WNY Hockey Report November 2015

November 2015 VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 5

E XCITING CHANGES COMING TO THE LOCAL HOCKEY SCENE...

ALSO INSIDE:

ECC 40 THE FRENCH CONNECTION AMHERST HIRES GRANT LEDYARD Follow All The WNY Hockey News @

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Contents

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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 Communications & Marketing Director Val Andrews Val@wnyhockeyreport.com

College Hockey: Men.........................................................................4 Rochester Americans.........................................................................6 In The Crease.......................................................................................7 Legends: The French Connection....................................................8 Top Shelf Training...............................................................................9 Women’s Hockey.............................................................................. 10 Precision Training............................................................................ 12 Lockport Youth Hockey.................................................................. 13 Mark Zarbo Training........................................................................ 14 Section V............................................................................................ 14 ECC – 40 Years of Hockey................................................................ 15 Around the Associations................................................................ 18 College Club Hockey....................................................................... 20 Section VI........................................................................................... 22 HPHD.................................................................................................. 24 Power Edge Pro................................................................................ 25 NAIHF................................................................................................. 26 Rochester Youth Hockey News...................................................... 27

Columnists Janet Schultz - janet@wnyhockeyreport.com Michael Mroziak - michael@wnyhockeyreport.com Steve Thomson - steve@hphd.us Mark Metzger - m.metzger@precisionhockey.net Mike Smietana - info@topshelfhockey.us Dave Ricci – dave@wnyhockeyreport.com Bob Janosz – www.bobjanosz.com Mark Zarbo – www.MarkZarboHockey.com Melissa Brawdy – melissa@wnyhockeyreport.com Skylar Vitko-Woods WNY HOCKEY REPORT No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy and facsimile, without permission in writing from the publisher.

WNY HOCKEY REPORT is an equal opportunity employer.

Contents 2015 Western New York Hockey Report.

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Men’s Collegiate Hockey

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Men’s College Hockey Report BUFFALO STATE

by Warren Kozireski Warren@wnyhockeyreport.com

BROCKPORT After coming within a goal (and an empty netter) of advancing to the SUNYAC finals for the first time in program history, the Golden Eagles appear primed to take that next step.

Senior goaltender Jared Lockhurst begins the year as the top guy after three years of splitting time. “Jared has played in some big games during his career but we’re hoping the he raises his game which would provide us a chance to win every night,” head coach Brian Dickinson said.

Leading scorer and First Team All-SUNYAC selection Chase Nieuwendyk returns for his senior season. Aidan Verbeke, Zac Sikich and Ryan Kangas all had solid freshmen campaigns, but will be needed to increase their offensive output on a nightly basis. Senior James Ryan is coming off a down year and “we’re hoping to see James regain the scoring touch he showed earlier in his career.”

More will be expected from Jake Taylor and Jeremy DeFazio up front as well.

The defense appears solid with First Team AllSUNYAC Chris Luker embarks on his final collegiate season with classmates Chad Cummings and Jonathan Demme along with junior Robbie Hall.

Recruits Tim Kielich and Jamie Lukas are forwards that will compete for ice time right away. “Tim had a very solid career with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and has the ability to provide scoring at this level and Jamie Lukas is a very heady player the sees the ice well and makes others around him play better. On defense, newcomers Connar Bass, Nick Palumbo and Trevor Simonick will all compete for the few spots available with Cole Burack and Jake Moore both new in goal.

“We looking forward to getting back to the playoffs and taking that next step in order to reach our ultimate goal of winning a SUNYAC championship,” said Dickinson. “We’re excited to build off of last year’s finish and getting off to a quick start will be imperative to success. We will need to be ready early as this year we begin our season with league rival Cortland which means points matter from opening night.”

Four straight trips to the SUNYAC semi-finals has the Bengals itching for more, especially after losing just one player from last year’s roster. What has changed is behind the bench with interim head coach Steven Murphy after the departure of Nick Carriere to the American Hockey League as an assistant coach.

“Getting to and losing in the semi-finals the past four years has this group focused,” Murphy said.

“Finishing the season 5-1-1 was a great way to close out last season and we’re hoping to pick up right where we left off.

“The bottom line is we want to win the SUNYAC Championship. There are a lot of things that need to happen in order for us to achieve our goal.

Playing in such a great conference from top to bottom provides us with so many challenges throughout the season, but ultimately if we take care of what we can control and find discipline and consistency right out of the gates, we believe this is a reachable goal.”

Ryan Salkeld, Jason Zaleski and Brett Hope all eclipsed the 20-point mark last season and four other forwards provided scoring depth with ten or more points including Nick Berst (Depew) and Jake Rosen (East Amherst).

Sophomore Brody Power will be called on to anchor the blueline along with seniors Scott Roy and Sean Hrivnak and junior Charles Lapierre.

Sophomore Ian Sylves and junior Mike DeLaVergne virtually split the net duties last season, but the latter played all of the key games down the stretch and postseason.

“All of our freshman (Jon Hall, AJ Duggan, and Mac Wood) will be expected to have an immediate impact. Each guy will help us significantly at both ends of the ice. We wanted to get more offensive while finding guys who played hard in the D-zone, we believe these three are a great additions.”

FREDONIA The Blue Devils can’t wait to put the 2014-15 season in the rearview mirror—one that resulted in zero conference wins for the first time in program history and being outscored in those games by almost a three-towin margin.

Taylor Bourne, Hunter Long and Marcus Ortiz will be asked to lead the offense that lost two seniors and two underclassmen from among last season’s top six scorers.

Taking care of their own end will be an emphasis with senior defensemen and co-captains Ryan Wilkinson and Mitch Kaufmann along with junior

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Zach White and sophomores Oskar Gerhardson and Jamie Young in front of senior goaltender Jeff Flagler, who “returns for his final season with confidence and a chip on his shoulder to lead the Blue Devils back to the SUNYAC playoffs,” according to assistant coach Michael Lysyj.

Todd Schauss, Sam Wilbur, Jon Carlson and Eric Bogart are among the first year Blue Devils who will get an immediate chance to jump into top roles.

“We expect to bring excitement back to the Fredonia Hockey. We expect to play a fast and physical brand of hockey that is conducive to winning in the SUNYAC. We have a lot to prove this season and we know that it will take every player, coach and staff member to make it a reality.”

GENESEO The Knights finished a solid third in the regular season, but were bounced from the postseason in the quarterfinals.

They will embark on 201516 without three of their top five scorers, two key defensemen and two senior goaltenders.

Junior Mat Leon inherits the number one job in net, but brings just three games of collegiate experience with him. He will be challenged by newcomer Devin McDonald.

Left wing Stephen Collins (Pittsford) is the top returning scorer and expected to be the leader offensively. Junior Trevor Hills (Honeoye Falls) had a good first year and the coaching staff “expects him to take another step this year to be one of our top offensive players,” according to head coach Chris Schultz.

Senior captain Nate Brown is expected to be the leader on the blue line along with senior Matt Solomon plus juniors Cam Hampson and Derek Stahl.

Other newcomers who could step into key roles right away include left wing Arthur Gordon, who has some size, and right wing playmaker Anthony Marra.

“We are more inexperienced than the previous two years with eight new faces that will be expected to acclimatize quickly,” Schultz said.

“Inexperience might hurt us at the beginning of the season, but the coaching staff will be required to get them up to speed to be playing into March.

This is one of the more unknown preseason outlooks that I have had in a long time. But, I will tell you, that I really like our team and what they bring to our campus community.”

NAZARETH Head coach George Roll and his staff have slowly built the

Men’s Collegiate Hockey Golden Flyers into a competitive unit highlighted by last season’s third place regular season finish and the program’s first postseason victory.

Now for year four.

We have made a steady assent towards the top of the league,” Roll said. “That being said I feel our league is extremely deep with good teams and, in my opinion, any team can win it this year. I do not feel there is an outright favorite heading into the season. There is a lot of parity, but it is a high level of parity and will be difficult to predict a winner.”

Leading scorer Ben Blasko won’t return, but Scott Dawson and CJ Murray, injured most of last year, are expected to be difference makers this season.

“Scott has the ability to dominate a game defensively and has the confidence to be an offensive force. CJ and Oliver Jansen are two players we will need to help.”

Dominik Gabaj netted ten goals last year while Justin LaCorte and Rocky Gruttadauria (Spencerport) scored in double-figures and are back among the top two lines.

Aside from Dawson, the defense will a veteran group led by seniors Don Olivieri, Mike Miller and James Redman plus junior Marcus Moles and sophomore Ryan Walter. Senior goaltender Ed Zdolshek could be one of the best netminders in the ECAC West. “(Recruits) Brad Pizzey Austin Romzek and Dave Powlowski all should contribute after having very good junior careers, but because we have a core

of returning players we can be patient with their development.”

NIAGARA Freshmen Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield) and Nick Farmer tallied their first collegiate goals Oct. 9 vs.

St. Lawrence.

R.I.T. After selling out Blue Cross Arena for the sixth consecutive year for their Brick City Homecoming game against Bowling Green, the school will try for seventh straight in 2016 against the University of Connecticut.

The Tigers lost their first two games before settling for a tie in the Bowling Green contest.

“Someone asked me who is going to step and do the scoring,” head coach Wayne Wilson said.

“As a staff I think we’ve got to start prodding our guys—the forwards in particular I guess. We have confidence and we think we have a good team, but now they have to have confidence in themselves and we’re not there yet.”

Forward Mike Bournazakis (’04) and 27-year broadcaster Randy Bloechl (Gates) were inducted

Oct. 18 as part of the 2015 Class into the RIT Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bournazakis was a first team All-American in 2001-02 and assistant captain in 2002-03. He led the Tigers in points and assists three times, tallying 210 points on 68 goals and 142 assists in 106 games.

During his stint, Bloechl broadcasted more than 700 games and in 1993, was one of three broadcasters to receive an engraved hockey jersey in recognition of their services. Upon retirement from broadcasting, Bloechl was presented with a plaque from WITR. The team’s 10-goal deficit opening weekend marked the largest margin of defeat over two consecutive games in the Tigers Division I era.

OTHER AREA NOTES: • Riley Bourbonnais (Greece) was named ECAC Player of the Week in October after he scored both goals in RI’s 2-1 upset of Boston College.

• Trevor Mingoia (Pittsford) was named Hockey East Player of the Week after he scored twice and added four assists for Providence in a weekend October series with Miami.

• J.T. Stenglein (Greece) was named Big Ten Player of the Week after his four-point IceBreaker Tournament October weekend for Michigan State.

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5

Rochester Americans

6

Amerks Report

by Warren Kozireski Warren@wnyhockeyreport.com

Even after the offseason trade for number one goaltender Robin Lehner, the Buffalo Sabres had multiple questions about their goaltending depth entering the 2015-16 season.

Many of those questions remain—especially with the long-term injury to Lehner—but the early play of Nathan Lieuwen and Linus Ullmark in Rochester have eased some of those fears a bit.

Lieuwen had not played a game since revealing vision problems he was having that were likely lingering from a concussion suffered at the end of 2013-14. But he looked much like his old fourthin-the-AHL-in-goals-against-average in 2013-14 self in making 35 saves on 38 shots.

The bigger unknown was 2012 sixth-round draft pick Ullmark.

After undergoing not one, but surgery on both hips during the offseason, the Swede wasn’t supposed to play until mid-November at the earliest. But the injury to Lehner resulted in Lieuwen’s call-up. With Andrey Makarov’s

struggles last season (23-21-3, 2.75 GAA, .909 save percentage) the Sabres needed to find out what Ullmark could do at the professional level before deciding if they needed to make a move for a netminder.

Ullmark started the Amerks second game of the season and picked up the win with 38 saves while allowing just one goal. At St. John’s in his second appearance, he allowed four goals while stopping 29 shots.

“He had progressed to the point where he was ahead of schedule and could handle the workload,” Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth said after the game. “You could see he was enjoying himself in practice, getting stronger and more confident and that showed in his play—it’s huge.

“Reaction, positioning, quickness, reading and finding the puck; just textbook and a big reason why we managed to get the win. He was tested all night and you could tell he was sharp from the drop of the puck.

“Medically and for all the other reasons he had to be ready. Nobody is going to jeopardize the previous work, but he handled it quite well.

“Makarov has been good as well. He had a good camp aside from one outing, but we know what he’s capable of. He’s a guy that fights and battles and is ready to any challenge.”

Linus Ullmark in action. Photos by Micheline Veluvolu/ Rochester Americans.

“It’s always a wonderful feeling to win and the first game in eight months or so—it feels great,” Ullmark said of his first professional game.

The 6’4”, 212 lb. 22 year old was Goaltender of the Year in Sweden in 2013-14 when he posted a .931 save percentage and 2.08 goals against average in 35 appearances before being hampered last season and ultimately having surgery in late April on both hips.

“A lot of people in this sports have problems with their hips, but we got to the point for me where we needed surgery. Everything now is Continued on page 19

Saints Hockey

The Saints family extends to you and yours, wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!

www.saintshockey.com WNYHockeyReport.com

In the Crease

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Rebound Control

by Bob Janosz Coaches at every level wish their goaltenders controlled rebounds better.

Rebound control can be improved by every goalie at every level from youth through pro. Goalies know that they need to control rebounds; but they often don’t know “how”. This article will focus on the overall approach to the shot and post save response in order to help goaltenders with this difficult skill.

1) Shot approach: This goes back to footwork before the shot. Being square, set, and on-time while maintaining appropriate depth makes puck tracking and ultimately controlling rebounds much easier. The goaltender will have to make less “desperation” saves, which makes controlling rebounds extremely difficult.

2) Puck tracking: Reading the release of the stick and tracking the puck as soon as it leaves the blade allows more time for the goaltender to determine the path of the puck. This also includes following pucks into and away from the body.

3) Reading the situation: Knowing where the most imminent dangers are, and what options the shooter has will help the goaltender determine where they should direct the rebound.

There are several “technical” skills that the goaltender must know about in order to either “trap” or “direct” the puck to a safe area. These “technical” skills will be broken down into 3 categories (Low, Mid, and High Shots). With all of these saves the goaltender should “shift” into the puck. Shifting means the goaltender is dropping

Figure 1. Shifting into high shot. Upper body is moving towards the puck.

as much of their body towards the puck without “sliding” into the shot. See the pictures below on shifting.

1) Low: Low shots are the most difficult to control.

Stick involvement and pad angle in relation to

Figure 2. Shifting into mid height shot. Notice how the goaltender center “shifts’ towards the puck.

puck direction determine what save technique should be used. The stick is the easiest way to control shots on the ice. Rotating the stick in an arc can easily deflect the puck to the corner when the goaltender has time to “react”. The pads should still be down on low shots as a back up if the stick misses. If the stick misses the goaltender should try to angle the pad towards the corner, and use the shin of the pad as the most predictable method. The situation and angle the puck is shot from determines what pad or stick angle should be used.

2) Mid: Pucks shot high on the pads and in the mid section should be controlled using a butterfly and allowing the puck to “stick” to the goaltender. Bring the gloves to the puck after the puck has hit the body. The goaltender needs to give with the shot to assure there is no rebound. Shots blocker side just above the pad is a difficult save as the goaltender must butterfly and rotate the blocker at the same time.

3) High: The easiest to control by using the gloves or armor. Pucks should be caught in the webbing whenever possible with the glove.

They should also be caught in front of the body to assure puck tracking into the glove.

Shots to the blocker should be turned to the corner by rotating the wrist.

As you can see rebound control is much more difficult than many people realize. Starting with a good approach and early puck tracking ability combined with bobjanosz.com (716) 308-9224 proper save mechanics

Figure 3. Shifting into puck on low shot. Chin down to track puck to and away from body.

will improve rebound control when there is time to react. More advanced rebound control on “blocking” saves such as the narrow butterfly and paddle down will be discussed in later articles.

For more information on Janosz School of Goaltending Camps, Clinics, and Private training go to www.bobjanosz.com or call 716-308-9224.

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Legends

8

The French Connection

by Randy Schultz Randy@wnyhockeyreport.com

Just outside the entrance to the First Niagara Center in the Buffalo Sabres alumni plaza is a statue featuring a trio of hockey players.

The trio, better known as “The French Connection” is dedicated to three of the greatest players in Sabres

history.

In September 1970 a nineteen-year-old Gilbert Perreault arrived in Buffalo from his home in Victoriaville, Quebec. Perreault was the cornerstone of the famed “French Connection” line.

The other two players, Richard Martin and Rene Robert, arrived in Buffalo within two years of Perreault, Martin drafted by the Sabres in 1971 and Robert arriving in Buffalo by way of a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins in March 1972.

The curtain went up on the French Connection’s act during the final month of the 1971-72 season.

Sabres’ coach, Joe Crozier decided to try Robert on a line with Perreault and Martin.

The line’s name came from an Oscar-winning movie with the same title because of the trio’s French Canadian backgrounds. It wasn’t easy

naming the line. Suggestions like R-P-M and PRAM (Perreault, Robert And Martin) were made.

The most innovative turned out to be the French Connection. It was placed on the Memorial Auditorium moving message board one night by writer Lee Coppola.

The name stuck, and the players became one of the most exciting scoring trios in National Hockey League history.

Crozier recalled how the line came together.

“Late in the 1971-72 season, we knew we had a natural pairing with Perreault and Martin,” said Crozier. “All we needed was somebody to go with them, someone who could stay high and check.

“Rene could check. I knew that from the days when Rene and I were in the American Hockey League. Things came together when he joined the team.”

The Sabres traded veteran Eddie Shack to the Penguins for Robert on March 4, 1972. It was not one of the most popular trades ever made in Buffalo sports history.

Shack , known as “the Entertainer,” was known for his entertaining style of play and was well liked.

When Robert, a right winger, came to the Sabres with only 54 NHL games to his credit, the fans were somewhat skeptical. Later, after Robert was teamed with Perreault and Martin, those skeptics quickly disappeared.

In their first full campaign together in 1972-73, Perreault, Robert and Martin finished first, second, and third in points for the Sabres. The line scored 105 goals and led the Sabres into the playoffs for the first time in their three-year history.

Two seasons later the French Connection piled up 131 goals and carried the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals.

“If there was one thing I remembered about the line, it was how smooth Gilbert was both skating and handling the puck,” continued Crozier. “He could go from one end of the rink to the other, through a whole team if he had to.

Continued on page 27

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Top Shelf Training

9

Going Top Shelf Sure it’s fun. According to some it’s not even the hardest shot for a goalie to save. If you have ever watched or have been to one of Top Shelf Hockey’s summer development camps, you would know that’s not the only thing we want our players to accomplish.

By Mike Smietana info@topshelfhockey.us Mario Lemieux was one of the first players to be publicly quoted saying that going top shelf is his favorite place to shoot. Most players know it’s the highlight reel shot, that every player at one point or another wants to hit.

Buffalo Sabres all-time great announcer Rick Jeanneret, coined the term “top shelf - where momma hides the cookies!” I’m sure we have all heard that at one point or another and if you haven’t you must not have been fortunate enough to see some of the great teams the Sabres had in the past. But that’s a whole other article. The moral of the story is that players like to shoot there and people like to see it. But is that what our company is all about? Is it just about shooting pucks upstairs?

with. Because I understand that there are a lot of great coaches with a ton of knowledge.

The focus is to not only provide great technical instruction but we also go into a very detailed analysis of players skills. Most camps simply do not do this. Going top shelf, is getting the absolute best out of what you sign up for. Our goal with our players is to create a way of thinking about giving and receiving the best all of the time.

As a coach I have been fortunate enough to coach in Germany and the Netherlands working with players that hardly spoke a word of English.

Through my work over there I had to adopt teaching concepts to appeal to players of all ages that were not English speaking. This helped me learn how to communicate in other languages and most of it I am sure sounded pretty funny to the players. This learning experience provided me with a great skill on how to get through to players.

Believe me I had to get pretty creative during my time there but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It took me some time at first to figure out my style, but during my time in Europe I realized that if you change your frame of mind to constantly adapting and learning how to get better, this will bring out the absolute best, or the “Top Shelf Hockey” player in you.

That’s what I strive for as a skills coach and what I expect from my staff and players. We don’t claim that we are the best, we want our players to figure it out on their own. Players need to train to be their best every day and not get complacent. There is always someone out there that is working just as hard if not harder than you.

Most young players need to realize that it’s not about where they have been or what they have done because there are many great players out there. Some learn this latter than others and sometimes it’s too late. I try to carry the same attitude that I pass on to the players that I work

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Women’s Hockey

10

Women’s Hockey

by Janet Schultz

Janet@wnyhockeyreport.com

This may be one of the most historical times for women’s hockey in WNY. The Buffalo Beauts are one of four teams that make up the National Women’s Hockey League.

These women are paid professionals, playing hockey after they have finished their collegiate careers; many coming from Team USA. While they are on a short season, October thru February, their pay scale is comparable to their male counterparts playing at the AHL level.

them moved to Cortland where she played out her collegiate career. She was selected by the Toronto Furies in the ninth round of the 2013 Canadian Women’s Hockey League Draft. Giamo led the Red Dragons in scoring for three years and tallied 12 points as a freshman at RIT. Sass is a 2012 graduate of Colgate, winning 34 games in her four years with the Raiders. Prior to her college career Sass played for the Williamsville North Boys Varsity team. She led the Buffalo Bisons to five NYS championships and to the quarterfinals in the USA Hockey Nationals.

Opening night actions against the Bosten Pride.

Photo by Janet Schultz.

Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL, Top: Annemarie Cellino , Emily Pfalzer, Bottom: Maggie Giamo, Kimberly Sass. Photos by Janet Schultz.

WNY should be proud of their contributions to this league with the Beauts featuring Annemarie Cellino, Emily Pfalzer, Maggie Giamo, and Kimberly Sass.

Cellino played for Middlebury College; Pfalzer comes from Boston College and has played with Team USA; Sass tended goal for Colgate College and Giamo played at Cortland after she spent her youth career with the Buffalo Bisons.

Cellino led the NESCAC in scoring and was named NESCAC Player of the Year and as a First Team All American while at Middlebury.

Pfalzer was named to the USA national women’s ice hockey team that competed at the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship. In 2015 she was one of the top ten finalists for the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and was named to Hockey East First Team All-Star team.

Giamo began her collegiate career at RIT but

The Beauts opened their season October 11 with a 4-1 loss to the Boston Pride followed by a 5-2 loss to the Connecticut Whale on October 18.

Boston’s Hilary Knight had the first goal in the Inaugural Game and Kelley Steadman, assisted by Meghan Duggan, had Buffalo’s Inaugural Goal in that first game.

Manon Rheaume dropped the ceremonial puck at the Inaugural Game with members of local girl’s teams joining her and the teams on the ice for the celebration. Rheaume’s story as the first woman to play in the NHL will be featured on the big screen when “Between the Pipes” is released in 2017.

Buffalo is one of the cities the producer is looking at as filming location.

October 18th’s game was dedicated to Making Strides for the Cure for Breast Cancer with HarborCenter filled with pink. The Director of the Erie County Medical Center dropped the ceremonial puck. The Beauts wore specially designed jerseys that will be autographed by the players and auctioned off online.

For information on tickets and the Beauts go to NWHL.com

The Beauts October 18th game was dedicated to Making Strides for the Cure for Breast Cancer. Photos by Janet Schultz.

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Around WNY Buffalo State College

Buffalo State College opens its season at Nichols College on October 30 before their home opener on November 6 at 7 p.m. against Potsdam. It’s a doubleheader that weekend with the second game on Saturday, November 7 at 2 p.m.

The Bengals welcome to the staff Assistant Coach Tanis Lamoureux.

Lamoureux is a DIII AllAmerican out of Elmira College and served as assistant coach at Utica College last season. She replaces Lucy Schoedel who Tanis Lamoureux took a position in Lake Placid with Northwood School Girl’s Hockey.

Head Coach Candace Moxley is in her third season, taking the Bengals to a ECAC West Playoff last year for the first time in six years.

Moxley is welcoming five incoming freshman including Buffalo Regals’ Emma Ruggierio, Maddie Kromer and Megan Reukauf.

For a season preview go to www.nyhockeyonline. com and click on the icon for the October issue.

RIT

The RIT women have hit the ice under Bruce B. Bates Women’s Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. McDonald has become the all-time leader in wins transitioning the Tigers from DIII to DI in the CHA and making them one of the most respected teams in all of college hockey. Bates dropped the ceremonial puck at the Tigers home opener.

The Tigers opened their season with a 9-0 win against the Ottawa Lady Senators in an exhibition game. Following that they spit a pair of games against the Minnesota State University/Mankato and then recently dropped a pair to RPI. A season preview will be published in the upcoming issue of NY Hockey Online Magazine.

Award-winning columnist and author Scott Pitoniak explores the stories and history of RIT men’s and women’s hockey in his new book “Frozen in Time: The History of RIT Hockey” published by RIT press. It is available now in softcover for $24.95 at the RIT Press website or by calling RIT Press at 585-475-6766.

University of Buffalo

First we congratulate Head Coach Melissa Jechovich on

Women’s Hockey her marriage to Colgate University Men’s Assistant Coach Josh Sciba.

The UB Lady Ice Bulls are undefeated beating Brockport, Liberty and the University of California (Pa) in ACHA East play.

According to Facebook notes Kaityln Simmons is ranked third in goalies in D2 ACHA East play in goals against.

The Ice Bulls take on Navy on Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8. The puck drops at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday at Northtowns Arena.

Niagara University

Coach Rachel Hauser is in the processes of organizing a team at Niagara for this season.

WNYGVIH

THE WNY Girls Ice Hockey Federation opens their sixth season on December 1 with two games on tap. First on the ice will be Amherst/Sweet Home at Williamsville at 4 p.m. at NorthtownsCenter followed by Orchard Park/Frontier at Kenmore/ Grand Island at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Arena. Grand Island has joined with Kenmore and Hamburg has joined with West Seneca, providing more opportunities for girls to represent their high schools.

The schedule has games nightly at a rink near you and concludes with the NYS Tournament in Albany on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6 and the WNYGVIH League Championship on Friday, Feb. 12 at Northtowns.

In Other Hockey News…

…The Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles, Buffalo Regals and Buffalo Bisons took part in a Futures AAA Tournament in Boston this summer.

The NJPE U19 girls went 1-2 in round robin play, losing to a strong Montreal Express team and then to the East Coast Selects. They beat the Northern Cyclones 7-1 and played in the B Bracket losing their first playoff game to the Warriors.

The Regals 19U team went 0-3 in round robin play against Culver Academy, Can Am and St. Louis. They finished strong in the consolation game finishing with a 8-2 victory over the AllAmerican Prospects.

At U16 the Buffalo Bisons were among 34 teams participating. They went 2-1 in round robin play finishing 11th overall. In the playoffs they lost to Mid Fairfield Stars who eventually won the tournament. …The Regals 14U team started the 2015-16 season off with a 3-0 round robin win to take the Detroit Motown Cup. This young team beat Host Livonia Knights 2-1; the Burlington Barracuda’s 3-0 and the Barrie Sharks 3-1.

In the Championship game the Regals faced the Sharks again and played a very close game ended 2-0 until two late open net goals in the third by Buffalo ensured an end to the intense battle.

The Regals were led by Tournament MVP Abbie Ruggiero and Jersey Phillips, who had the most points over the weekend. Others tipping in goals were Jenna Cavalieri, Sam Ingham, Maddy Moran, Anna Pitz, Megan Sheehan and Gracee Donovan.

Putting up a great defensive effort were Laura Kaplan, Alex Snow, Katie Ryan and Sara Barrett.

Also contributing to the winning effort were Alexa Groh, Jacquie Klawon, Karlie Gregorie and Liz Jackson.

Between the pipes making the stops were Hannah Barrett and Mila Wendall. The Regals are coached by Tom Ruggiero.

The 19U Girls Cazenovia Team were invited to the Penn State East West Showcase and brought the championship back to WNY. They beat the Reston Raiders 3-2, Brick Hockey Club 4-1 and Princeton Tiger Lillies 2-1. In the Championship they faced Steel City and beat them 2-1.

To make sure your girl’s hockey news is included in both WNY Hockey Report and NY Hockey OnLine magazine, send all information to Janet Schultz, Janet@nyhockeyonline.com or call 716-751-6524 or 716-628-1966. I’d love to hear from all of you. Let me know what your team is doing!

Cazenovia Park Hockey Association

Cazenovia Park Hockey Founders Tournament March 2016 Cross Ice Mites, Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam MOHL Divisions Information/Applications will be available Dec 1st

w w w. c a z h o c k e y. c o m WNYHockeyReport.com

11

Precision Hockey Training

12

Is It About Skill Development or Winning Games?

by Mark Metzger

m.metzger@precisionhockey.net

I was a keynote speaker at a coach’s conference a few summers ago and a youth hockey coach asked, “In youth sports how do you make your players better? What are some things can you do to improve their skills?” These are very good questions and really make you think… How does a coach make youth players better at the game of hockey? Is it all about winning at the youth levels? Do you put your best players out with three minutes to go left in the game? I am a believer that continuous growth is vital at all levels of hockey.

One must learn and develop to become better.

For example, take a student learning a foreign language in school. On the first day of class the student learns how to say “hello” and “see you later”. A month goes by and the student can speak and understand a few sentences. By the end of the school year the student can have full conversations and better understands the language. They aren’t proficient or fluent, but they certainly understand the language better. By the end of the school year students can look back and say, “Wow, little by little I got better but it took some time.” Isn’t that really the same in hockey? It is the coach’s job to develop, teach, and instruct the proper skills of the game.

Skills of skating, passing, shooting, stickhandling, battling, and playing the game need to be taught.

Overall, I feel coaches have to do a better job at developing hockey skills. I can’t believe that at the age of ten years old some coaches care about winning the league championship rather than skill development. It is this mentally that leads to high school hockey players and coaches wondering why some players don’t posses the basic, necessary fundamentals? I was watching a squirt level hockey game this past season and the coach had his top players on the ice while playing a trap with a left wing lock (to be honest, the coach was not even teaching this trap the proper way). I believe that this may be part of the problem. Skill development is not taught properly at the youth levels; these players are trained to just win at a very early age. Players play all systems and play in “robotic style.” If you are youth coach, remember to always develop players and help them reach their full skill potential. It is not about winning the youth league championship.

It is about skill development. Focus on skills!

Martin St. Louis was one of my favorite players in the NHL to watch. Martin St. Louis was special, so elusive and difficult to contain. This begs the question – is it possible to develop the next Martin St. Louis? What set St. Louis apart from the rest of the NHL players? He was not the strongest or the biggest by hockey standards in fact he was one

of the smallest players in the league. That being said, he had elite skills. When I watched him play, I often wonder - is there something coaches can do to help create the next star of the game? Or is there something coaches can do to create the next impact 2- way defenseman or the power forward?

You often hear comments in youth hockey levels by coaches saying, “get pucks to the paint, “get pucks deep,” “move the puck,” “don’t turn the puck over in the grey zone,” etc. Practices at this level include spending valuable time working on systems, 5-0 breakouts or regroups, D zone coverage or using drills that do not stimulate real game action, and using drills that slow down the pace or have a great than 3 to 1 work to rest ratio for the players. These things alone will not get it done. I believe that coaches and organizations need to take a hockey school approach if they truly want to make a difference in the skill level of players.

I saw an article that said, “Martin St Louis spent hours each week working on his hands and feet.” He focused on his stickhandling and shooting with his head up, moving his feet and separating his hands away from his body. Agility is critical but looking as if you are about to pass the puck while carrying the puck will almost always result in buying a skilled player time and space.

The opposite is also true – head down, flat footed and handling the puck like a rock will no doubt result in the opposition pressuring to take away time and space.

Practice makes perfect, but players have to first understand what it is they need to do to make it perfect. That is where the coaching and skill development comes into play. Obviously players have to be willing to put in the time and effort.

Do you encourage your players to be creative?

Do you encourage your players to show poise and patience? Most importantly, do you give your players time in every practice to work on “Martin St. Louis” type skill set? Do you allow and encourage them to try new things and to be creative in game situations? The focus has to be on the players and not so much the

WNYHockeyReport.com

outcome of any one game, tournament, or season.

Youth coaches have to give each and every player the opportunity to reach his or her potential. I have watched organizations records continue to improve and get better as more and more coaches buy in to the equal/fair ice time formula. You give up fewer goals, your team scores more goals, and teams win more tournaments and championships.

I believe that teams and organization need to learn to focus more on overall skill development.

I still see situations where coaches shorten the bench and favor certain players to kill penalties, play on the power play, or to play the last minute of the game. Players will often surprise you.

A confident player is a contributing player. A contributing player is a happy player whose parents will be supportive of both the team and coaches I am not suggesting we can or will create the next Martin St Louis; however, I am confident that coaches can make each and every one of their players more skilled. Focus on skills more by using a hockey school mentality and focus a little less on systems and winning games. Work on the process (all the little things combined) – and the winning will take care of itself.

Lockport Youth Hockey

13

Lockport Youth Hockey

by Randy Schultz Randy@wnyhockeyreport.com It is hard to believe that a year has passed since the Cornerstone Ice Arena opened its doors in downtown Lockport. Of course with a new building comes youth hockey.

In just a year not only has youth hockey grown, but it now has an official name: Lockport Lake Effect Youth Hockey Association.

At the other end of the spectrum, adult hockey has blossomed as well with the addition of the Lockport Adult Hockey League.

Tom Dockery, Hockey Director for the Cornerstone Ice Arena has been the quiet force behind the growth of youth and adult hockey in

the Lockport region.

“We began the youth hockey program last November, growing very slowly in the beginning, and ended up having approximately 100 to 110 youth playing hockey,” said Dockery. “We really didn’t have a name in the beginning.

“But then we partnered with Lake Effect Ice Cream, who are based out of Lockport.”

Dockery went on to explain how the program grew.

“We ran it by age groups instead of divisions like mites and squirts,” continued Dockery. “We also had a summer program that ran from April through August.

“We had about 100 kids in that program as well.

It ranged from kids who were just learning how to skate right up to kids who were AA who just wanted to skate during the summer.

“And you have to remember that this was all done in-house because we were not sanctioned with USA Hockey at that point.

“We have since been approved and we still have around that 110 mark with participants. About 35 to 40 of the players are in the age of eight and under.

“We now have a Squirt Team, a Pee Wee Team, one Bantam Mole Team and a Midget Mole Team.

Program is the only local High School Program that can boast it’s membership in two of the most highly regarded Elite Hockey Leagues in North America, ECEL and MPHL. These leagues give our players access to high level competition in elite venues that provide the best exposure to Junior & College level scouts.

WNYHockeyReport.com

They will travel and play around the area. Our seven and eight year olds will play in the ADM model.

“It’s been a fun experience. Things are continuing to grow and expand.”

Like the youth hockey program, the senior hockey started out slowly as well.

“We started out in November with just enough players for four teams,” stated Dockery. “But we went from four teams in the Winter League to 18 teams in the summer.

“We have an open league that is 18 and over as well as a 30 and over league.

“Currently this fall we have 11 teams playing.

And I know it is going to continue to grow as the word spreads.”

It helps to have a new arena at your disposal.

“People are continually impressed with our Arena, the size of it, the lighting and the locker rooms,” concluded Dockery. “It continues to impress people.

“Things are really looking up in Lockport. We have a great hockey community here and it continues to grow.”

For further information, you can contact Dockery at: tdockery@cornerstoneicearena.com.

Mark Zarbo Hockey

14

What did you do to get better today?

As a skills coach I get many questions from parents and players. Two of the most common being; “how do I get better and what can I do to get to the next level?” The answer to

by Mark Zarbo MarkZarbo@yahoo.com those questions is not a statement but another question. What are you doing to get better?

In the summer I run what I call my Forward/ Defense Elite Camps. As part of those camps I offer all the players an off ice program and give a presentation on it. In the presentation I tell a story about a player I know very well. That player is my brother Joe. He is known for being a highly skilled player and has one of the hardest snap shots I have ever seen. In college he led Clarkson University (D1) 2 out of his 4 years in goals and is now moving into his first professional season. His senior year I went to visit him at Clarkson. When I walked into his room in his apartment he had all these homemade stickhandling props on his floor.

I asked him why they were there and his answer back was that he likes to practice his drills each day in his room. He was the leading goal scorer

on a Division 1 hockey team that year but yet he practiced his stickhandling in his carpeted room each day because he wanted to keep getting better.

Getting better is not a lesson that can be learned, it is a process. It is process that can take many years to unfold. You cannot just decide to improve and it instantly is going to happen. It takes time, a lot of effort and good planning.

As a coach this means coming up with a progressive plan that fits your team, breaking this plan down as simple as possible and keeping your team motivated to follow that plan. As a player this might mean doing extra laps at the end of every practice, practice skills/ drills at home every day, and getting school work done well in advance of being due. (And yes doing well in school and not waiting until the last minute to do work is and should always be part the plan to get better.) The ultimate goal of anything should be to improve every day. It should to never be about winning. Teams are made up of individuals; if the individual gets better then the team gets better. When getting better becomes the goal, winning and long term success will become the by product. So what it comes down to is not how do I

get better, the question that should be asked is what did I do to get better today and every day in the future. If you have any questions or comments regarding this article please do not hesitate to contact me!

Mark Zarbo (716) 208-3724 MarkZarbo@yahoo.com www.MarkZarboHockey.com

Section V

Small Group Skill Sessions • Overspeed Skating – Monday Evenings • Shooting/Stick-handling – Friday Evenings • All Sessions at Nichols Small Rink • Maximum of 12 players maximizing repetitions and teaching.

• Players choose the sessions they would like to attend.

• Quantity session discounts available.

• All players who sign up for 5 skill sessions are eligible to attend School Holiday Camps for $30 discounted rate (2 hours ice)

Visit our website for full schedule and session details!

www.MarkZarboHockey.com

By Warren Kozireski McQuaid will try to defend their Division I state title while Brockport and Victor will attempt to repeat as Section V champions as the 2015-16 season opens Thanksgiving week.

The Knights embark on their campaign minus 16 seniors after winning the schools second state hockey championship, so many new faces will be placed in key roles at both ends of the ice including Jack Dugan and Craig McCabe.

Brockport lost their top three scorers and both goaltenders. Players such as junior forward Andrew Harley will get first shot at moving into top-line roles with Mitchell Henshaw among a young core.

Five of Division I’s eight teams finished above .500 last season. Regular season champ Fairport returns senior defenseman Cameron Gephardt and Ethan Kaiser in goal. In addition to their seniors, Victor also lost defenseman and Section V Player of the Year David Farrance to the U.S. National Development Program, but have Max Lambert back among others. Pittsford will be led by Griffin Avery. Webster-Thomas hopes to return to their winning ways and will look to senior forward Pierce Currie, junior forward Tyler Cooligan and sophomore goaltender Dalton Jerzak to lead the way.

Penfield also has a strong core back in Nick Rockhill, Alec Vent and Michael Streff.

In Division II, regular season titlist Greece Thunder has Matt Clark back and will be challenged by Hilton led by Hunter Howell and Jesse Edwards.

Gates-Chili is coming off a solid season and will have Hunter Balicki and Mike Klim back.

Division III Rush-Henrietta will try to defend their title after winning a down-to-the-wire battle with Geneseo/Livonia/Dansville and Morgan Brown last season. Batavia and Notre Dame will try to move unto the upper echelons of the division.

Continued on page 15

WNYHockeyReport.com

ECC Hockey

15

ECC 40 years of Hockey

by Randy Schultz Randy@wnyhockeyreport.com

Ralph Galanti and Gary Rost stood together looking out over the ice surface below them at the Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo.

“Can you believe this,” questioned Galanti of Rost.

“Who would have ever thought that 40 years ago when we began hockey at ECC we would be standing in such a beautiful arena like this today?”

Jokingly, Rost looks at Galanti and responds, “It’s the first time I didn’t have to come out from hockey practices and brush the snow off my car,” referring to the parking ramp that was built in the arena.

For those watching this duo from a distance the two men symbolized Erie Community College’s long hockey history. The 2015-16 hockey season marks ECC’s 40th season of hockey and between the two individuals they have seen it all.

On this particular Sunday afternoon in late October the duo are in the arena for a banner raising ceremony celebrating the two National Junior College Hockey Championships ECC has won during their four decades of hockey (2011 and 2015).

Ralph Galanti, Jr. served as the Director of Athletics at Erie Community College from 1975 to 2005. He began his tenure by combining the struggling athletic programs at the three campuses into a one-college concept.

Over his 31 years, the athletic program grew from seven to 22 varsity sports and captured 45 NJCAA national championships. Galanti also posted a 449-306-42 record as the ice hockey coach from 1976 to 2000, capturing five Region III championships.

He received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1998 and is a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the NJCAA Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“I never intended to be the hockey head coach,” recalled Galanti. “I had two other guys who were supposed to coach the team.

“But a couple of weeks before the season began, they bowed out. So I took over as coach. The rest, as they say, is history.”

For Galanti, there was more to hockey than winning championships.

“It’s all the young men I coached,” stated Galanti.

“They were more than just hockey players to me.

“They became great young men in the community. They contributed to their communities and families.

“That’s what hockey has been for me.”

Gary Rost has been on the bench for Erie’s ice hockey program since the 1978-79 season, serving as an assistant from 1978 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2007 and as the head coach from 2001 to

2003 and 2007 to the present time. Rost earned Region III Coach of the Year and Buffalo Fan Awards College Coach of the Year recognition in 2009.

Rost has been a part of all 10 Region III titles, including leading the Kats to the 2011 and 2015 regional championships, as well as National Championships as the head coach. Rost also served as the golf coach from 1982 to 2008. He led Erie to a ninth place finish at the 2004 NJCAA championship.

An active member of the Western New York hockey scene, Rost has served on the boards of the Western New York Amateur Hockey League and Southtowns High School Club Hockey League, and coached in the Cazenovia Park Hockey Association and for Canisius High School.

Looking back on last season, it was a great one for ECC and Rost.

“I just feel great for the kids,” commented Rost.

“They really bought into our game plan last year and came together as a group.

“We had six returning players and 24 brand new faces. And we won a National Championship.”

Maybe Peter Jerebko, the present Athletic Director at ECC, summed things up best regarding the ECC hockey program.

“It’s been a winning program, one which is well known throughout Western New York as well as New York State and even nationally,” said Jerebko.

“We’ve had great coaches with Ralph and Gary.

“The team is a perfect example of what ECC Athletics are all about. We are all about the students.

“It has been a great ride for ECC and hockey for 40 years and we’re looking ahead to the next 40.”

WNYHockeyReport.com

Section V

Continued from page 14

One change for this season is a resurface at the end of the first period with teams remaining on their respective benches and a two minute warmup before period begins.

Then once period two ends, the ice will once again be resurfaced as well as another two minute warmup before the period beings. If a game goes to overtime, the players will remain on the ice and the ice will not be resurfaced.

The season opens Tuesday, Nov. 24 with four divisional games. The annual Craig Charron Classic will be opening weekend at RIT’s Ritter Arena with four games: Webster-Thomas vs Spencerport, Victor vs Gates-Chili, Penfield against Rush-Henrietta and Churchville-Chili battling Webster-Schroeder.

McQuaid will play their regular independent schedule starting Nov. 27-28 against Williamsville-South.

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Around the Associations

18

Around the Associations: Amherst Youth Hockey hires Ledyard Edited by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com

As part of its strategy to improve player and coach development from top to bottom, the Amherst Youth Hockey association moved in the off-season to create a new position, Hockey Director. They then filled the position with someone who brings a wealth of high-level experience into the program, Grant Ledyard.

The Winnipeg native and Western New York resident is best known to many local hockey fans for his years playing defense for the Buffalo Sabres, 1998-1993. Those are just some of the total 19 years Ledyard played in the National Hockey League.

His NHL career began in the 1984-85 season with the New York Rangers. He then played for the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, the Sabres, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning. In all, he played 1,028 games in the NHL, scoring 90 goals and 276 assists.

Ledyard also previously served as Head Coach and General Manager for the Buffalo Junior Sabres program from 2007-2012, served as Director of Youth Hockey for the Buffalo Sabres from 20102012 and led the Jr. Sabres’ Developmental Camp from 2009-2012.

According to Amherst Youth Hockey, Ledyard will develop a long-term plan for the Knights’ programs, both travel and house, to help both players and coaches develop the skills and attitudes to perform optimally at all levels of play.

Buffalo Bisons

The Bisons’ Bantam Minor (13U) AA team got their season off to a good start by placing second at the Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘N Roll Cup in Cleveland in late September.

The team went 2-1 in round robin play, defeating the Troy Sting and Arctic Foxes before dropping a 1-0 decision to eventual champions Team Audi of Mentor, Ohio.

The Bisons earned a trip to the championship game by defeating fellow WNY club Hamburg Hawks, 5-1, but fell again to Team Audi in the final, 3-1.

Owen Parker and Cole Guzda both turned in strong performances in the Bisons goal crease, as both faced high shot counts against Team Audi.

Buffalo Stars

As 42 of the USA’s top prospects faced each other on the ice at First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo in September, several

Buffalo Stars players were in the crowd to watch, and get inspired. Five Stars players and two coaches were there representing the Stars.

The organization once again hosted its annual “Salute to the American Troops” event as part of its opening weekend in mid-September, raising funds to support the Wounded Warrior Project.

Several teams among the Stars’ family hosted games in their respective divisions.

This season, select home games will once again be available for viewing online at no cost to the viewer by logging on to the Stars’ official channel on Ustream.tv.

Buffalo Regals

The Regals’ 14U girls team opened their season, in late September, with a first place finish at the Detroit Motown Cup. The team went a perfect 3-0 in the round robin portion of the tournament, defeating the host Livonia Knights by a 2-1 score, then defeating the Burlington Barracudas and Barrie Sharks, 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. The Regals and Sharks met again in the championship game, with Buffalo leading 2-0 for most of the game until putting it on ice with two late empty-netters.

Abby Ruggiero was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Jersey Phillips led the team in scoring. Also scoring during the tournament were Jenna Cavalieri, Sam Ingham, Maddy Moran, Anna Pitz, Megan Sheehan and Gracee Donovan. Hannah Barret and Mia Wendall both performed strongly in front of the Buffalo net.

The Regals’ Mite Minor team also got off to a good start, winning the recent John MacDonald Tournament in St. Catharines, Ontario.

The team went 5-0 in the tournament, posting three shutouts. The wins came over the Richmond Hill Stars (4-0), North London Nationals (6-0), Hamilton Huskies (11-2), London Bandits in the playoff semifinals (7-0) and finally the Sarnia Sting in the title game (5-3).

Cazenovia

The Cazenovia Bantam Major team added a trophy to the case in the final weekend of September, taking home the championship of Belle Tire Classic held in Detroit, Michigan.

The Chiefs completed the round robin portion of the tournament with a 3-0 record, earning wins over Allen Park (MI), West Kent (MI) and the Northbrook Bluehawks (IL). The Chiefs edged the North Pittsburgh Wildcats (PA), 2-1, in the semifinals in a closely-contested defensive battle. The finals pitted Cazenovia against the Muskegon Jr. Lumberjacks (MI). In the championship game, the Chiefs overcame a two-goal deficit to earn a hard fought 4-3 victory.

WNYHockeyReport.com

On September 19, the Bantam Majors team had the opportunity to assist at the Western New York Adaptive Recreation Expo, an opportunity for individuals with disabilities and their families to learn about local recreational activities.

The Chiefs helped out by setting up before the Expo and cleaning up after the event ended.

The players also got to learn about wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, the latter of which is also known as Quad Rugby. The Chiefs got to sit in wheelchairs and play both sports, learning firsthand a whole new way to play a sport.

The team also offered assistance to those individuals who were going through the obstacle course. Ultimately, the youngsters learned that people who are disabled are not necessarily unable to take part in the pleasures of sports.

Lockport Lake Effect

Entering its second winter of operations, the Cornerstone Ice Arena in Lockport is now home to a new youth hockey association, the Lockport Lake Effect.

The Lake Effect reports having more than 100 kids signed up, approximately 40 of them in the program’s 8U level. That level is following USA Hockey’s ADM model for its players development. The 8U players will soon participate in the WNY Jamborees.

The Squirt and Pee Wee teams will compete against numerous teams in the MOHL leagues, while the Bantam and Midget 16U squads will compete in the MOHL. The Lake Effect offers a Skating and Skills clinic every Wednesday night for its players as well as a Goalie clinic for its netminders.

On Saturday, November 7, the Lake Effect will partner with the Clarence Mustangs organization and Lockport Sunrise Optimist to co-host USA Hockey’s “Try Hockey for Free Day” at Cornerstone Arena. The sessions begin at 9 a.m. that day.

Participants will receive a complimentary jersey.

Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles

The NJPE program celebrated the Columbus Day holiday weekend with victories at various tournaments.

The Pee Wee Major (2003) boys, coached by Sal Manente along with assistants Brett Conte and John Liberti, won the Steel City Columbus Day Clash (AA) Tournament in Pittsburgh.

The Pee Wee III (2003 & 2004) squad won the Columbus Day Tournament held in Niagara Falls, New York. The team is coached by Keith Harlock and assisted by Dave Muldoon, R.J. Genovese, Greg Chenez and Craig Eddy.

The Midget 16U team won the 16U AA HarborCenter Cup in Buffalo. The team is coached

by Gene Naab and assisted by John Centola, Jason

Around the Associations Bridge, Doug Shiring and Mark Venditti.

Perinton Youth Hockey

The Rochester Monarchs 15U team recently won the East Coast College Cup in Connecticut.

The Monarchs started the weekend tournament with a 4-1 win over the Western Mass Vipers, followed by an 8-2 win over the East Coast Wizards and a 1-0 loss to the New jersey Rockets.

At the end of the preliminary rounds, the Monarchs were seeded second. In the playoff semis, the Monarchs defeated the Wizards, 3-0 and then avenged their loss to the Rockets by defeating them, 1-0, in the championship game.

Amerks Report

The 15U Monarchs are coached by Greg Schwind and Alan Barton. The team includes Dom DelVecchio, Ryan Edwards, Hayden Feck, Justin Gibb, Brendan Haims, Adam Haines, AJ Huck, Matt Klim, Patrick Kompare, Antonio Lombardo, Nick Matzan, Michael Nicosia, Anthony Prep, Nick Schulte, Jack Stone, Quinn Tata, Jason Vent, Marco Viola and Mark Yorkey.

West Seneca Wings

The West Seneca Wings Bantam Tier II Mixed team won their age division’s title at the Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series in Cleveland, October 9-11.

Bryan Donovan scored the winning goal during

19

West Seneca’s 2-1 victory over Ontario’s Kent Teksavvy Cobras. David Held scored the team’s first goal. Jason Pittner and Macuen Harper were strong in net, allowing only six goals in five games.

The West Seneca Wings Bantam Tier II Mixed team players are, as seen in the photo: (Back row) Dallas Murawski, Brandon Novoa, Shane Guasteferro, Thomas Haefner, Jack Schmelzinger, Zachary Meinczinger, Aaron Burns. (Second row) Quinn O’Brien, Benjamin Juliano, Peyton Simmons, David Held, Evan Harper, Joseph Gorman, Aidan Hourihan, Bryan Donovan, Alexander Grys. (First row) Macuen Harper, Jason Pittner. (Missing in the photo is Patrick Moran.)

Continued from page 6

great; I have more mobility and can stretch out a lot more. Before that I couldn’t do things like doing a split because my hips were in the way, so now I can get that going.

“We originally said four to six months, but having both hips would probably prolong it maybe up to eight months, but we never knew how bad it was until they opened it up for surgery.

“You always feel rusty your first game of the season, and I was a little bit worried about how I was going to feel and how my stamina was going to be, but I got into it (the game) pretty quickly and just kept rolling and focused on what I was doing.”

Lieuwen started the Amerks season and home

opener prior to being recalled to Buffalo—his first regular season game action since last January.

“It feels pretty good; I miss that feeling,” Lieuwen said in the postgame locker room after the win. “I have no words—that was special.

Right from the puck-drop I felt pretty good and felt I was on my game. It was a bit of a choppy game through the first and second, so I caught my rhythm a little late, but I felt pretty solid.”

Still many more moments and questions to be answered in the crease for both the parent and affiliate during the long season, but at least a solid start for all parties.

NEWS & NOTES: • First year defenseman Matt Prapavessis has a

WNYHockeyReport.com

younger brother, Mike, who is a sophomore blueliner for RPI. While Matt was undrafted, younger brother was a fourth round selection

by Dallas in 2014.

• With their 6-3 win over Lake Erie on opening night, the team improved to 36-18-6 in home openers and have now scored six or more goals in each of the last six opening night wins.

• Jack Nevins netted his first professional goal Oct. 10 against Utica.

• Undrafted free agent rookie forward Jean Dupuy registered a three-point effort in his first professional contest. He assisted on all three Matt Ellis goals—his second career hat trick with the first coming as a member of Grand Rapids in the 2007 playoffs against Manitoba.

Men’s Club Hockey

20

College Club Hockey Report

By Dave Ricci

American Collegiate Hockey Association Niagara University

Injuries are a fact all teams have to deal with sooner or later. But the injury bug certainly set its claws into the Purple Eagles early and often this season, as they were 7-5 as WNYHR went to press.

“We’re way off. We got banged with a bunch of injuries,” NU coach Larry Brzeczkowski said.

“We lost to Canisius October 10. We had six regulars out of the lineup. Since then we’ve only gotten two back. So guys are still nursing injuries.

We’re really banged up.”

Coming off of a successful 2014-15 season where they won their league championship and ACHA playoff title, expectations were understandably high when they entered training camp. But the first month has been about weathering the storm of injuries to core guys.

NU lost its top two blue liners in Michael Skopinski and co-captain Seth Gustin to injuries.

But the outstanding play of goalie Michael Parda has helped take some of the pressure off of the young NU back end.

Offensively, NU is getting solid play and production from its top two lines. Co-captains Dallas Szustak (St. Francis High School) and Pat Gregory have been clicking on line two with freshman Nick Smith, who has played in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program.

“I can’t say enough about him,” Brzeczkowski said of Smith.

While the first line of Dalton Bew, Josh Pietrantonoio and Andrew Mitch have worked wonders together, Bew, a sophomore, has been especially impressive having logged 11 goals and 10 assists so far.

“They’ve been our best line. Hands-down,” Brzeczkowski said. “Dalton has really stepped it up.

They’re really flying.”

To a man, the players know that moments like this test and define everyone’s character. And that they have to find a way to rise to challenge.

“Yeah absolutely,” Dallas Szustak said. “It’s nice because we actually have some of our freshmen D that has stepped up. So it’s nice for them to get in, especially with our (tough) schedule at the beginning. It’s nice for them to see (top teams) Davenport, Liberty. Teams like that.”

Szustak added that having to battle through a few injuries as a team last year has helped everyone deal with the current situation as best possible.

With Gustin and Skopinski both expected back in the lineup by the time WNYHR hits the newsstands, the team is looking forward to what they will be able to do as a group once fully healthy.

“We kind of have that mentality now where we are expected to win the league and the playoffs,” Szustak said.

“It’s nice having the experience. The veteran

leadership that we have… If a guy is struggling we can say, ‘hey, relax. It’s just another hockey game.’

That’s the nice thing. We’ve been there. We’ve done it. So it’s all just another hockey game.”

Brzeczkowski said battling injuries are obviously difficult for any team. But he believes that this early season trial-by-fire will make everyone better in the long run.

“I’ve got faith in these guys,” Brzeczkowski said.

University at Buffalo

Ask the University at Buffalo Bulls what they have their eyes set on and you will get one answer: The ACHA National tournament.

“We expect to go to nationals,” coach Sal Valvo said.

“Last year we made it. The year before that we missed it by one ranking spot. This year it’s expected that we make it. So we have high expectations for ourselves.”

Currently ranked No. 18 in the country in the ACHA, the top-20 ranked teams earn invitations to the National Tournament that is held in Ohio.

Racing to a 10-2 overall record, 3-0 in conference, the senior-heavy Bulls squad is showing that they have every intention, and more than enough talent, to make a run at the national championship.

The senior duo of Sean Dungan and Dmitri Koustimidos have done an outstanding job of anchoring the blue line thus far.

UB has also received solid play in net from its 1-2 punch of senior Dylan Arnold and sophomore Tyler Stark.

Confident in his veteran duo, Valvo said the Bulls also are fortunate enough to have two talented freshmen goalies, Ian Shorthouse and Max Battistoni, learning as they go. Valvo said having so much depth in net is without question a plus.

“We don’t have to overplay anybody,” Valvo explained. “We can get them proper rest and things like that.”

Offensively, the Bulls are leaning on senior forwards Bobby Lang and Willie Sanchez. The Bulls have also found success through mixing and matching of its line. Though initially done out of necessity because a few injuries forced some line juggling, their record shows that the Bulls have clearly responded well to the mixing-andmatching format.

“We have two really quality, big wins,” Valvo said.

“We beat the No. 2 team in the country, Davenport.

And we beat the No. 11 team in the country, Michigan-Dearborn. We won both of those games in a shootout, but they’re two quality wins for us.”

Historically drawing kids from Rochester and Syracuse, Valvo said it’s been a very exciting time for the program as they add more and more Buffalo-born players to the roster. And that local kids suiting up is the best recruiting poster he could ask for.

WNYHockeyReport.com

National Collegiate Hockey Association

The University at Buffalo (7-0, 3-0) squad could not have asked for a better start as they have opened with a seven-game winning streak. Two seasons ago, the Bulls saw their season end in the quarterfinals of the National tournament that is held in Ohio. Last year, the road to a title ended in the semifinals.

Now, with roughly 80 percent of their roster back, head coach James Doersam said the mindset throughout the locker room is that anything less than a championship would feel like a disappointment for everyone.

“These guys are motivated. They want to win and they bought in,” Doersam said. “(From) our first meeting back in the summer, they bought in. No matter what role they played. Whether they’re a first line center or fourth line guy. They all bought in.”

The Bulls offense, interestingly enough, has been paced by its top defensive pairing of Adam Oetinger and senior Brandon Gonzalez, who has four goals and a team best seven assists and 11 points.

Oetinger (nine points) leads the Bulls with six goals, while Gonzalez (four goals) has a team best seven assists and 11 points.

“They do spark the offense,” Doersam said.

“Their work in our own zone to make that first pass out of our zone, that first pass is so important,

they’re 99% accurate. That first pass, whether it’s off Oetinger’s stick or Gonzalez stick, you know it’s getting up in the neutral zone and we’re head manning the puck to the offensive zone.”

In between the pipes the Bulls have what Doersam calls a “three-headed monster” with Dave Nowak, Nick Pitch and Alec Horowitz. Nowak, who is 3-0, has played at Erie Community College and Brockport, and looked very sharp in the Bulls recent win over Brockport.

But Doersam said that he is equally confident in all three of his keepers in any situation.

Doersam is also pleased about the addition of Jim Eagen and Ed Kirchberger to his coaching staff. Eagen and Kirchberger were previously with Medaille’s club hockey team.

The D’Youville S p a r t a n s , meanwhile, are trying to find their way after a winless start to the season that saw them fall to UB, 104, Geneseo 4-2 and a 6-5 OT loss to rival St. John Fisher.

Led by Brian Wagner, who has four goals and assist through the first three games, the Spartans are battling the numbers game. With just 15 players on the roster, DYU doesn’t have the depth that most teams have. So the low numbers have taken a toll on the Spartans, especially late in games.

“It’s particularly tough on the freshmen because

Men’s Club Hockey

they’re not used to 20 minute periods,” defenseman Jeff Spors said when comparing time of periods in high school to college. “That is a step up for them. And again guys are a lot stronger at the (college) level. I know for me that was kind of a big wakeup call. ‘I’m playing against men instead of boys.’

So just that difference in size and strength. It’s tough for young guys to get accustomed. We only have two or three (freshmen) but they’ve been playing really well.”

Spors, who played for the Kenmore East Bulldogs during his high school days, said that goalie Trevor Taggert, who also went to Ken-East, has been playing well and keeping them in games. Still trying to find a few more bodies to give them depth, Spors said that even though the numbers are low, the skill across the board has everyone optimistic that better results are possible.

“Even though our numbers are down I personally feel that we are more skilled in every position than in the past,” Spors said.

“Now we kind of have a lot of skill, but we’re lacking the numbers. Just sticking to our systems and that we’re playing together as a team, because those long shifts will kill you.”

Dave is a native of North Buffalo, N.Y. who has been covering sports since 1998.

A full-time freelancer, Dave currently writes for the Niagara Gazette, Community Papers of WNY and the New York Hockey Journal.

Dave has covered the NHL, MLB, Minor League Baseball, NBA, high school and college.

Dave has written for over 100 outlets during his career. Most notably, the Associated Press, MLB.com, Baseball America, The Tampa Tribune, New England Hockey Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Winnipeg Sun and the Tonawanda News-for which he penned the sports department’s goodbye column when the News printed its final edition on Jan.31, 2015.

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21

Section VI Hockey

22

Section VI Hockey: Falcons take flight for Five; Will North and East have unfinished business

By Melissa Brawdy & Michael Mroziak Note: Beginning with this issue we welcome Melissa Brawdy to the WNYHR staff. Among her contributions will be features of teams throughout Section VI hockey To repeat as a champion is a significant accomplishment. Winning a “three-peat?” Even more remarkable. Four in a row? You’re an undisputed dynasty.

Niagara-Wheatfield varsity hockey has been the top team among Section VI large schools for four years running. Yet there’s one goal the Falcons have not achieved during this spectacular run, winning a state championship. It’s what keeps them hungry as they prepare to embark on their latest title defense and make their push for a fifth consecutive championship.

While the team loses a lot of last year’s champs to graduation, they have many able hands who will be expected to carry the torch and lead a team that isn’t necessarily rebuilding.

“The guys coming back have to lead by example and make sure the guys coming in know what it takes and that they can’t rest on the past or expect anything to be automatic,” said Niagara-Wheatfield coach Rick Wrazin. “We have been fortunate to have some strong leadership in the past and the hope is always that it has rubbed of on the guys who are now our veterans. The boys realize they play with a target on their backs because of past success.”

Four of the team’s top five scorers from the 2014-15 season are gone. Dakota Becker was the most productive of those four now-graduated players, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists in 27 games, including postseason. Combining for a total 64 points (including 29 goals) were Andrew Logar, James Stenzel and Dominic Senese.

But the team’s second-leading scorer is back for his senior year. Garrett Downie notched 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 21 games. His goal total was second on the team behind Stenzel’s 16.

“He really picked it up the second half of the season last year and in the playoffs. He had a huge night in the championship game,” said Wrazin, who referred to Downie’s four goals against Williamsville North in the Section VI Large Schools title game on March 2 in Buffalo.

As for other leaders?

“Alex Bauer is a fourth year senior who brings a lot of toughness and energy and he has been around the program since his freshmen year, so

he offers a lot in terms of team leadership as well,” said Wrazin.

“We have three senior defensemen returning: Matt Canada, Kasey Haseley and Joey Torcasio, and we expect a lot from them in terms of on ice play and leadership.”

The leadership doesn’t necessarily have to come from the team’s seniors. Wrazin’s Falcons include many underclassmen who are already rich in experience and the team’s winning tradition.

They include goaltender Dominick Tallarico, who shared the netminding duties with Casey Wall last season. He posted eight wins - as many as Wall but also allowed just ten goals in 11 appearances, for a goals-against average of 1.02. Three of his wins were shutouts.

And the good news for Falcons? Tallarico is only a junior.

“Dom’s a quiet kid but he works extremely hard, so he leads by example in that sense,” said Wrazin.

Tryouts were still pending at the time of WNYHR’s interview with Wrazin, so the 2015-16 roster was not yet finalized. But Wrazin said five goalies were trying out, thus the team expected to be solid in the back end.

The team will be confident as it heads into those tryouts and the season. But they won’t be complacent. The coach, while acknowledging an appreciation for just how special this run has been for Niagara-Wheatfield, says each year the team has not won their final game of the season.

In other words, they’ve fallen short in the state playoffs.

Taking the state title is the team’s goal. But first, as they prepare for Section VI, they’re expecting to lock horns again with a longtime pesky rival.

“I’m sure Williamsville North will be very good this year. They always are. They are very well coached, always have very good players and are always strong,” said Wrazin. “I fully expect that every team in Division 1 and 2 will be competing for the section championship this year. I think we are arguably the strongest section in New York State.”

- Michael Mroziak

Williamsville North: Is this the year they reclaim Section VI? Williamsville North hockey could be concerned

WNYHockeyReport.com

about losing 11 players, including Bowman Cup goaltender Nick Stafford, to graduation after a season that ended with a loss at the Section VI finals. But while those players will be missed, the remaining players, along with the kids coming from the league champion JV team, give the Spartans reason to be confident.

“We have a bunch of juniors coming in that played a lot last year, and our JV team won the league championship, so we have kids coming up from there as well,” coach Bob Rosen said. “ W e have kids here that go back and forth and practice with us and play with JV, so they’re accustomed to what we’re doing. So we’re hoping for not a big drop-off.”

“We lost a lot of good players last year, but we have a lot of great young talent coming up from JV,” senior forward Jared Cummins said. “And we’re really happy with where we are. We have kids returning from last year and the new sophomores we’ll be adding this year.”

The Spartans will also add forward Jake Westbrook to the team this season. Westbrook spent last year with the Buffalo Regals, but the Regals’ split-season schedule this year allows Westbrook to play for his school. Rosen and the players are excited about the addition.

“He’s a hard-nosed player, and we’re excited to have him,” Rosen said. “He’s been in the locker room with the guys, so it’s a nice addition. It’s an unexpected addition.”

“He’s a power kind of guy,” said senior defenseman Kyle Wilk. “Hopefully he can bring some goals to the front line for us, and we’ll hold it back on D.” Wilk and Cummins are two of 10 seniors on this year’s team. Forward Nick Tracy is excited about the players returning and an offense that he expects to score often to support the rest of the team as it brings along the younger players.

“We have a core group of guys this year up on the front end,” Tracy said. “We’re looking to put a lot of goals in the net, help out our defense and our new goalies this year, so kind of build off every goal, let our young forwards get experience, help them out, lead the way.”

Tracy, Cummins, and Wilk will serve a leadership role on this year’s team. They’ve already spent the offseason developing a family atmosphere among their teammates, new and old alike, and they’re doing what they can to share their experience with younger teammates as the season approaches.

“We’ve all been this team for a while now,” Cummins said. “We’ve gone through the ropes and we know what it takes to win, and we know what

Section VI Hockey to expect from our younger players. So we’re really gonna try to build a real team environment, and hopefully that will help us get those one or two wins that we were missing last year.”

“We have a lot of young guys,” Wilk said. “A lot of young guys, so hopefully we can set a good example for them, hopefully welcome them to the team. Being around this team for a while now, it really shows you how the older guys, like the seniors that have already graduated, have welcomed us in. There’s always a fair amount of jokes going on, but that’s always part of the team.”

“Since we know all the ropes, we’re gonna try to bring them into a family environment and show them how to do everything,” Tracy added. “And we’re gonna get them used to playing at this level in front of the crowd.”

The biggest question remaining is who will be in goal for the Spartans when the season begins in December, but the question isn’t for lack of talent.

Senior Anthony Fiorella and junior Jake Zurat practiced with the varsity team last season. While Stafford will be hard to replace, there is confidence among the team that either Fiorella or Zurat would be a worthy replacement.

“Nick Stafford last year was a great goalie,” Cummins said. “He’ll be a big loss for sure, but we’re real confident with what we got coming up.

We have Anthony Fiorella and Jake Zurat. Either or, I think that we have a great chance to win regardless of who plays for us in goal. We have a great set of forwards and a better set of defense, I think, to help them out with their first year on the team.”

Wilk has watched both goalies develop and learn even through the offseason and travel hockey season.

“Fiorella’s really stepped up this year,” Wilk said. “I lay with Jake Zurat on my travel team, and he’s just giving it his all this year, and he’s really showing what he’s learned over these past few months.”

“It’s pretty much gonna be a battle in the first couple weeks of practice to see who’s gonna claim the first spot for starting goalie,” Tracy said. “It really could go either way.”

The hope is that whoever is in net, at defense, and on offense will carry the Williamsville North team at least to the Section VI finals once again.

“Certainly at least that,” Rosen said. “Our goal is always the same -- to win a state championship.

We start every year with that goal and try to work towards it, and see what can happen.”

- Melissa Brawdy

Williamsville East: Are the Flames still burning for another run at States?

Williamsville East hockey had depth to spare last season. Coach Mike Torrillo loved the fact that a different player and a different line could be the

hero on any given night. The Flames finished 14-10-1 in regular season league play, repeated as small school Section VI champions, and won regionals and state semifinals before losing to Skaneatles in the state championship.

This season, the Flames have lost much of that depth after graduating 11 seniors from last year’s team, including First Team All-State goaltender Max Battistoni and Battistoni’s fellow captains, Matt Steffan and Dylan Cicero. Steffan was second on the team in points, while Cicero was also a key contributor on offense.

“It’s gonna be a big hurt,” Torrillo said. “Those guys were with the program for a long time. But we try to play a lot of kids, and hopefully the younger guys will step in and fill the holes that they left and contribute as leaders as well.”

They’ll return First Team All-State junior forward Mike Steffan, Matt’s younger brother, who led the Flames in goals and points last season as a sophomore, along with goal scorers Jack Kelly and Alex Finley. Finley and defenseman Alex Tzetzo will serve as captains along with Mike Steffan, who will look to lead the team in experience and pick up where his brother left off.

Torrillo will rely on not just his captains but also this year’s seniors to lead the rest of the team.

“I value the seniors,” Torrillo said. “It’s their team.

This becomes their legacy now. The other kids left, and we’ve kind of passed the torch down to these guys. We’re hoping our seniors step up and fill a leadership role and make a name for themselves.

It’s their class.”

Williamsville East will rely heavily on the experience of Steffan, Finley, Kelly, and Tzetzo, along with defensemen Aaron Bengart and Joe Mostowy. The team won’t have quite as large of an experienced group of players, and with the loss of Battistoni in net, goaltending is a question mark.

“I think the biggest loss was experience and maybe goaltending, but I think we’ll be fine,” Steffan said. “We have a lot of returning players, so we’ll pick up right where we left off.”

Torrillo hopes for a smooth transition and another season in which any line can contribute offensively on any given night. He expects the players coming up from JV to be prepared for the varsity level and be able to contribute to the depth he’s come to expect from his team.

“The plan is to involve everybody as much as possible, and the more guys that contribute, obviously, the better our team will be,” Torrillo said. We definitely got some holes to fill, and I feel confident that our JV coaches are doing a nice job preparing the guys and getting them acclimated to what East expects. We have some guys who were on the practice squad as younger guys and didn’t play much last year, but we made them kind of a part of our program, so hopefully they’ll be comfortable enough to come in and play and feel comfortable with what our systems are and what we’re trying to teach and how we play.”

The goal is always to win every game, but Torrillo is realistic and knows that as players adjust to the varsity level and adjust to new roles, that might not happen right away. So the focus this season is

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23

on being prepared for the playoffs. “[Torrillo] is just gonna get the team prepared for playoffs and the end of the year because that’s what really matters,” Steffan said.

“Obviously we play every game to win, but the most important thing is that we’re ready for what comes up in February,” Torrillo said. “That’s kind of the way the league has set it up this year.”

Along with adjusting to the varsity level, every player on the team will have a new schedule to adjust to. Williamsville East, along with Kenmore East and Hamburg, will face large school teams this year, although all three are classified as small schools. It’s a compliment and recognition for last year’s accomplishments, but it’s also something that puts the Flames at a disadvantage.

“We’re playing against the large schools, so it’s gonna be a little tougher each night being the small school and drawing from less kids and playing against big schools that draw from a big number of kids, but I think that’s where our depth will have to come into play,” Torrillo said.

“Some kids might be forced to play a little sooner than they’d like and a little more than they’d like and more than we’d like them to early, but I have confidence that the kids will step up to the challenge.”

As far as the goaltending situation, there are three candidates who were on the JV team last season. It’s too early to say who is the frontrunner, but Torrillo is confident that whoever earns the starting role will be aided by a strong defense.

“Obviously we lost a great goalie in Max Battistoni,” Torrillo said. “We got some kids that are fighting for a spot, and hopefully they’ll answer the call. We pride ourselves on playing good defense, so hopefully we take care of our defensive zone and they do the little things that they have to do.

We’ve got two sophomores and a junior, so they may have to grow up a little faster than we’d like, but I have confidence that the guys around him will support him and hopefully try to make the game as easy as possible for him so that he can get comfortable, and then when he’s comfortable, we’ll be ready for playoffs and ready for what really counts.”

Williamsville East surprised a few people when the team repeated as Section VI champions last season. If the Flames were to win once again this year, it would again be a surprise to many.

“I like it that way,” Torrillo said with a laugh. “We just try to go out and do our business, and we really stress the team concept of playing for each other. I’ve got some pretty excited kids, and they finished one game short of their goal [last season], and the old cliche of ‘remember this feeling in the locker room’ is something we’ve already talked about. It’s something hopefully that will inspire them and motivate them to succeed, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

But that’s the goal, of course.

“Get right back where we were last year,” Steffan said. “Win another section championship and do well into the postseason.”

- Melissa Brawdy

HPHD

24

You Picked Them, Now You Play Them – Or Nobody Gets Better on the Bench We are now into the start of the hockey season and already players are looking to change their name from players to sitters.

There is a great number of players that are sitting the bench for the majority of the team’s competition for reasons that are more imagined than real. These recounts by players and parents are becoming more and more the regional norm vs the exception.

Example: A young team makes the long 4 hr drive for a 3 game series. Out of 15 players 5 of them see a 3 to 4 shifts a game. The team lost all three games and was outscored 26-2. The coaches’ reasoning for not playing everyone was under the guise of a general attitude, “it’s travel hockey” .

There is no excuse for this.

Now I am totally all for players earning their ice time. However, there is a difference between earning your ice for those important and crucial situations and getting to play to learn and advance.

But if all the team is looking for, is a line item in a budget then next time go with your shorter roster and save people a lot of grief.

It’s not about coaching to win, or where you rank on a meaningless website that rates 10yr olds. It’s about working with the players that YOU chose and for you as a coach to do everything in your power to make them a better player and give them the chance to earn the ice for the crucial situations.

That means, get every player in every type of situation (not every game is a season ending game), make realistic expectations attainable and teach the players to be successful. Also playing competition that beats you 10-0 is not gaining you anything. When choosing tournaments or exhibition games choose to play at your current playing and success level.

Bottom line – Nobody gets better sitting on the bench. Success breeds success no matter how

small. Try it you may be surprised.

Steve Thompson, Owner HPHD With over 20 years of Professional Coaching and Professional Player Development experience.

HPHD is WNY’s the only full time hockey training center assisting players and teams at all levels. www.HPHD.us

Buffalo’s College Hockey Team Upcoming Home Games: Date Fri., Nov. 20 Sat.,Nov. 21 Fri., Nov. 27 Sat., Nov 28 Sun., Dec. 13

Opponent Mercyhurst Mercyhurst Army Army Robert Morris

Canisius Golden Griffins

For tickets visit GoGriffs.com or call 716-888-TIXX GoGriffs.com WNYHockeyReport.com

Time 7:35 pm 7:35 pm 4:05 pm 7:35 pm 7:35 pm

Power Edge Pro

25

Power Edge Pro Eyes Academy in WNY Training system’s supporters include NHL families, including McDavid Edited by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com

Western New York may decidedly be Jack Eichel’s territory, but if a longtime coach and instructor’s plans come together, you’ll be hearing the name McDavid quite a bit in local hockey circles.

Not in comparisons to the popular and productive Sabres rookie, but rather off the ice in a hockey academy envisioned for this region.

Joe Quinn is the inventor of a product known as Power Edge Pro, a portable training device designed to train players in puck handling and skating skills utilizing reactive resistant training.

The small space beneath the device’s bar can be used to help players with moves such as toe drags, over-and-unders and other moves that force the player to get creative.

“One skill you have to master in today’s game is reactive agility,” he said in a telephone interview with WNYHR. Quinn has coached and trained for the past two decades and his clients, over the years, have included this past June’s number one pick overall at the NHL Draft.

“I trained Connor at one of the first sports schools in Toronto, back when he was about 9 or 10 years old,” said Quinn. “I was the head instructor there, on the ice four days a week with him. We grew the academy from about 12 kids right up to 52 boys and 20 girls.”

Over the years, Quinn developed the instructional program and, with his product patented, is launching full-blown hockey academies throughout North America. Among the Canadian markets where he is preparing to open Power Edge Pro Academies are Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

As a resident of Southern Ontario, he also finds Buffalo to be an ideal place to open an academy.

“A natural location we’ve been looking at was the Northtown Center at Amherst,” said Quinn, who lives in Ridgeway, Ont. “We’ve been looking at that as a possible location for the academy.”

They have also looked at partnering with one of the largest and most successful youth hockey organizations in WNY where it will not only be a possible “feeder system” into the academy but will also provide students from outside WNY a place to play their AAA hockey.

Consulting with Quinn on the project, the coach said, is McDavid’s father, Brian. After several meetings in Buffalo, they are coming closer to the open house dates that are almost ready to be released in the coming months. He tells WNYHR they are also partnering with one of the largest private schools in Canada and the US to develop an education element. The PEP Academy, in partnership with the Private school will be founded on the belief of providing excellence in both academics and athletics. Student-athletes will be presented with a powerful opportunity to learn in a traditional classroom setting that is integrated with the highest-caliber hockey training.

“It will be a full private school where it’s more designed for the elite athlete that wants to have some flexible education so they can dedicate their time to their sport,” Quinn said.

What is still unresolved is where the studies would be hosted locally.

He wouldn’t identify the short list of candidates, but Quinn said they were exploring a handful of possible locations for classes. They’re looking, however, to host the onice part of the program in Amherst, a location they favor “based on the demographics.” Students as far as Rochester could be welcomed into the program.

Some of the hockey program highlights will include an intensive nine-

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More information about Power Edge Pro, including the academy, can be found online at poweredgepro.com.

NAIHF

26

More Shifting Sands:

Empire West to return, new league to form with Canadian teams involved With plans to resume the league in 2016-17, Empire West will be just one league under a larger structure that will include the Greater Niagara Amateur Hockey League as well as a division of Canadian teams.

That expansion has backers of what was originally called the North East Independent Hockey League already re-branding that umbrella organization as the North American Independent Edited by Michael Mroziak Michael@wnyhockeyreport.com Hockey Federation.

Just when you thought the dust was settled following the arrival of the Amateur Athletic Union on the Western New York hockey scene, which included the formation of a new league under AAU affiliation, along come more planned changes.

The Empire West Amateur Hockey League, which ceased operations at the end of the 20102011 season, is preparing to make a comeback.

“The significance is that all the rules are the same,” said Brenda Eldridge of the Greater Niagara Amateur Hockey League, the AAU-affiliated partner under this broader league. “When you play in Canada, you play by Hockey Canada rules.

When you play in the US, you play by USA Hockey rules. But with this league that we’re creating, everybody has the same rules. The penalties are the same, there’s no specific codes. We’ll be able to monitor everybody at one time.”

And, backers of the NAIHF say, it will let teams on this side of the border who have differing affiliations play each other without repercussions.

For example, the GNAHL teams will be able to face the Empire West teams when that league returns next season. Empire West will be USA Hockey registered. The league shut down at the end of 2010-11 but expect to be back in operation next season.

“We’ve had inquiries from the Cleveland Barons, Pittsburgh and the association down in Erie,” said Mike Answeeney, president of the Buffalo Regals, one of the teams to participate in Empire West.

“We realize that in the initial year it’s going to be difficult because we really didn’t have much time to do it. We just had to scramble for places for

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players to play. But in this next coming year, we’ll have a full-fledged hockey league all over again.”

Also participating in the new and improved Empire West and NIAHF will be the Wheatfield Blades and West Seneca Wings associations. Dick Lynch, with the Wings, told WNYHR that the driving force behind this new league is giving the toplevel players what they want: more opportunities for greater competition.

“This league is going to be a player’s league,” Lynch said. “It’s not going to be about coaches, it’s not going to be about administrators, it’s not going to be anything other than what the players want. If you talk to a top-tier player, AA or AAA, they love independent status. They want a say as to who they play, how often they play, when they want to play, and that’s what an independent schedule does for them.”

When getting the word out, Lynch added, Western New York associations learned that their counterparts in Cleveland and Pittsburgh were having the same issues: teams that wanted more freedom to find their competition.

“They’re in the same boat as us. They want the competitive play of USA Hockey. They want to dabble in the AAU and Canadians,” he said. “They want to be independent but they want to seek the highest level of competition.

“Now we’ve got Cleveland, we’ve got Pittsburgh, we’ve got Rochester, we’ve got Albany and Schenectady. All these other teams are interested in playing us. It’s growing bigger and faster than we originally anticipated.”

As the Bob Dylan song goes, the times, they are a-changing...

Rochester Youth Hockey

Rochester Youth Hockey Rochester Youth Hockey kicked off an inaugural haunted half-ice Mites hockey tournament on Halloween weekend. The “Mites Fright” event hosted 17 teams and boasted trick-o-treat stations, a haunted lounge and even visits from Slapshot’s “Hanson Brothers” and Rochester’s beloved “Moose.”

RYH and its Mites teams would like to thank the following event sponsors for their support: • RIT Tigers Hockey • Wegmans • Bill Gray’s Restaurant • Total Sports Imaging • Wright Wisner • Rochester Americans • Altitude Trampoline Park • AP Enterprises • J. Robach A big, thank you as well to the 2015 participants: Blue Division – RYH Blue, PYH Orange, PYH Light Blue, Erie Lions, Tri-County, Grizzlies Blue, Grizzlies Gold, Grizzlies Maroon White Division – RYH Monks, RYH Weisbeck, RYH Parker, PYH Chilbert, Grizzlies White, MCYH Monette, MCYH Anstett, MCYH Bach & MCYH Hanrahan See you in 2016. It’ll be a scream!

27

The French Connection Continued from page 8

“When he combined his talents with Rick’s and Rene’s it was like magic out there. They could bring the fans out of their seats like no other line I’ve ever seen.”

Although the Connection was split up at times during their campaigns together, Robert’s departure prior to the start of the 1979-80 campaign marked the final act of the French Connection saga.

On the evening of November 15, 1995 the French Connection came together once again when the jersey’s of Martin (7) and Robert (14) were retired alongside Perreault’s (11) and hoisted to the rafters of “The Aud” in an emotional evening.

The trio skated several laps of the ice to a standing ovation. Later, sitting together again in the Sabres’ dressing room, smiles on their faces, the three talked freely, joking, recalling the good times.

Maybe Robert summed things up best.

“When fans give you that kind of appreciation, there’s nothing else like it in the world,” concluded Robert. “It was long overdue, coming back to get together on the ice once more.”

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Sponsors

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