Tuesday, April 27, 2010

VOTE IN STYLUS POLL

This week's Brockport Stylus has a poll that asks about the best Winter sports teams this past year as well as the best Winter athlete.

Make it a point to vote for the hockey team and James Cody!

here's the poll:

http://media.www.thestylus.net/media/storage/paper1380/news/2010/04/28/Sports/Vote-Now.Spring.2010.Athlete.Of.The.Year-3913543.shtml






CHAPMAN COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Ian Chapman has committed to play for the Golden Eagles. Hailing from nearby Batavia, NY, the big defenseman -- who is 6'5" and 215 pounds -- should handle the larger forwards of Plattsburgh and Oswego quite well.

Last season he played 19 games for the Stouffville Spirit before a trade to the North York Rangers where he played 19 games as well. His stat line from last season includes 1 goal and 6 assists for a total 7 points.

Ian also spent 2 seasons with the Brockville Braves of the CJHL.






Friday, April 23, 2010

CANGRO COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

From the NY Bobcats of the AJHL...



The Bobcats are proud to announce that standout forward, Chris Cangro, has committed to the Golden Eagles of Brockport State College for the 2010/2011 season. Chris joins teammates Stephen Sachman and Joe Reagan, both of whom committed earlier this year to the Golden Eagles. Brockport is a member of the SUNYAC Conference, which is arguably the strongest Division III Conference in the United States. Chris becomes the eighth player from this year’s New York Bobcats to receive a commitment to play collegiate hockey.

Known for his strong skating and goal scoring ability, Chris has been one of the Bobcats’ strongest offensive players the past two seasons, often playing on the team’s top line with Matt Zay and Dan O’Donoghue. An AJHL All-Star this past season, Chris was third in scoring on the Bobcats with a 24-39-63 line in 62 games. Those numbers were also good enough for 9th overall in the AJHL. In addition to being a consistent producer on the powerplay (17 points), Chris was 2nd on the team with a plus/minus rating of +34. His total offensive output during his two-year Bobcats career totaled an eye-popping 46 goals and 58 assists in 127 games, which placed him 3rd overall during that span. Most notably, however, Chris was one of the key components on a Bobcats team that earned two consecutive National Championship appearances and runner-up finishes in the AJHL.

Similar to teammate Dan O’Donoghue, Chris spent almost his entire youth hockey career playing for the Long Island Rebels organization in Dix Hills. He did not play a game at the Tier I level until the 07/08 season where as one of the team’s leading offensive players, he helped lead the Long Island Royals Midget Minors to a New York State Tier I Championship and a National Semi-final appearance. As a Long Island Rebel, he earned a Bantam and Midget Minor NYS Tier II State Championship, which respectively led to Final and Semi-final appearances in the U.S. Nationals. In addition to his travel youth hockey accomplishments, Chris competed for Team Long Island in the 2007 Empire State Games and was a High School Vytra Cup All-Star during the 07/08 season. He also participated in the NYS Select 17 Camp in 2008. Chris also had a very notable high school hockey career. A standout player at Sachem, Chris earned MVP honors as a Junior Varsity player during the 05/06 season and as a Varsity player during the 07/08 season. He led Sachem to Varsity and Junior Varsity Championships during the 08/09 and 05/06 seasons, respectively.

A young man of great character and resiliency, Chris has been forced to endure some very difficult obstacles in his life the past few years. While it has not always been an easy road for him and his family, the inner strength and perseverance he has shown will always act as a catalyst for success moving forward. His work ethic on and off the ice, and his commitment and loyalty to the Bobcats and his teammates are a rare sight in this age of youth sports.

Chris hopes to pursue a career in Sports Management.






SACHMAN COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

From the New York Bobcats of the AJHL....


The Bobcats are proud to announce that standout forward, Stephen Sachman, has committed to the Golden Eagles of Brockport State College for the 2010/2011 season. Stephen will be joining teammate Joe Reagan, who committed earlier this year to the Golden Eagles. Brockport is a member of the SUNYAC Conference, which is arguably the strongest Division III Conference in the United States. Stephen becomes the seventh player from this year’s New York Bobcats to receive a commitment to play collegiate hockey.

Known for his strong and quick shooting release, Stephen was considered one of the team's strongest offensive players the past two seasons. Teams left him open in the slot and shooting lanes at their own peril. A two-time AJHL All-Star and one of the league's top point producers, Stephen accumulated some eye-popping numbers during his two-year tenure with the Bobcats. In 126 games, including two National Championship appearances, Stephen scored 63 goals and 53 assists for a total of 116 points, the most for any Bobcat during that period. His 63 goals easily made him the organization's top goal scorer - 17 more goals than the next closest Bobcat. His 30 points also made him one of the team's top power play specialists the past two years, and his 15 game-winning goals far surpassed any other Bobcat.

By way of background, Stephen came to the Bobcats from the Junior "B" Long Island Royals where he was a member of the 2008 National Championship team. That team also earned the MJHL 07/08 Regular Season and League Championships. During that season, Stephen was an MJHL All-Star, earning 3rd Star of the game and finishing 18th in league scoring. In addition to participating in the NYS Select 15, 16 and 17 Camps, Stephen also competed in the Empire State Games for Team Long Island in 2007.

An Honor Roll student every semester in high school and an avid community service volunteer, Stephen has an interest in Business Administration and Computer Applications and hopes to pursue a combination of those areas in college. His work ethic on and off the ice, his character and integrity, and his commitment to both the team and those less fortunate, all speak to the young man he has become today and will serve him well as he heads to SUNY Brockport to commence his academic and college hockey career.







Tuesday, April 20, 2010

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

As a result of not only playing in the SUNYAC, but playing some tough out-of-conference opponents as well, Brockport's strength of schedule is pretty scary.

Brockport's opponents for the upcoming season had a combined 313-301-42 record in 2009-2010 (note that I have counted the SUNYAC opponents...as well as a couple of others...twice due to multiple match-ups).

Of their 25 contests, 14 will be against teams who won 12 or more games last season.

That's a tough schedule!






Friday, April 16, 2010

2010-2011 SCHEDULE

The 2010-2011 schedule is now available and can be found in the left tool bar of this site.

Beyond the usual SUNYAC match-ups Brockport faces a bunch of quality foes:

The Golden Eagles start their season against Utica College who always lead DIII in attendance.

In November they travel to an super-tough Elmira who nearly made it to the DIII Frozen Four again after going 19-9-1.

Thanksgiving weekend finds them in the Castleton Invitational again.

The team has a home-and-away split with Neumann, a school that won the DIII championship in the 2008-2009 season.

In January they host perennial powerhouse Hobart and WNEC.

Should be an exciting season!






Sunday, April 11, 2010

AWARDS FOR THE 2009-2010 SEASON

The Golden Eagles of men's ice hockey had their annual awards banquet last night and here are the award winners for the 2009-2010 season...

Jimmy Mac Most Improved Player Award: Alan Liwush

EJ McGuire 7th Player Award: Ian Finnerty

Bob Pedersen Coaches Award: Sean O'Malley

J-B Sportswear MVP Award: Todd Sheridan

Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award: Chris Berardini

And, the newest Assistant Captain was announced last night. Taking the place of Sean O'Malley who is graduating will be Adam Shoff.





Friday, April 9, 2010

ALUMNUS KEVIN COLLINS: PORTLAND'S COMPUTER GEEK

Kevin Collins played for the Golden Eagles and is a 2005 graduate of the College at Brockport, posting 9 goals and 9 assists in 83 games. He is now the strength and conditioning coach for the Portland Pirates, but as this article from today's Portland (Maine) Press Herald indicates, he does much more for the Sabres' farm team...



When Kevin Collins joined the Buffalo Sabres' organization five years ago as a conditioning coach, he had no idea he also would become a computer geek.

Collins spends most of his time monitoring the diet and exercise regimen of the Portland Pirates. But on game days he's focused on his laptop computer, keeping track of what the players are doing on the ice.

Every time the Pirates play, Collins breaks down the video feed of the game for coaches and players to review.

"I'm not really a techie at all," said Collins, who joined the Sabres as an assistant fitness coach following his graduation from SUNY-Brockport in 2005 with a degree in exercise physiology. "I was right out of college when I started out with Buffalo, and they asked me if I was willing to do the video, too."

It's an unusual fit.

"Most teams do have video coaches now," said Collins, who turns 28 on Sunday. "I've run across them, and there are a few strength coaches (in the AHL), but no one does (these) dual roles."

During games at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Collins sits in the control booth high above the ice on the Spring Street side of the arena, opposite the team benches.

While watching the video of the game stream on his computer, Collins stores nearly every play in various files.

"For faceoffs, for example, I push a button when it happens," he said. "I also push a button where it is -- defensive zone, neutral zone or offensive zone. I push another button on whether it's a win or a loss, and I push (a button) for the player, whether he won or lost it."

During intermissions, Collins heads to the locker room to share the information.

"We're getting real-time feedback to see what adjustments we need to make," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said. "It's great information for us to have."

Dineen said he sometimes uses the video to make changes in the Pirates' approach.

"If we're having an issue in our neutral zone, I can come in between periods and hit the button (on the computer), and it automatically pops up (showing) instances we were on defense in the neutral zone," he said. "It's one thing to see it live, but it's another to instantly see replays of it."

The computer software also enables Collins to break down the game for individuals. He can provide each player with a highlight film, or in some cases a lowlight film, of each game.

"The job he does in the booth is really impressive," Dineen said. "Not only as coaches are we getting strategic feedback, but the players have a database each one of them can review at the end of the game."

The video work is a sideline to Collins' primary job, which is to help get the players in peak condition.

"I feel his real passion is in the strength and conditioning area," Dineen said. "He's got a lot of trust and the faith of the players. He's aware of their individual strengths and areas where they need improvement."

The players are well aware of Collins' role.

"If you're carrying too much weight, you're going to be on the bike doing extra work, and (Collins) does a great job of monitoring that," said Portland forward Derek Whitmore.

"We have to make sure we eat right, we're hydrating and getting our workouts in, and (Collins) does a great job of making us do that. He's a big part of the team."


Source:

http://www.pressherald.com/sports/a-strength-beyond-strength_2010-04-09.html






Thursday, April 8, 2010

BOBBY CONNER COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

If Brockport had a weakness last season it was a lack of scoring. The coaches have addressed that by recruiting Bobby Conner who played for the Philadelphia Junior Flyers last season. In 42 games the 5'10", 192-pound forward had 51 points on 22 goals and 29 assists, good for an average of 1.21 points/game...stellar numbers.

Check out his stats here:

http://www.atlantichockey.org/player_information.php?playerid=101088






Wednesday, April 7, 2010

SAVES FOR A CURE & SMILES FOR LIFE

The following video produced by Brett Jendra looks at Saves For a Cures newest supporter...


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

AN INTERVIEW WITH BRENDON ROTHFUSS

Webster resident Brendon Rothfuss recently committed to play for the Golden Eagles. He played for the Syracuse Stars JR A team this past season in which he amassed 15 points in 33 games. Rothfuss has a history of being a winning hockey player, including one season in which the Democrat and Chronicle selected him as a local high school player of the year.

I asked Brendon a few questions so the players and fans can get to know him....



Tell us about your hockey history...


When I was growing up my dad had season tickets to the Amerks games so I've been around hockey since the day I was born. When I was real young I remember going to the games wearing my Jody Gage #9 jersey with my old Cooper bucket on and knee hockey stick in hand, I was a hockey nut. Then, with a little push from my uncle and cousins, my parents signed me up for hockey at the age of 2. Ever since I was a little kid it was just hockey all the time.

I made my first AAA team with Rochester Youth at the age of 6 years old and was on that team all the way from mite minor to midget major where I got to play under former captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Frawley for a good chunk of my career.

I played my high school hockey with Webster Thomas in section 5 and following my senior year my coach (former Brockport assistant Dave Evans) sat me down and started asking me if I wanted to further my hockey career and play juniors. Up to that point I was pretty much set on taking a scholarship to play lacrosse in college. Coach Evans has had a significant impact on me not only on the ice but off the ice as well and without him talking to me about junior hockey I would not be where I am today.

Following high school I played 3 years of juniors with the Brockville Braves of the CJHL, Maksymum of the Empire, and the Syracuse Stars of the EJHL. I also owe a lot to Tony Maksymiu of Maksymum Hockey and now the Rochester Stars. I had the privilege to win a state championship in midgets and play juniors for him. As a coach he showed a lot of confidence in me which helped me out a ton as a hockey player.




Brockport's program has turned around in recent seasons, becoming quite successful. What do you bring to the team that will help maintain those winning ways?



Well, being a former defenseman I think that my defense-first mentality and for me to get pucks to the net and create opportunities will hopefully benefit the team next season.




What was it about Brockport that you found so attractive as both a hockey player and a student?



As a hockey player, the coaches are first class guys and have the program headed in the right direction, the atmosphere at home games in unreal, and Al Liwush -- who has been like a big brother to me since high school -- has had nothing but good things to say about the guys and the hockey program. And as a student its just a perfect fit for me, it's not an overly huge school, and I'm going to get a great education in the area I'd like to study.


What degree will you be pursuing in the classroom?


Physical Education


Who are your all-time favorite NHL-ers?

I'd have to say Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin and recently I've become a pretty big fan of Marion Gaborik.



A few years ago, while in high school, you were selected as a Section V hockey Player of the Year and you were the winner of the Pugliese Sportsmanship Award. Tell us about that magical season...




That year my high school coach Dave Evans really pushed me in the weight room in the off season, always telling me that I could do better, and before the season he and I sat down together and set goals for myself and the team. My personal goal was to get player of the year for our division but what I really wanted was a to help my team win our first sectional championship. The team that year was unlike any other team I've played for, we were more of a family than a hockey team. As a team, we got rolling and points and wins started to pile up. Coming down to the end of the year I was so concerned about winning that points weren't even on my mind which I think helped me out. Unfortunately, we didn't win a sectional title that year but it was definitely an honor to be selected as section 5 player of the year and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life, I had a lot of fun playing for my school and I am looking forward to doing the same at Brockport.






Friday, April 2, 2010

KIDS SPORTS NIGHT TO BENEFIT SAVES FOR A CURE

KIDS SPORTS NIGHT
Friday, April 9, 2010

Participation Form can be downloaded at:

http://www.brockport.edu/athletics/saac/ksn/ksnparticipation_form.pdf


Held in Tuttle North gym on The College at Brockport campus.

Registration: 5:30 – 6:00pm
Activities: 6:00 – 9:00pm
Cost: $10 (Proceeds will benefit Saves for a Cure – a charity that enhances hospital stays for children undergoing cancer treatments in the Rochester area) www.savesforacure.com
Second child from the same family is half price! Checks can be made out to Saves for a Cure, Inc.

The College is inviting students (Grades 2-5) from the local communities to meet and play games with the student-athletes of The College at Brockport!

Student -athletes from The College at Brockport will interact and serve as group leaders for each activity. Kids will be split into groups and sent to different activities, where they will be monitored by the student-athletes. A variety of different games and activities will take place throughout Tuttle from 6:00 – 9:00pm.

Activities Include:

* Soccer
* Basketball
* Volleyball
* Floor Hockey
* Team Building
* Gymnastics Flip Out

*Registration & Drop-off begins at 5:30pm. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who must sign the participation agreement form OR the form may be filled out prior to this event and brought to the registration table upon arrival.

DON’T PASS UP A THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH POSITIVE ROLE MODELS & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES!!

If you have questions you can email Stephanie Hulton at shulton@brockport.edu or Janelle Feuz at jfeuz@brockport.edu