Sal Balbi Memorial Hockey Game

Sal Balbi played for Brockport in the late-1990s. In 51 games he tallied 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points while playing clean, disciplined hockey, racking up just 14 penalty minutes.

Sal passed away in February, barely 41 years of age.

Sal was taken by synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer.

To celebrate his life and to bring funding and awareness to this cancer, the Sal Balbi Memorial Hockey Game will be held Saturday, May 1, at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex.

Here's the report from the Democrat and Chronicle:

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2021/04/13/sal-balbi-hockey-game-aims-raise-awareness-cancer-synovial-sarcoma/7186320002/

Rossi commits to Brockport

 

Tyler Rossi, a defenseman for the Valley Jr Warriors, has committed to SUNY Brockport for the fall of 2021.

The 2000-born native of Amherst, NY recently finished his 3rd and final season in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). After spending the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with the Philadelphia Revolution, Rossi made the move to Massachusetts this year, and served as the captain of the Warriors.

"Tyler did a tremendous job for us this season," said Warriors head coach and general manager Ryan McGrath. "He was a fantastic leader and was a huge help to the coaching staff. His journey was so inspiring to witness. Tyler came from one of the lowest parts of his life [broken leg] to achieving his dream in 12 months."

Rossi is part of a three-player class that the EHL will be sending off to Brockport this fall, as his arrival on campus will be accompanied by Chris Aarons of the New Hampshire Avalanche and Jacob Rodrigue of the Boston Jr. Rangers. Overall, Rossi is the 29th player in league history to choose the Brockport hockey program.

It's also worth pointing out that all three future Golden Eagles were named EHL All-Stars back in November.

As McGrath mentioned above, Rossi battled a lot of adversity during his junior hockey career, and he didn't let a major injury slow him down from reaching this lifelong dream of his.

Rosenbaum commits to Brockport

 

The Northern Cyclones organization is thrilled to announce that USPHL Premier D Jordan Rosenbaum has committed to play his college hockey at SUNY-Brockport. Rosenbaum will join the Golden Eagles and begin his college career next season.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rosenbaum is in his first season with the Cyclones organization. He appeared in 37 games this past regular season for Premier, scoring 19 points (5 g, 14 a). In two USPHL First Round Playoff Series games, Rosenbaum scored four points (1 g, 3 a) against the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs.

Prior to joining the Cyclones, Rosenbaum spent the 2019-20 season with the Pittsburgh Vengeance of the USPHL’s Premier League.

“Going into this season, I was looking for a junior program that had a proven record of advancing players, and the Northern Cyclones organization was at the very top of that list,” Rosenbaum said after committing. “The pandemic made this year really difficult, especially because of the quarantines our team had to deal with and juggling of game schedules. But Coach Bill Weiand and the entire Cyclones organization made an incredible effort to keep our season going and play as many games as possible.”

Rosenbaum and Cyclones Premier finished the 2020-21 USPHL regular season with a record of 27-10-1. Their 55 points were good for third in the New England Division, while their .724 points percentage was second. Premier swept the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 2-0 in a best-of-three First Round Series earlier in March.

“I would like to thank Coach Bill Weiand and the entire Northern Cyclones organization for pushing me and helping me reach my goal of playing college hockey! I am excited to continue my hockey career as a Golden Eagle!”

Alumnus makes the national news in a heart-warming way

You may have seen on ABC world news last week the story about Jim Kasta whose wedding took place in an ICU in Rochester. He played for Brockport in the early 1990s.

Said the newlywed Mrs. Kasta: “I guess my wish is for everyone to realize that even in the midst of a pandemic that love is always there and if you look you’ll find it.”

Watch the video and read the story here:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/valentines-day-hospital-patients-heart-warming-wedding-icu/story?id=75842275

An old interview with James Cody

With James Cody having been selected for the SUNYAC's All-Decade Team, let's reminisce. Here's a 2011 interview conducted by Mike Baggerman, who was one of hockey's voices for WBSU:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL6b-nBFA84

Cody, Nieuwendyk celebrated by SUNYAC

 

Brockport alum's Chase Nieuwendyk and James Cody were named to the SUNYAC Men's Ice Hockey All-Decade Team in a release by the conference office on Friday.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Brian Dickinson, the Golden Eagles made seven SUNYAC Tournament appearances over the course of the decade. The green and gold posted 120 wins, including 65 victories in SUNYAC play in the decade. They also totaled eight seasons with double digit victories. They have made the conference tournament in six of the last seven seasons and they have posted two consecutive 15 win seasons.

 

Hailing from Georgetown, Ontario, Canada and having played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Chase Nieuwendyk brought his talents to Brockport playing four years for the green and gold from 2012-16. He is the only two-time All-American in program-history (2nd Team in 2016, 3rd Team in 2015) and he was a two-time SUNYAC All-Conference First Team selection. He also added D3hockey.com All-Region accolades to his credit.

 

In his senior season, he ranked seventh in the nation in scoring with an average of 1.42 points per game. He is tied for eighth all-time in career goals at Brockport with 45. He also finished his career with 56 assists in 92 career games. He capped his senior campaign by capturing his 100th career point in the last weekend of the season. He tied for the team lead in points in 2013-14 with 24 and would go on to lead the team during the 2014-15 season in goals (18) and points (30). In his final year playing for the Green and Gold, Nieuwendyk became just the fifth player in program-history to lead the team in goals (16) assists (24) and points (38) in a single season.

 

James Cody played four years in the green and gold (2008-12). In 2012, Cody earned All-American Second Team honors and he was also named the SUNYAC Player of the Year. He was a two-time SUNYAC All-Conference selection (1st team in 2012, 3rd team in 2011). He is currently the only player in program-history to earn SUNYAC Player of the Year honors and he was the first All-American in the history of the program.

 

Cody led the team in scoring for four consecutive seasons. His senior year, he scored his 100th career point in upset fashion over nationally-ranked No. 5 Elmira in overtime. Cody finished ranked sixth all-time in career points (116) and tied for fourth in career goals (60). He also added 56 total assists.

 

To be eligible for the all-decade team, athletes must have competed in the SUNYAC at least one season during the 2009-10 academic year through 2019-20 and athletes must have been named to the All-SUNYAC team more than once or named Athlete of the Year once. Athlete and Coach of the Decade recipients were previously named SUNYAC Athlete of the Year or Coach of the Year.

Brockport lands two on All-Decade Team

Longtime fans of the program will fondly remember James Cody and Chase Nieuwendyk. You knew you were watching greatness on the ice. Those men have been named to the SUNYAC's All-Decade team of the 2010s. Congratulations!! 

 

 

Help Pete Gallivan meet his fundraising goal

 

The 11 Day Power Play is an event organized by Buffalo locals Mike and Amy Lesakowski. Their goal is to raise money to fight cancer in Western New York through fundraisers centered around breaking the record for the world’s longest continuous hockey game.

The money raised from this eleven-day-long game goes toward supporting cancer research and wellness programs throughout the region. To date, the 11 Day Power Play has raised and donated over five million dollars for cancer research.

After a few years of having something called "the community shift" in play, which moved the 11 Day Power Play from a select few hockey players to the community at large playing in 3 hour shifts, Covid limitations have changed the game.

2021's event, taking place November 13th to November 24th, has been set to just 40 players. Thousands applied for this incredibly-popular and positive event.

Of those chosen was our own Pete Gallivan.

Pete played for the Golden Eagles in the 1980s.

He's quite familiar to all of WNY as the co-host of WGRZ TV's morning news show -- Daybreak.

Pete has already started his fundraising campaign for the event and his goal is $15,000. We can help him surpass that goal.

You can donate via his campaign Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/222349296030130/10224370078494940/

You can also send a check payable to: The 11 Day Power Play. PO. Box 4 Buffalo, NY 14223. If doing so, be sure to mention Pete.

Let's support Pete and his charitable efforts.

Let's support the 11 Day Power Play and the fight against cancer.

Boston Jr. Rangers press release for Rodrigue's commitment

 

The Boston Junior Rangers are pleased to announce that Jacob Rodrigue has committed to SUNY Brockport for the fall of 2021. The 2000-born native of Nashua, NH is in his 2nd year with the Rangers, and his first full season with the program. The defensive defenseman has tallied 11 total points in 54 career games in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

"We are very proud of Rod," said EHL head coach and general manager Rich DeCaprio. "When he got here last season, we could tell right away that he had the potential to be a really good college hockey defenseman. He’s big, and can really skate and control the puck. He’s matured mentally so much over the last season and a half. He’s basically a 2001 birth year by a couple hours. His ceiling is very high. I look forward to watching his college career at Brockport!”

As DeCaprio mentioned, Rodrigue's game has truly developed throughout his time with the Rangers, and clear proof of that can be seen in the EHL All-Star recognition that he received this season. Overall, Rodrigue is the 2nd player in program history to choose Brockport, joining Connor Galloway who made the same decision this past season.

"It has been an honor to be a part of the Jr. Rangers organization and wear the BJR uniform the past 2 years, as well as play in the EHL as a whole," said Rodrigue. "Coach DeCaprio does an excellent job preparing his players both physically and mentally for the rigors of intense competition at the next level. He has a proven track record of moving guys on to great NCAA Division III programs and I’m proud to be a result of that."

Rodrigue went on to talk about his decision to choose SUNY Brockport.

"My commitment to Brockport was an easy decision for myself to make," added Rodrigue. "The SUNYAC is a great conference to play in, as well as a great place to go to school, and I couldn’t be more excited to play under the great coaching staff at Brockport for the next 4 years. My time in the EHL and with BJR has prepared me for an opportunity like this and I’m going to make the most of it.”

Rodrigue and the Rangers sit at the very top of the Central Division standings with a record of 24-2-1. The veteran defenseman will look to help lead his team down the stretch, as they push to clinch that #1 seed and a bye in the First Round of the EHL Playoffs.

Aarons commits to Brockport

 

The New Hampshire Avalanche are pleased to announce that Chris Aarons has committed to SUNY Brockport for the fall of 2021. The 2000-born native of Clifton Park, NY is in his 3rd season with the Avalanche, and is serving as the team captain this year. In 95 career games in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), the captain has registered 23 goals and 50 assists.

"Aarons has been a huge part of the Avalanche family," said EHL head coach and general manager Chris Cerrella. "He has been a great leader both on and off the ice, as well as a great player for us. Chris Aarons has been the definition of what it means to be an Avalanche. I am very excited about his decision to go to SUNY Brockport. They are doing a lot of great things there and it is a perfect fit all around. I could not be happier for Chris and his family, and I think he is a great addition to the Brockport academic and athletic community. Aarons will be missed around the Ice Den, and he will be tough to replace."

As Cerrella mentioned, Aarons has been an integral part of the Avalanche program, dating back to the 2018-19 season. At the end of that year, Aarons tipped home a shot from Jake Mendeszoon in the EHL Championship Game, a contest that finished with the Avalanche claiming their 2nd consecutive title.

Aarons will be reunited with Mendeszoon, along with Cam Barbagallo, Tim Cronin, and AJ Przystawski this fall. The Avalanche to Brockport pipeline is strong, and the veteran forward is beyond excited and grateful to add his name to the list.

"I'm very proud to announce my commitment to SUNY Brockport," said Aarons. "I’d like to thank Coach Cerrella, Coach Martiniello, Coach Caliguri, and Coach Soryal for their endless support and knowledge. I’d also like to thank all of my teammates from the last 3 years for creating unforgettable memories. The Avalanche have set me up for success both on and off the ice for my coming time at Brockport.”

With this decision now complete, the EHL All-Star can focus on what lies ahead for his current team, as he looks to lead the Avalanche on another deep postseason run.

Neutral Zone interview with Chris Aarons

One of Brockport's newest additions is Chris Aarons. In the EHL scouting reports created by Neutral Zone, they have him ranked as 9th best among the 2000 year class. They say "Crafty in tight areas and the puck finds him. End of game type player w/leadership qualities." Here's an interview Neutral Zone did with the young man back in 2019:

https://www.neutralzone.net/mens/2019/10/15/interview-chris-aarons-hopes-to-turn-championship-season-into-college-commitment/

Rodrigue commits to Brockport

Brockport has secured another solid commitment. Jacob Rodrigue, at 6'5" will be a force to reckon with. He plays clean, mistake-free defense and he can cover a lot of ice in a hurry. In 27 games for the Boston Junior Rangers in 2019-2020, he had a 0-6-6 line with only 14 PIM. In 26 games of the 2020-2021 season he has a 1-4-5 line with, again, only 14 PIM.

Aarons commits to Brockport

Chris Aarons has made the commitment to play at Brockport. He will be an excellent addition to the Golden Eagles. The 5'9", 180-pound forward has a great, all-around combination of leadership, grit, and playmaking ability.

He is the captain of the New Hampshire Avalanche.

While wearing the "C" in 2019-2020, he had a 11-31-42 line and 51 PIM in 43 games.

In 14 games so far in the 2020-2021 season, he has amassed a 5-12-17 line with 18 PIM.