A look back at the 2OT playoff game

The Press-Republican looks back at the top Plattsburgh-area sports stories of 2020. Making the list is the Cardinals 2OT win over the Golden Eagles in the playoffs. We would have loved a Brockport win but it was an incredible game, one of the best ever -- the 9th longest in NCAA history. It was also the last DIII hockey we'll see until October of 2021 -- or later.

https://www.pressrepublican.com/sports/local_sports/2020-top-20-no-9-plattsburgh-tops-brockport-in-double-overtime/article_00f38e5b-9ada-5991-9638-ab666bab2449.html

Eshow interviews Coach Dickinson

Give a listen to the EShow podcast which covers EHL hockey. The newest episode features a great, 35-minute free-flowing interview with Brockport coach Brian Dickinson who speaks on a wide variety of topics like his love for the EHL, his NCAA coaching journey, how COVID has impacted the game and student-athletes, and his fight with cancer and how the community and hockey world have been there for him.

https://www.tjhpodcast.com/eshow-ep049-persevering-through-challenge/

Thinking of Coach in his battle

 

Stylus report on Coach Dickinson

Tyler West of the Stylus wrote this excellent article about Coach's cancer diagnosis and what Brian means to Golden Eagle Hockey, the players, the students, and the entire Brockport community:

 

‘Dedicated, consistent, genuine’: SUNY Brockport men’s hockey coach diagnosed with cancer, community and team rally in support

November 19, 2020

By Tyler West / News Editor

More than just a coach — that’s one thing the men who have played for him all say he is.

“He cares about his players and treats us as if we were his own. As a person he’s taught me that there’s more to life than hockey,” SUNY Brockport junior Mitch Parsons said.

Brian Dickinson, Head Coach of the SUNY Brockport men’s hockey team, was recently diagnosed with cancer. A man who has offered support, hard work, and dedication to the Brockport community for over 20 years, is now getting that in return.

Dickinson has been the head coach since 1996 and has tallied over 200 career wins. He has coached 24 all-conference players, with nine First-Team selections, two players of the year and one rookie of the year. He was even named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year — twice.

But when you ask his team about him, they say that he is so much more than just a coach.

“One thing Coach has taught me is that life is bigger than just hockey. The morals and values he lives by, and the things that he constantly preaches backs this up,” SUNY Brockport senior Casey Winn said. “He always tells us to have each other’s backs, whether it’s on or off the ice. Stand up and look out for one another. He always wants us involved in the community. He just wants us to be good people and treat others with respect. It shows the type of person Coach is.”

Winn has played for the team for three years now, and he says he can’t imagine what the hockey team would look like without Dickinson. And he’s not the only one.

Dickinson’s team describes him as the backbone, the face of the team, and note his constant dedication to not only the team, but the community.

“The amount of time and effort he has put forth for this team is unbelievable with recruiting, planning schedules, and making practice plans,” SUNY Brockport junior Corey Tam said. “One thing that Coach has taught me is the value of hard work. He demonstrates hard work with whatever he does whether it’s at practice, working at the SERC or in the mail-room, or volunteering on campus for an event. He is always willing to put in the work.”

There’s no doubt that Coach Dickinson genuinely cares about his team’s well-being. Each Thanksgiving, he opens his house to his team for dinner if they can’t be home with their families. This is something many of his players — former and current — say they will always remember.

“He genuinely cares about his players. To be honest, I’ve been around the hockey world a long time and the best coaches care about the well-bring of their players, both on and off the ice,” SUNY Brockport alum Matthew DeLuca said. “Without a doubt, he cared about us. Each year he even opened up his own house for Thanksgiving dinner to all of the players, especially like myself, who lived too far away to travel home and back before our annual Thanksgiving tournament.”

DeLuca describes Dickinson as dedicated, consistent, and genuine.

“Coach Dickinson believed in me enough to put me in a position to become the captain of our team. In doing so, he provided me with some of the best and most proud moments of my life — moments that I often think about and will never forget. In return, this is the least I could do,” DeLuca said about creating a GoFundMe page for Dickinson.

The page has garnered thousands of dollars in donations to go towards Dickinson’s ongoing medical expenses. Donations have come from his players, community members, co-workers, alumni, and even from players on opposing teams.

“I’m not sure if everyone realizes this or not, but that list of donors has the names of several players and coaches that we used to compete against in the SUNYAC. I believe that when former opposing players and coaches donate to this cause, that speaks volumes about not only the hockey community itself, but also the respect they have for Coach Dickinson,” DeLuca said.

Over 240 people have donated in just four days.

Along with coaching hockey, Dickinson oversees daily operations of the Tuttle North Ice Arena and supervises a staff of about 25 student workers. He lives in Brockport with his wife Melisa and his five children, and is an active participant in the community.

If you would like to donate to help Dickinson and his family with medical costs, you can donate here.

Please support Coach Dickinson

Our beloved Coach, Brian Dickinson, was recently diagnosed with cancer. Alumnus Matt DeLuca has started a GoFundMe to help Brian through this fight. Please give. Brian is one of the really good guys. Through his long coaching career he has positively impacted thousands of lives on and off campus. Now, let's return the favor.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/4cbfg?sharetype=teams&member=6746478&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=p_na%20share-sheet&rcid=2c1d4c94fcd34a11a8c1db5006b3641a&fbclid=IwAR0WqUsjIYLpZBh6EM7-OBSEOetG-A5xHF0W6q0EFTQSjeDIw1t3JXhXl3A

Locker room to be named

Here's something that appeared in the "Good News" section of President Heidi Macpherson's October message to her colleagues on campus:

"Finally, Bob Confer ’96, owner of Confer Plastics in Niagara County, is naming the Confer Plastics Ice Hockey Team Room in Tuttle North."

Plattsburgh player writes of SUNYAC's cancellation of hockey season

Here's an article by Joe Kile who plays hockey at Plattsburgh. He writes of his frustration and heartbreak over SUNYAC's cancellation of the hockey season:

https://medium.com/@jkile001/dear-sunyac-2b6e8ed26a6d

SUNYAC cancels winter sports season

In an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of students and staff, after consultation with conference leadership, the presidents of the State University of New York Athletic Conference have made the difficult decision to cancel winter sports.

"This was not an easy decision and I empathize with all of our student-athletes across the SUNYAC," Erik Bitterbaum, the chair of the SUNYAC Presidents said. "However, despite our best efforts to plan for a winter season, our priority must be the health and safety of everyone involved with intercollegiate athletics, and our campuses as a whole."

The winter sports impacted by the decision include the conference schedules and championships for men's and women's basketball, as well as men's ice hockey. The championships for men's and women's swimming & diving and men's and women's indoor track & field also have been canceled.

The SUNYAC will continue internal planning for the possibility of spring sports. The decision on spring sports will be made at a future date.

Hockey to play abbreviated season due to COVID protocols

 

The State University of New York Athletic Conference will begin its 2020-21 conference schedule for men's ice hockey at the beginning of February.

The conference announced the decision on Tuesday, Oct. 6, following approval by the SUNYAC athletic directors during their weekly conference meeting on Oct. 5. The schedule for ice hockey will consist of eight divisional games and a four-team crossover playoff format that features the top two teams in each division.

"The schedules are designed to provide a meaningful student-athlete experience while at the same time prioritizing the health and safety of the student-athletes and staff," Tom DiCamillo, commissioner of the SUNYAC, explained. "We know full well that the pandemic environment is ever-changing; however, it is important to establish our intent to begin conference play in February which will allow our member-institutions to appropriately prepare for intercollegiate athletic competition."

DiCamillo stressed that the SUNYAC will follow recommendations, guidelines and direction from local, regional, state and SUNY authorities, as well as from its national organization the NCAA.

"We will not operate in a vacuum," DiCamillo stated, "but the strength of the SUNYAC is its athletic leadership and knowledge that will be used to craft the best and safest experience possible for our student-athletes."

In addition to health and safety, the divisional schedule reduces costs by slashing travel and the need for most hotel accommodations. And, it preserves the NCAA eligibility for student-athletes by playing less than 50 percent of the allowable contests.

Men's ice hockey will have a divisional alignment since nine institutions sponsor the sport. Games mostly will be contested on Tuesdays and Fridays with the SUNYAC semifinals set for Thursday, March 4, and the championship scheduled for Sunday, March 7.

The Western Division will consist of Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia and Geneseo playing an eight-game, double round-robin schedule starting Sunday, Jan. 31.

The Eastern Division will feature just four teams – Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam – that will play a triple round-robin schedule minus one contest beginning Friday, Feb. 5.

Each team playing the other teams three times produces a nine-game schedule – one more game than the Western Division – therefore a decision was made based upon geographical distance to balance the schedule by eliminating one long trip – Oswego to Plattsburgh. As a result, Potsdam and Morrisville will play each other just two times as well.

Buy your Brockport Hockey apparel before October 18th

If you would like to augment your wardrobe and support Brockport hockey, the apparel store is open now until October 18th. A wide variety of hats, shirts and jackets are available for purchase. https://brockporthockey2020.itemorder.com/sale

Parsons is an All-American Scholar

Brockport's Mitchell Parsons was recently named an All-American Scholar by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). To qualify, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.75 GPA for the fall 2019 semester and participated in 40% of their school's games.
 
"These are exceptional individuals," said AHCA executive director Joe Bertagna. "The sport demands a great deal from these athletes so it is a great statement they make, individually and collectively, with their ability to attain this level of academic achievement while contributing at the NCAA Division III level."

Parsons, a forward for the Golden Eagles, played in 25 games last season and posted eight points on three goals and five assists.  In 51 career collegiate games he has 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists.

Hall re-signed by ECHL Gladiators

 

The Atlanta Gladiators announced the re-signing of defensemen Rob Hall and Chris Forney for the 2020-21 season.

Hall is a 28-year-old defensemen from Schaumburg, Illinois. He played his collegiate hockey at the State University of New York-Brockport from 2013-17, appearing in 88 career games. He spent the following year and a half in the Southern Professional Hockey League, playing the majority of his 61 games in the league current Gladiators' Head Coach Jeff Pyle for the Evansville Thunderbolts.

Hall broke into the ECHL in the 2018-19 season, tallying 11 points (2g-9a) in 48 games for the Wheeling Nailers. He spliut last season with the Gladaitors and Norfolk Admirals, totaling six assists in 38 contests.

Forney is a 25-year-old defenseman from Thief River Falls, Minnesota. In 2014, he began his four-year stint at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell where he tallied 49 points (14g-35a) in 135 career games. Right after college, he made his professional debut in the American Hockey League, playing in six games for the San Diego Gulls.

Forney then came to the ECHL in the 2018-19 season, skating in 40 regular-season games for the Tulsa Oilers. He also played in 20 playoff games that year, helping the Oilers reach the Western Conference Finals. Last saeson, Forney played in a career-high 58 games in his first season with the Gladiators, producing nine points (2g-7a).

Sam Dibitetto commits to Brockport

 

Plattsburgh great Chris Panek -- foe and friend of Brockport Hockey -- has passwed away

Chris Panek, was a super-talented hockey player and a super-nice guy.

Not only was he a thorn in Brockport's side when he took to the ice for Plattsburgh in the 1980s, but he also had a Brockport connection as his brother Tim played for the Golden Eagles (and even has a hockey award named for him at Brockport).

Chris passed away earlier this week. Our hearts go out to our friend Tim, the entire Panek family and the Plattsbugh Hockey brotherhood.

Here's the Press-Republican's story on the life of Chris:

https://www.pressrepublican.com/sports/local_sports/beloved-psu-mens-hockey-alum-panek-leaves-lasting-legacy/article_000afba5-4d81-5ee4-bf13-3cb9f4f52a52.html

 

Egbert transfers to Brockport

 

Start of season delayed

In response to ongoing health and safety concerns, the members of the State University of New York Athletic Conference will suspend fall sports competition. In addition, the winter conference and non-conference schedules will be delayed until January 1, 2021.

The decision was made by the SUNYAC Presidents in consultation with the SUNYAC Board of Directors on Monday, July 20. The SUNYAC Board of Directors is composed of the 10 directors of athletics from each member institution

Despite these changes for Brockport athletics this fall, the campus community recognizes the importance of athletics participation to its student-athletes. Administrators and coaches have developed plans to engage student-athletes safely in small-group activity through in-person practices and instruction, strength and conditioning training, leadership training and team building activities. All students on campus will also have access to recreational and wellness opportunities, and the fitness facilities will be available in accordance with all New York State guidelines and campus protocols.

"The decision to suspend fall sports was made with the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and campus community top of mind," said SUNY Brockport President Heidi Macpherson. "Sports, like our fine arts performances, are part of the fabric of college life, and I know how disappointing this must be to our players, coaches, staff, and our fans. But we will get through this, and I look forward to the day when we can again cheer for our Golden Eagles."

Division III student-athletes will not be charged with participation for the 2020-21 season if their team can complete only 50% or less of the sport's maximum contests/dates of competition due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Division III Administrative Committee approved a recommendation from the Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement to provide a blanket waiver in all sports that are unable to reach the 50% threshold, providing student-athletes with the option of extending their participation.

Insalaco promoted at RIT

1990's Brockport hockey great David Insalaco -- he of the 47 goals and 109 points in his career and a senior campaign that sported an incredible 16-20-36 line -- has been promoted at RIT...

Rochester Institute of Technology men's ice hockey head coach Wayne Wilson announced that Dave Insalaco was promoted to Associate Head Coach.

Insalaco enters his 19th season as a coach and 13th year with the program in 2020-21.

"Dave's hard work has not gone unnoticed and this title represents his loyalty to the program," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. "Dave's knowledge of the game has been instrumental through the years, helping RIT reach the Frozen Four during three NCAA Tournament appearances, while winning three Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) Championships and four regular season titles."

Insalaco's duties include overseeing the Tiger defenseman and penalty killing efforts. He most recently mentored Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings), who graduated in May a two-time AHA All-Star and was one of only six defenseman in the nation over the last four years to eclipse the 100-point plateau.

Continued Wilson, "Dave's work with our defenseman over the years has led to numerous all league selections, highlighted by current Vancover Canucks assistant Captain Chris Tanev, who was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year and an All-Tournament Team member during our 2010 Frozen Four run. He has a great hockey mind and, with his work ethic, will be a great head coach at some point down the road."

"I am truly appreciative of the opportunity provided to me by Wayne Wilson, (Executive Athletic Director) Lou Spiotti and (Senior VP for Student Affairs) Dr. Sandy Johnson," Insalaco said. "As a kid growing up in Rochester who attended his first hockey school at RIT, it has been a dream come true to coach here.  It has been a remarkable 12 seasons and I am proud of what our staff has built in such a short period of time. I am excited for the start of the season and I look forward to helping facilitate our program's continued success."

In 2009, 2011, and 2012, Insalaco coached at the USA Hockey Select Under-17 and Under-16 Development camps in Rochester with several of the nation's top collegiate coaches and was tapped to coach in the 2011 Select 17 All-Star game. Insalaco also served as a guest coach for the Washington Capitals prospect development camps prior to their Stanley Cup in 2018.

Insalaco's arrival at RIT coincided with one of the winningest stretches in program history. The 2008-09 season saw the Tigers finish with a 23-13-2 record to clinch the second seed for the AHA Tournament. The following year, the Tigers won their first AHA Championship and made its Cinderella run to the Frozen Four to finish with a program-record 28-12-1 mark.

Insalaco came to RIT after spending two seasons (2005-07) with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, including half a season as head coach and general manager. During his tenure with the Gamblers, he coached several players who went on to standout RIT careers, including Cameron Burt, Taylor McReynolds, Sean Murphy and Chris Saracino. He also coached defenseman Derrick LaPoint, who was a 2006 draftee of the Florida Panthers.

Insalaco spent the previous three seasons as assistant coach at SUNY Geneseo (2003-05), including two under current RIT Associate Head Coach Brian Hills. Insalaco helped guide the Knights to a 51-23-11 record, including back-to-back State University of New York Athletic Conference Championships and NCAA Division III Tournament berths in 2005 and 2006. Insalaco's first coaching stint came as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater, SUNY Brockport, during the 2002-03 campaign.

Graduating with an education degree in 2000, Insalaco closed his career tied for seventh in Golden Eagle history with 47 goals and 10th with 109 points. The standout left winger punctuated his career with All-SUNYAC Second Team honors while also winning Chase Memorial Academic Athletic Scholarship recognition.

Insalaco played two years of professional hockey for the Adirondack IceHawks of the United Hockey League from 2000-02, recording 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 128 career appearances. He was voted both the "Unsung Hero" and "110 Percent" Award winner by the fans following his first season as the IceHawks won the Northeast Division title.

Insalaco also completed a master's degree in education from Brockport. The Greece, N.Y. native currently lives in Fairport, N.Y. with his wife, Erika, and children, David and Clare.

Insalaco's sister, Kim, was a member of the 2006 United States Women's Olympic Hockey Team which earned a bronze medal in Turin, Italy.

Shapiro joins the Covid fight

Remember Dylan Shapiro, who was a hero on the ice for the Golden Eagles? He was the assistant captain in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.

Well, he's still a hero...off the ice.

Check this out!

Ensign Dylan Shapiro, from Rochester, treats a patient in a ward aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) on April 13. Mercy deployed to Los Angeles, California, in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore-based hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense’s missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people.

Former assistant Mallaro has new coaching role

Former Brockport assistant coach, Stephen Mallaro -- who was with the team in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons -- has assumed the head coaching role at the Albany Academy

News report about Brockport alumnus Mark Digby

Oswego County News Now offers this report on Mark Digby's ascent to the head coaching role of Oswego weomen's hockey:

http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/sports/fulton-s-digby-ready-to-take-reins-as-head-coach-of-oswego-women-s-hockey/article_a398bb74-b7bd-11ea-a105-27275141fd71.html

Brockport is 8th in attendance

Yesterday, USCHO posted the final attendance numbers for all DII and DIII hockey programs. Of the 91 colleges and universities, Brockport came in at eighth place in average attendance. The home games averaged 821 fans.

Lincoln transfers to LMU

Next season, Brockport goalie Sean Lincoln is heading to the west coast -- Loyola Marymount -- to work on his MBA and finish his collegiate hockey career. During his Brockport career the junior saw action in 3 games for the Golden Eagles and secured a shutout in stellar 2019 performance against Canton. We wish the young man the best of luck in his academic and athletic pursuits!

Hutchins to play in France with childhood friend

Next season, now Brockport alumnus and former team captain Connor Hutchins, who had an exceptional career with Brockport, will be playing professionally with the Meudon Comets in France. Here's a nice article about Penn State's Blake Gober joining him -- they grew up in Texas together!

https://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports/men_hockey/article_142ca434-b1a3-11ea-baa2-8754f5f90751.html

Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll

The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) released its 2019-20 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll which recognizes student-athletes with a 3.30 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) on Wednesday.

193 Brockport student-athletes earned the distinction. This year over 1,600 SUNYAC student-athletes met the criteria across the conference's 10 full member institutions and one associate member institution.

Brockport women's soccer and men's hockey led the way with 17 student-athletes represented on the list.

Here's the list:

https://gobrockport.com/news/2020/6/18/194-brockport-student-athletes-earn-sunyac-commissioners-academic-honor-roll.aspx

Brockport alumnus Digby now head coach of Oswego women's hockey

On Wednesday, June 17, SUNY Oswego's Interim Director of Athletics Eric Summers announced that Mark Digby, Associate Head Coach for women's ice hockey has been named Interim Head Coach of women's ice hockey.

Prior to Oswego, Digby was an assistant men's ice hockey coach at his alma mater, SUNY Brockport (2006-10) where he earned his B.S. in physical education (2005) and M.S. in Recreation Management (2008). 

Digby was hired as the assistant men's ice hockey coach at Oswego in August of 2010. During his time as the assistant men's ice hockey coach, the team reached six NCAA tournaments, two frozen fours and competed for the national championship twice.

Digby moved over to the women's ice hockey team in the spring of 2019 as the Associate Head Coach. In the 2019-20 season the women's ice hockey team showed huge improvements, including the most wins (16) the program had seen since 2016. Along with their win totals, the women's ice hockey team competed for their second NEWHL Championship falling to nationally top ranked Plattsburgh in the title game.

Digby takes over the women's ice hockey program from Diane Dillon, who coached the program for 14 seasons.

Great academic results!

In D3 athletics everyone is a student-athlete...student first!

The hockey team had incredible success in the classroom this academic year.

Spring GPA: 3.45

Overall GPA: 3.30

Shane Visnick had the highest GPA & secured Presidents List Honors.

15 of these men were Deans List students.

Congratulations!

The Welch hockey dynasty

Scott Welch was a goalie for Brockport. Here's an excellent write-up about his hockey dynasty -- four girls and four NCAA Division I hockey scholarships:

https://thehockeywriters.com/womens-hockey-welch-family-success/

Tremblay to coach Elmira Enforcers

Longtime Brockport hockey fans will remember Ray Tremblay, a British Columbia native who played for the Golden Eagles from 2008-2009 through 2010-2011.

His story was always one of perseverance.

Two years before his NCAA career began he suffered compression fractures of two of his vertebrae, which certainly would have derailed the hockey careers of most guys. But, he fought on and had a solid career at Brockport. His 2008-2009 campaign was his best, with a 7-10-17 line.

We've received great news that he's back in New York, selected as the new head coach of the Elmira Enforcers.

Congrats, Ray!

Here's an article about it:

https://www.stargazette.com/story/sports/2020/05/19/elmira-enforcers-name-tremblay-head-coach-bring-back-players/5214928002/

Good luck, seniors!

This year's commencement ceremony is something that was totally unexpected and will be totally unusual. It's unfortunate that Covid-19 totally changed the second half of your last semester, the fruition of all your work in college and internships. Luckily, you managed to get the hockey season in before the world changed.

Thank you, seniors, for everything you did on and off the ice the past four years.

It was an exciting ride, for sure. Such incredible hockey. So many memories!

Congratulations on the coming graduation. Best of luck in everything you do in the new life before you -- work, service, and family. Based on everything you've showed us at Brockport, you will excel in all phases.

We've been blessed to have you at Brockport.

The world will be blessed to have you now.

2019-2020 awards

Your 2020-2021 captains

Gershon is the head coach at Chatham

Mike Gershon was a joy to watch when he played for the Golden Eagles over 10 years ago. He was a hard-hitting All-SUNYAC defenseman who once had a hat trick for Brockport -- not something blueliners are known to do!

We have some great news about Mike. He was just named the head coach at DIII Chatham University:

https://www.tribdem.com/sports/new-chatham-coach-has-johnstown-connections/article_5895bb18-8117-11ea-b622-937dd6c5b24b.html

DeFazio battling cancer

I had the privilege of watching Jeremy DeFazio play hockey at Brockport for 4 years. The left winger graduated in 2016 after scoring 12 goals and amassing 24 assists in 98 games. Powerfully built and intelligent, he was one of the best defensive forwards in the SUNYAC during his career.

Jeremy now faces a different kind of fight than those he saw on the ice.

The young man was recently diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. He began chemo treatments on Wednesday.

One of his friends has opened a GoFundMe account for Jeremy to help him with various costs associated with his healthcare. Please help if you can.

The page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spreading-the-love-to-a-friend

Winn family hosting a German hockey player

Here's a cool story about people doing good. The family of Brockport's Casey Winn is hosting a young German hockey player who is waiting out the coronavirus crisis in Penfield.

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2020/03/27/german-hockey-player-stranded-rochester-ny-staying-with-family-of-roommate-bishop-kearney-selects/2919336001/

Dylan Wiemer commits to Brockport

The East Coast Wizards are pleased to announce that Dylan Wiemer has committed to SUNY Brockport for the fall of 2020. The '99 native of Greece, NY joined the Wizards in late October, and went on to win 13 games in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), while posting a 2.45 GAA and .923 save percentage.

"Dylan came in and immediately claimed the net for our team," said Wizards head coach and general manager Freddy Meyer. "He provided us with instant stability between the pipes, and it came as no surprise when we won his first three starts. Dylan is as talented as any goaltender we've ever had with the Wizards, and Kory [Falite] and I are looking forward to following him at the next level."

When Wiemer arrives at Brockport this fall, he will be part of an incoming freshmen class that includes six more alums from the EHL. Included on that list is Andrew Harley, the 2nd leading scorer on the 2019-20 Wizards team, who made his decision back in mid-December. Overall, Wiemer is looking forward to playing his college hockey close to his hometown.

"I would like to thank Freddy and Kory for taking me in and making me feel welcome and guiding me along in order to reach my dreams of playing college hockey," said Wiemer. "I would like to thank the organization for its great facilities and giving us the chance to get better both on and off the ice. Of course, I would like the thank my family for being supportive whenever I needed them, and for being my number one fan. And lastly, I would like to thank my teammates for making this experience one to remember by creating friendships that will last forever."

Hutchins signs with Rivermen

The Peoria Rivermen have added a pair of forwards to their lineup, signing both Connor Hutchins to a three game contract and Liam Stirtzinger to an amateur tryout offer (ATO). The pair will be with the club this weekend for the Rivermen’s three games inside Carver Arena.

Hutchins, 24, just finished his senior year playing for NCAA-DIII Suny-Brockport, where the Texas native served as captain the last two seasons, and an alternate during his sophomore year. Hutchins tallied 97 points in 102 games with SUNY-Brockport, and played his first two seasons with the team while Rivermen defenseman Brandon McMartin was there. In addition to wearing a letter in college, Connor served one season as captain of the Brookings Blizzard in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Stirtzinger becomes the second player out of Aurora University to sign an ATO with the Rivermen this season, joining fellow forward Drew Doyon. Stirtzinger, 24, finished 7^th on the Aurora Spartans in scoring this past season, and led the team in penalty minutes (47). The 6’4” winger played three years in the NAHL before college, collecting 422 penalty minutes, which puts him in the top 40 all-time amongst NAHL players for penalty minutes.

Senior Spotlight: Aidan Salerno

Last week marked the end of Aidan Salerno's NCAA hockey career.

He spent the last 2 seasons with the Golden Eagles after having been with Cortland his freshman year and University of Wisconsin - Superior his sophomore year.

Powerfully built at 6'3" and 215 pounds, he was a force to reckon with on defense. He doled out punishment to many a forward. This past season, his led the team in penalty minutes (55) in 13 games played.

He was always busting his butt on and off the ice. None other than NHL Hall of Famer Pat Lafontaine (who coached Salerno for 4 seasons in the Juniors) said he was one of the hardest working kids he ever saw.

More than brawn, he had touch, too: In 74 games at the 3 colleges he had a 5-23-28 line, his best season being his freshman year with 4 goals and 12 assists.

His biggest Brockport goal came in Brockport's 3-1 playoff loss to Plattsburgh in 2019 (which was, for the most part, a 2-1 game before an empty-netter).

Senior spotlight: Chris Pollini

Chris Pollini's NCAA career came to an end last Wednesday in the double overtime loss to Plattsburgh.

The defenseman was beloved by teammates and coaches for bringing levity to the ice and locker room. In Wednesday's postgame interview with WBSU you could hear Coach Dickinson light up when he spoke of how much he'll miss Chris's humor.

That humor helped loosen the young Golden Eagles squad the past two years and eliminate some of the nerves and stiffness that comes with the attainment of winning hockey.

Over his 4 seasons he played in 71 games and had 20 assists. He had no goals to his credit, but that's because Chris was a blueliner's blueliner. He played old school, hard-charging d without the flash, taking on the big forwards that fill the rosters of Oswego and Geneseo.

His biggest game came earlier this year when he dished out 3 assists (including a helper on the game winner with 21 seconds left) to help Brockport secure a 5-4 comeback win over Neumann.

I wish Chris the best in his post-Brockport endeavors.

Senior spotlight: Hunter Laslo

Hunter Laslo's final NCAA game was last week's double overtime thriller against Pittsburgh.

He was hugely responsible for getting the team into the playoffs the last two seasons.

As co-captain he was charged with an almost unenviable task...how do you take a very young team and transform it into a winner?

Coming into the 2018-2019 campaign, the team had 9 freshman on the roster and had lost 39 goals to graduation.

Hunter helped those rookies learn the nuances of super-competitive NCAA hockey and how being an athlete fits into one's academic career.

Despite all odds against them, that young team went 15-9-2. This year, they went 15-10-1.

They far exceeded the expectations of outsiders. But, Hunter, the insider, knew better. He knew how to help the coaching staff and his team glean the most from their talents and their drive.

He led with character and the team thrived off that.

Hunter finished his career with a 15-17-32 line in 98 games.

Senior sptlight: Doc Gentzler

Doc Gentzler's NCAA career came to an end last week in the playoff game against Plattsburgh.

That game was typical Doc -- he was rocked by a hit that sent him to the ice in agony. But, mere minutes later, he brushed it off and went top shelf with a hustling wrist shot.

Despite being one of the lightest players on the roster (the stats say 150) he always played like one of the biggest, mixing it up and getting physical with anyone and everyone. He was second on the team in penalty minutes this year (47), one minute fewer than his team-leading total of last season.

That physicality never tempered his other skills and, as a matter of fact, it added to them. Always driving, most of his goals were of the Joe Lunchbucket type -- he would drive to the net at full speed through and over defensemen and take shots that most shy away from.

He scored 7 goals this year and added 14 assists. He scored 2 game winning goals this year. He ended his four-year career with a 23-29-51 line in 96 games played.

His energy and fire will be missed.

The greatest home games ever

This was my 27th season as a fan of Brockport hockey. I've seen a lot of games.

This past Wednesday's playoff game, even though it was a loss, now sits at #1 on my list of the greatest games that I've been to at Tuttle North. The third home playoff game in program history, double overtime, high drama, the 9th-longest game in DIII history...there was just so much about the game that makes it to the top of the list of classics.

What games round out my Top 5?

#2: February 24th, 2009: Brockport hosted its first playoff game ever. Because it was such a critical moment in the program's history, the drama was intense and the crowd wild. The superstars were super as James Cody had 2 goals and Todd Sheridan made 43 saves in the 3-1 win.

#3: October 7, 2000: This exhibition victory, 9-7 against Ontario's Humber College, featured 96 minutes of penalties, a bloody nose during the post-game handshake, and 5 goals by Nick Smyth...among them a natural shorthanded hat trick.

#4: February 23rd, 2010: Brockport hosted a playoff game for the second year in a row. Potsdam was the opponent yet again and the Golden Eagles shut them out, 3-0.

#5: December 9, 2011: Brockport beat then 6th-ranked Elmira 4-3 in an incredibly exciting game. Goalie Aaron Green, in just his 3rd game, made 30 saves against the high-powered offense. James Cody tied the game with 7 seconds left with an impossible goal from a crouch. Ian Finnerty won the game 58 seconds into overtime...on his birthday.

All-SUNYAC picks

Ryan Romeo and Matt Schneider of the SUNY Brockport men's hockey team were named 2020 SUNYAC Ice Hockey All-Conference in a release by the conference office on Thursday morning.  Romeo was named to the first team as a defender, while Schneider was named to the third team as a goalie.

The Golden Eagles wrapped up their 2019-20 campaign on Wednesday night after a heartbreaking double overtime loss to visiting Plattsburgh in the first round of the SUNYAC Championships.  Brockport was hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2010 after earning the No. 4 seed in the conference championships.  The Golden Eagles capped their season with a 15-10-1 overall record and a 8-7-1 ledger in league play.  Brockport has now won 15 games in each of the last two seasons and they have made the SUNYAC Tournament in six of the last seven seasons.

Romeo is making his second straight all-conference appearance after earning second team honors one year ago.  His selection to the first team marks the first time a Golden Eagle has earned first team status dating back to 2016 when Chase Nieuwendyk was named a first team forward.  Romeo currently ranks seventh in the nation among defensemen with an average of 1.08 points per game. He leads all SUNYAC defenders in scoring with 26 points on 10 goals and 16 assists.  He is also tied for 15th nationally in power play goals with seven.  Romeo now has 50 career points in 70 games played in the green and gold.

Schneider capped his decorated career as the first goalie to earn all-conference honors since Todd Sheridan back in 2010.  He finished as the program's all-time leader with 30 career wins. He also holds the school-record for career goals against average with a 2.80 in 64 games played.  He finished the season with a 13-9-1 record and 551 saves, good for a .900 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average.

Senior spotlight: Matt Schneider

Matt Schneider's NCAA career came to an end this week after 4 years of excellence that saw him become the program's all-time leader in career wins (30) and single season wins (13). His final stats are a .898 save percentage, a 2.80 GAA, a 30-28-2 record and 4 shutouts. He played big in so many games and was unflappable.

To me, his two major highlights were...

1) His freshman year shutout of Plattsburgh at Plattsburgh. That took a burden off the program's shoulders and forever changed how Brockport views a once-unbeatable Cardinals team.

2) The double-overtime loss to Plattsburgh earlier this week. His effort in net was absolutely incredible with so many amazing saves under the most intense pressure imaginable in one of the longest games in NCAA DIII history. 

Both of those games are on the short list of all-time games for the Brockport program and there he was in goal for both -- focused and brilliant.

All-SUNYAC Teams

The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has announced the 2020 Men's Ice Hockey All-Conference teams as nominated and voted on by the conference coaches. Two Golden Eagles made the list. On the First Team is defenseman Ryan Romeo. On the Third Team is goalie Matt Schneider.

Senior spotlight: Connor Hutchins

Connor Hutchins NCAA career ended last night with a 34-63-97 line. He might have been just short of 100 points, the century mark, a sort of statistical milestone, but that doesn't diminish what he accomplished in his 4 years here. He's 15th all-time at Brockport in points.15th! Think of all the young men who've gone through the program which, as a varsity program, dates back to the 1973-1974 season. There he is, among the very best. It's been a treat to watch him produce and be a leader these past four years.

P-R report on last night's game

Here's the Press-Republican recap of the Plattsburgh playoff game:

https://www.pressrepublican.com/sports/local_sports/psu-tops-brockport-in-ot/article_b59fb0c8-17aa-59b2-92d8-bc6a6cf36fa9.html

Thank you

Kudos to the team for a great game that capped off a great season. Despite the loss, there's a lot to take pride in on the ice and in the classroom in the 2019-2020 season. Thank you for the exciting season and for making Brockport fans everywhere proud.

Brockport falls in 9th-longest game in DIII history

The SUNY Brockport men's hockey team hosted Plattsburgh Wednesday night for the First Round of the SUNYAC Championship Tournament. The Cardinals pulled out a 3-2 win in double-overtime, advancing to the SUNYAC Semi-Finals against Oswego.

Plattsburgh drew first blood with a goal in the first period, going up 1-0 with 7:32 remaining in the first. The visiting Cardinals would score a second unanswered goal at 10:33 in the second period, taking a 2-0 lead. Doc Gentzler put Brockport on the board with a goal in the second, with assists coming from Corey Tam and Jordan Renaud. The Green and Gold trailed Plattsburgh 2-1 heading into the final period.

Neither team gave an inch throughout the third, as Brockport remained down one goal for most of the period. With just 1:08 left in regulation, Connor Hutchins won a face-off in the attacking zone. Anthony Hora took the puck and touched it over to Jordan Renaud who fired a shot that ricocheted off a defender's skate and into the back of the net. Renaud tied the game up at 2-2 with just over a minute left, sending the postseason contest into overtime.

After a full 20 minutes in the first overtime period, neither team was able to notch the game-winning goal. Brockport and Plattsburgh headed into a second 20-minute overtime period at the Tuttle North Ice Arena. The Cardinals took advantage on the power play mid-way through the second overtime period, with a rocket slapshot from Matt Araujo to earn the 3-2 win.

Matt Schneider was fantastic between the pipes all night for the Green and Gold, recording a career-high 41 saves in the final game of his career. Schneider made a number of incredible saves throughout the contest, and totaled 15 stops in the two overtime periods. He ends his time here at Brockport as the program's all-time leader in wins.

The Golden Eagles finish the season 15-10-1 overall, matching its 15-win total from last season. The team put together a seven-game win streak during the season, setting a new program-record for longest win streak. An 8-7-1 mark in SUNYAC play set a new program best for conference competition, as Brockport has now made the SUNYAC Tournament in six of the last seven seasons. Wednesday night's SUNYAC Tournament game was the first time the Green and Gold hosted a postseason match since 2010.

Playoff preview

The fourth-seeded Brockport men's hockey team is set to host fifth-seeded Plattsburgh in the first round of the SUNYAC Conference Tournament on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Tuttle North Ice Arena.  The first 100 students through the gates will receive a free rally towel.

Tickets: All SUNYAC students will receive FREE admission with ID.  Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 5-12.  Children 4 & under are free.  Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the rink accessible through the SERC.

Follow the Action: Wednesday's first round match up can be viewed online at www.gobrockport.com/watch and live stats will be accessible at https://gobrockport.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary.  Brockport's student radio 89.1 The Point will broadcast the event over the radio airwaves and online at https://www.891thepoint.com/.

SUNYAC Tournament History: The last time Brockport hosted a SUNYAC Tournament game was back in 2010 when the Golden Eagles topped Potsdam State 3-0 in first round action.  Brockport has made the conference tournament in six of the last seven seasons.  The last time Brockport advanced out of the quarterfinals came by way of a 6-4 victory on the road at Geneseo in 2015.  Brockport last met Plattsburgh in the conference tournament last season and the Cardinals came away with 4-1 victory on their home ice.

Strong Second Half: Brockport began the new year on a seven game winning streak and they posted a 10-3-1 record in the second half of the season.  SUNYAC wins over Plattsburgh, Buffalo State, Cortland and a tie against Oswego down the stretch helped the Golden Eagles earn a third place tie in the conference standings at the end of regular season play.

Overall Record: Brockport won 15 games for the second straight season and currently holds a 15-9-1 record overall.  The Golden Eagles went 8-7-1 in SUNYAC play, marking their most wins in conference play on record.

Against Plattsburgh: Brockport swept Plattsburgh in a pair of conference games this season for the second time in the last four years.  Brockport downed Plattsburgh on the road in the regular season opener by the score of 3-1.  The Golden Eagles completed the regular season sweep on their home ice in January as they earned a 4-1 victory over the Cardinals.

All-American Candidate: Junior defender Ryan Romeo ranks fourth nationally among defensemen with an average of 1.13 points per contest. He leads the team with 26 total points on 10 goals and 16 assists.  His average of .30 power-play goals per game is tied for 14^th nationally.

Seniors Leading the Way: Senior captain Connor Hutchins has played in all 25 games this season and ranks second on the team with 21 points.  In 101 career games played he has 96 total points on 34 goals and 62 assists.  Senior forward Doc Gentzler has 20 points this season on six goals and 14 assists.  In 97 career games played he has 22 goals and 30 assists in the green and gold.

Double Digit Scorers:  Brockport has a variety of offensive weapons to turn to with 10 skaters registering 10 or more points this season.  Sophomore forward Jordan Renaud has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists).  His three game-winners this season lead the team.  Brother's Jeremy Solat and Ethan Solat each have 15 points in 24 games played, while Anthony Hora and Danny Rock have 14 points apiece.  Jake Colosanti and Corey Tam round out the double-digits scorers for the Golden Eagles with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Our Goalie: Senior goalie Matt Schneider recently broke the program record with 30 career victories and his 13 wins this season are just one shy of tying the program's single season record.  He also needs just one shutout to tie the program-record for career shutouts originally set by Jake Moore '19.  Schneider has 510 saves this season to go along with a .898 save percentage, a 2.68 goals against average and two shut outs.