AURORA TRAGEDY TAKES LIFE OF JAY MELOFF'S GIRLFRIEND

The previous post mentioned young Jay Meloff, who played for Brockport in the first semester of last season.

It's saddening to report that Jay's girlfriend was among those murdered in last night's shooting in Aurora, Colorado.

Here's the report from The Daily News....



An aspiring sportscaster who cheated death at a Toronto shopping mall shooting last month is one of the 12 dead in the Colorado movie massacre.

Jessica Ghawi was watching “The Dark Knight Rises” with a long-time friend when a gunman opened fire minutes into the the midnight premiere.

“MOVIE DOESN’T START FOR 20 MINUTES,” she wrote in her last Twitter post to a hockey writer pal.

Ghawi, who wrote under the name Jessica Redfield, worked for sports website Busted Coverage and her chilling final post on her personal blog describes her near miss at the Eaton Center mall shooting in Toronto June 2 where seven were injured and one died.

“I can’t get this odd feeling out of my chest. This empty, almost sickening feeling won’t go away,” Ghawi wrote. “I noticed this feeling when I was in the Eaton Center in Toronto just seconds before someone opened fire in the food court.

“An odd feeling which led me to go outside and unknowingly out of harm’s way. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around how a weird feeling saved me from being in the middle of a deadly shooting.”

Ghawi grew up in San Antonio, Texas, but recently moved to Denver, her family told KENS 5 News.

Her firefighter brother, Jordan Ghawi, said he was woken by a call from his mother in the early hours of Friday who was “hysterical, and almost unintelligible,” according to a post on his website.

“I was able to contact the man that was with my sister, mutual friend Brent Lowak, who states that they were in the theater when an incendiary device was fired into the crowds and that shots rang out immediately afterwards,” Jordan Ghawi wrote.

“Brent further stated that he took two rounds and that my my sister took one round followed by an additional round which appeared to strike her in the head.”

Jordan Ghawi jumped on a flight from San Antonio and touched down in Denver Friday morning.

“Well this could easily be the worst night of my life,” he wrote on Twitter before taking off.

“It appears that my sister has been fatally wounded in a mass shooting at a movie premiere in Denver, CO."

Source:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/aurora-victim-jessica-ghawi-survived-toronto-mall-shooting-month-article-1.1118365

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JAY MELOFF PROFILED BY SB NATION DENVER

Jay Meloff played a few games with the Golden Eagles last year and is now preparing for the Denver Cutthroat's free agent camp.

His on-ice travels are profiled in a story for SB Nation.

The article notes why he left campus...

Jay decided to try his hand at the college level, choosing to play for Brockport State in New York because of the strong reputation of its hockey program. But policies on financial aid for Canadian athletes changed, and he found himself having to foot an $11,000 tuition bill for each semester. It forced him to make a hard choice: stay and exhaust his entire life savings or move on to another league. He chose to move on.

Afterwards....

Finding teams that would take him on a student visa was difficult. It’s an expensive process to change that status, and many organizations simply won’t deal with it. Because of his skill level and dedication, though, teams began expressing interest. Jay chose to skate with the Danbury Whalers for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season as he felt the team would offer him the best chance to bring him closer to his goals of playing in AHL and, after that, the NHL. He finished strong in Danbury, scoring three goals and five assists in 17 games.

Read the entire article online, where you can learn about his history and his hockey plans:

http://denver.sbnation.com/denver-cutthroats/2012/7/20/3168850/jay-meloff-denver-cutthroats-hockey

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WREN PLAYING IN AUSTRALIA

Standout Brockport goaltender Oliver Wren, coming off graduation and a second semester that was one of the best stretches of big-game goaltending that we've seen, is now playing in the land down under where he's making a name for himself as reported by Hewitt Sports....


Despite being on the wrong side of a 2-1 decision against the Bears, Oliver Wren is thankful for the chance he’s been given.

Fresh off a disappointing season with SUNY Brockport where his side went 9-13-3, Wren is happy to be back on the ice, even if it wasn’t where he originally planned.

Wren was back at home working out and contemplating joining the professional ranks in America and Europe when the call came from the Mustangs.

While he has only made four appearances for the men in Orange and Black he has been able to spot some differences in the league compared to NCAA despite the play being of a similar standard .

“It’s more of a free flowing game down here, NCAA is very much about the Power Play and the Penalty Kill.”

With Wren in the box seat to lead the Mustangs from the back for the rest of the campaign, he hopes to impart some of his wisdom on Fraser Carson and Michael James.

“They’re two great young goalies who are both willing to learn and hopefully when I leave they are going to be able to make me look good.”

If the form he showed on Sunday is anything to go by, Wren will end the season as one of the most respected net-minders in the league, with several of his heroic saves drawing admiration from the small, yet passionate crowd.

While he would love to be seen as one of the leaders oof the team he knows that he has a long road to reach that point.

“As an older guy you hope to be able to lead, but as a goaltender I need to worry about stopping the puck before I think about telling people what to do.”

That task starts next weekend when the Mustangs will place the leaders of their respective conferences the Ice and the North Stars, with the weekend a great opportunity for the side to influence who will be in Newcastle in the first week of September.

“They’re two great young goalies who are both willing to learn and hopefully when I leave they are going to be able to make me look good.”

 
Source: http://hewittsports.com/archives/5410

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HOCKEY PLAYERS RECEIVE ACADEMIC HONORS

The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has announced the Spring 2012 All-Academic teams, and The College at Brockport's ice hockey team was well-represented on the honor roll list.

All-Academic team honors were received for having a winter or spring semester grade-point average of 3.3 or higher. The SUNYAC Commissioner's List is achieved by maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 or higher for three consecutive semesters.

Spring 2012 SUNYAC All-Academic Team: James Cody, Robert Conner, Matthew DeLuca, Marcus Farmer, Ian Finnerty, Aaron Green, Brett Jendra, Chris Marinakos, Nick Panepinto, Brendon Rothfuss

Spring 2012 SUNYAC Commissioners List: James Cody, Matt DeLuca, Brett Jendra, Brendon Rothfuss

This is a great showing by the team and they should be commended for being STUDENT-athletes.


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ALUMNUS MIKE GERSHON NOW AN ASSISTANT WITH PORT HURON

One of the most accomplished blueliners in Brockport history -- Mike Gershon, who was an All-SUNYAC pick on the playoff teams -- has a new gig. He's the assistant coach for Port Huron.

The Times-Herlad reports....


Michael Gershon got a crash course this past season in the world of coaching at the junior level.

As the head coach and general manager of the New Mexico Renegades of the Western States Hockey League, Gershon handled pretty much everything for the Renegades, including some advertising and marketing.

That experience should help him as he takes on his next role as an assistant with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.

“I feel like I can do a lot more than a normal assistant would coming in after one year of coaching,” said Gershon, a former Port Huron Icehawks defenseman. “I think it really prepared me. I was doing video, setting up trips, buses, hotels and food, so I’ve got that under my belt, too.”

Gershon joins Jeff Blum and Scott Nichols as assistants on coach Steve Shannon’s staff. He said he’ll likely spend much of his time with the defense, but he’s ready to take on any role Shannon gives him.

“I pretty much ran what (former Icehawks coach Stan Drulia) ran, with some variation,” Gershon said. “A lot of what Pittsburgh runs. Steve has his own philosophy, and I’ll have to adapt to that. Obviously I’ll have my say, but as an assistant, it’s my job to give my opinion and offer my support.”



Read the full article here. It has some great insight into Mr. Gershon's post-Brockport days:

http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20120612/SPORTS/306120009/Hockey-Mike-Gershon-joins-Fighting-Falcons-staff


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HOCKEY GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Brockport Ice Hockey Alumni and Friends golf tournament will take place on Saturday August 11, 2012 with a tee time of 10:00am at Salmon Creek Country Club in Spencerport, NY.

Alumni, friends, and boosters should sign-up now as they are going to be limited to 60 golfers.

This is a huge event for the program as they try to raise funds to provide the players with the tools they will need to be a successful team on the ice. The coaches know they can count on our alumni to help provide the best four-year college hockey experience for these young men.

A fundraiser like this takes on special meaninng in today's economy as the SUNY system and colleges across the country have to make cuts to stay economically-vibrant. 

To reserve your spot in this tournament email Nick Unger at nunger@brockport.edu for a registration form and send in along with a check for $80 made out to the “Golden Eagle Society”. Please write “Ice Hockey Golf Tourney” in the memo and have it sent to:

Brian Dickinson, Head Ice Hockey Coach

350 New Campus Drive

Brockport, NY 14420

The team thanks you for your continued support and they hope to see you out on the course in August!

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VERNACE COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Trenton Golden Hawks forward Daniel Vernace has confirmed his commitment to join The College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.

The 6', 180 lbs. native of Toronto, joined the Golden Hawks as a trade deadline acquisition after spending two and a half seasons as a member of the Mississauga Chargers. Vernace first played in the OJHL as a 17-year old affiliate with the Villanova Knights, joining the squad for a single game during the 2008-09 season. The following year he made the full-time jump to junior hockey with the Chargers. The skilled forward would post 114 points during his stint in Mississauga, finishing second on the club in scoring last year, while leading the team with 46 points in 38 games played before the trade to Trenton this year. His play earned him a spot on the OJHL South Division All-Stars that competed at the inaugural Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Smiths Falls, Ontario. He would ultimately finish the year as the Golden Hawks leading scorer, notching 30 goals and 61 points on the season.

He is an impact forward and "skilled", "fast", "heady", "good hands", "quick release", "accurate shots", "physical" are all words to describe his game. A good student, his  hobbies include playing soccer and tennis plus spending time with his family.

Daniel has good hockey pedigree as his brother Michael played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning and is now a part of the NY Rangers organization, playing for the AHL's Connecticut Whale.

Watch one of his goals here:

http://centrajuniora.stats.pointstreak.com/watch.html?leagueid=349&clipid=34523


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CHAD CUMMINGS COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Wellington Dukes defenceman Chad Cummings (photo courtesy of the Wellington Dukes) has confirmed his commitment to join The College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.

The four-year OJHL veteran and native of Caldeon, Ontario, joined the Dukes late in the OJHL season after spending the majority of the season as the Orangeville Flyers captain.

The 6'5", 205 lbs. rearguard joined the OJHL as a 17-year old rookie in 2008-09, recording a respectible 11 points in 41 regular season games and would follow that up with 20 points to lead all Caps defencemen in scoring. A trade during the summer of 2010 would see Cummings join the Villanova Knights, and although his offensive totals dropped, he was a rock on the blueline for one of the year's suprising clubs, ultimately falling in the quarter-final to the eventual league champion Wellington Dukes.

This season saw Cummings begin as the Flyers captain, notching 11 points before the trade to Wellington. While with the Dukes, Cummings would record just a single assist, but was one of the club's key shutdown guys as they entered the playoffs.

 
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2012-2013 SCHEDULE RELEASED

The 2012-2103 schedule was released yesterday and you can see it in the toolbar of this blog. It’s a healthy schedule with some unfamiliar non-conference opponents whom we haven’t seen in awhile, like Suffolk and Franklin Pierce.

The Golden Eagles will also get to face off against a new non-conference foe that will likely become an annual opponent – Nazareth (the Rochester college’s varsity team has its inaugural season in 2012-2013). Brockport’s season opens against them at Tuttle North when the Golden Eagles host the Golden Flyers on Tuesday, October 23rd, a good primer for the SUNYAC season which begins 3 days later on the annual Western New York road trip.

The first semester sees Brockport mostly operating from the friendly confines, with 8 of 14 games happening at home, including 5 conference games among them. The men become road warriors in the second semester when they play at home only 4 times in 11 games. The road stretch from January 25th till February 9th will really test the team’s mettle with Oswego, Cortland, Geneseo, Potsdam and Plattsburgh in succession.

If I had to choose the 4 “must watch” home games, they would be:

Tuesday, October 23rd: The home opener against Nazareth

Friday, November 16th: Potsdam is in town and I guarantee that the Golden Eagles have a score to settle, which will make for a very aggressive game. Potsdam is the team that called for James Cody’s suspension at the end of last season for a hard -- but clean, legal, and non-penalized -- hit. That kept the All-American out of Brockport’s final game, which in turn kept Brockport out of the postseason and Potsdam in it. As I see it, the call for suspension had nothing to do with right and wrong and everything to do with Potsdam’s self-preservation

Friday, December 7th: Brockport plays host to their greatest rival – Geneseo. Always a good game. These affairs are what hockey is all about!

Friday, February 15th: The last SUNYAC game of the season, and entrance into the playoffs could hinge on it

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ADAM SHOFF IS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

A couple that has long been a part of the fabric of The College at Brockport community was honored April 27 for their commitment to the College. Long-time Brockport resident Rosie Rich and her husband George, who passed away in December, were named the Brockport Foundation Volunteers of the Year at the College’s sixth annual President’s Donor Recognition Dinner.

The award, which is in its fifth year, is presented annually to an individual or couple who has been generous with their time and talent in order to contribute to the success of the College and its students. Approximately 200 donors and friends of the College attended the dinner, the most in the event’s history. Another mark was set as more than $13,000 was raised to benefit the Foundation.

“George and Rosie Rich have indelibly left their mark on our campus,” says Brockport President John R. Halstead, PhD. “The way they have inspired our students has been nothing short of remarkable. They are truly deserving recipients of this prestigious award.”

George Rich had served as President of the Brockport Alumni Association for longer than anyone in its history. Rosie Rich volunteers on the Brockport Hall of Fame committee and for booster events. She frequently organizes and runs fund raisers to support these initiatives.

“The Volunteer of the Year Award was established by the Brockport Foundation in appreciation of the significant role volunteers play in the life of the College and to recognize exceptional individuals for their volunteer efforts on Brockport’s behalf,” says Roxanne Johnston, Brockport’s Vice President for Advancement and President of the Brockport Foundation. “George and Rosie are widely known and recognized as leading supporters of the College. We are grateful for all they have done and continue to do for Brockport.”

In honor of George and Rosie Rich, the Brockport Foundation awarded The George and Rosie Rich Volunteer of the Year Scholarship to a student who best exemplifies the ideals of commitment and service to others. This year’s recipient is Adam Shoff, a senior who is majoring in exercise physiology.

Awarding that scholarship has particular meaning to George and Rosie Rich, who have developed special relationships with many Brockport students.

“The students of our College were their children, and they immersed themselves in their activities, from sporting events to dance concerts, Brockport Student Government functions and fraternities and sororities,” says Michael Andriatch, Brockport’s executive director of advancement, as he presented the award. “They were a part of everything the College had to offer.”

Another highlight of the evening was a speech given by senior Justin Jackson (Spencerport, NY), who is this year’s recipient of the President’s Citation Award, the most prestigious academic award offered by the College.

 
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CODY IS BROCKPORT'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) of the men's ice hockey team has been selected as The College at Brockport Male Athlete of the Year. The forward was also named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Player of the Year.

Cody is the first-ever Brockport player to win the SUNYAC Player of the Year award. He was voted to the All-SUNYAC First-Team for the second consecutive year after leading the conference with 19 goals and his 34 points were fourth-best. Cody was named a Second-Team All-American by the AHCA, the first Brockport icer to earn All-American honors. He was also selected SUNYAC Player of the Week on December. 12.

The senior eclipsed the 100-point mark for his career with the game-winning assist to upset No.5 Elmira in overtime. Cody finished his career with 116 career points as a Golden Eagles. Cody led Brockport in goals all four years on the team and led in points for three of his four seasons.

The Athlete and Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were determined after compiling votes from each of Brockport's varsity coaches, as well as the Athletic Communications staff and select athletic administrators.

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LUKER COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Buffalo Junior Sabres head coach and general manager Michael Peca announced today that defenseman Chris Luker, a member of the team’s 2011-2012 roster, has committed to SUNY Brockport beginning this fall.

Luker, a native of New Hartford, New York, is anticipated to major in Business Management upon enrollment. He offered both size and offensive production from the point. In 48 regular season games, Luker recorded five goals and 26 assists. He also registered three assists in eight playoff games. In terms of scoring, he was the team's fifth most productive player and the leading scorer among defensemen.

Luker represents the fifth member of the Junior Sabres’ 2011-2012 roster to confirm college plans. Defenseman Dennis Playfair will enroll at SUNY Geneseo this fall, while forwards Andrew Poturalski (University of New Hampshire), Josh Kielich (Canisius College) and David Seward (Princeton University) will begin their commitments at their respective schools beginning in 2013-14.


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ALMNUS SCHOTT IS PLAYING IN AUSTRALIA

Australia’s AIHL has been around since the 2000-01 season. The league plays its regular season during the southern hemisphere’s winter (North America’s late spring and summer months). The 2012 regular season started on April 28 for the nine team league.

The AIHL appeals to foreign players hoping to play the game year round. Among those players Down Under is Brockport alumnus Lucas Schott who spent three years with the Golden Eagles with whom he racked up 32 points in 68 collegiate games. Schott spent 2011-12 in the Federal Hockey League, starting the season with the Danbury Whalers and finishing off with the Brooklyn Aviators.

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OJHL NEWS RELEASES ABOUT RECENT BROCKPORT ACQUISITIONS

Toronto Lakeshore Patriots forward Shane Cavalieri has confirmed his commitment to join The College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.

The 6’0”, 195 lbs. native of Richmond Hill, Ontario recently completed his fourth and most successful OJHL season this past year. He joined the OJHL as a 17-year old rookie with the Upper Canada Hockey Club back in 2008-09, notching 17 points in 43 games played. He would play the entire 2009-10 season with the Ajax Attack before splitting the next season between the Pickering Panthers and Villanova Knights, getting a taste of his first playoff action with the Knights. After starting the 2011-12 season with his fifth OJHL club, the Orangeville Flyers, he would be traded back to his original team, joining the Patriots (nee Upper Canada). Not only was it a career-best statistical season for Cavalieri, but he was a key member of the club, helping them capture their first-ever South Division championship.

Congratulations to Shane and best of luck as he joins a successful program at Brockport!

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Mississauga Chargers captain Jesse Facchini has confirmed his commitment to join The College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.

The 5’11”, 170 lbs native of Mississauga joined the OJHL as a 17-year old rookie with the Upper Canada Hockey Club in 2008-09, notching 16 points in 31 games played. He recorded the same totals the following year with the club before joining the Chargers prior to the 2010-11 season. The veteran stepped in and made an immediate impact for his hometown club, leading them with 24 goals and finishing third in overall scoring with 44 points. Despite taking a slight step backwards statistically this season, Facchini remained one of the Chargers leaders, finishing out the year by wearing the captain’s ‘C’ on his chest.

Congratulations to Jesse and best of luck in the NCAA!

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FACCHINI COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Jesse Facchini who plays for his hometown Mississauga Chargers of the OJHL has committed to play for the College. He'll turn 21 years old at the end of May and this season saw him put up 27 points in 44 games, a solid season that followed a stellar 24-20-44 campaign in 2010-2011.

He played for the Vaughan Kings in earlier seasons where Coach Max Saegert praised him for his "beautiful" skating and being "a kid with natural skill."

"He can play in all situations...regular, power play , penalty kill," he said.

Here's his profile from the Chargers website:

NAME: Jesse "Flow" Facchini

DATE OF BIRTH: May 31, 1991

BIRTHPLACE: Mississauga

CURRENT HOME TOWN: Mississauga

POSITION: RW

HEIGHT: 6'

WEIGHT:185

LAST MIDGET TEAM: Vaughan Kings

DRAFTED/FREE AGENT: Free Agent

HIGH SCHOOL/AVERAGE: 77%

FAVOURITE MEAL: lasagna

FAVOURITE ACTRESS: Sasha Grey

FAVOURITE HOCKEY PLAYER: Ryan Smyth

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL IN HOCKEY: Turn Pro one day

HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR HOCKEY CAREER SO FAR: Winning the championship in midget

FUN FACT: became celibate in order to concentrate on education and athletics

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SUPPORT SAVES FOR A CURE AT TOMORROW'S CARNIVAL & CASINO EVENT

Business majors at The College at Brockport, State University of New York, are combining theory, practice, and fun to raise money for two good causes as part of their Project Management course. The class requires students to propose, design, plan, and implement a charity fundraising project. The result? A Carnival and Casino fundraising event that will take place from 11 am until 2 pm on April 25 in Brockport’s Seymour College Union.

Event participants purchase raffle and game tickets for $2 and then can participate in the games of their choice. Proceeds from the event will support one local and one national charity. Saves for a Cure is a local charity that supports children with cancer. The charity was started by alumnus and former Brockport hockey player Todd Sheridan and receives ongoing support from the Brockport hockey program. The Wounded Warriors Project is a national charity that supports wounded service members and their families.

Each student in the Project Management class is required to outline a potential project. That proposal is then reviewed by their peers. The class ultimately selects one project from among competing proposals. Students are then assigned to teams in order to complete various tasks for the event. Those tasks include promotion and marketing, identifying and soliciting project sponsors, designing suitable casino and carnival games, facilities planning, day-of-event management, soliciting raffle prizes, organizing ticket sales, and project bookkeeping.

“Learning is maximized when courses combine classroom theory with hands-on practice,” says Steven Breslawski, PhD, an associate professor in Brockport’s School of Business Administration and Economics. “In many ways this class mirrors the actual practice of business, where things don’t always go as planned and you have to quickly adapt and solve problems as they come up.”

Primary event sponsors include RIT’s E. Philip Saunders College of Business, Barilla Pasta, Sunnking Electronics Recycling, Confer Plastics Inc., and Wegmans Food Markets. Individuals who would like to purchase raffle tickets but cannot attend, should contact Breslawski at sbreslaw@brockport.edu.

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COLAVECCHIA COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Luke Colavecchia is the 20 year-old Captain of the North York Rangers of the OHA who recently committed to Brockport. He was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario and lives at home with his parents and two sisters. He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Brampton in 2010 and has attended York University part-time for the past two years taking Kinesiology.

Luke played his Bantam, Minor-midget and Midget hockey with the AAA Markham Majors. In his Midget year, the Majors went to the GTHL finals and lost to the Vaughan Kings. He also played three years of high school hockey with St. Thomas Aquinas and served as their captain in his final year.

Luke is a hard-working and intuitive hockey player who takes pride in being the responsible and dedicated leader of the North York Rangers. In his time off-ice, Luke enjoys playing the guitar, snow-boarding and traveling.

The 5'8", 155-pound Colavecchia recently scored his 20th goal of the 2011-2012 season. His output has shown a steady progression over the past 3 seasons, going from 19 to 27 to 41 points.

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CAVALIERI COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Shane Cavalieri is a game changing power forward of the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots of the OJHL who recently made his commitment to Brockport.  This 6`0” 200lb veteran can change the game with a big hit, big goal, or slick pass.  Hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Shane's coaches say he carries a “Can Do” attitude that is infectious with his teammates.  A physical player who is no stranger to the gym, Shane is the first player to stick up for his teammates and the first player to set the tone of the game. In 75 OJHL games he sports a 15-31-46 line to go with 149 penalty minutes.

Here, the young man mixes it up on the ice:

VOTE FOR COACH PEDERSON: FRONTIER FIELD WALK OF FAME

Since 1997, a special section at the center of the Walk of Fame at Frontier Field has been designated to Rochester's Sports Legends. These individuals (fans, players, management and media spanning Rochester's sports history) are those who have made a monumental impact on the community through their achievements in the Rochester-area sports scene.

Among this year's nominees is the late Bob Pederson, the founding father of Brockport hockey.

Fans can vote and please do so -- there is quite the list of nominees!

To participate, vote here:

http://www.frontierfield.org/WOFwinduction.html

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POST-SEASON AWARDS

Last night I had the privilege to attend the Golden Eagles' annual banquet in which the team celebrated the season that was and the careers that were for one of the most-accomplished and deepest senior classes in school history.

The seniors recognized -- and granted the much-revered captain's chairs -- were: Gregg Amato, James Cody, Ian Finnerty, Brett Jendra, Adam Shoff, and Oliver Wren. Also recognized as a senior was junior/senior Nick Panepinto, who will be graduating after only 3 years (a huge accomplishment).

As always, their speeches were bittersweet...it's a sad moment to see them bring closure to storied college careers but, at the same time, it's a great moment for them as they will be going on to do great things personally and professionally. 

The past season's captain -- Mr. Shoff -- passed the baton to next season's captain, Mike Hayward, who had been an alternate captain in 2011-2012.

The coaching staff also dispensed a handful of coveted awards:

Outstanding Scholar Athlete: Brett Jendra, whose GPA going into this semester was a stellar 3.77

Chris Palin Rookie of the Year: Troy Polino, who sported an impressive 5-11-16 line

Jimmy Mac Most Improved Player Award: Sophomore defenseman Ian Chapman, who really stepped up his game

EJ McGuire 7th Player Award: Ian Finnerty, the playmaker who who finished his career with 87 points in 88 games played

Bob Pederson Coaches Award: Captain Adam Shoff, who exuded incredible leadership on and off the ice

Brian Cavanaugh MVP Award: James Cody, whose closing campaign saw him earn SUNYAC Player of the Year and All-American honors

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DEFAZIO COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Georgetown Raiders forward Jeremy DeFazio (photo credit - Izak Westgate/HHOF) has confirmed his commitment to join The College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.



The 20-year old native of Oakville, Ontario made the jump to the OJHL as a 17-year old rookie with the Bramalea Blues in 2009-10. After notching 17 points as a rookie, the club would suspend operations and DeFazio would briefly leave the OJHL, before returning as a member of the powerhouse Burlington Cougars last season. He would notch 22 points in 42 games for the Cougars while helping them capture the West Division regular season title. This season, DeFazio moved to the Raiders and was once again part of a regular season championship, helping the club finish first overall in the entire OJHL, and hopes to continue that success in the playoffs.

DeFazio has good hockey pedigree. His father is Dean DeFazio who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He runs DeFazio hockey camp: http://www.defaziohockey.com/

Jeremy's brother Brandon plays for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the AHL.

Here's a video of a Jeremy DeFazio donnybrook:

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SUNYAC REPORT ON ALL-AMERICANS

Four student-athletes from three SUNYAC schools were recognized by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) as 2012 Division III CCM Men's Hockey All-America East Team honorees as announced Thursday evening in conjunction with this weekend’s NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey Championships in Lake Placid.

The College at Brockport senior forward James Cody, Oswego State junior forward Jon Whitelaw, Plattsburgh defender Mike Grace and goalie Mathieu Cadieux were all named to the second team.

Cody, a first team all-SUNYAC and the conference Player of the Year, finished the 2011-2012 season with 34 points (19 goals, 15 assists). His 19 goals led the SUNYAC conference and his 34 points were fifth-most in the league. In 15 SUNYAC games this season, he scored 11 goals and had eight assists. Cody ranks among the all-time greats at Brockport as he finished his career with 116 total points, good enough for sixth on the career list.

Whitelaw leads the Lakers in points and goals with 41 and 19, respectively, while sitting in second place on the team with 22 assists. The First Team All-SUNYAC honoree has also posted seven power-play and four game-winning goals so far this season. The Lakers, who are 23-3-2, will face Amherst, which is 24-3-1, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Championship in Lake Placid on Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Oswego State earned its trip to Herb Brooks Arena by defeating Elmira, 5-0, in the quarterfinal round.

Grace garners the first all-American nod of his career. The Cardinal blueliner finished the season with a goal and 12 assists and was named Most Valuable Player of t he SUNYAC Tournament. Grace, who appeared in all 28 games, has provided a veteran presence on the nation's fourth-best defense that has allowed 56 goals and held its opponents to 2.00 goals per game.

Cadieux also receives his first all-American accolade after earning a spot on the SUNYAC First Team in his first season with the Cardinals. The sophomore goaltender finished the season with a 16-5-3 record, which included a 13-game unbeaten streak and three shutouts. The Oshawa, Ontario native is sixth in the nation in goals-against average (1.85) and ninth in save percentage (.928).


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JAMES CODY: ALL-AMERICAN!!

The reigning SUNYAC Player of the Year, Brockport's own James Cody, has been named as an East Region 2nd-team All-American.

The award was announced at Thursday's Frozen Four banquet, presented by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) and determined with votes cast by Division III men's coaches.

He becomes the first Brockport player to achieve All-American status.

A fitting recognition for a great season, a great career, and a great young man!

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JOE NIEUWENDYK'S NEPHEW -- CHASE -- COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Trenton Golden Hawks forward Chase Nieuwendyk has confirmed his commitment to join The College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.




The 21-year old native of Georgetown, Ontario recently completed his fourth full OJHL season after playing the the previous three years with the Brampton Capitals. Nieuwendyk would steadily improve his statistical totals each season of his career, starting with 12 goals and 39 points as a 17-year old rookie in Brampton, and finishing with 27 goals and 57 points in 49 regular season games with Trenton to finish as the club's second leading scorer this past season.

In 147 career OJHL games Chase has 149 points....a very good pick-up for the Golden Eagles!

His bio on the OJHL roster says this (note the SAT!)...

Chase comes to Golden Hawks from Brampton along with teammate Josh Ocampo in a trade with the Capitals. Safe to say that Chase has good hockey genes as he is the nephew of NHL Hall Of Famer, Joe Nieuwendyk. Heady, slippery, good 2-way player, playmaker, deceptive are all words to describe Mr. Nieuwendyk’s game. With an 1630 SAT and good high school marks he hopes to obtain an NCAA scholarship.

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JAMES RYAN COMMITS TO BROCKPORT

Toronto Lakeshore Patriots alternate captain James Ryan (photo credit - Brian Watts/OJHL Images) has confirmed his commitment to join the College at Brockport Golden Eagles beginning with the 2012-13 SUNYAC season.

The 19-year old native of Richmond Hill, Ontario becomes the fifth Patriot to committ to the an NCAA program this year and certainly won't be the last with a few other players still deciding. After playing one game for the then Upper Canada Patriots in 2009-10, Ryan joined the club full-time last season and tasted instant success as a rookie, recording 20 goals and 42 points to finish fourth on the club in scoring. Entering this season as one of the club's leaders, his goal total would drop slightly (16), but he improved his overall play, notching 49 points in 49 regular season games played and has continued the strong effort into the Patriots playoff run thus far.

"James is a fantastic young man and a very talented hockey player," commmented Patriots Head Coach Mike Tarantino. "I'm thrilled that he has attained his goal of playing hockey in the NCAA while earning a degree. James will definitely be an offensive asset to Brockport's program and I expect him to contribute right from his freshman year," added Tarantino.

Brockport is an NCAA Division III school of approximately 8,500 students that is located just outside Rochester, New York. Their arena seats 1,800 and is about a two and a half hour drive from Toronto. They are coached by Brian Dickinson and assisted by Phil Roe, Nick Unger, and Chuck Dossier. Currently there are nine Canadian-born players on their roster, and of those, eight are OJHL graduates.


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