The playoffs were so close to the Golden Eagles
last season that their fate was not decided until less than 8 seconds remained
in the season finale against Morrisville. The controversy-marred game (2 very
questionable calls put Brockport at a disadvantage in the closing moments)
brought to a close what had been an exciting run for Brockport, one that nearly
saw their third postseason in 4 years.
The 2011-2012 installment of the team really hit its
stride around Thanksgiving and as the first semester closed out, Brockport
pulled off a stunning upset, besting sixth-ranked Elmira in overtime.
They overshadowed that masterpiece in February with a victory over perennial
SUNYAC powerhouse Plattsburgh, beating the Cardinals for just the second time
in 75 matchups and for the first time in 30 years. Those big wins were highlights for the season
and for an era.
The senior class was among the deepest and most
storied in school history with the likes of Gregg Amato, James Cody, Ian
Finnerty, Brett Jendra, Adam Shoff and Oliver Wren. Throw in junior Nick
Panepinto -- who graduated a year early -- and you have an awesome collection
of 7 men who produced not only last year, but did so from the very moment they
set skate on Tuttle ice 4 years earlier.
They will all be missed by the team – and the fans.
None may leave a bigger void than James Cody, who had a record-setting career
at Brockport. He was a physical presence and an offensive threat, a rare combo
at the DIII level. The two-time All-SUNYAC pick was last season’s SUNYAC Player
of the Year and an All-American pick (the first in the program’s history).
Losing
a dominant player like Cody to graduation was enough, but losing the others as
well? The whole team changes. From Shoff’s guts to Wren’s Big Game focus
to Finnerty’s clutch goals, there’s a lot of experience and history lost.
The team could really be considered to be in a
rebuilding stage. But is it in the truest sense?
Brockport is chock full of sophomores, juniors and
seniors who experienced last season’s stretch run and realized the little
things – and the big things – that made the stunning upsets possible.
Consider the defense. The unit is led by All-SUNYAC
defenseman Mike Hayward who will assume the mantle of team captain. He put up
14 points on the season, but, more importantly, he kept the SUNYAC’s premier
forwards at bay. Then there are the likes of Matt Deluca and his wicked
slapshot, and local products
Colby Spooner and Sean Wallace who exhibit great defensive fundamentals and are
savvy around the net. Last year’s “rookies” were pretty solid, too, guys like Bobby
Chayka and Marcus Farmer who have learned the ropes of the NCAA rather quickly.
The forwards have some big skates to fill, but the
remnants of last year’s team give us hope. Steve Sachman made good on the
promise he showed in the juniors and racked up 16 points. His playmaking skills
position him for a run at 25(+) in the coming season. His classmate Chris
Cangro chipped in with 8 goals. I like his cerebral approach to the game, one
that should see him break the 10-goal barrier. So should sophomore Troy Polino
who netted 5 goals and saw more playing time as the season went on. Troy is a
strong kid whose goals are of the athletic kind. Then there’s 2-sport star
Brendan Rothfuss who is not afraid to take a wicked long-distance shot or get
the blue collar goals by rushing the net (he, too, could light the lamp at least 10
times). And, don’t forget Bobby Conner. The red-headed fan favorite missed most
of his sophomore season to a knee injury, but he was very productive as freshman
and might just rebound for a 20-point season.
Then, there’s the net. Brockport is pretty solid
there. As a freshman, Aaron Green pressed Oliver Wren for the starting role for
a few weeks last season, and it almost looked like he might take it before Wren put on a goaltending clinic in the second semester. Aaron was
the winning netminder in the historic Elmira game and followed it up with just
3 goals allowed against 8th-ranked Neumann. He finished with a
decent 4.10 GAA, a number he should take into the 3’s based upon how cool and
unflinching he is in goal. Junior Joey Reagan’s save percentage fell to an .873
last season (albeit in just 163 minutes of play) but that belies his skills: He
had one of the best seasons ever for a Brockport freshman goaltender, riding a sustained
.900 for most of the season, before finally settling at .895.
Another positive in Brockport’s favor is the
freshman. The only way to replace a stellar class of graduates is with stellar
class of recruits. Time will tell, but at first glance, this bunch has the
chance to accomplish as much as the graduates did…maybe more! It’s a deep
bunch, each with a unique set of skills and a mental/character make-up that
should confound the conference for the next 4 years. Any real hockey fan should
feel like a kid in a candy store with this bunch.
Just look at them:
Chase Nieuwendyk: http://brockporthockey.blogspot.com/2012/03/joe-nieuwendyks-nephew-chase-commits-to.html
As the upperclassman continue to grow and utilize
the experience gleaned in the past season, and the freshman live up to the
potential they show, this should be an entertaining, even successful, season
for the Golden Eagles. This new youth movement should position them for a run at
the playoffs this season and extended runs into the future.
We’ll see what the season holds, but I would not be surprised to see them finish 5th in the SUNYAC this year. The tools are there. They just have to use them.
The season begins on Tuesday, October 23rd on home ice against Nazareth. Don’t miss it!!
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We’ll see what the season holds, but I would not be surprised to see them finish 5th in the SUNYAC this year. The tools are there. They just have to use them.
The season begins on Tuesday, October 23rd on home ice against Nazareth. Don’t miss it!!
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