We’re at the halfway point of the 2018-2019 season,
one that has proven to be quite entertaining and one that has exceeded
expectations.
Heading into the season with 9 freshman it looked
to many folks as a sort of rebuilding year. Getting to the playoffs, let alone
10 wins, looked questionable at best, a sort of pipe dream.
I was a little more optimistic, having witnessed a
similar makeover in 2008-2009 when my all-time favorite Golden Eagle squad become a
playoff contender in a year when everyone had the program written off. Here we
are, a decade later, and we’re seeing that same sort of surprise.
The Golden Eagles head into the winter break at
8-4-1, a spectacular record.
They’ve gotten there thanks to a great defense,
something I counted as their strength in the season preview. Little did I know
they would exceeded even my lofty expectations!
Brockport’s all-time best defensive unit allowed
3.04 goals per game in the 2014-2015 season. My beloved 2008-2009 team comes in
at second with 3.30 goals allowed per contest. This year’s team has annihilated
those numbers.
Brockport has the 6th best scoring defense in the
entire country, allowing only 1.77 goals per game. Amazing, truly amazing!
The team works hard at minimizing quality opportunities
for opponents, the blue liners have committed themselves to conservative
turnover-free play, the forwards have sacrificed themselves with a physical and
excellent backcheck, and the team has been blessed with great goaltending by
Jake Moore.
For old-time hockey purists, that’s exciting to
watch.
But, it’s a tale of two teams.
Offensively, the team isn’t producing.
That was to be expected – the team lost 39 goals to
graduation. That’s a tough loss to make up.
In the season preview, I mentioned it would take
some time for the lines to gel and the freshmen to learn the nuances of the
NCAA. We aren’t there yet.
The Golden Eagles rank 52nd out of 83
teams in DIII, scoring just 2.69 goals per game. You cannot win in DIII scoring
less than 3 goals per game, no matter how many goals you prevent.
The talent is there to find a half goal to a goal per
game in the second half. It’s just that the little things need to be
capitalized on.
That was none more evident than in the Cortland
game. Brockport should have won because, one, defensively they were stifling
good opportunities, two, it was a home game, and, three, it was a special home
game (law enforcement night). But, the team just couldn’t score. It wasn’t for
a lack of initial effort, though (the team was peppering the Cortland all
game). It was the lack of secondary effort. Seven times the Cortland goalie
left on the ice really, really bad rebounds which could have been buried by
Brockport but every time it seemed like Brockport’s advancing players would
stop after the initial shot, thinking the play was done. Had they finished the play
and kept moving forward with intent of getting to the net they could have
scored a goal or two to win a much-needed SUNYAC affair.
That sort of play comes with time and experience.
The Juniors are a little more wide open than what you see in DIII, where there
is a substantial amount of activity between the face-off circles and the
crease. Guys need to finish and get the dirty, gritty, lunchbucket goals, like
those often scored by Doc Gentzler and Danny Rock.
The talent is there, the team just
needs to finish every single assault on the net.
Speaking of talent, let’s look at some individual
performances from the first half.
Most
Valuable Player: Without a doubt, the MVP award goes to goalie Jake Moore.
The senior has been playing at a high level -- he’s made saves that require
pure athleticism and he’s done the things that require pure mechanics and
attention to detail. One thing that I really like is his positioning – he looks
6’8” in the net because of that. He’s eighth in the nation with a .938 save
percentage and he’s also eighth with a 1.59 goals against average. He’s already
tied Todd Sheridan’s single season shutout record (3) and he still has 12 games
to go. His season is one for the ages. Savor the excellence of his play.
Most
Valuable Freshman: If the marketing people in Brockport Athletics need a
face of hockey to promote the team for the next few years, look no further than
Mitchell Parsons. With his boyish charm and lightning fast style of play, he’s
an asset to the team. He’s the guy who can put fans in the stands. He’s
incredibly fast and can fill voids and cover space with a real sense of urgency
-- whereas most high-speed guys work in fits and starts, he’s a dynamo and he doesn’t
stop. He’s got hustle. Twice already he was awarded SUNYAC Rookie of the Week
honors and it’s only a matter of time before it happens again. He’s a guy who
can score more than a dozen goals a season in DIII and looks like he has a few
hat tricks up his sleeves.
Most
Valuable Sophomore: Ryan Romeo heads into the break with an impressive
1-9-10 line. He’s on pace for a 20-point season. Darn good numbers for a
forward. But, realize, Ryan is a blueliner. Those are great numbers for a
defenseman! He hasn’t forsaken good defense for good offense, either, as he’s
been playing mistake-free hockey. The young man can cover a lot of territory
and he has excellent conditioning. He’s All-SUNYAC material, for sure.
Most
Valuable Junior: The advance billing on co-captain Connor Hutchins was that
this would be his season. Not only would he have to lead the team on and off
the ice, he’d have to lead them in the box scores. He’s done just that. The
team has obviously exceeded expectations, something possible only through
effort and chemistry and he’s made sure the team has plenty of both. On top of
that, his 2-9-11 line has him leading the team in scoring. His goals may be
down, but that’s an outcome of bad luck – he’s had great chances but he’s been
stymied by some truly brilliant saves. Here’s my crazy mid-season prediction:
He will explode for 8 goals in the second half.
Most
Valuable Senior: Jake Moore. ‘Nuff said.
I’ve been really excited about this season, before
it, and through every game of it. This is a special year. A young team with
great talent, chemistry, and leadership is doing great things and they are
primed to be even better. Brockport Hockey is in great hands this season and
well into the future.
I encourage the campus community to get to as many
games as they can in the next semester. Miss a game and you’ll miss something
truly exceptional. The defensive results and
overall team talent – and hunger – could pay off with a decent hot streak in
the second semester once the new guys get more acclimated to the game. They’ve
been winning, now’s the time to win more convincingly and at a greater pace.
These Golden Eagles remind me so much of that hardworking
underdog 10 years ago…a team that hosted – and won – a playoff game at Tuttle
North.
I’d love to see that again this year.
I think we will.
