Oswegonian article about Mark Digby

Nice write-up about a nice guy. The Oswegonian looks at former Brockport player and assistant coach Mark Digby and his new role as associate head coach of Oswego women's hockey:

https://www.oswegonian.com/2019/11/14/mark-digby-joins-womens-hockey-team-as-associate-head-coach/

Dickinson in pursuit of 200

You're going to see this smile very soon. With the team's next win Brian Dickinson reaches a milestone -- it will be his 200th victory as coach of the green and gold!

I'm very happy for Brian. He's a great guy who is iconic on campus and in the community. He's been a fixture here since 1996, leading high-character teams who play good hockey and do good in the classroom and in service to others. Also, as the ice arena manager he's done so much to help teams and families from across the region enjoy this great sport.

Congrats, Coach! 200 wins is awesome. And, it's been fun to watch...thank you for all the adventures along the way.

Hutchins in pursuit of 100

The century watch is underway!

Connor Hutchins' 4-point game on Friday has pushed him just over the point-a-game mark for his career...81 points in 80 games. He has 6 already this season and needs to get 19 more to reach 100 in his career -- he has 21 games plus the playoffs to get them.

If he does this, it will be an amazing accomplishment -- he will become only the 15th player in all of Brockport hockey's history to reach the century mark!

So, keep your eyes on the young man this season!

Knowing his style, this personal milestone is likely low on his list of things-to-do...what he really wants is a team milestone, to lead this talented young team deep into the playoffs in his senior season. He's just the man to do it!

Potsdam highlight video

SUNY Potsdam has produced this highlight video from the November 2nd Potsdam-Brockport game:

Brockport to play Oswego, Cortland this weekend

The 3-1 Golden Eagles have yet another tough SUNYAC weekend ahead of them.

On Friday, Brockport travels to Oswego, perhaps the toughest place to play in the conference. The Lakers are 3-0 and have lit the lamp a lot this young season. They put 6 on Cortland and 8 on Potsdam.

Leading the way are Travis Broughman, Max Novick, and Jody Sullivan with 2 goals each. Someone to watch for is Josh Zizek who had 13 goals last season and has yet to score. And, then, there's Joe Molinaro who had 15 goals in 2019-2020. David Richer will likely start in goal...he of the .945 save percentage.

It will be a tough game for sure...especially with the Toys For Tots teddy bear toss. As cute as the bears are, they make the fans rabid for goals.

On Saturday, Brockport hosts Cortland for a 4:00 PM matinee affair. The first 100 fans receive rally towels.

The Red Dragons are 1-3 overall, having lost SUNYAC games to Potsdam and Oswego. They were 9-16 last year.

One fellow to watch is blueliner Logan Blaser who has 2 goals and an assist in the 4 games. He's finding his offense now after having just 6 points in his previous 33 games. In goal will be Nick Modica who has put up a great .913 save percentage despite facing a whopping 43 shots per game.

Expect Brockport to pour the shots on goal and slay the Dragons. Be sure to be at Tuttle ice arena Saturday!

Rally towels Saturday

Hutchins in the spotlight in USCHO weekly recap

In a weekend of big performances in DIII, it's great to see Connor Hutchins get top billing:

https://www.uscho.com/2019/11/11/d-iii-east-round-up-2/

Mustangs trample Brockport

The College at Brockport hockey team hosted Morrisville State on Saturday for the second matchup of the weekend. The visiting Mustangs took the win over Brockport, 4-1, on the day.

The Green and Gold are now 3-1 overall and in SUNYAC play to start the season.

The first period of play was filled with scoring as both teams got on the board. Morrisville struck first with two goals to earn a 2-0 advantage with just over three minutes remaining in the period.

During a Golden Eagle power play, Jordan Renaud found the back of the net to make the score read 2-1. Connor Hutchins and Ryan Romeo were credited with assists on the goal. Brockport was 1-for-5 on power plays in the contest.

The Mustangs would add to their lead with goals in the second and third period, both coming during power play opportunities. Morrisville would end up securing a 4-1 final lead.

Brockport goaltender Matt Schneider made 10 saves in the game. Brockport outshot its opponent, 26-14, and won the face-off battle, 40-24.

Golden Eagles corral the Mustangs

The College at Brockport men's hockey team netted four power-play goals and held visiting Morrisville to just 11 shots on goal as the Golden Eagles cruised to a convincing 6-0 victory in front of a capacity crowd on Senior Night and SAAC's Shatter The Stigma Mental Health Awareness Night at the Tuttle North Ice Arena on Friday. It was also the regular season home opener for the undefeated Golden Eagles, who are receiving votes in the USCHO.com National Poll.

Brockport improved to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in SUNYAC play, marking the third consecutive season that the Golden Eagles have started the year with three straight wins.  Morrisville dropped its first contest of the season after sweeping Fredonia on opening weekend and the Mustangs saw their record move to 2-1 overall and 2-1 in SUNYAC play.

Freshman defender Anthony Hora continued his hot collegiate start with two goals and one assist to lead the way. Hora now has a team best three goals to go along with three assists this season. Captain Connor Hutchins made his senior day count as he totaled a team-best four points (one goal, three assists), while classmate Doc Gentzler added three assists to move his team high point total to seven on the year. Jordan Renaud also added one goal and one assist and Ryan Romeo posted two helpers to round out the multi-point scorers for the Golden Eagles.

Senior goalie Matt Schneider stopped all 11 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the season and the third of his career.

Hora scored the first and last goals of the game for the Golden Eagles.  His first came on the power-play just 1:23 into the contest off assists from Hutchins and Renaud. Just over a minute later the Golden Eagles went up 2-0 when Hutchins found the back of the net on the power-play for the first time this season. Gentzler and Hora assisted Brockport's second tally of the game.

Renaud then rounded out the first period scoring with his first of the season from Romeo and Corey Tam to put the home team on top 3-0 less than five minutes into the contest.

Jeremy Solat scored a power-play goal in the second period to put Brockport ahead 4-0. Hutchins and Gentzler were each credited with an assist on the goal.  Freshman Zach Norby then tipped home his first collegiate goal with 1:34 left in the second period to put the home team up 5-0.  Mitchell Parsons and Romeo earned the helper's on Norby's goal.

Hora capped the scoring in the third period with a power-play goal off assists from Gentzler and Hutchins to give the Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead.

Morrisville goalie Jared Young stopped 23 shots in net before being relieved at the start of the third period.

Brockport finished the day going 4-for-7 on the power-play, while holding the visitors to an 0-for-4 effort.  The Golden Eagles outshot the Mustangs 39-11 overall.

Mustangs ride into town

Can you feel the electricity?

The home opener is tonight and we're blessed with another home game on Saturday, too!

Friday's affair begins at 7:00 and it's also Shatter the Stigma night for mental health awareness. The first 300 people receive a Shatter the Stigma t-shirt.

Saturday's game is a matinee with a 4:00 start.

The opponent for both games is the Morrisville Mustangs.

They are looking good on this young season, coming in at 2-0 after having beat Fredonia 4-3 in OT last Friday, and 4-3 on Saturday. In Friday's game, freshman Eric Melso had a hat trick (what a debut!) and on the weekend senior Nick DeVito had 6 points on the weekend (3 goals and 3 assists).

They will be a handful for sure! Don't let their record from last year fool you (4-19-2).

Stylus recap of opening weekend

By Carson Werner, Brockport Stylus

The College at Brockport ice hockey team opened its 2019-20 season with two road games against conference competitors. After dropping both exhibition matches a week earlier, Brockport had time to make adjustments before games on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 against Plattsburgh State and SUNY Potsdam. Based on the results, it seems as though the Golden Eagles’ alterations were beneficial to their success.

“Each year brings new challenges,” head coach Brian Dickinson said. “We felt we had unfinished business with Plattsburgh knocking us out of the playoffs last year. The guys have been waiting for the chance to avenge that outcome and were motivated and determined from the start.”
The first game against the Cardinals finished with four total goals that all came in the second period. After a scoreless first period, senior forward Doc Gentzler scored the first goal of the season for the Golden Eagles on the powerplay. Senior captain Connor Hutchins and junior defenseman Ryan Romeo assisted on the goal one minute into the period.

After one roughing penalty for each side, the Cardinals used four-on-four hockey to tie the game five minutes after. Brockport reclaimed the lead on junior forward Ethan Solat’s first goal of the year 30 seconds later.

“The boys executed the game plan and when we made a mistake [senior goaltender] Matt Schneider was there to make a big save for us,” Dickinson said. “I felt when Plattsburgh tied the score at one we answered quickly, which allowed us to take the momentum back. Scoring a third goal gave us a cushion and the team played very well defensively in the third period to lock down the win.”

Sophomore forward Mitchell Parsons increased the lead to two just over the halfway point in the period. Forwards Jordan Renaud, Hunter Laslo, Zach Norby and Gentzler all finished with an assist apiece. Schneider made 29 saves in the contest. At two different points in the game, Schneider was forced to make five consecutive stops to maintain the lead.

The second game of the weekend against Potsdam featured a more evenly-matched SUNYAC battle. Romeo put the Golden Eagles on the board five minutes into the first period, using assists from freshman defenseman Anthony Hora and Ethan Solat. The Bears managed to respond on their ninth shot of the period and the score remained tied going into the second.

The second period featured nine penalties and 14 shots between the two sides. It wasn’t until the final minute of the frame that either team capitalized on the man-advantage. With five seconds left, Potsdam took the lead and momentum to enter the final 20 minutes of play.

After failing to convert on four powerplays in the first and second periods, the Golden Eagles converted on two of three in the third to pick up the win. With help from Romeo and Hora, Gentzler evened the score at two with his second powerplay goal of the weekend. Just over a minute later, Hora scored his first collegiate goal to give Brockport the lead with 15 minutes left in the game. Schneider made nine saves to preserve the lead and Hora’s go-ahead goal turned into the eventual game-winner.

“It’s huge, obviously doing anything to help the team win is a big thing for me,” Hora said. “Nothing happens in that third period if we come out flat as a team. The pressure we put on Potsdam to start the third period was an enormous boost for us and really got our legs going.”

Hora played a huge role in the victory over Potsdam, finishing the game with a goal and two assists. In the exhibition matches leading up to this weekend, Hora collected a goal against Elmira as well.
“I’ve always been an offensive-minded defenseman growing up, but none of that happens without having a strong defensive zone presence,” Hora said. “It can take time for things to come for defenseman, but when it does, you just need to make the most of it.”

Between Romeo and Hora, the two accounted for two goals and four assists against Plattsburgh and Potsdam. However, the biggest influence in the two wins was Brockport’s powerplay offense.
The specialized lines went 3-10 with 10 shots during its opportunities. Last year, the squad scored 26 times on 143 man-advantage chances for a conversion percentage of .182.

“The powerplay needs to be better than last year for sure,” Dickinson said. “We felt that it let us down in many games last year and it’s been a point of emphasis since day one for us. We learned a lot about ourselves in our two exhibition games where we went 0-11. After solid video analysis, the players went back to work and had a very successful weekend. The powerplay needs to produce both by scoring goals or by keeping momentum in order for us to be successful this season.”

The Golden Eagles will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9 with back-to-back home games against Morrisville State. Friday’s game, which starts at 7 p.m., will be Brockport’s senior night and Stop the Stigma Green Out.


Source: http://www.brockportstylus.org/news/article/current/2019/11/05/101719/ice-hockey-makes-statement-in-first-regular-season-games

Cheering section

Shatter the Stigma

Hora gets the helmet

Anthony Hora got the helmet after Saturday's win. What a game! In just his second NCAA game he played a part in all 3 Brockport goals

Brockport beats Potsdam

Brockport's Doc Gentzler and Anthony Hora each netted a power-play goal just 1:33 apart early in the third period as the Golden Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit and topped host Potsdam 3-2 in SUNYAC Conference action on Saturday night. Hora, a freshman, played a part in all three goals including the game-winning goal as he finished the night with a team-best three points.

Gentzler totaled one goal and one assist and he now leads the team with four points on two goals and two assists this season.  Ryan Romeo also added one goal and one assist to give him three points on the year.

Brockport, coming off a 3-1 win at Plattsburgh on Friday night, is now 2-0 overall and 2-0 in SUNYAC play. The Golden Eagles return home on Friday night (7 p.m.) when they host Morrisville for Senior Night and SAAC's Go Green mental health awareness initiative.

Senior goalie Matt Schneider stopped 32 shots in net and picked up his second win of the young season.

Brockport got on the board first in the opening period when Romeo found the back of the net for the first time this season off assists from Ethan Solat and Hora.  Solat scored the game-winner against Plattsburgh on Friday night and he now has two points on the season.

Potsdam knotted the score at 1-1 midway through the first period when Rob Clerc scored at 11:59 off an assist from Sean Winikates. The Bears took the lead late in the second period after Tyler Young beat Schneider with just five seconds to go in the second period of play. Clerc and Bryce Ferrell assisted on what proved to be the final goal of the night for the home team.

The third period was all Brockport as the Golden Eagles netted two early power-play goals and the defense fended off the Bears onslaught for the remainder of the period.

Potsdam outshot Brockport 34-28 on the afternoon, but the Golden Eagles took advantage of their special team's chances as they finished the night going 2-for-8 with a man advantage.  Brockport's penalty kill also held the home team to a 1-for-6 effort on the power-play.

Game One star

Hold the Cardinals to one goal at Plattsburgh? You deserve the helmet, Mr. Schneider!

News report on Brockport's win

The Plattsburgh Press-Republican offers this recap of Brockport's big season opening win:

https://www.pressrepublican.com/sports/brockport-deals-plattsburgh---defeat-in-sunyac-opener/article_fb5435f2-fd2b-11e9-ad5f-8b3b200394ee.html

Brockport opens season with win at Plattsburgh

The College at Brockport men's hockey team used a three goal second period on its way to a hard fought 3-1 victory over host SUNY Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC season opener for both teams on Friday night. Brockport's Doc Gentzler registered one goal and one assist, while senior goalie Matt Schneider stood on his head, stopping 29 shots, to help the Golden Eagles snap a four game winless streak against their rivals from the North Country.

Brockport improved to 1-0 on the year (1-0 SUNYAC) and the Golden Eagles will stay overnight before facing host Potsdam on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Plattsburgh, under the direction of first year Head Coach Steve Moffat, saw its record fall to 0-1 on the season. The Cardinals are receiving votes in the preseason USCHO.com National Poll.

After a scoreless first period where Schneider stopped all ten shots he faced, the visitors broke out in the second period with three goals in the first 10:40 of the stanza.

Gentzler got the Golden Eagles going just 1:14 into the second period when he netted his first of the year, and the 17^th of his career, on the power-play to hand the visitors a 1-0 lead.  Gentzler now has 34 career points under his belt.  The first goal of the season for Brockport was assisted by senior captain Connor Hutchins and junior defensemen Ryan Romeo.  Hutchins is the program's active scoring leader with 76 career points (29 goals, 47 assists).

Plattsburgh answered right back and knotted the score at 1-1 just over 5:30 later when Matt Araujo netted a 5-on-5 goal off an assist from Andrew Pizzo.

However, just 34 seconds later, junior forward Ethan Solat netted what proved to be the game-winner off assists from Jordan Renaud and Gentzler. It was Solat's first of the young season and the 11^th of his career.

Sophomore forward Mitchell Parsons then netted an insurance tally at the 10:40 marker of the second to put the Golden Eagles ahead 3-1.  Parsons' first of the year was assisted by captain Hunter Laslo and freshman Zach Norby. The point for Norby was the first of his collegiate career.

Schneider turned away all eight of the shots he faced in the third and final period to help the Golden Eagles secure the two goal victory.

The Brockport special teams held Plattsburgh to an 0-for-3 effort on the power-play.  Plattsburgh's Jimmy Poreda stopped 15 shots in net for the home team as the Cardinals outshot the Golden Eagles 30-18 on the afternoon.

Brockport avenged last season's postseason loss, as the Cardinals knocked the Golden Eagles out of the SUNYAC Tournament in the first round by the score of 3-1 last year.

Brockport visits the North Country

It’s here.

Finally.

The start of the 2019-2020 season.

The team comes into the First Weekend with high expectations for the season and a very real chance to be a team that makes an extended run in the playoffs.

The season begins with two away games on the always tough North Country road trip.

Friday finds Brockport at Plattsburgh, always a tough place to play. It’s the beginning of a new era there, as Steve Moffat is the man, taking over for a living legend in coach Bob Emery. Having spent 16 years as Bob’s assistant, he’s had a hand in the success the Cardinals have enjoyed through the years and he looks to continue that.

Brockport and Plattsburgh faced off three times last year. They tied 1-1 in a November affair at Stafford Ice Arena. The Cardinals soundly beat the Golden Eagles 4-1 at Tuttle Ice Arena in January. And, then, Plattie didn’t let Brockport past the first round of the playoffs, handing them a 3-1 loss.

Plattsburgh was a 13-12-2 team last year based on an incredible defense headlined by goalie Jimmy Poreda and his stingy .935 save percentage. Their offense was totally unlike any ever produced by Plattsburgh -- not a single player surpassed 15 points on the season! This likely never occurred there – Plattsburgh has always amassed amazing offensive talent. Heading into this season, they lost 5 of their top 6 scorers.

It will be a battle of great defenses, and Brockport has a major offensive edge. Brockport could secure an upset in front of an excited Cardinals crowd.

Saturday’s game finds Brockport taking on the Bears at Potsdam.

Brockport mauled them last year, a 4-2 win and a 3-0 shutout.

The Bears were 8-16-1 last year. They will be markedly improved this year as all 8 of their top scorers return, a year stronger, a year more experienced. Bryce Ferrel and Jack Bloem are the guys to watch, each lighting the lamp 9 times in 2018-2019.

With Nate Skidmore having graduated, the goalie situation is up in the air, especially since he was a workhorse and the others saw little ice time last year.

2019-2020 season preview

Coach Dickinson will have a lot to smile about this year
(Photo Credit: SUNY Brockport, Sam Cherubin)

Last year’s Golden Eagle hockey squad was likely left for dead by most hockey aficionados off-campus at the start of last season. 

The previous May the squad lost 8 players to graduation including 4 of their top 5 scorers. That’s a difficult obstacle to overcome – typically, no one expects a team with 10 freshmen to make any noise.

But, the Golden Eagles did. They made a lot of noise. 

High on character and grit, and imbued with strong leadership from upperclassmen, the team performed beyond the expectations that the rest of the conference had for them. The young squad went 15-9-2, the most wins the program had seen since the 17-8-1 campaign of 1987-1988.  

Along the way there were some “statement” games – like the 1-1 tie at Plattsburgh, never a good place to play; dominating the Castleton Tournament on Thanksgiving weekend; and the beatings of Buffalo State.

The season came to an end, though, in the first round of the playoffs, the young team showing their playoff inexperience to Plattsburgh.

But, with the maturation of those magical freshmen and other players coming into their own, this season looks to be even brighter and there is a legitimate shot at besting the College’s 17-win record and going deep into the playoffs. All the parts are in place.

Matt Schneider has the steely resolve to steal some games for the Golden Eagles
(Photo Credit: SUNY Brockport)

The 2018-2019 Golden Eagles won on the strength of great goaltending and a super-stingy defensive approach that allowed just 24 shots on goal per game and a program-record 2.03 goals per game (13^th best in the country).

While Jake Moore has graduated after a record-setting senior year (.925 save percentage, 1.93 GAA, 4 shutouts, all team records) the goalie stable is full at Tuttle North.  Senior Matt Schneider had a stellar 2.37 GAA in 9 games last year and rookie Aidan Curry looks to shine. He has the size (6’2”) and the production (a .920 save percentage in 20 games for the Boston Junior Rangers last year).

The defense is mostly intact, having lost blueliners Bryan Carville and Connar Bass to graduation. Junior Ryan Romeo and sophomore Corey Tam had great seasons last year. Romeo came on hot as a playmaker in the second semester, ending with 17 points and Tam smoothly posted excellent plus/minus stats all season, and he contributed on the power play with 3 such goals. Don’t overlook guys like Casey Winn (a defenseman’s defenseman) and freshman AJ Przystawski, an EHL fan favorite and big man who plays a physical brand of hockey (99 PIM in 27 games last year).

D-man Corey Tam showed great polish and poise as a freshman
(Photo: SUNY Brockport, Sam Cherubin)

The team’s weakness last year may have been the ability to consistently light the lamp. The team was a roller coaster, sometimes pouring the goals on and then going into long lulls where goals were hard to come by. The team scored 2.96 goals per game, 40^th best in the country. It’s hoped that they can muster another 12 goals this season, pushing that number to 3.40/game.

It’s not too great of a request, considering the talent is there. 

Connor Hutchins looks to end his NCAA career with a deep playoff run
(Photo: SUNY Brockport, Sam Cherubin)

It all starts with senior playmaker Connor Hutchins who led the team with 26 points last year. He has an eye for finding breakdowns in defenses. He should secure a dozen lamplighters this year. He’ll also be feeding pucks to Doc Gentzler, a tough, scrappy forward who led the team with 9 goals and should improve on that number dramatically. Sophomore Mitchell Parsons showed flashes of brilliance last year, ending the season with 8 goals – his speed is at another level…with a year of NCAA experience behind him, he’ll be able to capitalize on that. And then there’s Jordan Renaud – he has a name that sounds perfect for Canada’s national sport and he has a skill set for it, too. In 22 games for the Golden Eagles as a freshman he had 8 goals. He can make things happen…great vision, hands, and skating. I promise that over the next 3 years he’s destined for a 15+ goal season (or two).   

Brockport has everything they need to succeed. They have the talent and the character. They are a team that won young and is a year smarter and more experienced. The sky’s the limit. This is one of the seasons where you’d better not miss a single home game. This could be one for the ages. Is this the year we raise the SUNYAC banner?