again after leading the USPHL Elite Division in nearly every goaltending category last season. The Penfield, NY native posted a 20-3 record with a 1.89 GAA and a .932

www.ryhockeytournaments.com WNYHockeyReport.com

Junior Hockey

22

Welcome Back Hockey!

by Jeff Kolcon Jeff@maksymum.com Like many, our family took a vacation this summer. We travel to a beautiful spot in northern Michigan where the air is pure, water is still and the golf balls fly straighter and longer. Vacations, especially for hockey families, are important. I don’t know if hockey was discussed once during our time in the woods. With a 14 year old son playing travel, a daughter moving to Toronto to continue her hockey and me with the hockey business, one would think that we would have a tough time talking about other things.

We had no issues setting the sport aside. The accomplishments during the 10 days were vast and varied. My son learned to wakeboard with his sister.

Both kids learned to drive the boat after studying feverishly to pass the Michigan Boating Safety course.

As a family, we played numerous rounds of golf. The two kids and I even slid in a couple of rounds without mom. Each person in the family started and finished at least one book that we were hoping to get to. Mostly we relaxed.

The hockey family life is an acquired taste. If you are on the outside looking in, it is very difficult to understand.

The length of the season, the distances traveled, the

financial commitment. The sport is not for everyone. All of us that travel down the road of competitive hockey also know that it is easy to get consumed. Where is everyone playing next year? What spring team? What camp? Is that the latest stick? If I only had those skates!

As a player or parent, it comes with the territory to some extent.

We pulled into Port Huron, Michigan on the journey back to Western New York. We found a Disney like camp ground where we could pull into for the night. Port Huron is about the midpoint of our trip and sits right on the border. The campground is huge. Hundreds of sites. Dozens of activities. This is a final destination for most travelers.

Our family is exhausted. On the road all day. Add to that the post vacation depression that follows when saying goodbye to family, friends and a truly magical vacation. My wife and I decide to go for a stroll. I admit, we were really people watching. The kids took off to find ice cream. After 30 minutes or so, the four of us cross paths at the campgrounds sports complex. Basketball, tennis, tetherball, go karts, bouncy house, pool, and a sport court. This place had it all.

On the sport court was a hockey net. Two small boys with their sticks and a tennis ball. Every major advertising firm would have killed to capture on film the next 60 minutes. It is the magic that every summer fun commercial try’s to capture.

Both of my kids, although much older jogged over to the camp office to see if they had sticks. They sent me to the RV to retrieve sneakers for them. They were already in mid game by the time I returned. By then,

there were 8 kids from ages 7 to 18 including three girls.

My wife and I went over to the stands and sat. Drawn to the laughs, the shrieks, the disputed goals. The fun.

Within a few minutes, there were at least 30 players.

As new players arrived, someone would point at a net. With a nod of acknowledgment, the new player knew his direction and his team. The player ages now included a few dads. However, they entered to games as equals. There was no reverence to their age or their skill. In fact, both seemed to be towards the bottom of the skill category.

I looked to my left and to my right. On the left, a group of teenaged girls had gathered. They were related to a few of the boys and had their eyes on a few of the older ones. They sat, laughed, cheered and discussed the cute guys amongst each other. On my right, were now a dozen or more families, drawn to watch. What was two boys and a tennis ball was now close to a hundred people. All laughing, smiling, and enjoying the moment. No one will ever remember the score. No official sheet tracked the points or the penalties. No trophies were awarded.

A darkness arrived, the event wound down. Kids and adults strolled away to start the nightly camping rituals. Campfire sparkled, music wafted and s’mores were devoured.

As I walked back to the campsite with my two kids.

My daughter said to my son “That was awesome!” He replied “yea, I needed that.”

I thought to myself and smiled. Me too.

Welcome back Hockey.

West Seneca Youth Hockey Association

WSYHA house league open for registration.

• Beginners through Midgets • Registration at the Town Recreation Department – 674-6086 for more info

Questions call Jim Schoenhals at 913-3475 www.westsenecayouthhockey.com WNYHockeyReport.com

Rochester Youth Hockey

2014 Amerks Street HockeyFest The third annual Amerks Street Hockey Fest at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex was the biggest and best yet with participation from over 200 youth players!

Thanks again to all who played and start getting those teams ready for next year’s event!

Fundraiser to Benefit

Bud Bakewell Youth Hockey Food

Spaghetti Dinner & Basket Raffle

Music

Saturday, September 13, 2014 • 5:00pm – 9:00pm American Legion Post 1041 523 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY Drinks Raffles Donation $10 Win: A Flat Screen TV, Signed Sabres Memorabilia & More!

Join The Bud Bakewell Bruins – Visit budbakewellhockey.com A premier hockey organization, where our athletes come first!

WNYHockeyReport.com

23

Sponsors

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hockey club events 2014-15: January 16-19th, 2015: The Hockey Cup AAA tournament (2002/2003/2004/2005) at Holiday Twin Rinks, Nichols Dann arena, & the Depew Ice pavilion. We are looking for volunteers as October 17-19th 2014: 1st annual Sled hockey tournament at there are nearly 100 AAA teams from across the U.S. & Canada. the Depew Ice pavilion.

We are also looking for sponsors. Please contact Richard Zacher October 18th 2014: The USA hockey traveling sled hockey truck at zach11@msn.com or 716-316-2401 if you are interested in volunteering or a sponsorship. will be at the Depew rink for our try sled hockey for free day.

October 10-13th 2014: 16U/18U AAA Columbus day tournament at the Depew Ice pavilion & Nichols Dann Arena.

October 18th 2014: Saints night out/Sled hockey tournament reception at the Eagles club Broadway & Borden in the village of Depew from-8-12 pm.

Please visit www.saintshockey.com for more information.

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WNYHockeyReport_Aug2014.pdf

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Senior Hockey

26

Sands Are Shifting In Local Senior Leagues

by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com

new downtown complex has some teams leaving their longtime perches in other leagues to fill highly coveted spots in HARBORCENTER’s forthcoming league.

Even before construction of HARBORCENTER was completed, applications were already rushing in for its senior leagues, which are scheduled to begin play in October. According to HARBORCENTER arena manager Chuck Lawless, more than 100 requests came in for just under 30 spots.

Adult Hockey: Arrival of HARBORCENTER, Lockport’s new rink are just some of the changes With the arrival of September comes the start of new seasons for numerous adult hockey leagues in rinks throughout Western New York. Many of them were scheduled to start just a few days after the Labor Day holiday.

This year, however, will bring some noticeable changes to the senior league landscape. One longestablished local league launches a new partnership while the much-anticipated arrival of the Buffalo Sabres’

“We’ll have three divisions, the premier league, weekday and weekend,” Lawless said.

HARBORCENTER isn’t the only new rink where senior teams will find new homes. Up in Lockport, the Cornerstone Arena is also seeking interested teams for its leagues, which are also expected to open in October, including a 40-over league on Sunday nights and open league (18 and up) from Monday through Thursday.

Meanwhile, other organizers were waiting to see how the new leagues may affect their own respective leagues this fall. Among those watching closely is HockeyBuff, which for many years has been a league of choice for local advanced and intermediate level players. Currently based at the Northtown Center at Amherst, participants include several former professional, collegiate or junior level players. Now, league organizer Jim Heaney is concerned that most of the higher-end players who have skated in HockeyBuff for the past several seasons will vacate his league for HARBORCENTER.

WNYHockeyReport.com

“Most of the leagues are facing a challenge between one rink opening downtown and the other in Lockport and they’re attracting a number of teams from existing leagues to play,” Heaney said to WNYHR. “We’re trying our best to hang on to our teams and waiting to see how things shake out over the course of next year or so.”

Heaney certainly isn’t alone. Some of the larger leagues are also wondering how their divisions will look after the anticipated shuffling.

“There’s still a demand but we do think there will be a migration of teams,” said Frank Albert, who runs the Performax league out of Northtown Center at Amherst.

“We are anticipating it will create more opportunity, possibly in the short term it may create some losses.”

While they’re undoubtedly trying to bring teams in, organizers at the new facilities say they’re not trying to hurt the other venues in the region.

“We looked at their schedules. We made our schedule so that it didn’t interfere with any of their times,” said Lawless. “A lot of the leagues they have, the over-35, the over-40, that’s one thing we didn’t go after just because we don’t want to take away from any of the other leagues.”

Some of the long-established leagues in Western New York will still prove appealing to their member teams and players with unique events such as mid-season tournaments and prizes to season or tournament champions.

Senior Hockey

The Erie Metro Hockey League, for example, gives Sabres tickets to both winners and losers in playoffs.

The winners get 16 tickets in all while the losers get four which they can raffle off. In addition, the EMHL’s playoff semifinal and final series are best-of-three series.

They’re steps taken to offer incentive and ensure parity to keep the league exciting.

“We’ve got everybody ranked really close in competition,” said EMHL organizer Joe Kalczynski. “The playoffs are really close and a lot of fun. We break into five divisions once we hit January, so that makes it really a close tight division of five or six teams.”

How do they keep things interesting in the Batavia Men’s Hockey League? They host a random draft before their season starts in early September.

“You get the most of camaraderie of the league,” said organizer Steve Pies. “You’re not necessarily always on the same team. It can change.”

Some leagues host mid-season tournaments, including the league at Dwyer Arena at Niagara University.

“We run an overnight challenge Iron Man tournament in December,” said league organizer Christian Glowinski in an email to WNYHR. “The tournament consists of 3-on-3 with a goalie, half-ice games. We also run a yearly tournament in April called the Niagara Challenge. This is a full adult league tournament and usually runs the last weekend in April.”

The Old Tyme Hockey League of East Aurora runs a similar partial-rink 3-on-3 tournament at the Healthy

Zone in East Aurora, the Molson IceDome tournament, in March. The tournament usually runs the same weekend as OTHLEA hosts its Lord Manly Cup championship game.

In addition to the new ice facilities in the BuffaloNiagara area, one of the more significant changes to local senior hockey is a new partnership introduced this summer between Holiday-Leisure Rinks and Old Tyme Hockey League, the latter of which runs its league at the Healthy Zone rink in East Aurora (and, in the interest of full disclosure, operates this publication).

The result of that partnership is the formation of the Molson Old Tyme Hockey League of Buffalo, which will play out of Holiday Twin Rinks and Leisure Rinks, succeeding the former Labatt Senior Hockey League.

“Basically, Ian (Woods, OTHLEA president) approached us and as a result of downtown coming into play and Lockport, we were trying to find a way to … competition is there, what can we do different to improve and make things look newer, to kind of give us a facelift,” said Ron Nowakowski at Holiday Twin Rinks. “We’ve been kind of evolving over the years – we’re the only ones with running clock (for periods) – we’ve had different suspensions from all the other leagues. Everybody does certain things that are unique to their league.”

Nowakowski suggested what the new partnership does is bring some of the sponsorships that have backed OTHLEA into play with one of the largest leagues in the region.

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27

to keep their membership base healthy. Steve Pies explained that the Batavia Men’s Hockey League draws players from more than the Batavia area.

“Medina, Buffalo, Rochester, I would say maybe 40 percent of the guys in the Batavia league actually live in Batavia,” Pies said.

Up in Niagara Falls, Hyde Park will once again play host to three leagues, the Honey’s Sunday League, the Tuesday night league featuring teams with individual bar sponsors and the Thursday night Judi’s Lounge league. How popular is it to play at Hyde Park? There’s a waiting list of players to get in, some of whom have been on that list for some time.

“We’ll probably have a turnover of about 14 guys this year,” said organizer Tom DeRosa. “Years differ. Some years we might lose two or three guys either to a job change or they get hurt.”

While local senior hockey will enter a new era this fall, one of uncertainty for some leagues, the new guys on the block think that when the sands stop shifting, there will still be plenty of senior hockey for players – and the rinks – to go around Western New York.

“I understand there are teams that may have signed up (at HARBORCENTER) that played in other leagues around the area, but our goal isn’t to take away from any of those leagues,” said Lawless. “We’re just hoping to build hockey in the area.”

Men’s Club Hockey Report

28

UNYCHL Commissioner Musto Leading Burgeoning League

by Lars Lewis lars@wnyhockeyreport.com While Summer is here and players, coaches and parents alike are enjoying the vacation, UNYCHL (Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League) Commissioner Andy Musto is hard at work, building his league to even greater heights.

The league is adding two, potentially three new teams for the 2014-2015 season to the list of 13 teams currently there.

Daemen College will be entering the West Division with seven other schools from Western New York and Utica College will make the East Division their home.

Skidmore College (near Albany), is also possibly joining the UNYCHL in the East Division.

In a turn of events, the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) will be teaming up with the budding league for the 2014-2015 season instead of the nowdefunct Collegiate Ice Hockey Association (CIHA).

I had the opportunity to interview Commissioner Musto and how his league has transformed from simply creating a league with a purpose for his players to play, to a budding and affordable league for multiple universities in New York to look into and join.

1) Did you envision anything like this when this league started in 2006 with a mere six teams and even you were one of the head coaches (At Lemoyne)?

MUSTO: Actually not at all. When I started the league it was for teams whose budgets didn’t allow them to pay $1000 or more to join any other association or league. It was more to give my guys at Le Moyne something to play for, a kick in the pants to get them to work hard.

This has expanded beyond my wildest dreams, yet I’m happy to say it still has that small league feel.

2) Now with 14 teams in the league, will there now be a change in the current playoff format? If yes why?

If no, why not?

MUSTO: With the expansion we could have 16 teams in the league. I like the current format as do the teams.

The top four teams in each division play out until we get two teams from each division. Then we cross over, which is my favorite part (West 1 vs. East 2, East 1 vs. West 2).

I like the unknown. The East and West don’t officially play each other during the regular season although some teams schedule non-league games with the other division. I always believed the two best teams should play for the title. So this way, if the two best teams are from the same division so be it.

We may look to add two wild card teams this year, but we are always conscious of cost. We don’t want to run into a big money scenario. This is a cost-conscious league and will remain that way as long as I am here.

3) What has been the driving force behind this league and its expansion over the years? What has made this different compared to the much larger ACHA? MUSTO: I believe it’s the way we run it. I like to call it a “family league”. I know all the coaches personally and some have become good friends of mine.

Bob Shattell of Le Moyne, Randy Smallridge of St. John Fisher, Jim Doersam of University at Buffalo and Ed

Kirchberger of Medaille are big keys to the success of the “U”.

The cost for the league fee is carefully figured out to cover the final four ice slots and trophies. No one makes any money. That isn’t what this is about.

We do everything as a democracy.

While the final decision has to come from me as Commissioner, any changes are discussed with all the teams, allowing them to voice approval or disapproval.

Then we weigh the pros and cons and decide from there.

The teams have a vested interest in the way the league runs, it’s rules, format and cost. It makes the teams feel like it is their league not just some league they play in.

We don’t want nor are we trying to compete with the ACHA. Let’s face it, they are the preeminent college club association around and a great organization if teams have the budget for it.

This league is about keeping travel cost down while building great rivalries and supplying good competition in a cost effective manner. If the “U” wasn’t around, most of these teams wouldn’t be playing in an organized league because they couldn’t afford to and other teams with certain insurance wouldn’t be allowed to play them.

I just think that is ludicrous and unfair.

That is something I am very proud of. I believe affiliating with the NCHA gives our teams even more to play for if they choose to do so.

5) With Rochester/Nazareth winning the league back in February and becoming the first West Division team since St. John Fisher in 2007, do you sense a power shift between the divisions and why?

MUSTO: The West Division is INCREDIBLY strong. Any of those teams could win it any year. They pound each other the whole season and it’s just great hockey. The East hit a rough patch last season when SUNY Canton had to shut down due to money issues. So they were weakened a little.

But you still had Union from the East play in the championship vs. U of Rochester/Nazareth and it was a close, exciting game. With Utica and potentially Skidmore joining Hamilton, Union, Le Moyne, Hobart and upstart Oneonta, I think this season the East will close the gap that developed last season.

6) Now that the league is now garnering a lot of attention from schools looking for a more affordable option and more competitive hockey compared to the ACHA, in your mind, what is the limit for the UNYCHL and how far can it go for you to be completely satisfied 4) With the NCHA and the UNYCHL joining up for with the league? the 2014-2015 season, what happened to the CIHA, MUSTO: Well the ACHA has incredibly competitive the organization that originally was going to be the hockey and some of the best college club teams in the partner? nation so I don’t think competition is the issue.

MUSTO: For some unforeseen issues, the CIHA ceased It’s really cost-based. But like the way the UNYCHL is operations. From that sprung a new organization to take now. its place in the NCHA. I am always afraid of it getting too big. If it does get too It’s President Michael E. Smietana Jr. is a great guy and big, the league outgrows itself and becomes more of a is very competent. He’s from the Buffalo area so he knows business and I don’t want that. our West Division teams pretty well.

When it gets to that point, if it ever does, I’d have to take He has the full support of the UNYCHL and I am a hard look at whether it would be time for me to step confident this is going to work. down.

I believe that the NCHA is going to do for the national The trouble is, I have a hard time saying no to teams that picture what the “U” has done locally. That is provide want to join. teams with a national organization that is low cost. Again, I’ve been there. not competing with anyone, just an alternative.

When I took over Le Moyne, we were independent that The “U” teams are not required to join. I would never tell first season. It’s hard to motivate guys, especially late in the anyone that they have to spend money their teams don’t season, if there isn’t anything to play for. But I eventually have. But I encourage it and, based on last year, “U” teams have 9:49 to capAMthe amount of teams. That is something else WNYHockeyReport_Testimonial2.pdf 1 the 2/14/14 will comprise the biggest bulk from any one league in that will be discussed at the summer meetings. nation.

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HarborCENTER

Buffalo’s HarborCENTER On Target for Fall Opening The Buffalo HarborCENTER is on target for an opening in the Fall. The final beam was put into place in June.

The media were invited to watch the event and then toured the facility which features two ice pads, a hotel, restaurant, special locker rooms for the Canisius Men’s team and the Junior Sabres. The beam was autographed by the entire construction crew and members of the Buffalo Sabres organization including team, coaches, administrators, staff and owners.

Here are photos from that day with John Koelmel and Cliff Benson putting the last signatures on the beam; the beam over Buffalo as it moves towards it’s final destination and workers anchoring it in place.

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www.buffaloregals.org WNYHockeyReport.com

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