FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

My column for this week's Greater Niagara Newspapers is a diversion from the usual tirade about government. My discussion about DIII sports should interest followers of this blog...


FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
By Bob Confer

In my younger years I was, like any red-blooded American, an avid professional sports fan. I tried not to miss the baseball and football highlight shows, Monday Night Football, and my annual pilgrimage to Pittsburgh to catch my beloved Chicago Cubs while they were in town.

But, when I hit 30 years of age, things changed dramatically. Just like a switch, my love for the pros turned right off. Now do I rarely watch any football or baseball highlights. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I watched a football game from start to finish. As a matter of fact, I can’t even name the starting rotation for the Cubs.

You see, as I aged I grew disgusted by pro sports. I was driven away by the greed, egos and outlandish salaries, and maddened by the marketing that somehow makes everyone believe pro spots are the most important thing in the world and worth every exorbitant penny. From those criteria, numerous disdainful questions have racked my brain. Why can people name their team’s starting line-up but not their elected officials? Why do fathers abandon their sons and daughters on Sundays? Why should taxpayers feel obligated to pay for the stadiums of billion dollar leagues? What human being is worth a quarter of a billion dollars, just to hit a stupid ball?

Even though my admiration of pro sports died, my appreciation for sport itself did not. I still value the thrill of competition, the drama of a good match-up, and the diversion from daily stress that spectator sports present. Instead of finding that joy in the big leagues, I find it in a setting that I had become accustomed to in the early-1990s: College campuses.

These are not just any campus. Most Division I programs (especially when it comes to football and basketball) are no better than the pros. They emphasize athletics over academics while many of their athletes play only for a chance to reap big rewards from the NFL and NBA, leagues that use DI as some sort of minor league system and, somehow, get away with it!

Instead, I get my athletic fix from Division III programs. In DIII, the emphasis is on academics over athletics. There are no sports scholarships. The athletes are talented but they understand that they have almost no chance of playing professional sports, knowing that guys like the Buffalo Bills’ Fred Jackson are anomalies. In DIII, they play for the love of the game. That’s it.

It’s that pristine brand of competition – free of the trappings of avarice – that make DIII sports so refreshing. Where else can you find men and women playing a game at a high level with only the sports’ basal tenets in mind? They pursue victory with vigor, aided by the bond of teamwork and guided by their own ethic and determination, driven for personal betterment on the field and in the mind. That emotion and desire among the players - and also the fans - in DIII is unparalleled in all of sports.

The best sporting events I’ve ever witnessed have, far and away, been in DIII football stadiums and ice arenas. I’ve seen many a tight game and marveled at countless exciting plays. And to think, they were playing for free and my ticket cost me only $5.

You have plenty of chances to take part in these events in Western New York. It’s been said, depending on who you ask, that we’re either a football town or a hockey town. Either way, the games await. DIII football can be had at Brockport, Alfred University and Buffalo State. DIII hockey - which has a rabid fan base (me among them) - can be found at Brockport, Buffalo State, Fredonia, and Geneseo.

If you’ve never savored a DIII game, make it a point to do so. You won’t regret it and you, too, might even change your outlook on athletics for the better and turn your allegiance from the pros to players who understand the real value of sport.

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FINNERTY'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK INTERVIEW

JAMES CODY INTERVIEW; COURTESY OF MIKE BAGGERMAN

FINNERTY IS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Senior Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) scored twice including the dramatic game-winning goal in a 4-3 overtime victory over #5 Elmira for The College at Brockport Hockey team and has been named The College at Brockport Male Athlete of the Week.

Finnerty, who leads the team in scoring this year with 22 points, scored a shorthanded goal – his second of the season - early in the second period to tie the score at 2-2. After Brockport tied the score again at 3-3 with just seven seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, Finnerty scored the game-winner one minute into the extra period.

The victory, in overtime against the #5 team in the country, is considered one of the biggest wins in school history for the Golden Eagles.

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FINNERTY GOAL AMONG ECAC FINALISTS: VOTE FOR IT!

Senior Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) scored a game-winning goal in overtime for The College at Brockport Men's Ice Hockey team to upset then-No. 5 Elmira College. The video clip of the goal has been chosen as a finalist for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Video of the Week.

Fans can vote on the ECAC website for the best clip of the week. The goal was scored 58 seconds into the extra session as James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) found Mike Hayward who dished the puck to Finnerty on the left wing. Finnerty fired a shot inside the blue line where the puck ricocheted off the side pipe and into the net.

http://www.ecacsports.com/video_play_of_the_week/Week_2_Dec_13/ECAC_vpotw_vote_2

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GEORGE RICH'S OBITUARY

George M. Rich

Home: Brockport, NY
Date of Death: December 11, 2011
Place of Birth: Brockport, NY
Birthdate: September 30, 1932
Age: 79

Visitation: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 3-7 PM at Fowler Funeral Home Inc, Brockport, NY


George passed away on Saturday, December 11, 2011 at the age of 79. Predeceased by his parents Harris and Helen, sister Marlene, brother James. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 38 years Rosie, sister Shirley Hicks, brothers Fred, Terry (Mary Ellen), many nieces, nephews, in-laws, family and friends.

George received his Undergraduate and Masters Degrees from Brockport State Teachers' College. While teaching, he was very active in the Rochester Teachers' Association, the Western Monroe Historical Society and SUNY Brockport Alumni Association. He supported the efforts of all college students for their service, scholarship and involvement in campus activities and athletics.

Family and friends may call Wednesday, December 14, 2011 from 3 to 7 pm at the Fowler Funeral Home Inc. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. A remembrance gathering will be held at the College of Brockport at a time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the George Rich Student Philanthropy Award, SUNY College at Brockport, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, N.Y. 14420

To leave memory on the Fowler Funeral Home website, visit this web page:

http://fowlerfuneralhomeinc.com/online-obituary/10024833

CODY, GREEN CAPTURE SUNYAC HONORS

Two of Brockport's own captured weekly honors in the SUNYAC for their efforts against Elmira. Here's the report from the SUNYAC website...


MEN’S ICE HOCKEY PLAYER – Brockport
James Cody (Schwenksville, PA/Philly Little Flyers), senior forward

Senior James Cody finished with a goal and an assist Friday night in the overtime 4-3win against #6 Elmira. The win gives Brockport a three-game winning streak. Cody scored the game-tying goal with seven second remaining in the third period to force overtime. He assisted on the game-winner 58 seconds into the extra period for his 100th career point. He now has 51 goals and 49 assists in his 86 career games.


MEN’S ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE – Brockport
Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, ONT/St. Michaels Buzzers), goalie

Aaron Green made 30 saves in a stunning 4-3 overtime victory over #6 Elmira on Friday night. He posted 11 saves in the first period and nine more in the second with a 1-1 tie heading to the third. He made ten saves in the third period as each team scored twice to force overtime. He finished with a .909 save percentage as he picked up the second win of his career.

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MORE DETAILS ON GEORGE RICH'S PASSING

Calling hours for George will be this Wednesday, December 14 from 3:00-7:00 pm at Fowler’s Funeral Home on West Avenue in Brockport.

Also, there will be a service in the spring the college. Arrangements will be announced at a later date.

If you would like to send a card to Rosie Rich, her address is:

64 Lynnwood Drive
Brockport, NY 14420

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GEORGE RICH HAS PASSED AWAY

Word came out today that George Rich has passed away.

He will be missed by the Brockport community. He was someone who bled Green and Gold and loved all of the students, alumni and staff.

George was the face of Brockport to me. For as long as I've been involved with the College (dating back to 1993), he's always been there front and center. He was always at alumni events and sporting events and was a fixture at hockey games. He was a supporter of the program and its students and was really impressed by - and proud of - the sense of charity the team and Saves For a Cure brought to campus.

This bio about he and his wife from the Brockport website offers some insight into his importance to the campus...

Rosa “Rosie” Rich remembers the blind double date she went on with her husband, George, in 1958 shortly after she arrived in town to take a teaching position at The College at Brockport.

Jeanette D’Agostino Banker ’53, emeritus professor of elementary education, who had attended school with George and was a colleague of Rosie’s, decided to play Cupid and match the two during a night out on the town with her date.

“Jeanette told me, ‘You’re going to meet a rich guy,’ said Rosie. “I thought, ‘Well, it’s about
time.’ ”

“This is George Rich,” Rosie remembers Jeanette telling her when they picked up George at his home. “And all I said was, ‘Oh.’ ”

Fourteen and a half years to the day they met—and after Rosie traveled across two continents, one of which she lived and worked in for four years—George proposed to Rosie, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“I don’t know if it’s going to work out,” quipped Rosie, who on March 2 celebrated her 38th wedding anniversary with George.

Arguably the most recognizable couple on campus, the Riches have lived a rich life indeed—a life rich with love for students, rich with dedication to their community and rich with giving back to the institution that is a double alma mater for George and a former employer for Rosie.

Longtime supporters of the College, the Riches took their giving to an extraordinary level by designating a major portion of their estate through a planned gift and creating two awards in support of The College at Brockport. In honor of their philanthropy, the College inducted the Riches into the Ernest C. Hartwell Society at the President’s Donor Recognition Dinner this spring.

The bequest is earmarked for a variety of funds: the Campus Restoration and Beautification Fund, Brockport Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, Golden Eagle Society Fund, The Arts & Cultural Fund and the George M. Rich Student Philanthropy Award.

In addition, the Rosa LaSorte Rich Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming student interested in a career in teaching, while the George Rich Student Philanthropy Award will recognize philanthropy among students and student groups.

George came up with the idea for his award to educate students about philanthropy and encourage them to donate to Brockport after they graduate. He awards $500 to a student or student group, and the recipients also receive $500 to donate to an on-campus philanthropic, educational or cultural endeavor of their choosing.

“I know how great the students are,” said George. “They have big hearts but empty pockets. A lot of students want to give to Brockport but they have debts.”

This year’s recipients include Todd Sheridan ’10, the former hockey team goalie who started Saves For A Cure, which raises $1 for every save a Brockport goaltender makes.

George recalls Sheridan—who battled cancer—telling him that instead of calling himself a cancer survivor, he likes to tell people, “I beat cancer” because it sends a more powerful message.

“This is what happens when you get to know the students,” said George, noting that he and Rosie learn their life stories.


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WATCH OUT FOR PUCKS!

This public service announcment from Don Cherry is for my wife, who insists on not paying attention at hockey games...

BROCKPORT WINS IN EXCITING GAME AGAINST 6th RANKED ELMIRA

Brockport has been on a hot streak of late, scoring goals in bunches and having gone 3 games without a loss coming into Friday. Talk on campus was of that high-octane attack continuing into the second semester and affording Brockport a playoff slot, despite their early woes. Outsiders scoffed at the thought, thinking Brockport could not beat a premier team.

The Golden Eagles put an end to that talk with a 4-3 overtime win on Friday against sixth-ranked Elmira. The game made a statement: There was not anytime during the game where observers were left saying, “there’s definitely a talent and performance gap between the two teams.” Brockport excelled all game long and was the equal – even the better - of the nationally-ranked team. The Golden Eagles looked like a team that will surely upset the SUNYAC come late-February.

I missed most of the first period, arriving late because it was a real production to take my 13-week old daughter Alexandria to her first hockey game. She’s too young, of course, to realize what was happening and will never remember the game, but I will. The two periods I did see in their entirety were extraordinary hockey and one of my friends who has been attending some of the games with me going back to the mid-90s said it was the best game he’s ever seen at Tuttle North.

The second period started with Elmira ahead 1-0 and the stanza ended with a tie score, after Mike Hayward let loose with yet another thunderous slapshot with 10:54 left in the second. That was Mike’s 5th of the season, good for second place in the nation among all defensemen (the leader has 6).

His power play goal followed a frustrating 2 minute game-within-a-game in which Brockport had a two-man advantage on three consecutive Elmira penalties but couldn’t capitalize (or even come close to it), because Elmira played with a stifling penalty kill that was really top-notch. Over the course of that extended power play fans continuously screamed “take the shot!” The Eagles couldn’t: Elmira was that good. Elmira’s PK unit continued that excellence all night long. In total the Soaring Eagles posted 11 penalties and killed off all but 1. The unit nearly scored with 7:59 left in the second on a shorthanded goal, but Brockport goalie Aaron Green stopped the breakaway with an impressive block.

Green was solid all night long and never really looked like he wasn’t in control. He had excellent positioning throughout, and never overcommitted. One of his best moments occurred with 16:39 left in the third. There were two Elmira forwards right on top of him trying to whack at the puck, but he deflected two shots and certainly prevented an easy goal by keeping them from getting off a good flick of the wrist.

Aaron was aided by some admirable efforts by the defense. The blueliners have taken their share of abuse this season, when in early-November they allowed too many shots on goal. On Friday, the box score showed 30 shots on goal, but the d-men were really top notch. All game long they picked off Elmira passes and collected Elmira rebounds like they were going out of style. One of the best came with 10:19 left in the third when Marcus Farmer grabbed an idle rebound that was just begging for an Elmira one timer. The forwards helped a lot, too, deftly stealing pucks and blocking shots (James Cody and Adam Shoff each blocked one, Adam preventing a short-handed goal).

After Elmira quickly made it 2-1 to start the 3rd on a 5 minute major that really could have killed Brockport, Ian Finnerty considerably lessened the stress of the major (the major had me wringing my hands) with a jaw-dropping shorthanded goal. Ian took off like a rocket after stealing the puck and was absolutely spectacular on the finish…he faked low and Elmira goalie Darren MacDonald went into a split; Ian then snapped his powerful wrists and shot the puck over the netminder. An equally intelligent and athletic goal!

Elmira’s Kevin Willer (well, at least that’s what the box says…credit should have gone to a four-leaf clover) put Elmira ahead 3-2 with 6:22 left in the 3rd. A centering pass from Jesper Strale to Willer was off kilter and the high pass bounced off what appeared to be Willer’s tummy and it went right into the net. It’s been some time since I’ve seen such a good luck goal for any hockey team.

With a minute left Green was pulled and Brockport tried like mad to tie the score. It looked like the game was going to end 3-2 Elmira, but with 7 seconds left (YES, 7 seconds), James Cody added to his impressive legacy with a game-tying goal that showed how strong the young man is. A sudden pass came his way that was slightly too far ahead of him, but James got into an extended crouch and with a position that most of us humans could never take a shot from, he let rip with one heck of a full extension wrist shot that found the back of the net. The crowd erupted in one of the greatest explosions of appreciation that Tuttle has seen in some time.

The cheers quickly repeated themselves in even greater vigor in overtime when Mr. Ian Finnerty won the game less than a minute into the extra period. Ian raced in and again went high on MacDonald, beating him blocker side with a great wrist shot. The crowd went berserk and Ian was buried under his teammates for a game that added yet another star to this magical season of his. The short-handed goal and game-winner give him 22 points at the half-way point and his point total leads the entire nation. The performance was a fitting birthday celebration for Ian whose birthday was Friday!

It’s awesome that when the team’s two superstars (Cody and Finnerty) were needed the most, they produced, scoring just 65 seconds apart and upsetting one of the very best teams in all of DIII.

Even so, this was a team effort. The Golden Eagles preformed well all night long, playing great defense, exerting physicality and making plays.

So, take a break for the holidays and come back in January prepared to see a Golden Eagle unit that has bonded so well on and off the ice that that sky will be the limit. We’ve been watching some great hockey lately and more is sure to follow.


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Box score: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcelm1.d09


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Recap from the Sports Information Department....


Senior forward Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, Pa) scored 58 seconds into the overtime session as The College at Brockport Men's Hockey team upset No. 6 Elmira College 4-3 Friday night at Tuttle North Ice Arena. The win gives the team a three-game winning streak and have not lost in its last four games.

Finnerty, who was named SUNYAC Hockey Player of the Week last week after scoring a hat trick against Morrisville State, scored his second goal of the game and his 8th of the season, giving him a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) leading 22nd point of the season. The goal was Finnerty's first game-winning goal of the year.

James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) assisted on the final goal of the game. Cody scored the game-tying goal in the third period to send the game into overtime. With his two points on the night, Cody now has 100 career points as a Golden Eagle.

"I really don't pay attention much to the goals and assists," said Cody. "My main objective is to win games. It was great to get the points late in the game like what happened tonight."

Elmira started off the scoring 1:13 into the first period. Brockport went scoreless in the first period, but tied up the game on a Mike Hayward (Toronto, ONT) goal at the 9:06 mark in the second period. Hayward's goal came on a powerplay with an assist from Brendon Rothfuss (Webster, NY).

Elmira took the lead in the third period, scoring 1:10 in. Finnerty scored his first goal of the night, a shorthanded goal, just 42 seconds later. Elmira came back with their third goal of the night at the 13:38 mark to pull ahead of the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles kept the fans on edge for the next six minutes, firing at all angles on Elmira goalie Darren McDonald, including Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) who fired four shots in the matter of seconds with two minutes to play. Brockport pulled goalie Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, ONT) at the 19:00 mark to add an extra skater.

Following a faceoff that was won by Shoff, Hayward took two shots on net, both were blocked by Elmira Defenders. Shoff collected the loose puck and dished it off to Cody who fired a rocket from the blue line and found its' way in the back of the net to tie the game with seven seconds remaining.

Brockport wasted no time in the extra session to seal the victory. Cody found a streaking Finnerty skating past the Brockport bench on the fly and ripped a slap shot just inside the blue line. His shot hit the side post and ricocheted in the net to clinch the upset for the Golden Eagles.

"That was the best feeling after the game and in the locker room that I have ever had in my years playing hockey," said Cody. "The fans were going crazy. I can't think of a more exciting celebration."

Cody, who has led Brockport in scoring all three of his seasons as a Golden Eagle, has 10 goals and eight assists on the season. In his last three seasons, Cody has recorded 30, 28, and 24 points respectively.

Green, playing in just his third collegiate game, finished with a season-high 30 saves.



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BROCKPORT HOSTS ELMIRA TONIGHT

Brockport's last game of the semester is a big one, albeit it a non-conference game. The Golden Eagles lock talons with the 6th ranked Elmira Soaring Eagles at 7:00 in Tuttle North tonight.

Elmira comes into the game with a 7-3-0 record and has handily beat the likes of Neumann, Middlebury and Hobart. This are a well-balanced defensive team with a solid offense that ranks 26th in DIII with 3.50 goals scored per game. Kevin Willer is their leading threat with 14 points on 6 goals and 8 assists. Linemate Jesper Strale shares the team lead with 6 goals.

They are a senior-heavy team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes and mistakes are saved by Darren McDonald. After sporting an awesome .930 last year the goaltender has dropped to a more human .893 this season. He's a spry soul who's very athletic, sometimes dazzling. His weakness? He can give up the high goal, even on the glove side. So, the Golden Eagles need to use the same goal-scoring tactics they did last week.

Coach Dickinson was quoted in the SUNYAC Column today at USCHO saying the following:

"For us, it's kind of a chance to be a statement game, playing a very good, ranked team," Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. "We played them very tough last year in their building. It was 2-2 at one point. We want to obviously be in a situation where we can grow into beating an Elmira, Oswego, Plattsburgh, be that type of team night in and night out. Gives us a chance to finish up the semester against a very good team and hopefully go into the break on a little bit more momentum."

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STYLUS ANALYSIS OF FIRST SEMESTER

Lip Slip: Brockport hockey team hurting in season's first half
By Andy Lipari

Brockport's hockey team has ground to make up after the first half of the season, but they have shown they can do it. They sit tied with Cortland and two points behind Fredonia in the conference standings. B-port saved its season last weekend, Saturday, Dec. 3, beating Morrisville in a game that had two desperate teams fighting for their playoff hopes.

Brockport's worst habit this season is not stopping the bleeding after giving up a goal. They play well for 50 to 55 minutes of the game, but the other 5 to 10 is what cost the team points in the standings.

Brockport could be in the middle of the SUNYAC conference if they could play a full 60-minute game, as cliché as it sounds. They should have taken two points from Fredonia in their first game this season, but four bad minutes forced the game to a 4-4 tie.

They lost to Cortland 7-5, another winnable game. Brockport head coach Brian Dickinson said he thought his team was the better team when they played Potsdam a couple of weeks ago, but a few bad minutes cost the Golden Eagles yet another game.

They could have as many as 10 points with those victories, which could put Brockport in a solid third place in the SUNYAC conference.

For some reason the second period has been a problem for Brockport this year. I can't figure out why, but they seem to come out flat in the second compared to the other two periods. Whenever Brockport's opponent has a period that catches them up or pulls them away, it has almost always been the second period.

The power play is another issue, although it has been improving. They only went 1-9 against Morrisville. They had plenty of opportunities to pull away earlier, but they didn't capitalize. They also give up too many short-handed goals.

One of the biggest surprises to me so far this year is the improvement of goaltender Oliver Wren. Last season he was splitting time with Joe Reagan because no one took a strong hold on the position. As a senior, Wren has taken the role and has seen most of the action in net so far this season.

Ian Finnerty and James Cody have a combined 37 points this season playing on the same line together. Senior captain Adam Shoff looks like he fits in well with those two on the front line, following the injury to Brendon Rothfuss.

The contribution from the younger players has been another pleasant surprise. The first line gets its points every game, but the other three lines have been able to play well so far this season. Sophomore Steve Sachman leads the younger group this season with nine points so far.

Brockport got through the tough part of their un-even schedule this semester, which leaves a home-heavy second half for the Golden Eagles. They will be at Fredonia and Buffalo State the first weekend of the second semester, but then they will have five in a row at home. If they need the last game to get in the playoffs, they finish their season at Morrisville.

Source: http://www.thestylus.net/lip-slip-brockport-hockey-team-hurting-in-season-s-first-half-1.2726532

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STYLUS RECAP OF MORRISVILLE GAME

Brockport hockey's Saves for a Cure game against Morrisville saves playoff chances
By Andy Lipari Senior Writer


Brockport kept its playoff hopes alive Saturday, Dec. 3 with a wild 7-6 victory over Morrisville at the fourth annual Saves for a Cure game in the Tuttle North Ice Arena. Both teams came into the game desperately needing a win, which made for a playoff-type atmosphere in the mid-season game.

With the win, Brockport trails Fredonia by two points for a playoff spot. Brockport's next SUNYAC game will be at Fredonia, Jan. 20.

After the final horn, Brockport's jubilation from players and coaches showed how important this game was to them.

"We knew we couldn't come out from this game without two points," said Brockport head coach Brian Dickinson. "We're set up with all the home games next semester. We have a chance to move up the ladder. It was a huge sense of relief we were able to hold on and win."

Junior Ian Finnerty had four points for Brockport to help lead the way to victory. He started scoring points almost seven minutes in as he netted the game's first goal.

Sophomore Bobby Conner scored Brockport's second goal 28 seconds later. Curtis Renaud answered for Morrisville to cut the lead down to 2-1, but junior Mike Hayward found the back of the net at 15:57 in the first, as Brockport took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

The second period has given Brockport trouble this season, which was also the case Saturday. Todd Hosmer and Jonathan Cristini scored for Morrisville in the second period to tie the game 3-3.

The third period featured seven goals as both teams felt like its season was on the line. Morrisville took the lead 20 seconds in when Tom Longland found the back of the net.

Senior James Cody tipped a shot in at 2:28 to tie the game. Cristini scored his second of the game at 4:28, but Finnerty scored his second of the game as well at 8:08 on the power play.

All three seniors on the first line scored in the third period for Brockport. Dickinson said it shows how the veteran leadership is carrying the team.

"They get it," he said. "As we get into the second half of the season you can see the desperation from them, knowing they only have 13 or 12 games left. They don't want it to end."

Only 27 seconds later, senior forward Adam Shoff gave Brockport a 6-5 lead, but Hosmer found the back of the net for the second time and tied it back up.

Junior defenseman Colby Spooner was the hero for Brockport, scoring the game-winning goal with less than six minutes remaining.

Senior Oliver Wren had 31 saves in goal for Brockport. Colin Breen stopped 28 shots in net for Morrisville.

Saturday was Brockport's annual Saves For A Cure game. The Eagles wore Saves For A Cure jerseys that were auctioned off after the game. This year's jerseys were sold for anywhere between $50 and $125. The proceeds go to Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. The auction earned $1,855 this year.

New this year was a "teddy toss" in place of the typical puck toss. Participants could purchase teddy bears to throw on the ice with the goal of landing it in the center to win a prize. The bears were also donated to Golisano Children's Hospital.

Saves For A Cure is a non-profit organization founded by former Brockport goalie Todd Sheridan, who battled cancer in 2005 before attending Brockport. It aims to help children in the Rochester area cope with difficult cancer treatments.

Money is raised through the annual auction as well as saves made by Brockport goalies. Local businesses agree to donate money for every save made. Ticket sales from the game are also donated by the college's athletic department.

Since its founding in 2007, Saves for a Cure has raised more than $17,000.

Brockport will host Elmira Friday, Dec. 9 in a non-conference match-up before taking off for winter break.

Source: http://www.thestylus.net/brockport-hockey-s-saves-for-a-cure-game-against-morrisville-saves-playoff-chances-1.2726584

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FINNERTY: SUNYAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK!

Senior Forward Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) of The College at Brockport Men's Ice Hockey team has been named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Hockey Player of the week for his performance against Morrisville State. Finnerty and the Golden Eagles defeated Morrisville State 7-6.

During the fourth annual Saves for a Cure charity game, Finnerty scored a hat trick and added assist for four points total. Finnerty scored the first goal of the game seven minutes into the first period off assists from James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) and Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT).

After Brockport fell behind 4-3 in the third period, Finnerty scored 2:28 into the period to tie the game at four off an assist from Shoff and Matt DeLuca (Skippack, PA). The Golden Eagles fell behind once again, 5-4, but Finnerty capitalized on a power play and scored his sixth goal of the season at the 12:52 mark. Just 27 seconds later, Finnerty fed Shoff for his fourth goal of the season and put Brockport ahead 6-5. Morrisville State scored to tie the game at six, but Brockport prevailed with a goal with just under six minutes remaining.

This is the third time in Finnerty's career that he has been tabbed SUNYAC Player of the Week. Finnerty earned the award for the week ending Jan. 10, 2011 and Jan. 17, 2010.

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SAVES FOR A CURE'S SUPPORT

A big thanks to everyone who did the behind-the-scenes things to make sure the Saves For a Cure weekend was a success....folks like Elise Harvey (who organized the luncheon and its auction), Rec Services (who prepared and served the lunch), Sports Information guru Kelly Vergin (for organizing the jersey auction and teddy bear toss), and Brian Dickinson and the hockey team for the support and promotion of all of those SFAC functions.

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THE MOVEMBER LOOK

A lot of fans are wondering how the team looked towards the end of November as they had been tending their facial hair for the Movember fund drive.

Well, here they are (click on the image to see it in greater detail)...

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RANDOM THOUGHTS AFTER THE MORRISVILLE GAME

Random thoughts from last night…

· I loved the ceremonial puck drop by 12-year-old cancer patient Phillip Massey. It definitely shows everyone in attendance the human side the Saves For a Cure fundraising efforts. It’s youngsters like Phillip who benefit from the campus and Brockport communities’ donations. You saw the joy in his face, now imagine a hundred kids being so happy from what Saves For a Cure does for them

· The must-win game put Brockport into seventh place in the conference, tied with Cortland with 5 points. Brockport is well-positioned to make the playoffs because it’s a free-for-all after Plattsburgh and Oswego. Brockport has become a high-flying, high scoring team and is only 2 points out of the last playoff spot and only 3 out of the fourth and fifth spots. All of those teams are beatable and Brockport’s home-ice-heavy second semester should pay huge dividends

· When Brockport plays Morrisville next, they need to remember what allowed them to net 7 goals…they took advantage of goaltender Colin Breen’s over-commitment to playing down low. He didn’t just give the Golden Eagles the top third of the net, he gave them the top half. Breen is excellent when he goes low, but he goes low too often and puts himself into splits and other positions that he can’t recover from when the rebound shots are taken

· Todd Hosmer is certainly Morrisville’s best player. I don’t know how Potsdam ever let him get away. Hosmer had only one bad shift and was excellent on special teams, too. He had 2 goals and could have had another if Nick Panepinto hadn’t blocked a perfect pass to Hosmer on a 2nd period Morrisville power play

· Bobby Conner was taken out of the game at 8:54 left in the second after getting boarded by Morrisville’s Taylor Vince. I hope Bobby’s lower-body injury mends for next semester (if not the next game)

· Ian Finnerty and James Cody are having some seriously monstrous senior seasons. Ian already has 20 points. That’s a good number for a full season, but we’re only 11 games into this one. He could exceed 40 points when it’s all said and done. James reached double digits in goals last night and he could double that output as well come Senior night. Ian is 9th in the nation in points per game (1.82) while James is 26th (1.55). James ranks 7th in goals per game (.91) while Ian is 6th in assists per game (1.36). It's fun watching them perform their magic.

· After that deluge of goals last night, Brockport ranks 18th in the nation in scoring at 3.91 goals per game. That’s awesome. Realize that if you take the Buffalo State game out of the equation (only 1 goal scored), Brockport would average more than 4 goals per game. Wow!


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USCHO RECAP OF GAME

I was going to write a full recap of the game, but Russell Jaslow has written one so much better than I ever could for his weekend SUNYAC report for USCHO.

Here's a snippet from it:


Defense was optional at Brockport’s Tuttle North Ice Arena in the third period.

Brockport and Morrisville combined for seven goals in the final period in a wild shootout that saw multiple lead changes. When the ice chips finally settled, Brockport prevailed, 7–6. There were 72 total shots in the game.

Ian Finnerty got two goals and two assists for the winners. Jonathan Cristini and Todd Hosmer each scored twice for the Mustangs.

“Crazy,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “Obviously gaining two points was very crucial for us as it would have been for them. I thought we came out with a lot of energy against a team that put it to us pretty good last year. We just kept battling and battling and battling. It was a great effort by all of our guys.”

“I thought it was an intense game,” Morrisville coach Brian Grady said. “Obviously, two points at this juncture were huge for both teams. It wasn’t going to be easy. They came to play in the first period.”


Read his entire report here:

http://www.uscho.com/recaps/2011/12/03/brockport-wins-crazy-game-against-morrisville/

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FINNERTY DOMINATES IN 7-6 WIN OVER MORRISVILLE

The report from the Athletics Department...

Senior Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) scored two goals and added two assists as The College at Brockport Hockey team to a 7-6 victory over Morrisville Saturday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game at Tuttle North Arena in Brockport.

The game was designated as the fourth annual Saves for a Cure charity game in which the Brockport players wore special jerseys that are auctioned off following the game. All of the proceeds from the auction, ticket sales and a fund raising spaghetti dinner are donated to the Saves for a Cure foundation that was started by former Brockport goalie Todd Sheridan.

Brockport (3-6-2 Overall, 2-5-1 SUNYAC) started the scoring early with two goals in a span of 28 seconds with 13 minutes remaining in the opening period. Finnerty scored the first goal at 6:59 and 28 seconds later, Bobby Conner (Lititz, PA) scored giving Brockport a 2-0 lead.

Morrisville (2-7-1, 1-6-1) trimmed the lead to 2-1 at the 10:13 mark of the period and Mike Hayward (Toronto, ONT) made it a 3-1 lead six minutes later.

In the second period, the Mustangs scored the only two goals of the period to knot the score at 3-3.

In the third period, Morrisville took a 4-3 lead 20 seconds into the period. James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) tied the score two minutes later for the Golden Eagles but the Mustangs regained the lead exactly two minutes after Cody's goal for a 5-4 lead.

With 12 minutes remaining in the period, Morrisville was whistled for a hooking penalty and Brockport did not waste any time on the power play opportunity scoring seven seconds into the man advantage as Finnerty scored his second goal of the game on a pass from Marcus Farmer (Caledon, ONT) making it a 5-5 game. Less than 30 seconds later, Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) took a pass from Finnerty and scored to give Brockport the 6-5 lead.

Morrisville battled back and scored the tying goal at the 12:16 mark of the period but two minutes later, Colby Spooner (Hilton, NY) netted his second goal of the season in what turned out to be the game-winning goal for Brockport.

Finnerty finished with four points on two goals and two assists while Conner, Shoff and Cody all added a goal and an assist each. Todd Hosmer and Jonathan Cristini scored two goals each for the Mustangs.


Boxscore: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcmor1.d03

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BROCKPORT HOSTS MORRISVILLE TONIGHT

A better game could not have been picked for the Saves For a Cure game than tonight’s match-up with Morrisville. The fans -- many of whom will be at Tuttle for the first time this semester (or ever) as they support the fundraiser -- should be entertained by some great hockey. The last time the Mustangs were here (January) they won 8-6, a memorable game filled with as many near-fights as goals.

The bad blood will probably continue as Brockport has a chip on its shoulder after Morrisville protested a clean James Cody hit on Geoff Matzel that occurred in that game, resulting in a two-game suspension of James in February, just as he was riding a goal-scoring hot streak. That did not sit well with the Golden Eagles or their fans. Don’t be surprised if a highly-motivated Mr. Cody repeats his Sunday performance (a hat trick) tonight.

Morrisville is 2-6-1 this year, having just lost to Geneseo by a score of 4-3 last night. They pulled off a major upset this year having tied Oswego 3-3 and they stayed close to Plattsburgh in a 6-4 battle in November. They are tied for last in the conference with Brockport at 1-5-1 in SUNYAC play.

The Mustang’s leading scorer is Todd Hosmer, who came from Potsdam. The kid has a powerful slapshot and so far has amassed 7 goals and 7 assists in 9 games. Freshman Pat Stillar has been a pleasant surprise, posting a 5-7-12 line.

For years Morrisville relied on goaltender Caylin Relkoff to bail them out. He graduated after last season, but the team has been fortunate in goal. Colin Breen sports a .903 save percentage to so with a 3.81 GAA.

This game is a must-win for Brockport to gain some points and tie Cortland for 7th, which would put them just one win out from the last playoff spot. This is the last SUNYAC game until January 20th, so it would be good to go into the extended session of non-conference play with a boost.

The game starts at 7:00, preceded by a ceremonial puck-drop.


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SAVES FOR A CURE AUCTION ITEMS

Here's some great news swiped from Todd Sheridan's Facebook...

Sabres, Bills and Amerks on board with Saves For A Cure! Nathan Gerbe Autographed Stick, Stevie Johnson Autographed Jersey, 4 Vouchers for Amerks games will all be part of the Chinese Auction at the SFAC Benefit Dinner!

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SAVES FOR A CURE IN SUNYAC COLUMN

In this week's SUNYAC column, Russel Jaslow looks at Saves For a Cure...

Todd Sheridan has never wavered from his true passion as a hockey player. It wasn’t the four years of playing goaltender at Brockport, or the year as their goaltending coach. His true passion has been the Saves For A Cure charity.

“I have to be active with Saves For A Cure!” Sheridan said. “It is one of the most important things to me.”

The goal for Saves For A Cure remains the same — to raise money to help make the hospital stays of young cancer victims a little more bearable. Last spring, Saves For A Cure replaced the floor in the Child Life Play Deck at the Galisano Childrens Hospital in Rochester, donating $15,000.

Read Russell's entire report here:

http://www.uscho.com/2011/12/01/todd-sheridans-passion-continues/

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MOVEMBER GOAL ACHIEVED

The Golden Eagles made good on their goal to acquire $2,000 in donations for their Movember campaign. With only hours left in the month the team page shows $2,020 in donations!

Way to go, guys! Great job in drumming up support for the cause!

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CATCH TODD SHERIDAN ON THE BOB LONSBERRY SHOW

Be sure to listen to the Bob Lonsberry Show Thursday on WHAM. Bob will be interviewing Brockport Hockey alumnus Todd Sheridan about Saves For A Cure and the upcoming weekend of fundraising. Todd will be on sometime during the hours of 11:00 and 2:00 (exact time is yet to be determined). In the Rochester area listen on air at 1180 AM. Elsewhere, listen online at www.wham1180.com

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STYLUS STORY ABOUT MOVEMBER

Movember charity team fundraises for prostate cancer with help from mustaches
By Tim Fenster news editor

The mustaches that sprout up after Halloween do more than temporarily change the faces of some typically clean-shaven men. Movember, a world-wide charity movement driven by the concept of growing a mustache during the month of November, raised more than $7.5 million in 2010 for men's health groups, such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, LIVESTRONG and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

College at Brockport students got involved by starting the Brockport Golden Eagles, a Movember team that has raised $1,829 as of press time Monday, Nov. 28.

"I think everyone did a good job sending the message to relatives and friends," said senior Adam Shoff, who is the team captain. "Anything we can do to raise money and awareness toward cancer is important to a lot of people."

The 28-member team is mainly comprised of Brockport men's hockey players. Every member of this sports team is growing facial hair and fundraising for the cause, Shoff said.

For senior goaltender Oliver Wren, who has raised $355 as of Monday, Nov. 28 — the most of anyone on the team — participation is part of hockey tradition.

"Lots of NHL franchises and teams have joined the cause for fighting against prostate cancer, so we felt like we could do our part," Wren said. "Lots of families have been affected by cancer [so] it was a no-brainer to do what we could to support the charity."

The team set an initial goal of $2,000. It remains to be seen if the team can pull together the less than $200 remaining between press time Monday, Nov. 28 and the fundraising deadline Thursday, Dec. 1.

"We felt that ($2,000) was a reasonable goal we could shoot for," Shoff said. "A lot of guys got money coming in, [so] I feel pretty optimistic about reaching our goal."

Donations have surged in recent weeks from a $200 total about midway through November, Shoff said.

For Wren, as well as many other Movember participants, the fight against cancer is a personal one.

"My grandfather passed away from cancer and my parents and grandmother both contributed [to Movember]," Wren said. "I thank my family and also my friends from home and from Brockport. A lot of guys are working hard to raise money."

The Wren family has donated hundreds to the cause, according to www.movember.com.

The Brockport men's hockey team is also working with Saves for a Cure, a Rochester-based nonprofit organization that helps patients with cancer.

When men's hockey takes on Morrisville Saturday, Dec. 3, they will be wearing specially designed Saves for a Cure jerseys that will be auctioned off to fundraise for the organization.

Some Movember participants may appreciate the shave that will precede this game.

However, one men's hockey player — the loser of an end-of-Movember shoot-out contest — will be stuck with the mustache until students leave for winter break, Shoff said.

Shoff hopes the Movember charity efforts will continue after the mustaches are trimmed.

"Hopefully it (Movember fundraising) will carry on (at Brockport) and get bigger as the years go by," he said.

To donate to Brockport's Movember team, go to www.movember.com and search for the Brockport Golden Eagles.

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SAVES FOR A CURE WEEKEND COMING UP

The College at Brockport Men's Ice Hockey team will host its' fourth annual Saves for a Cure game on Dec. 3 against Morrisville State in the Tuttle North Ice Arena at 7 pm.

Saves for a Cure is a charitable organization that was started by former Brockport standout goalie and assistant coach Todd Sheridan in 2007 to raise money to help children cope with the difficulties of cancer treatments throughout the Rochester area. Sheridan was 20 years old when he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in both his tongue and neck.

Sheridan's foundation consists of raising money through saves, meaning that any save made by a Brockport goalie during the season raises money through the donations of local businesses. In the first three years of existence, Saves for a Cure has raised over $17,000. The Brockport Athletic Department donates all ticket sales to the cause.

The team also raises money by auctioning off their customized jerseys and a benefit dinner. The dinner will be held at 58 Main Restaurant Bar and Smokin BBQ on Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon- 4 pm. The cost is $10 per plate. There will also be a Chinese Auction held at the benefit.

Players' jerseys are currently being auctioned off until 5 pm on Dec. 4. The jerseys are usually the biggest portion of money raised, including last years' total of $2,385. Winners of the auction will be announced Sunday night and will be contacted via e-mail.

A representative and cancer patient from the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester was chosen for a celebrity puck drop to kick-off the game.


Auction website:

http://www.gobrockport.com/sports/2011/1/24/MHOCKEY_0124110742.aspx?id=37

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JAMES CODY: SUNYAC HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The SUNYAC has announced the Men’s Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week honors for the week ending Nov. 27.

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY PLAYER – Brockport

James Cody (Schwenksville, PA), senior forward

James Cody scored four goals and added three assists on the weekend at the Skidmore College Invitational as Brockport finished 1-0-1. Saturday night Cody scored a power play goal late in the third period and then picked up a short-handed assist in the final two minutes as the Golden Eagles tied Hamilton 5-5. On Sunday, Cody netted a hat trick against Nichols College in a 7-3 win. He reached 50 career-goals and needs two points to reach the 100 point mark. Cody was named the All-Tournament team.

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JAMES CODY: BROCKPORT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Senior forward James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) of The College at Brockport Men's Ice Hockey team has been named Male Athlete of the Week after helping the Golden Eagles to a 1-0-1 record over the weekend.

Participating in the Skidmore College Invitational Tournament in Saratoga Springs, Cody notched his 50th career goal as part of a hat trick in the consolation game on Sunday afternoon. Cody's three goals came in a 7-3 victory over Nichols College. He has moved into a tie for No. 6 on the all-time goals list, and needs only two points to reach the 100-career point mark.

In the first round of the tournament on Saturday, Cody and the Golden Eagles skated to a 5-5 tie with Hamilton College. Cody scored one goal and had three assists on the day. One of the assists came with 1:10 to play as Cody and Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) fed Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) to tie the game at five.

Cody's seven points over the weekend earned him a spot on the All-Tournament team. This is the second time this season Cody has been named Athlete of the Week at Brockport.

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CODY REACHES MILESTONE...WITH A HAT TRICK NO LESS!

The Athletic Department reports on Sunday's win...

Senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) scored career goals number 48, 49 and 50 to lead The College at Brockport Hockey team to a 7-3 victory over Nichols College Sunday afternoon in the consolation game of the Skidmore College Invitational Tournament in Saratoga Springs.

Cody's 50 career goals ties him for No. 6 on the all-time list with Sean O'Neill who played in the mid-90's. He also moved closer to the 100-career point mark and stands at 98 points with 50 goals and 48 assists in his prolific career.

Brockport (2-6-2) fell behind allowing a pair of goals in the second period but used a power play goal by Cody with 3:30 left in the period to get the offense back on track. One minute later, freshman Troy Polino (Limerick, PA) scored on a wrap-around shot to tie the game at 2-2.

“I was impressed with the way (James) Cody stepped up his play especially with the way we had to change up the lines during the game,” said head coach Brian Dickinson. “He took it upon himself to carry the team and he really kept his composure and gave the team a great spark at the end of the second period and into the third.”

Early in the third period, Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) was whistled with a major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting from behind leaving the Golden Eagles on a five-minute penalty kill. Cody stole a pass a minute into the man advantage and skated the length of the ice on a breakaway and scored with a shot to the glove side to give Brockport the 3-2 lead.

Two minutes later, Nichols had a player called for a contact to the head and game misconduct penalty giving Brockport the man advantage and sophomore Steve Sachman (Medford, NY) took advantage with a power play goal to stretch the lead to 4-2 with less than 13 minutes left in the third period.

After Nichols (1-5-1) scored to cut the lead to 4-3 at the midpoint of the period, Cody completed the hat trick as time was running down with 2:10 left in the period as he sent a wrist shot into the top corner of the goal.

Just 43 seconds later, Polino scored his second goal of the game with assists going to Sachman and Chris Cangro (Holbrook, NY) to make it a 6-3 Brockport lead. With 39 seconds remaining, Colby Spooner (Hilton, NY) netted his first goal of the season with assists from Brett Jendra (Bolingbrook, IL) and Alexander Quendler (Klosterneuberg, Austria) each picking up their first points of the season.

Freshman Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, ONT) made his first career start and stopped 18 shots to earn the victory. Jacob Rinn made 30 saves including 17 in the third period when Brockport held a 22-5 shots advantage.

“Aaron (Green) played a very good game with his first career start,” said Dickinson. “He didn't need to make a lot of saves but he made the ones we needed him to especially in the third period when we were only up a goal and they were on a power play.”

Brockport returns to action, Saturday, December 3 with a 7 pm game at home against Morrisville. The game has been designated as the Saves for a Cure benefit game. Brockport will be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. The on-line auction will run all week and end Sunday, December 4 at 5 pm.


Boxscore: http://www.uscho.com/box/mens-hockey/2011/11/27/brockport-vs-nichols/
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BROCKPORT TIES HAMILTON 5-5

The Athletic Department offers this recap of Saturday's game...


Junior Nick Panepinto (Tonawanda, NY) scored two goals including a power play goal in the third period to lead The College at Brockport Hockey team to a 5-5 tie with Hamilton College Saturday night in the first round of the Skidmore College Invitational Tournament in Saratoga Springs.

Hamilton (1-1-1) advanced to the championship game with a 2-0 win in the penalty shot shootout to determine which team would advance on in the Tournament. Brockport (1-6-2) will play Nichols College at 1 pm Sunday in the consolation game and Hamilton will play Skidmore at 4 pm in the championship.

Brockport fell behind 2-0 after one period of play but battled back and trailed early in the third period by a 3-2 score when Panepinto scored his second goal of the game to knot the score at 3-3. Panepinto scored with a shot to the short side with Brockport on a power play and just less than 12 minutes to play in the period.

Hamilton scored just over a minute later on a power play of its own to regain the lead at 4-3 and the score remained there until Panepinto found himself in the mix again. This time, on another Brockport power play, Panepinto fed James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) of the corner of the crease and Cody jammed in the game-tying goal with just over five minutes to play in the third period.

“Nick (Panepinto) took his game to a new level tonight,” said head coach Brian Dickinson. “He outworked everyone on the ice and certainly came to play. He was our best player tonight.”

With two minutes remaining in the period, Hamilton used a 2-on-1 rush up the ice and a high shot to the glove side of goalie Joe Reagan (Yonkers, NY) for the 5-4 lead late in the period.

With the Continentals on a power play late in the period, Brockport called Reagan to the bench for the extra skater as Cody had his one-timer saved but Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) was there to knock in the rebound and tie the score at 5-5 with 1:10 remaining in the period.

“I thought the way we kept coming back especially with the goal at the end showed great character,” said Dickinson. “(James) Cody and (Adam) Shoff showed great leadership on that shift because they were both out there for the penalty kill and had to dig deep for us.”

There was no scoring in the five minute overtime period and the game officially ended in a tie. In the shootout to determine which team would play for the championship against Skidmore, Hamilton scored on two of its three shots and Brockport was unable to score in its two shot. Brockport's third shot was unnecessary since Hamilton had the two-goal lead with one shot remaining.


Boxscore: http://www.uscho.com/box/mens-hockey/2011/11/26/brockport-vs-hamilton/

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BROCKPORT TO PLAY IN SKIDMORE INVITATIONAL

Whereas most Brockport students are out of commission for 4 or 5 days, the hockey team, on the other hand, will be taking the ice over the holiday weekend. After practice sessions at Tuttle they are traveling to Saratoga Springs to play in the Skidmore Invitational.

The Golden Eagles will take on Hamilton at 5:00 PM on Saturday. Hamilton's season is young (1-1-0), but last year is a good gauge of what Brockport will face. In 2010-2011, the Hamilton College men's ice hockey team enjoyed its best season since the 1997-98 campaign. Hamilton finished with an overall record of 14-7-4. One of those road wins was against then-No. 1 SUNY Oswego on Dec. 30 as part of Oswego's PathFinder Bank Hockey Classic. The Lakers hadn't lost at home in their previous 25 games.

Their best scoring threat is Michael DiMare who was voted the NESCAC rookie of the year after 15 goals and 12 assists. 9 other players had 10 points (none more than 20). Their best player, All-American Joe Houk, didn't return for his junior year this year. The dynamic defenseman had a jaw dropping 17-16-33 line last season. Cam Gibbar and Joe Quattrocchi are the returning goalies. Both started three games last season and sported saves percentages in the .890s.

Depending on who wins this game and who wins the other Saturday match-up, Brockport will play either Nichols or Skidmore on Sunday to round out the tournament.

One Brockport player who should be watched is James Cody. He's 4 goals short of the 50 goal mark. It's not out of the question that he could reach that mark this weekend, or set himself up with 1 or 2 goals remaining to achieve that special milestone at either of the 2 home games in December.

Both Brockport games can be heard on WBSU at 89.1 FM and online at http://www.891thepoint.com/

Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!

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SAVES FOR A CURE JERSEY AUCTION

The 2011-12 Saves For a Cure jersey auction is live on the Brockport website. The Auction will end at 5 pm Sunday, December 4 with bids being accepted at the Spaghetti Dinner. The bids will be updated as often as possible.

The jerseys will be worn by the team for the December 3rd game against SUNYAC rival Morrisvile.

All proceeds benefit Saves For a Cure, which ultimately benefits area youth dealing with cancer.

Here is the link:

http://www.gobrockport.com/sports/2011/1/24/MHOCKEY_0124110742.aspx?path=mhockey

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SAVES FOR A CURE FLIER

HART IS NAMED INTERIM AD

Brockport, NY – The College at Brockport, State University of New York, announced today Athletic Director Noah LeFevre will leave the College and that current Associate Director of Athletics Erick Hart will become Interim Director of Athletics in mid-December.

LeFevre, who came to Brockport in July 2010 from New York University, has accepted a position at Manhattan College, a Division I program located in New York City.

“We wish Noah the best for the future as he returns to New York City. I thank him for all that’s been accomplished at Brockport under his AD leadership from introducing a new brand for Golden Eagle Athletics to exponential increases in fund-raising for our Golden Eagle society” said College President John R. Halstead. “We’re extremely fortunate that we have a highly qualified Interim Athletic Director on our staff in the person of Associate AD Hart. Erick has extensive experience in supervising intercollegiate athletics teams, facilities management, and events planning and knows SUNYAC well.”

The College competes in 23 men’s and women’s sports at the Division III level. Current facility improvements include renovation of the Tuttle Athletic Complex, construction of the $44 million Special Events Recreation Center, and the installation of turf fields. Additionally, the commitment of Brockport’s student-athletes goes beyond the classrooms and playing fields. Community service activities support organizations in both the Village of Brockport and Greater Rochester, with one example being raising $20,000 over the past four years for Saves for a Cure, a not-for-profit started by a former Golden Eagle Hockey player and cancer survivor.

Hart joined Brockport in July 2011 after previously serving as an Assistant Athletic Director at New Paltz since 2007. There he developed policies and procedures for a new Athletics and Wellness Center, created an operations plan for all athletic facilities and devised both an emergency action plan for the athletics department and an event management manual for athletic contests. Hart has also worked at Seton Hall University and Misericordia (PA) University.

“When I came to Brockport, I arrived with a desire to help re-establish the preeminence of one of the standout programs in the SUNYAC as well as in the northeast region and the nation,” Hart said. “Now with this new opportunity, I want to promote the hard work that takes place on behalf of the student-athletes and coaches at our institution within the overall mission of the college. Athletics is not more important but has a different importance from other educational experiences our students have throughout their time at our institution.”

Hart earned his B.S. in Sport and Recreation Management from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in 2002, and received his M.Ed. in Sport Administration from Millersville (PA) University in 2003.

Associate Director of Athletics Susan Hoffman and Assistant Director of Athletics Jessica Wheeler will assist Hart in advancing the Athletics program and maintaining momentum on several important initiatives.

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SAVES FOR A CURE DINNER: DECEMBER 4th

Save yourself a plate at the second annual Saves For a Cure Benefit Dinner!

It will be held Sunday, December 4th from noon till 4:00pm at 58 Main Restaurant Bar & Smokin BBQ, just north of the lift bridge.

Dinner Includes:

Pasta with Meatballs
Salad
Bread and Butter
Non-alcoholic Fountain Drink

Dine-in or take-out available.

There will also be a Chinese Auction!

This event is being coordinated by The College at Brockport Recreational Services Student Supervisors. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from a Recreation Student Supervisor or at the HUB office. For more information please call the Hub office at (585) 395-5051.

All proceeds go to Saves For a Cure, the local Non- Profit organization started by former Brockport Goalie, Todd Sheridan. Proceeds are donated to local childrens cancer facilities.

Come on out and support this wonderful cause!

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NEWSPAPER RECAP OF POTSDAM GAME

North Country This Week recaps the Saturday game against the Bears...


Potsdam senior captain Sy Nutkevitch (Montreal, Quebec/Cornwall Colts) and sophomore forward Adam Place (Scarborough, Ontario/Bowmansville Eagles) each recorded two goals and two assists to lead the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (4-3, 3-3 SUNYAC) to a 5-3 win over Brockport (1-6-1, 1-5-1).

Bears freshman forward Trevor Cope (Swartz Creek, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Knights) also had a four-point night with a goal and three assists.

Potsdam opened the game with a fast pace and scored the first goal just 2:31 into the contest.

Nutkevitch scored on a rebound off a shot from Cope. Potsdam then successfully killed a 1:47 five-on-three power play at the 10:24 mark, but Brockport picked up some momentum. At 15:22, Golden Eagle sophomore forward Chris Cangro (Holbrook, N.Y./N.Y. Bobcats) poked home a rebound to tie the score.

The Bears ramped up their play in the second period and scored three straight goals in the in the first five minutes. Cope found the net 1:26 into the period. Place scored the next two at 3:38 and 5:13 to increase the lead to 4-1. At 9:21, junior defenseman Mike Hayward (Toronto, Ontario/Vaughan Vipers) scored a power-play goal to get Brockport back to within 4-2. The teams traded penalties for the rest of the period and the score remained the same into the second intermission.

After Golden Eagle sophomore defenseman Patrick Hayden (Springfield, Pa./Philadelphia Little Flyers) was whistled for a boarding major and a game misconduct, the Potsdam offense picked up again. Nutkevitch scored his second of the contest at 2:34. Less than two minutes later Brockport senior forward James Cody (Schwenksville, Pa./Philadelphia Little Flyers) cut the lead to 5-3 on the power play. Over the game’s final 15 minutes, 10 penalties were called, but the Golden Eagles got no closer.

Bears freshman goalie Dylan Ellis (Oakville, Ontario/Aurora Panthers) made 37 saves, including 17 in the final period, to pick up his third win of the season. Brockport senior goalie Oliver Wren (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Blades) finished with 32 saves.

Potsdam was 1-3 on the power play and the Golden Eagles finished 2-11.

“I was extremely happy with how our guys responded to Brockport’s challenges tonight,” said Bears Head Coach Chris Bernard. “Our guys come to the rink and want to get better every day. They work hard every day and put the team before themselves.”

Bernard was especially pleased with Nutkevitch and his freshman goaltender.

“That’s why he’s our captain,” added Bernard. “He’s a two-way player and he can do it all. I think Dylan Ellis made every big save for us he could all weekend and gave the defense confidence to do its job.


Source:

http://northcountrynow.com/news-sports/suny-potsdsam-bears-mens-hockey-team-grounds-golden-eagles-5-3-043501

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MORE ABOUT MOVEMBER

The Atheltics Department reports on the team's Movember drive...


That loud scratching noise you have been hearing around the Tuttle North Athletic Complex might just be coming from The College at Brockport Hockey team locker room since the entire team is working on the growth of mustaches for the annual Movember cancer awareness and fundraising effort.

The team – headed by Team Captain Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) - started the month clean shaven and is in the midst of a team competition to find out who can grow the best mustache during the month of November. The national Movember campaign started several years ago with groups of men dedicating the entire month to mustache growth for cancer awareness.

The Golden Eagles joined the effort this year and have set a fundraising goal of $2,000 through on-line pledges and donations at their designated team site at:

http://us.movember.com/mospace/1919361/ .

“Over the last few years cancer has been close to our team,” said Shoff. “Most of us played with Todd Sheridan and continue to help with his Saves For a Cure campaign to raise money after he survived a bout with cancer and just this summer EJ Maguire (a former Brockport player, coach and recently inducted into the Golden Eagle Athletic Hall of Fame) passed away after a courageous battle with the disease.”

Sheridan's foundation – Saves For a Cure – has raised nearly $20,000 in the past four years with money being donated to the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center in Rochester.

The players will be collecting donations on the website for the remainder of the month with hopes of not only reaching their goal but surpassing it.

On December 3, when the Golden Eagles take on Morrisville, the players will be wearing specially designed Saves For a Cure jerseys for the fourth straight year in the annual fundraising effort for Sheridan's foundation. The jerseys will be auctioned off and other donations will be collected for the cause.


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PRESS-REPUBLICAN RECAP OF PLATTSBURGH GAME

Plattsburgh's local paper wrote the following about Friday's game....


Ryan Farnan tallied three consecutive goals in the second period as Plattsburgh State showed off its offensive skills by piling up six goals Friday.

But coach Bob Emery was more impressed with the ones Brockport didn't score.

The Cardinals, who came in averaging three goals against per game, allowed just one for a 6-1 SUNY Athletic Conference men's hockey win in their first home game of the season.

Nick Jensen scored twice for Plattsburgh (4-1), and Matt MacLeod added another.

"I think we played pretty smart as a team," Emery said. "I told the guys when it was 3-0, 'I don't care how many goals we get; I care how many they get.' Because I think that the focus has to be defense. And I thought we played good defensive hockey only giving up one goal."

The sixth-ranked Cardinals host Geneseo tonight.

With his team already up 2-0, Farnan broke the game open in the second period. He took a feed from Kyle Kudroch on a rush and scored from the right doorstep less than five minutes in. The sophomore forward then banged in a rebound from the left side and later deked his way past a defenseman and threaded the puck into the top right corner.

"The third one, I was actually hearing coach yell, 'Change,' and I had a lot of speed and I saw their D was kinda on the back ... And I caught him on his heels, made one move and luckily got around him," Farnan said. "That was the best goal of the three for sure."

The natural hat trick took just under six minutes.

Troy Polino put Brockport (1-5-1, 1-4-1 SUNYAC) on the board with a shot from the side of the net with 6:41 left in the period.

Jensen put one in 13 seconds into the third after Brockport's Oliver Wren couldn't cover up the puck.

Then the parade to the penalty box started. Kudroch was ejected less than two minutes in after a collision at the boards. He was issued a five-minute major for hitting from behind and a game misconduct.

Later, Brockport's Adam Shoff drew a double minor for roughing before teammate Mike Hayward was sent to the locker room with a contact-to-the-head major and a game misconduct. Shoff served Hayward's penalty, meaning he spent nine minutes in the box, almost consecutively.

The teams combined for 40 minutes of penalties in the period.

"I think for the most part we played disciplined," Emery said. "It was a bad hit from behind, and we just can't have that. We can't have that at all."

He added that the Cardinals were fortunate they already had a sizeable lead when they had to kill of the five-minute power play.

Mathieu Cadieux, making his second start, stopped 22 shots to earn the win. Sam Foley made his first appearance of the season midway through the third.

"I thought (Cadieux) did what he had to do, and I thought we did a good job clearing out pucks in front of the net," Emery said.

Wren had 53 saves.

Jensen lifted a shot past him just 26 seconds into the game, and Matt MacLeod skated in alone and potted a shorthanded goal with 4:21 to go in the first period.

Plattsburgh pelted the net with 25 shots in the period and ended the game with a 59-26 advantage.


Source: http://pressrepublican.com/0302_college/x1022082213/Cardinals-roll-past-Brockport

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BROCKPORT GOES 0 FOR 2 ON THE WEEKEND

The Golden Eagles return from their North Country road trip winless.

Here's the Atletic Department's recap of Friday's affair against Plattsburgh...


Senior Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) made a career-high 53 saves and freshman Troy Polino (Limerick, PA) scored his first career goal but two early goals and a three-goal second period led to a 6-1 loss in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game Friday night to Plattsburgh, ranked No. 4 in the latest US College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll, at the Stafford Ice Arena in Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh (4-1-0 Overall, 4-1 SUNYAC) wasted little time getting on the board scoring with just 26 seconds elapsed in the game for the early 1-0 lead. Late in the first period, the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead with a power play goal.

In the second period, Plattsburgh's Ryan Farnan scored three consecutive goals to stretch the lead to 5-0.

Polino netted his first goal as Golden Eagle at the 13:19 mark of the second period with a shot from the point trimming the lead to 5-1 but Plattsburgh added one more goal early in the third period to make it a 6-1 lead.

A period full of penalties but only the one goal ended the game as each team racked up double digit penalty minutes over the final 20 minutes of action.

Wren finished with 53 saves including 19 in the first period of play.

“(Oliver) Wren was our only player out there tonight,” said head coach Brian Dickinson. “Without Wren, this game could have been 16-1. We were coming off a great win (over Geneseo last Friday) and we didn't perform well at all. We gave them too much space and they are a dangerous team when that happens.”


Box score: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcplt1.n18



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Here's the Athletic Department's analysis of Saturday's game against the Potsdam Bears...

Senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) scored a goal in the third period to attempt to fuel a comeback, but The College at Brockport Men's Hockey team fell short at Potsdam 5-3 on Saturday night. Cody and junior Mike Hayward (Toronto, ONT) both had a goal and an assist on the night.

Both teams scored a goal in the first period, but the Bears scored three goals within the first 5:13 of the second period to pull away early. Hayward added his goal in the second period to make it 4-2. Potsdam scored its' fifth and final goal in the third period before Brockport attempted to climb back into the game.

James Cody appeared to have scored a goal early in the third period that was disallowed by the officials. Potsdam's goalie Dylan Ellis seemed to have made a save but dropped the puck across the line to signal a goal, however the officials made the call that Ellis controlled possession of the puck before it crossed the line. Three minutes later, Cody found the back of the net on an assist from Hayward on a power play to make the score 5-3.

At the 7:30 mark, Cody and sophomore Chris Cangro (Holbrook, NY) took four shots on net on a Brockport power play in a thirty-second barrage as the Golden Eagles battled for a loose puck in front of the Potsdam net. Cangro scored the initial goal in the first period with an assist from Steve Sachman for the Golden Eagles to notch the score at one all.

Power play was the common theme for Brockport as Potsdam committed 16 penalties on the night. The Golden Eagles had a 5-3 advantage in the closing minutes of the game before time ran out.

“We wanted to keep pressuring them” said head coach Brian Dickinson. “We knew they were a very young team that would commit a lot of penalties. Heading into the third period, we just wanted to continue to work hard and keep pressuring them.”

Senior Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) made several spectacular saves in net for Brockport. Wren was credited with 32 saves on the night.


Box Score: http://collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcpot1.n19

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LOOKING AHEAD AT THE POTSDAM GAME

Brockport completes the North Country road trip with a visit to Potsdam on Saturday. What can you expect? Listen to the podcast preview by Potsdam's WPDM here:

http://www.potsdambears.com/sports/2011/10/18/MHOCKEY_1018113437.aspx?id=49

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PLATTSBURGH'S QUESTION MARK AT GOAL

Tonight the Golden Eagles head off to Plattsburgh. The Press-Republican today reports on the question marks at goal possessed by the Cardinals, which bode well for this high-scoring Brockport team. This is certainly the best chance that our seniors have had to beat Plattsburgh during their collegiate careers....


Josh Leis was Plattsburgh State's main goaltender last year, but when the Cardinals played their first game of the 2011-12 campaign, it was newcomer Mathieu Cadieux in net.

Leis knew he would have to fight for his place between the pipes.

"We're all here to push each other. It's not just you come in and you get your spot guaranteed," the junior said. "You gotta work for it as well, every year. So it's good competition and, I mean, competition pushes everyone to be better."

Plattsburgh State (3-1), ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll, plays its home opener tonight against Brockport before hosting Geneseo for another SUNY Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Leis and Cadieux have both played in the early part of the season, and coach Bob Emery said he's not necessarily intent on finding a clear No. 1.



The article goes on to mention Cadieux's record...


He made 31 saves in the Cardinals' season-opening 6-4 win at Morrisville and then saw Leis start the next three games. Last Saturday, Cadieux relieved Leis early in the second period against Buffalo State and was credited with the loss. He sports a 3.23 GAA and a .902 save percentage.


As for Leis...


The Kitchener, Ontario, native played a strong game to beat Potsdam in his first start this season, allowing just one late goal, and earned a win at Fredonia before giving up three goals in just over 25 minutes Saturday. He boasts a 2.89 GAA and a .875 save percentage.

Read the entire article here:

http://pressrepublican.com/0300_sports/x1022081866/Leis-Cadieux-competing-for-time-in-net

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THE MOVEMBER LOOK AT THE HALFWAY POINT

STYLUS RECAP OF GENESEO GAME

Brockport hockey upsets bitter rival Geneseo for first win
By Andy Lipari Senior Writer

Brockport got its first win of the season last Friday, Nov. 11 with a major upset at Geneseo, defeating the Blue Knights 6-1.

The story so far for Brockport (1-3-1 SUNYAC, 1-4-1 overall) this season has been the team's struggles on special teams. Therefore it isn't a coincidence the Eagles scored twice on the power play in the victory, showing they've been working hard on the issue in practice.

More importantly, they only took three penalties the entire game, scoring once shorthanded.

Brockport gave up the first goal on the power play. They have had a problem this season stopping the bleeding after giving up a goal, but senior goaltender Oliver Wren and the defense in front of him shut Geneseo down for the rest of the game. They held Geneseo to 13 shots through the first two periods.

Sophomore Mike Hollander scored late in the first to tie it 1-1 after a period.

Freshman Troy Polino scored his first goal of the year 1:30 into the second period. Senior James Cody found the back of the net to score his fourth of the season and junior Mike Hayward scored on a power play with 22 seconds left, giving Brockport a 4-1 lead after two periods.

While Brockport has given up several leads this year, they didn't do so this game. Sophomore Steve Sachman scored twice in the third period, one on the power play and another short-handed.

With their first win out of the way, Brockport can start looking at the standings a little more seriously. They will have to earn points next weekend against Plattsburgh and Potsdam to move up in a competitive SUNYAC.

Source:

http://www.thestylus.net/brockport-hockey-upsets-bitter-rival-geneseo-for-first-win-1.2700191

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THE COST OF BROCKPORT HOCKEY

Today's Democrat and Chronicle features a story about the new DIII program at Nazareth. The article looks at the cost of local programs....

In the 2010-11 school year, SUNY Geneseo spent $76,184 on hockey out of a $2.8 million athletic budget. This does not include coaches' salaries.

The College at Brockport spent $81,256 (out of $3.3 million) and Hobart spent $51,568 (out of $2.6 million). In each case, the hockey budget was between 2 and 2.7 percent of the overall athletic budget.

RIT spent $294,432 for its Division I men's hockey team, including travel costs, out of a 2010-11 budget of $4 million.

Nazareth's overall athletic budget for that same academic year was $2.5 million. Bothner says he expects the hockey budget to be around $80,000 for the first year, and it will be money well invested.

"We looked at it like, 'OK, we're going to bring in 25-28 kids who wouldn't be at Naz otherwise," he says. "If you figure in the average amount of tuition they pay, you don't lose money."

Read the entire article here:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20111116/SPORTS09/111160321/Nazareth-hockey-looking-forward-to-first-season?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|SPORTS


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SUPPORT THE GOLDEN EAGLES IN MOVEMBER

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

Once registered at www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

The funds raised in the US support prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and their men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Together, the three channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with their strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.

No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, and to act on that knowledge, thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.

In 2010, over 64,500 US Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising $7.5 million USD.


The Golden Eagles ice hockey team have taken it upon themselves to sprout facial hair for this worthy cause.

So far, 14 of them are registered on the website and to date the team has earned $235 in donations, led by Oliver Wren whose hirsute mug has been rewarded with $155!

To make a donation to the war against cancer in name of the Golden Eagles or any one of them, check out this webpage:

http://us.movember.com/mospace/1919361/


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SACHMAN IS SUNYAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The SUNYAC has announced the fourth week of Men’s Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week honors. Morrisville earned Rookie and Goalie recognition, while Brockport took Player of the Week.


MEN’S ICE HOCKEY PLAYER – Brockport

Steve Sachman, (Medford, NY), sophomore forward

Sophomore Steve Sachman scored two goals in 6-1 victory for The College at Brockport Hockey team Friday night in a SUNYAC game against #14 Geneseo on the road. It was the first win of the season for the Golden Eagles. Sachman netted a power play goal midway through the third period and then, 1:30 later, scored a short-handed goal for his second and third goals of the season.


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ALUMNUS LoCICERO NAMED LAW FIRM ASSOCIATE

We always like sharing the professional and personal news about Brockport Hockey alumni. Here's a blurb that ran in today's Buffalo News, regarding Nick LoCicero who played for the college in the mid-1990s...


Buffalo-based law offices of Cohen& Lombardo appointed Nicholas G. LoCicero an associate. LoCicero, who played professional hockey in the East Coast Hockey League, previously was a law clerk in the New York State Supreme Court and worked at a general practice firm. He earned his J. D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law and received his B. S. from Brockport State College.


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BROCKPORT TROUNCES 14th RANKED GENESEO

Sophomore Steve Sachman (Medford, NY) scored two third period goals to seal a 6-1 victory for The College at Brockport Hockey team Friday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game in Geneseo.

Brockport (1-4-1 Overall, 1-3-1 SUNYAC) fell behind in the first period when Geneseo (3-3-0, 3-2-0) scored on a power play with less than six minutes to play in the opening period.

Three minutes later, sophomore Mike Hollander (Thornhill, ONT) scored his first goal as a Golden Eagle to tie the score as the evenly played first period ended in a 1-1 tie.

In the second period, Brockport wasted little time in taking the lead as freshman Troy Polino (Limerick, PA) scored his first collegiate goal giving the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead just 1:30 into the second stanza.

With Brockport holing the one goal lead until late in the period, the Golden Eagles started to pull away in the final minutes of the period as senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) and junior defenseman Mike Hayward (Toronto, ONT) scored two minutes apart in the closing three minutes of the period for a 4-1 Brockport lead after 40 minutes of action.

Sachman added a power play goal midway through the third period and then, 1:30 later, scored a short-handed goal to make it a 6-1 Brockport lead. Both of Sachman's goals were unassisted.

Brockport was 2-for-6 on the man advantage and took just three penalties in the game limiting Geneseo to two power play opportunities.

Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) and Brendon Rothfuss (Webster, NY) added two assists each while Chris Cangro (Holbrook, NY), Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) and Bobby Conner (Lititz, PA) contributed one assist each for the Brockport offense.

Senior Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) made 27 saves including 15 in the third period to record his first win of the season.


Boxscore: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcgen1.n11

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OSWEGO'S BOORISH BEHAVIOR

Last weekend the Brockport hockey team was subjected to something more than the ordinary chant at Oswego. The student section blasted them with "F" word repeatedly. That total lack of class was blasted itself by a letter to the editor by Greg Auleta in the Oswegonian, the school's student newspaper...

I don’t think anyone would deny that Oswego has a great hockey tradition. Since the mid 60s we have had an unbroken string of outstanding coaches, awesome players and, of course, committed fans. And with the arrival of the Campus Center Arena, we can legitimately say we have a classy place to play. Regrettably, at Saturday’s game against the College at Brockport, we fell from our classy pedestal into the pit of adolescence and vulgarity with the student section’s unfortunate regression and retreat to language worthy of street corner bullies or children just learning that some swear words really do offend. I am speaking, of course, of the “F U Brockport” chant, which arose more than once in the course of the game.

To be sure, our traditional raspberries after opposing teams’ penalties or after we score a goal are pretty tough, but they have a tradition here, though even they walk that fine line of acceptability. But I don’t think anyone can say that throwing out the “F” bomb truly has any place either in taunting our opposition or as a representation of the quality of our school, our team or our community. “F U Brockport” does everything but paint Oswego as classy; frankly, it makes us sound pretty pedestrian and adolescent. Is this really the best we can come up with?
Of course, there is also the inevitability of the referees imposing a “bench penalty” for such chants, and I am confident that this would happen soon if this pattern continues, for no one can argue that such a chant falls under the heading of good sportsmanship, however difficult that term may be to define. To adapt the phrasing of one of our chants, whose fault would it be then – especially if we lose the game because of a goal scored when we were a player down?

Unfortunately, another inevitability would be the imposition of sanctions by the college authorities on those who are identified as engaging in such behavior, and I doubt very much the defense of “free speech,” just being a fan or everyone else was doing it will go very far. There is no right to yell “F U Brockport” or any other school or player.

Oswego should rightly be proud of its hockey team, its facilities and its fans, for they aspire to meet the highest standards. Let’s yell and scream and chant all we want, but let’s not pretend that “F U” has anything to do with class or with being a winner.

Source:

http://www.oswegonian.com/opinion/letters-to-editor/2231/letter-to-the-editor-11112011/

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