The Brockport Golden Eagles went into the 2008-2009 season with a lot of question marks, having lost 12 players to graduation. That squad beat all expectations with great goaltending, solid two-way play, and immediate contributions from freshmen leading to the program’s first ever playoff home game and playoff victory.
Fast forward 10 years.
This year’s squad, despite similar personnel losses, have all the parts in place to be winners.
8 Golden Eagles graduated last year, including some serious playmakers like Tim Kielich, Zac Sikich, and Dylan Shapiro. Those are some big skates to fill, but the talent is here, from holdovers to new recruits.
Let’s look at some of those men who are primed for a big season…
Goaltending
It all begins with the goalies as solid netminding allows a team to do what it wants on either side of the blueline. Brockport is fortunate to have two solid men between the pipes.
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| Matt Schneider will backstop a young but talented team |
Junior Matt Schneider will likely see most of the starts. Last season saw him
produce an .892 save percentage to go with a 3.07 goals against average. That
wasn’t far from his freshman campaign when he posted a .903/3.02 line and garnered
a sort of folk hero status when he shutout Plattsburgh on the road, the Golden
Eagles first victory in Plattsburgh ever.
Senior Jake Moore played as well as Schneider last year. Their numbers were eerily similar. Moore’s line was .891 and 3.01.
Forwards
The Golden Eagles lost 4 of their top 5 scoring forwards to graduation which leaves junior Connor Hutchins as the only veteran who had more than 10 points last season. He had 9 goals and 13 assists last year and looks to be “the man” as all eyes and all defenses will be on him. He’s game for it – thrown to the wolves as a freshman he had 12 goals and 15 assists, so he is certainly a top-level goal scorer in the conference. Don’t be surprised if he cracks the 15 goal and 30-point barriers this season and next.
Senior Jake Moore played as well as Schneider last year. Their numbers were eerily similar. Moore’s line was .891 and 3.01.
Forwards
The Golden Eagles lost 4 of their top 5 scoring forwards to graduation which leaves junior Connor Hutchins as the only veteran who had more than 10 points last season. He had 9 goals and 13 assists last year and looks to be “the man” as all eyes and all defenses will be on him. He’s game for it – thrown to the wolves as a freshman he had 12 goals and 15 assists, so he is certainly a top-level goal scorer in the conference. Don’t be surprised if he cracks the 15 goal and 30-point barriers this season and next.
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| Connor Hutchins looks to be one of the premier forwards in SUNYAC |
Among the veterans who will aid Hutchins are Hunter Laslo and Danny Rock who each had 4 goals last season. Watch for both to double their output this year.
The freshmen will have to contribute right out of the gate, just like that beloved squad did a decade ago. There is the talent to make that happen. At the top of that list is Mitchell Parsons, a lightning-fast forward who amassed a staggering 64 points in 43 games in the EHL last season. Not only is he a playmaker, but he excels on special teams.
It will take a couple of games for the retooled offense to find their identity (they have to overcome the loss of 39 goals), so the opening weekend of non-conference play is in our favor.
Defensemen
Brockport’s strength is its defensive unit. The Golden Eagles have a full stable to choose from, from big to fast, physical to finesse.
Connar Bass is the steady, guiding hand as the senior blueliner covers the ice well and is defenseman’s defenseman. He’s been known for that in SUNYAC circles his entire career, having garnered a spot on USCHO’s All-Rookie Team as a freshman. Because of his style of play, he won’t put up huge numbers but despite that don’t overlook that fact that he could receive an All-SUNYAC nod this season.
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| Connor Bass will show that he's one of the top d-men in the conference |
Watch for an impact from rookie Simon Besnar, in more ways than one. He’s physically intimidating, having amassed 349 penalty minutes in 244 CCHL game, but he also has soft hands, as made evident by 21 assists in 36 games with the Navan Grads last year.
Prediction
It might take some time for the forwards to click and do what it takes to replace the players we lost, but blueliners and goalies as good as ours will give the coaches and players the ability and confidence they need to find the proper chemistry up front.
This team will surprise once that happens.
Expect a hot streak during conference play in January and February which will make for great positioning in the playoffs. Like that team 10 years ago that faced similar circumstances, this one will host a playoff game.
