OBSERVER STORY ON LAST NIGHT'S GAME

The Dunkirk Observer analyzed last night's game in today's sports section...


For the second straight night, the Fredonia State Blue Devils men's hockey team ended their game with a 3-3 tie.

However, this time the Blue Devils came from behind on two different occasions to knot the game up with Brockport, but Fredonia never led.

"Coming from behind to get the tie makes it a little better," Fredonia State coach Jeff Meredith said. "We had to battle back to make it 2-2, then we had to battle back to make it 3-3. I like the way we kept battling back."

The Blue Devils had an opportunity to take the lead when just over five minutes into the game, Bryan Ross went undefended into Brockport territory with the puck. The breakaway was unsuccessful, leaving the Golden Eagles the opportunity to draw first blood.

Brockport did just that when Gregg Amato got a fortunate deflection to open the scoring for the visitors.

Luckily for Fredonia, the team was able to score the equalizer just before the first intermission.

On a 2-on-1 breakaway, James Muscatello netted his 12th goal of the season off an Alex Morton assist. Morton's assist gave him his 30th point of the season to lead the Blue Devils.

The goal came with just 1:12 left before the break, but Fredonia still found some time to get themselves into trouble, as they picked up two quick penalties, which carried over into the second period.

With a 5-on-3 advantage for the Golden Eagles, Brockport was able to create some scoring opportunities, including a shot that rang off the post with just 20-seconds off the clock.

In a big momentum swing, Fredonia's penalty kill was able to fend off the barrage of shots coming from Brockport.

"I thought we played well," Meredith said. "Killing off the penalties to start the second period was huge for us. After that, we had almost 16 straight minutes of all us, but we just couldn't score one."

The over aggressiveness of Brockport continued to allow Fredonia some odd-man-rush scoring chances, but a shut-down performance by the Golden Eagle's Todd Sheridan kept the second period scoreless, going into the third period 1-1.

"Brockport's goalie is the best in the league," Meredith said. "Without him in net it wouldn't have been the same 3-3 game."

The third period came with an explosion, each team scoring two a piece.

With just 33-seconds gone off the clock, Amato scored his second of the game, giving Brockport a 2-1 advantage.

With 6:09 left in the final period, Fredonia got back in the game with a goal by Brett Mueller.

Steve Rizer took a long slap shot as Mueller was falling down and the puck bounced off his skate into the net to tie the game at 2-all.

Less than two minutes later, James Cody netted the go-ahead goal for Brockport. Fredonia picked up the pace, trying to get another shot at the tying goal.

"This was a good team effort," Meredith said. "Each team picked up a point tonight so we stay put in the standings."

Morton picked up the goal on a put-back shot with 1:26 left in regulation. Recording assists on the play were Muscatello and Ross.

Despite a number of shots in the overtime period, the Blue Devils were not able to pull ahead. The tie leaves the team three points ahead in the SUNYAC standings over Brockport, who is in third place.



Source:

http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/535693.html?nav=5010

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO BY CAM NOBLE

Cam Noble created this great highlight video of the games that occurred during the winter break...

USCHO RECAP OF THE FREDONIA GAME

USCHO offers this recap of Saturday's match-up...


FREDONIA, N.Y. (Feb. 6) — The fight for third place in the SUNYAC produced a wild back and forth third period between Brockport and Fredonia. In the end however, the teams skated to a 3-3 overtime tie. This allows Fredonia to maintain a three point lead over Brockport.

“I thought it was a really good college hockey game with good chances both ways,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “We knew it would be tough. This is a tough building to play in. They’re obviously having a great season, playing with a lot of confidence.”

“I liked the way our guys battled,” Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith said. “There were so many things tonight that could have gotten them sidetracked on. They kept battling back. We were behind the whole game.”

Alex Morton tied the game for Fredonia with 1:26 left in regulation with an extra attacker on the ice. Then Brockport’s Todd Sheridan preserved the tie with outstanding saves in overtime, including stopping his third breakaway of the night.

“Todd made a lot of quality saves to give us a point,” Dickinson said. “He was very clutch when we needed him to be.”

It took just 33 seconds for the third period to get off with a bang, as Brockport grabbed a 2-1 lead. Ray Tremblay threw the puck towards the net. Gregg Amato, standing near the post, redirected it just enough to sneak it by Cody Van Rentergem.

Fredonia applied ever-increasing pressure to try and get the equalizer. It finally paid off at 13:51. Steve Rizer fired from the left point and Brett Mueller deflected it high over Sheridan’s shoulder.

The tie didn’t last long, as Brockport retook the lead 1:28 later on a perfectly executed two-on-one. Tom Galiani skating down the left side dropped it for James Cody in the slot. Cody wristed a shot over Van Rentergem’s glove.

Fredonia re-tied it with 1:26 left in regulation. The play started when Brockport missed an opportunity to clear the zone with Fredonia’s goalie sitting on the bench. Fredonia transitioned the puck down low, where a Bryan Ross shot was stopped, but Morton was by the crease to flip it past Sheridan laying on the ice.

“You go out on a limb when you get your goalie out,” Meredith said. “I figured that thing is coming our way and liable to be the end of it. Somehow, we managed to keep that in and it got to the net and boom, boom, boom there it is.”

“Unfortunately, we had a major breakdown at the end of regulation, allowing them to tie it,” Dickinson said.

Overtime continued to see both teams press for the game winner, allowing a few odd man rushes. However, the goaltenders stood their ground, keeping the game tied.

Sheridan wound up with 45 saves while Van Rentergem stopped 41.

“I thought Cody played really well,” Meredith said. “Cody made some big plays.”

Brockport swarmed all over the Fredonia zone from the drop of the opening faceoff. It paid off during its first power play, taking a 1-0 lead at 6:16. Amato at the backdoor received a cross-ice pass, tipping it in.

Shortly before the initial goal while skating four aside, Bryan Ross nearly gave Fredonia the first lead on a clean breakaway. However, Sheridan stood his ground and made the save.

The period continued to be played at a rapid pace, as Fredonia started to get its legs. The Blue Devils’ effort paid off with 1:12 left in the period, getting them into the first intermission knotted at one.

A very quick two-on-one rush resulted in the tally. Morton, racing down the left side, quickly passed it to James Muscatello coming straight down the middle. Muscatello immediately redirected the puck through the five-hole, as Sheridan couldn’t move quick enough.

Brockport started the second period with a two-man advantage. However, the closest they came to scoring was when they smacked the post on a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle.

Midway through the period, Fredonia got another breakaway. This time it was Jeff Aonso who came straight in and tried to deke Sheridan, but once again Sheridan stayed with the puck to make the save.

The Golden Eagles nearly took the lead a few minutes later, but once again the pipes got in the way. Cody fired a bullet from the top of the right faceoff circle that sailed over the right shoulder of Van Rentergem, hit the crossbar, came straight down, and then bounced away from the crease.

Despite all the opportunities in the second period, the teams remained tied heading to the third, a third period the teams fought tooth and nail over.

Fredonia (15-5-2, 7-4-2) travels to the North Country next weekend to play Potsdam and Plattsburgh.

Brockport (12-9-1, 6-6-1) returns home to face Geneseo on Friday.


Source:

http://www.uscho.com/recaps/20092010/m/02/06/brockst-fredst.php

BROCKPORT TIES HIGH SCORING FREDONIA 3-3

Brockport Athletics reports on last night's game...


Sophomore Gregg Amato (Ocean Gate, NJ) scored one goal and assisted on another and junior captain Justin Noble (Georgetown, ONT) added two assists as The College at Brockport Hockey team skated to a 3-3 tie with SUNY Fredonia Saturday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game in Fredonia.

Brockport (12-9-1 Overall, 6-6-1 SUNYAC) took a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game as Amato scored from the point on a power play with assists from Noble and freshman Mike Hayward (Toronto, ONT).

Fredonia (15-5-2, 7-4-2) answered with a goal late in the period after senior Todd Sheridan (Edison, NJ) had made 16 saves in the opening period.

After a scoreless second period, Ray Tremblay (Peachland, BC) gave Brockport a 2-1 lead just 33 seconds into the third period. Amato and Noble recorded assists on the goal.

Fredonia tied the game at the 13:51 mark of the period but 1:28 later Brockport was ahead again – this time with a goal by James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) as the sophomore netted his team-leading 11th goal of the season.

As time was winding down in the period, Fredonia had a power play and pulled its goalie for the extra attacker and scored the game-tying goal with 1:26 left to play in the period.

Neither team was able to score in the overtime period despite firing 11 total shots on goal and the game ended in a 3-3 tie.

Sheridan made 45 saves for Brockport including 16 in each the first and third periods and seven in overtime.

BROCKPORT BEATS BUFF STATE 3-2

The Brockport Athletics Department provides this recap of last night's game...

Sophomore James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season with a power play tally midway through the third period to lead The College at Brockport Hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Buffalo State Friday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game in Buffalo.

Brockport (12-9 Overall, 6-6 SUNYAC) took a 1-0 lead early in the second period as Brett Jendra ( Bolingbrook, IL) scored with assists from Tyler Davis (Queensbury, NY) and Ryan Silveira (Brampton, ONT) just 30 seconds after Buffalo State (6-14-1, 2-10) had killed of a Brockport power play early in the period.

The Bengals tied the score six minutes later and the game remained tied at 1-1 through two periods of play.

In the third period, Justin Noble (Georgetown, ONT) gave the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead with assists from Ray Tremblay (Peachland, BC) and Adam Korol (Hurley, NY). Four minutes later both Cody and Buffalo State’s Tyler Soehner were whistled for penalties and 45 seconds later the Bengals picked up another penalty giving Brockport a 5-on-4 powerplay. After Cody and Soehner were released from the penalty box, Cody moved into the offensive end of the ice and helped maintain the Brockport power play pressure. With 19 seconds left in the extra-man advantage, Cody picked up a rebound in front of the Buffalo net and tucked in the goal for a 3-1 Brockport lead.

With one minutes remaining in the contest, Buffalo State closed the gap to 3-2 and played without its goalie for the final 58 seconds but could not score the equalizer.

Senior goalie Todd Sheridan (Edison, NJ) made 15 saves for Brockport as the Golden Eagles outshot the Bengals 34-17.

PART 2 OF THE DICKINSON INTERVIEW

WEBSITES TO FOLLOW

If you would like more news about Golden Eagles hockey and the entire spectrum of Brockport Athletics, add these sites to your favorites:

http://twitter.com/enestsports: This is the Twitter for the Eagles Nest TV show

www.thepointafter.org: This is the website of the Point After, the weekly sports talk that runs on WBSU (89.1 FM) every Sunday evening from 6:00 to 9:00

EAGLES NEST TV: BRIAN DICKINSON

Brockport left winger Brett Jendra works for the campus TV station and produces The Eagles Nest, a TV show that discusses Brockport sports. Their most recent episode features a sit-down interview with Coach Dickinson. The first 7 minutes of the discussion, hosted by Brian Mazurowski, are available for viewing on You Tube. The Coach talks about his 100th win as a Brockport head coach and the sanctions levied against Geneseo and Buff State...

BROCKPORT'S WNY ROAD TRIP

The Golden Eagles play their annual Western New York series this weekend traveling to Buffalo State on Friday and Fredonia on Saturday.

The Bengals are in the midst of 6-13-1 season (2-9 in the SUNYAC) that took a turn for the worse as the college’s athletics department became a laughingstock in DIII when last week the NCAA disciplined them for financial aid violations. It’s unfortunate that the kids - especially the 8 seniors - had to go through that bad press. The stress will no doubt further erode their psyche and I wouldn’t be surprised if the game is more sloppily played than the recent ones that saw the Bengals lose 4 of their last 5.

It will probably be a game similar to November’s match-up in which the Bengals managed only two goals and were single-handedly beaten by Ryan Silveira who had a hat trick. Buffalo State has been porous as in years past (they are at 4.50 goals/game, 61st in the nation) but they have been unable to overcome that by producing goals in bunches as they have been known to do. This year they have scored just over 3 goals a game. Junior Nick Petriello – he of 45 points last season – has 23 points (including 12 goals) and D’Arcy Thomas has 19 points, but other than those two the offense is relatively tame as no other player has more than 5 goals. As for special teams, they are 41st in the power play and 62nd in the penalty kill. They are the 15th most-penalized team in the nation, which is not a good combination with such a penalty kill.

Brockport should beat them and beat them badly.

Saturday won’t be so easy. Fredonia is 15-5-0 and, boy, can they score! Far exceeding preseason estimations, they rank fifth in DIII with 4.90 goals a game, just .40 behind powerhouse Oswego. They have seven (!) players with more than 20 points, led by Alex Morton’s 28. They have 5 players who have scored a double-digit number of goals, led by Bryan Ross’s 14. Jordan Oye and Matt Hehr each have 13. In comparison, James Cody and Tom Galiani lead Brockport with 9 goals each.

Their freewheeling ways are allowed because they are backed up by some solid goaltending. One of my favorite goalies in DIII, Pat Street, doesn’t look like the Street of old (he has an .895 save percentage) so most of the workload of this semester has fallen upon Kody Van Rentergem who sports a great .913. No matter who Brockport faces it will be tough, because when Street is on, he’s on. It would be nice if Street got the start on Saturday so the senior could face off against Todd Sheridan one last time. Their match-ups have always been entertaining.

Fredonia is a scary team and the Golden Eagles will have their hands full.

Both games start at 7:00 and can be heard at www.891thepoint.com and watched at www.fasthockey.com

THIS YEAR'S SAVES FOR A CURE JERSEYS

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: DAVE ZEIS

Brockport is an interesting college in that its strong academics have helped many a Golden Eagle hockey player to a life in hockey – though not necessarily on the ice - after graduation. Numerous Brockport alumni have gone on to key roles at all levels of hockey, assuming duties behind the bench, in front offices, and in locker rooms. Among them is Dave Zeis, well known in NHL circles as the head athletic trainer for the Dallas Stars.

Dave, who was a defenseman, graduated from Brockport in 1992 after transferring to the College in 1990 from Erie County Community College.

For this installment of “Where Are They Now?” we catch up with the man who once wore the number 4…


BOB: What have you been up to since graduating from Brockport?

DAVE: I finished Brockport in 1992 and have been pursuing a career in Athletic Training ever since. I worked in minor hockey for 8 years when I got the chance to work with the Dallas Stars as an assistant ATC in 2007. I took over as Head ATC half way through that season and have been here since.


BOB: What do your day-to-day duties entail for the Dallas Stars?

DAVE: I am the Head Athletic Trainer. I am responsible for all of our players and staff medical needs. I also have an assistant and a LMT. We work very long days during the season, averaging 80 hours/week.


BOB: What are some of the most amusing stories that you can share with us about your experiences with NHL players?

DAVE: The day to day banter is great. It is mostly the one liners and practical jokes that are most entertaining. One time our players took a rookie’s beat-up Oldsmobile car and said it was struck by a car while at the airport. They said the airport was going to repair it. A week later, the captains drove it onto the ice at our practice rink and it was all pimped out. They spent $15,000 on all the work, including rims, paint, stereo, etc.


BOB: How did Brockport – from both an academic and athletic standpoint – prepare you for your various responsibilities with the Stars?

DAVE: I think athletics are huge in preparing you socially and physically. Playing college hockey has given me confidence and understanding of what these guys go through. It also helps me gain the respect of the players. Academically, Brockport has given me the tools to get nationally certified and have the ability to practice.


BOB: What are some of your greatest memories on the ice at Brockport?

DAVE: I really enjoyed my teammates. I enjoyed traveling as a team and competing towards a goal. Unfortunately, I injured my knee and missed a lot of games my second season. I also have just as many great memories of off-ice activities with my old teammates.


BOB: Do you ever suit up during practice and show the Stars that you still have it?

DAVE: They "have" way more than I ever did. We do have a Christmas function where we get to play a little shinny. They always comment on how they didn't know that I could play the game.

SHERIDAN AMONG HUMANITARIAN FINALISTS

Four repeat nominees are among the 18 college hockey players nominated for the 2010 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Colgate senior Ethan Cox, Denver senior Brandon Vossberg, St. Cloud State senior Caitlin Hogan and Brockport senior Todd Sheridan are on the list again; all were nominated last year as well.

The other nominees:

• Bobby Butler, senior, New Hampshire
• Kevin Deeth, senior, Notre Dame
• Kirsten Dier, senior, Amherst
• Jon Globke, sr. New England College
• Barry Goers, sr., Massachusetts-Lowell
• Dion Knelsen, sr., Alaska
• Sam Kuzyk, jr., Adrian
• Shareef Labreche, sr., Buffalo State
• Zach Miller, sr., Williams
• Mario Mjelleli, jr., Augsburg
• Brigid O’Gorman, jr., Connecticut College
• Jordan Pietrus, sr., Brown
• Garrett Raboin, sr., St. Cloud State
• Brett Watson, sr., Massachusetts

The Hockey Humanitarian Award is awarded annually to college hockey’s finest citizen and seeks to recognize college hockey players, Division I or Division III, male or female, who give back to their community in the true humanitarian spirit. It has been said of the Hockey Humanitarian Award that we seek not to celebrate Hall of Fame athletes, but rather Hall of Fame human beings.

The finalists will be announced later this month, and the recipient will be announced at the Frozen Four in Detroit on April 9.

For more on the award, visit hockeyhumanitarian.org