Today USCHO.com released SUNYAC columnist Russel Jaslow's preview of the conference. Here's how Brockport was assessed....
Brockport State Golden Eagles
Coach: Brian Dickinson, 18th season overall (123–271–40) and 15th season at Brockport (109–223–34)
2010-11 overall record: 4–18–3
2010-11 SUNYAC record: 2–13–1
2010-11 SUNYAC finish: Ninth
2011-12 predicted finish: Ninth
Key Departures: Tom Galiani (7–10–17), Justin Noble (4–12–16).
Key Arrivals: Mike Hollander (F, transfer from Becker), Chris Marinakos (F, transfer from Wentworth), Bobby Chayka (D), Aaron Green (G), Jay Meloff (D).
Key Players: James Cody (16–14–30), Ian Finnerty (7–17–24), Adam Shoff (6–7–13).
Biggest Challenge: “Our competition,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “Our league has gotten significantly better. Everybody has done a great job recruiting. Coming off the year we’ve had, we aren’t looking back. We can only look forward.“
Outlook: Losing Todd Sheridan took a larger toll on Brockport than most expected. After two years of playoff success, the Golden Eagles plummeted last year to just two conference wins, four overall.
Oliver Wren got most of the work in goal, but he will have to up his game. Otherwise, Joe Reagan or freshman Aaron Green will have to step in and perform. Brockport was tied for the worst conference defense with Potsdam at 5.00 goals per game allowed. They also had the worst penalty kill.
However, it didn’t help that Brockport had trouble scoring, with the most anemic offense at 2.50 goals per game and the worst power play at just 11 percent.
Brockport does return their two leading scorers, James Cody and Ian Finnerty. They have transfers from Becker (Mike Hollander) and Wentworth (Chris Marinakos), as well as the Player of the Year in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League, Bobby Chayka.
Chayka is a defenseman, as are fellow newcomers Marcus Farmer and Jeff Meloff. Whether they can help stem their red light from turning on will be a key factor.
Brockport certainly isn’t shying away from competition. Their nonconference schedule includes Utica, Hamilton, Elmira, Neumann twice, and Elmira. At the very least, the Golden Eagles will be battle-tested.
Mark Your Calendar Game: December 3 vs. Morrisville. It will be interesting to see how Brockport finishes up the first half of the SUNYAC schedule, ironically against a team which has to replace a stalwart goaltender like Brockport the year before.
Brockport State Golden Eagles
Coach: Brian Dickinson, 18th season overall (123–271–40) and 15th season at Brockport (109–223–34)
2010-11 overall record: 4–18–3
2010-11 SUNYAC record: 2–13–1
2010-11 SUNYAC finish: Ninth
2011-12 predicted finish: Ninth
Key Departures: Tom Galiani (7–10–17), Justin Noble (4–12–16).
Key Arrivals: Mike Hollander (F, transfer from Becker), Chris Marinakos (F, transfer from Wentworth), Bobby Chayka (D), Aaron Green (G), Jay Meloff (D).
Key Players: James Cody (16–14–30), Ian Finnerty (7–17–24), Adam Shoff (6–7–13).
Biggest Challenge: “Our competition,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “Our league has gotten significantly better. Everybody has done a great job recruiting. Coming off the year we’ve had, we aren’t looking back. We can only look forward.“
Outlook: Losing Todd Sheridan took a larger toll on Brockport than most expected. After two years of playoff success, the Golden Eagles plummeted last year to just two conference wins, four overall.
Oliver Wren got most of the work in goal, but he will have to up his game. Otherwise, Joe Reagan or freshman Aaron Green will have to step in and perform. Brockport was tied for the worst conference defense with Potsdam at 5.00 goals per game allowed. They also had the worst penalty kill.
However, it didn’t help that Brockport had trouble scoring, with the most anemic offense at 2.50 goals per game and the worst power play at just 11 percent.
Brockport does return their two leading scorers, James Cody and Ian Finnerty. They have transfers from Becker (Mike Hollander) and Wentworth (Chris Marinakos), as well as the Player of the Year in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League, Bobby Chayka.
Chayka is a defenseman, as are fellow newcomers Marcus Farmer and Jeff Meloff. Whether they can help stem their red light from turning on will be a key factor.
Brockport certainly isn’t shying away from competition. Their nonconference schedule includes Utica, Hamilton, Elmira, Neumann twice, and Elmira. At the very least, the Golden Eagles will be battle-tested.
Mark Your Calendar Game: December 3 vs. Morrisville. It will be interesting to see how Brockport finishes up the first half of the SUNYAC schedule, ironically against a team which has to replace a stalwart goaltender like Brockport the year before.
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To see how the rest of the conference looks, read the full report here:
http://www.uscho.com/2011/10/27/sunyac-2011-2012-season-preview/
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