Friday, October 31, 2014

DEMME NAMED CAPTAIN OF THE GOLDEN EAGLES

Junior Jonathan Demme (Brampton, ONT) has been named team captain of The College at Brockport Hockey team for the 2014-15 season. He succeeds former Golden Eagle teammates and fellow defensemen Matt DeLuca and Mike Hayward as the player selected to wear the "C" on his jersey.

Demme, a two year starter on the blue line for the Golden Eagles was part of the leadership group for the team last season and has scored a goal in each of his first two years with Brockport. Both of his goals were game-winning goals with one against Buffalo State as a freshman and one against Fredonia last year.

"Jon (Demme) has been a leader for us on the ice and in the locker room for the past year or so and I am confident that he will continue the tradition of strong leadership from the blue liners," said Head Coach Brian Dickinson.

The team also announced the naming of assistant captains as senior defenseman Bobby Chayka (Hardwick, NJ) and junior wing Jeremy DeFazio (Oakville, ONT) were selected to wear the "A" on their jersey. Chayka contributed four goals and five assists for nine points last year while DeFazio had a goal and five assists for the Golden Eagles in 2013-14.

Brockport opens the 2014-15 season Friday at home against Hobart College and will open State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play Nov. 7-8 hosting Plattsburgh Friday and Potsdam Saturday. The annual Saves for a Cure weekend is set for the following weekend as Brockport hosts Geneseo, Nov. 14 and Canton, Nov. 15 as Brockport opens the season with five of its first six games on home ice.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

SAVES FOR A CURE JERSEY AUCTION UNDERWAY




The College at Brockport will host its seventh annual Saves For a Cure weekend on Friday, November 14th and Saturday, November 15th when our biggest rival -- Geneseo -- and one of our newest opponents -- Canton -- come to Tuttle north.

Saves for a Cure is a non-profit, charitable organization started by Todd Sheridan ('11), a former Brockport goalie -- and one of Brockport's all-time greatest players -- and the College's all-time leader in goals-against average (3.07), career wins (29) and saves percentage (.904). He also holds the 2 of the 4 best single season saves percentages for Brockport.

In 2005 Todd was diagnosed with cancer, given a 70% chance of survival and told he’d never play hockey again. Todd beat cancer and the odds and then had quite the career at Brockport, as made evident by his career numbers and the team's only 2 playoff seasons of the first decade of the 2000s -- both of which occurred while he was in net.

With his success story as its backdrop, Saves For a Cure oversees a variety of fundraisers, including the annual Saves For a Cure game, which this year for the first time is games (plural). All proceeds from any Saves For a Cure event or activity go to the children’s cancer clinic at Strong Memorial Hospital.

The highlight of the games is an auction whereby fans can bid on the special jerseys being worn during each of the two games. The auction has begun and will continue through 4 pm (Eastern), Sunday, November 16, 2014. The winners will be listed on the auction web page and will be notified via email. Winners will be able to pick up their jerseys at the Brockport home games December 5-6 or will be shipped and arrive in time for the holidays.

Bidding is online at 2014-15 Jersey Auction page. Bidders will be asked to submit a jersey number, bid amount (minimum bid is $75), and the color of the jersey that you would like to bid on. Bids will be updated as often as possible on the auction page.

Last year, nearly $3,000 was collected from the Jersey auction.

Thank you for your support!

Monday, October 27, 2014

A LOOK AHEAD AT THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES



The 2014-2015 season begins on Halloween night on home ice when Brockport hosts the Hobart Statesman at 7:00.

Ever the competitive team, Hobart went 14-9-4 last season, making it to the second round of the ECAC playoffs where they fell to Elmira 5-3. They were a force to reckon with on the road, going 9-4-1, which will mean an explosive game at Tuttle North.

Last November, before the Golden Eagles really found their wings, the teams skated to a 1-1 tie at the Cooler in Geneva on the strength of 44 saves by Jared Lockhurst.

Hobart has their top five scorers returning this season, led by Mac Olson (15-12-27) and Ben Gameche (10-15-25). Lino Chimienti will be manning the net yet again for Hobart after a .912 and 2.58 stat line last season.

Hobart lost just 4 seniors in the off season, so a young team that was supposed to be inexperienced last year (and wasn’t) will be a force to reckon with as they prove to be older, wiser and stronger. It kind of sounds like Brockport, so this will likely be one of the closest, hardest-fought non-conference games of the season.

On Saturday night Brockport travels to Rochester to face Nazareth. The second year into their DIII adventures, they were 8-16-2 last season. Last November they trounced Brockport 6-4. It won’t happen again with the Brockport squad showing what they’ve become, even with Naz’s emotions riding high on their opening night.

Ben Blasko was their leading scorer (11-15-26) and ranking second was Tom Seravalli (8-12-20). Ed Zdolshek is the #1 in net. He had a .908 save percentage last year while sporting a 3.11 GAA.     

2014-2015 SEASON PREVIEW: THE TIME HAS COME FOR GREATNESS



The 2013-2014 season was a tale of two semesters for Brockport Hockey.

The fall semester began with great promise as the players, coaches and fans knew they had all of the pieces of the playoff puzzle in place. Recent robust scouting had provided the necessary talent and skill sets, while seniors who grew up under the tutelage of Brockport greats like James Cody, Ian Finnerty, and Adam Shoff provided the leadership necessary for success.

But, unfortunately, it didn’t all come together as it should have last fall. The team was a woeful 2-8-2, with a 1-4-1 record in the SUNYAC. A win against Elmira and a tie with Hobart showed the excellence that everyone thought the team should have, but serious lapses of focus led to painful losses to the likes of Cortland while the team had 4 games in which they scored 1 or no goals.

It was depressing, frustrating, and, ultimately, motivating.

When the team returned from the winter break they showed that they were what we thought they were. They excelled in all facets of the game and went 8-5-1 in the second semester. Under such stress where, making up for the first semester, every game is in itself a playoff game, the Golden Eagles went 6-4 in the conference in January and February. Everything clicked and Brockport made the playoffs after a 4-year drought.

During the first round of the playoffs, the team was manhandled in a 7-2 loss at Buffalo State, but that was likely due to physical and mental exhaustion from playing lights-out all semester.

That second semester set the stage for a new era in Brockport, one where wins will become the norm and the playoffs – and playoff wins -- will become expected. This year’s roster looks to be a 14-win squad and the SUNYAC coaches, who usually dismiss the Golden Eagles, have picked them to finish fourth in the conference, which means a playoff game on home ice.

 
FORWARDS

What was behind Brockport’s amazing turnaround last winter?

For starters, a markedly-improved ability to light the lamp.
 
There were 12 games played in the first semester, in which the team scored 31 goals (2.58 per game).

There were 14 games (counting the playoffs) in the second semester. The goal tally? 49, or a whopping 3.5 per game – so, basically 1 more goal per game. In the ultra-competitive DIII, that’s the difference between losing a game or winning and/or tying.
 
Had this pace been maintained for both semesters, Brockport's scoring would rank 13th in the nation. Even with the first semester thrown in there, the team finished the season ranked 29th at 3.08, which in itself is not too shabby.

If the Golden Eagles can maintain the breakneck scoring pace from the spring semester, the sky’s the limit.

There’s no reason they shouldn’t.

Gone are All-SUNYAC pick Chris Cangro, who as a senior had a second semester for the ages racking up 19 points in those two months, and Nick Marinac, who as a freshman amassed 19 points thanks to his rare speed.

Those who remain, though, will be able to pick up the slack. Brockport retained 4 of their top 6 scorers.

Junior Chase Nieuwendyk will lead the attack. As a sophomore, he shared the team lead in points with 24. He’s slick and his puck awareness will have him leading the team in scoring yet again. There’s no reason why he can’t surpass 30 points and net a conference award. Hardcore hockey fans will really appreciate his savvy.

Jake Taylor was a welcome surprise last year when he became the first freshman since James Cody to reach double-digits in goals (he sported a 10-11-21 line). He’s certain to grow that number this year. If he can cut back on his penalties and, in turn, get more time on the ice, the man with the wicked wrist shot is a shoe-in for a dozen-plus goals a year. He’s electric and fun to watch…look no further than his short-handed goal against Morrisville for proof of that.  

Junior Shane Cavalieri will help anchor the attack and has the potential to be an All-SUNYAC pick. Last season, he had a 6-9-15 line and many people (including me) had him pegged for 10 to 12 goals after 9 goals in his rookie campaign. His sophomore season may have statistically looked like a down year, but it wasn’t if you watched the games. Shane was still Shane; he ran into a string of bad luck: For some reason, opposing goalies made ridiculous saves on him and he was robbed of at least 4 goals. Bad luck will be beaten by hard work and talent, both of which Shane has in spades.   


DEFENSEMEN

All season long last year, I used this blog to tout the awesomeness of Chris Luker. He was stellar on defense, hanging with the big boys of Plattsburgh and Oswego and he proved to be, outside of Nieuwendyk, the most consistent scorer on the team from start to finish of the season (and Chris is a defenseman!). He netted well-deserved All-SUNYAC honors after finishing the season with a 9-13-22 line, finishing with the most goals by a Brockport blueliner in 26 years (Fran Gibny had a whopping 14 in 1987-1988).

His defensemates are just as important to the team’s success.

Jonathan Demme doesn’t rack up the sexy scoring numbers (a 1-2-3 line), but he’s one of the best pure defensemen in the conference. He glides with ease and can swarm even the best of offensive players, forcing long outside shots if any at all. His quiet performance can cause fans with just a passing interest in the game to overlook what he does, but they shouldn’t. He is the man who makes this defensive unit work and he is incredibly consistent.

Also returning are the Two Roberts – Bobby Chayka and Robbie Hall – who finished with 9 and 8 points respectively and are known for doling out physical punishment at any chance they get. These young bucks are fun to watch and their grit can motivate the team.


GOALIES

Brockport has an embarrassment of riches in the net. No team in the conference, and maybe in all of Division III, can claim to be three-deep in quality goaltenders.

Once again, the debate will rage this semester, who’s the Number One: Jared Lockhurst or Aaron Green?

Lockhurst is one of the most-revered netminders in the SUNYAC. In his freshman year he had a .919 save percentage, which bested the single-season mark of Todd Sheridan, inarguably the greatest goalie in Brockport history. Last year, he struggled with injuries and remnant pain that kept his save percentage at a still-respectable .903. Now healthy, there’s no reason he should not be in the territory of .920 again.

While Lockhurst is more traditional of a goalie with an emphasis on positioning, Green, a senior, is the more athletic, using his cat-like reflexes to rob goals. He finished the season with a .897 save percentage and a team-leading 3.34 goals against average. In the last 4 games of the regular season, when it was do-or-die, Green stopped 120 of 126 shots, good for a .952 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average. Green wins games: He now has a .538 career winning percentage, which rivals that of all Brockport goaltenders, including Todd Sheridan (.500).

If those gents are injured at the same time, which they were at one point last year, there’s nothing to fear when the reins are passed to Andrew Winsor who had a .894 percentage in spot duty last year. He has the talent, focus and upbeat attitude that with regular starts should produce a .910, so the team’s future is in good hands when Green graduates after this season. 


SPECIAL TEAMS

Teams always do well if they have success on special teams.

The 2013-2014 Golden Eagles were half-way there last season.

The power play unit was seventh-best in the nation, finding the back of the net 25.2% of the time when having a man advantage. That accounted for 27 goals over the season. Opponents found them frightening and will again this year. 10 Golden Eagles had PP goals last year, led by James Ryan, now a junior, who had a 6 such goals!

The penalty kill was middling, come in at forty-second in the nation, killing just 80.2 % of man-up attacks. That accounted for 24 goals over the season. It’s not a good statistic when Brockport was twenty-eighth in the nation in penalty minutes, only one season after they set the Brockport record for fewest penalty minutes in a season. Last season saw a 22% increase in that category. If they can cut back on lapses in focus, there’s no reason why the PK unit couldn’t jump to thirtieth. There’s enough skill present.


 
Looking at all of the above, and considering some of the new recruits coming to campus this year, there are few discernable weaknesses on this team. The Golden Eagles do most everything well and that should make for a new era of greatness, this season and into the future.

It’s a good time to be a Brockport Hockey fan.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

YOUR 2014-2015 BROCKPORT GOLDEN EAGLES



2014-15 Ice Hockey Roster
#Name
Yr.Pos.Ht.Wt.HometownLast Team
1 Andrew Winsor So. Goalie5-8175Coburg, ONTTrenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
2 Rob Hall So. Defense5-11185Schaumberg, ILTrenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
3 Bobby Chayka Sr. Defense6-0185Hardwick, NJGranite City Lumberjacks (NA3HL)
4 Chad Cummings Jr. Defense6-5205Caledon, ONTWellington Dukes (OHHL)
5 Michael Zagari Jr. Forward6-2205McKees Rocks, PAJamestown Ironmen (NAHL)
6 David Horan Fr. Forward6-0180Kennebunk, MEHartford Jr. Wolfpack (OJHL)
7 Chris Luker Jr. Defense6-4190New Hartford, NYBuffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
8 Matt Meredith Fr. Forward6-2185Fredonia, NYNew Jersey Titans (EHL)
9 Shane Cavalieri Jr. Forward6-0195Richmond Hill, ONTToronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL)
10 Aiden Verbeke Fr. Forward6-0170Elmwood Park, ILGranite City Lumberjacks (NA3HL)
12 Zac Sikich Fr. Forward5-11180Oak Park, CAGranite City Lumberjacks (NA3HL)
14 RJ Sciarrone Fr. Defense5-10185Webster, NYPort Colborne Pirates (GOJHL)
16 Troy Polino Sr. Forward5-9190Limerick, PANew York Bobcats (AtlJHL)
17 Jonathan Demme Jr. Defense6-3190Brampton, ONTOrangeville Flyers (OJHL)
18 Ryan Kangas Fr. Forward5-10175Williamstown, MAHartford Jr. Wolfpack (EHL)
19 Nate Pelligra So. Forward5-11185Webster, NYBuffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
20 Jeremy DeFazio Jr. Forward6-1195Oakville, ONTGeorgetown Raiders (OJHL)
21 Brian Hurlimann Fr. Defense6-0200Hilton, NYTrenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
22 Jake Taylor So. Forward5-8165Port Perry, ONTLindsay Muskies (OJHL)
23 Dylan Howatt Fr. Defense5-11195Fairport, NYBuffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
24 Jesse Facchini Jr. Forward6-0185Mississauga, ONTMississauga Chargers (OJHL)
25 Andrew Parks So. Forward6-0190Orillia, ONTTrenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
26 James Ryan Jr. Forward5-6160Richmond Hill, ONTToronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL)
27 Kody Vaisanen Jr. Forward5-11180Dundalk, ONTNorth York Rangers (OJHL)
30 Jared Lockhurst Jr. Goalie6-0185Caledon, ONTWellington Dukes (OJHL)
31 Aaron Green Sr. Goalie5-10175Mt. Albert, ONTSt. Michaels Buzzers (OJHL)
81 Chase Nieuwendyk Jr. Forward6-0180Georgetown, ONTTrenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
91 Dylan Shapiro Fr. Forward6-2190Rochester, NYRochester Jr. Americans (USPHL)

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

BROCKPORT IS FOURTH IN SUNYAC COACHES POLL

The College at Brockport Ice Hockey team opens its season at home Friday October 31 against Hobart at 7 pm in the Tuttle North Ice Arena.

The Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Preseason Coaches Poll that was released this week. Last season Brockport finished fifth in the SUNYAC after a sixth prediction in the preseason poll. Oswego has been chosen as the top team this preseason after defeating No. 2 Geneseo 7-6 in last years SUNYAC Championship game.

Brockport enters the 2014-15 season after posting a 10-13-3 record last season. Tied with Brockport in the fourth spot in the preseason poll is rival Buffalo State. Brockport's season ended last year at the hands of the Bengals in the SUNYAC Tournament.

For the past two seasons Brockport has tied Hobart, its home opening opponent.

The Golden Eagles return 19 players, including three of its top five scorers from the previous season. All three goalies that saw ice time last year return for another season as well.

Brockport students, faculty and staff with their Brockport ID will receive free admission to all hockey games throughout the year. General admission tickets are $5. Tickets for senior citizens and non-Brockport students will be $3.