HOCKEY PLAYERS PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE

The first Sunday of November can mean only one thing for the more than 200 student-athletes from The College at Brockport: It’s time for the annual community-wide leaf raking project.

Members of the Golden Eagles’ 23 varsity sports teams banded together to help Brockport residents with cleaning up their yards of leaves during the State University of New York Athletic Conference’s (SUNYAC) fifth-annual leaf raking project. Most of those lawns belonged to senior citizens.

The photos above show the hockey team at work.

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WNYO HIGHLIGHTS FROM OSWEGO GAME

OSWEGONIAN RECAP OF SATURDAY'S GAME

The Oswegonian is the student newspaper of SUNY Oswego. Here's their recap of the game...


The Oswego State men’s ice hockey team scored early and never looked back, defeating the College at Brockport, 7-1, Saturday night at the Campus Center Ice Arena.

Junior forward and assistant captain Jon Whitelaw scored twice and junior goaltender Dan Jones recorded 27 saves in his first appearance in net this season for the Lakers.

The Lakers (5-1-0 overall, 3-0-0 SUNYAC) jumped out of the gate, scoring two quick goals in the first 1:34 of the game to take an early 2-0 lead on the Golden Eagles. Junior forward and assistant captain Jon Whitelaw tallied the team’s first goal on the first shot of the game for the Lakers just 40 seconds into regulation. Junior forward Paul Rodrigues sent a cross-ice pass from right to left to Whitelaw, who rocketed a one-timer past Brockport goalie Joe Reagan stick side.

Junior forward Matt Singleton gave the Lakers a two-goal lead at 1:34 of the first period. Freshman defenseman Nick Rivait found Singleton in front of the net, where Singleton was able to knock the puck past Reagan for the goal. The goal was Singleton’s second in as many games. Junior forward Chris Ayotte was awarded the second assist on the play.

The Golden Eagles (0-4-1 overall, 0-3-1 SUNYAC) settled down after the first two minutes, keeping the Lakers from breaking the game open prior to the game’s first intermission. Oswego State was called for five penalties in the first period, including an insportsmanlike bench minor penalty on head coach Ed Gosek after junior forward Paul Rodrigues was called for boarding 30 seconds earlier. Brockport was unable to capitalize on the 5-on-3 advantage, as Dan Jones kept the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard. The Golden Eagles finished with 13 shots in the first period, 10 of which came on the power play.

Oswego State again struck early to begin the second period, scoring its third goal of the game at 5:31 of the frame on Ayotte’s second goal of the season and second point of the game. Ayotte’s goal came as the result of a redirection off junior defenseman Tim Carr’s shot. Carr wristed a shot from outside the right faceoff circle that Ayotte was able to get a stick on and redirect the puck through the legs of Reagan.

The Lakers controlled the second period, outshooting the Golden Eagles 19-6. Junior defenseman Jesse McConney took a 10-minute misconduct penalty late in the period after being called for an interference penalty. The Lakers were able to kill off the interference penalty, as Brockport’s power play went 0-for-6 on the man advantage through two periods.

For the third consecutive period, the Lakers wasted no time seizing the momentum, scoring 1:21 into the frame on junior forward Luke Moodie’s one-timer goal from the slot. Junior defenseman Zach Josepher passed the puck behind the net to Rodrigues, who found Moodie in the slot, who one-timed a shot past Reagan stick side top shelf to give the Lakers a four-goal lead early in the third period.

Sophomore forward Kyle Badham scored the team’s fifth goal of the game on a wrap around shot at 5:50 of the third period. Badham took a pass from sophomore forward David Titanic behind the net and skated in front of the net to the left of Reagan, who went down to take away a low shooting angle. Badham instead went high with the shot, shooting the puck over the shoulder of Reagan and into the back of the net.

The Lakers would tally a power-play goal from Rodrigues and Whitelaw’s second goal of the game before the end of the game.

Oswego State outshot the Golden Eagles 50-28 for the game including 38-15 over the course of the final two periods.

The Golden Eagles would prevent the shut out, as Bobby Conner scored Brockport’s lone goal of the game with 1:43 remaining in the game.

The Lakers will host Morrisville State College on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Campus Center Ice Arena.

Reagan finished with 43 saves on 50 shots faced in a losing effort for the Golden Eagles


Source: http://www.oswegonian.com/sports/mens-hockey-blog/2142/oswegobrockport/

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OSWEGO BEATS BROCKPORT 7-1

The Atheltic Department's recap of Saturday's game....


For the first two periods of action, The College at Brockport Hockey team played within striking distance of Oswego, ranked No. 2 in the latest national poll. In the third period, the Lakers score four times including two power play goals to post a 7-1 victory Saturday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game in Oswego.

Sophomore Bobby Conner (Lititz, PA) scored the only goal for Brockport (0-4-1 Overall, 0-3-1 SUNYAC) coming in the third period with 1:53 left in regulation. Conner was assisted by Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) and Mike Hollander (Thornhill, ONT).

Oswego (5-1, 4-1) scored two early goals in the first period with one coming at the 41 second mark and the second less than a minute later for a 2-0 lead before two minutes had elapsed in the contest. The score remained 2-0 until the second period when Oswego upped its lead to 3-0 with a goal at the 5:31 mark of the period.

With the score 3-0 at the start of the third period, Brockport surrendered a powerplay goal 1:21 into the period and then an even strength goal four minutes later as the Lakers built a 5-0 lead. At 8:30, Oswego made it a 6-0 lead with its second power play goal of the period and added the final goal four minutes later.

Sophomore Joe Reagan (Yonkers, NY) made 43 saves as Brockport was outshot 50-38 in the game.

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BROCKPORT LOSES IN WILD 7-5 GAME

The recap from the Athletic Department...

Junior Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) scored the only goal of the first period for The College at Brockport Hockey team before the Golden Eagles and Cortland exploded for nine goals in the second period Friday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game in Cortland. The Red Dragons scored the only two goals in the third period – one on an empty net – to post a 7-5 come-from-behind win.

Sophomore Brendon Rothfuss (Webster, NY) scored 22 seconds into the second period to give Brockport (0-3-1 Overall, 0-2-1 SUNYAC) a 2-0 lead but Cortland (2-1, 1-1) answered with two goals in a span of just five seconds less than two minutes later to tie the score at 2-2 just 2:02 into the wild second period.

Senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) scored a power play goal only seconds after Cortland had fought off a 5-on-3 power play situation to give Brockport a 3-2 advantage.

Cortland scored a few minutes later on a 5-on-3 power play of its own and then took a 4-3 lead three minutes later with another man advantage goal.

Rothfuss scored his second goal of the period a minutes later and the game was tied again, this time at 4-4.

Freshman Marcus Farmer (Caledron, ONT) scored his first career goal tipping in a shot from near the corner of the ice for a 5-4 Golden Eagle lead but Cortland tied it up again before the end of the period and the teams went into the second intermission with a 5-5 tie after the nine-goal second period.

In the third, Cortland took the 6-5 lead four minutes into the stanza and added an empty-net goal in the final minute of play after Brockport called a time out and pulled goalie Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) for the extra attacker.

Wren made 31 saves on the night and Rothfuss ended up with two goals and one assist for the Brockport offense.


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STYLUS COLUMNIST DISCUSSES GOLDEN EAGLES

This week's Stylus also featured a column by hockey beat writer Andy Lipari...


Lip Slip: Brockport hockey shows two sides over weekend
By Andy Lipari

After watching Brockport's hockey team during the weekend, I think it's going to be an interesting season. I'm still not quite sure what to expect and the two different teams that showed up last weekend didn't sway me one way or the other.

I saw a team Friday, Oct. 28 that looked like a team that could do some damage in the SUNYAC conference. They played the type of game they need to play to win in this league. They were physical, they blocked what seemed like every other shot and Oliver Wren played great in goal. As he simply said about the defense creating lanes for him, "I see the puck, I stop the puck."

Wren was the reason the game remained tied through overtime. Since he won't take any credit, I'll give him some. He made a couple of saves in overtime where he had to range over to stop the puck from going into an open net.

Brockport played a type of game against Fredonia that would win nine out of 10 games they play. They had four bad minutes that cost them an extra point, but they looked like the better team Friday.

I don't know if Brockport was tired or sore from Friday's game, but they looked like a different team against Buffalo State. I can't say they didn't show up, because they started the way they finished on Friday. They scored first so it's not like their heads weren't in the game.

That might be why it's so puzzling watching them lose as they did to Buffalo State. Brockport didn't perform the "dirty work" they did against Fredonia and the scoreboard reflected that. It wasn't a lack of effort, but they didn't play as physically and they didn't block nearly as many shots.

I didn't think Buffalo State looked like a team that was seven goals better than Brockport, but the scoreboard doesn't lie. For the first couple of goals I found myself saying, "How did the puck get through there?" But after four or five, it's not a fluke anymore.

Special teams has been an issue early this season. Brockport is 2 for 17 on the power play and their opponents are seven for 15. Brockport has had three two-man advantages and have not converted on any of them. Those numbers will need to be switched if Brockport wants to make it back to the playoffs.

Luckily for Brockport, their next game is at Cortland. Brockport has had a lot of success against Cortland, including winning three out of four the past two years. I don't think they could ask for a better opponent to shrug this loss off.

Unfortunately for Brockport, their only remaining home game this semester is in December against Morrisville. Head Coach Brian Dickinson said they would like to have a more even schedule, but that's the hand they've been given.

The flipside of the schedule is it will be home-heavy as the games become more important. I think it's better having the schedule the way it is than having a majority of the home games early.

Brockport needs to beat Cortland this weekend because it's going to be hard to find points in their following three games at Oswego, at Geneseo and at Plattsburgh, all in a row.

We saw how Brockport is capable of playing. They just have to remember there are no off nights in the SUNYAC conference.

Source:

http://www.thestylus.net/lip-slip-brockport-hockey-shows-two-sides-over-weekend-1.2677051

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STYLUS RECAP OF LAST WEEKEND'S GAMES

Brockport hockey on wrong end of a scoring frenzy with tie to Fredonia and loss to Buffalo State
By Andy Lipari

Brockport's hockey team was a true Jekyll and Hyde this Halloween weekend. What looked like tale of two different teams in the same jersey ended with a 4-4 tie against Fredonia Friday, Oct. 28 and an 8-1 loss to Buffalo State Saturday, Oct. 29.

A rambunctious crowd pushing fire code limits was treated to an entertaining game, which is something that was hard to find last season.

Brockport played 56 minutes of hockey that would normally result in a victory, but it was four bad minutes that cost them the extra win. With Brockport up 3-1 with two minutes left in the second period, Andrew Christ and Mat Hehr scored for Fredonia tying the game at 3-3. Fredonia went on the power play 17 seconds into the third and scored to make it 4-3.

"We didn't respond well to having a lead and we got sloppy," Brockport head coach Brian Dickinson said. "When we had a year like we did this year, we almost need to learn how to win again and this will be something we will continue to work at."

Despite giving up four goals, senior goalie Oliver Wren played the best hockey of his college career. He had 36 saves against Fredonia, four of them coming in overtime to help Brockport earn at least a point in conference standings. However, Wren didn't want to take all the credit.

"I owe a lot of that to the defense," he said. "They're boxing out and allowing me to see the shot and I just have to worry about the puck. I just felt good today."

Fredonia led 1-0 after a first-period goal by Jared Wynia.

Brockport scored three times in the second. Steve Sachman, Adam Shoff and James Cody all found the back of the net to take a 3-1 lead.

Down 4-3 with about eight minutes left in the game, Mike Hayward took a touch pass from Cody to tie the game.

"At 3-1 we're probably not happy with a tie, but down 4-3 it's nice to battle back," Dickinson said. "When we started the way we did last year, a tie is good and we get a point out of it."

Brockport did its best disappearing act Saturday, dropping its game to Buffalo State, 8-1.



The first period looked like Brockport would build off the momentum they had Friday. Pat Hayden scored, giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead. Drew Klin answered for the Bengals and it was tied 1-1 after the first.

Brockport starting going downhill when Buff. State capitalized on the power play. On three straight opportunities with the man-advantage, Buff. State found the back of the net to go ahead 4-1. Buff. State scored four more times in the third to finish to onslaught.

Dickinson said they came out strong, but didn't continue to build on the lead.

"We had an early power play in the first and if we score there it's a totally different game," he said. "We have to find a way to score when the other team has three guys on the ice. Those are game changing opportunities."

Wren had 21 saves for Brockport before being pulled in the third. Freshman Aaron Green saw his first action as a Golden Eagle making stopping seven shots. Kevin Carr had 22 saves for Buff. State.

Brockport will not be home the entire month of November. Their next five conference games are on the road, starting with Cortland this Friday, Nov. 4.


Source: http://www.thestylus.net/brockport-hockey-on-wrong-end-of-a-scoring-frenzy-with-tie-to-fredonia-and-loss-to-buffalo-state-1.2677077

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BROCKPORT-OSWEGO MATCH-UP

From the pages of the Palladium-Times...


Looking to rebound from its first loss of the season, the Oswego State men’s hockey team will host a pair of SUNY Athletic Conference games this weekend.

The Lakers (1-0 SUNYAC, 3-1 overall) will face Geneseo on Friday and Brockport on Saturday. Both games start at 7 p.m. at Campus Center Ice Arena.

Oswego State is coming off a 3-2 loss at Utica on Saturday. Coach Ed Gosek said he’s looking for a better effort from his players this weekend.

“We didn’t play very well,” Gosek said of the Utica game. “Utica was willing to do all the little things. We got beat to a lot of loose pucks and lost a lot of one-on-one battles.”

He added that the Lakers made too many unforced turnovers.

“They caused a lot of our mistakes, but probably 70 percent of our mistakes were self-inflicted,” Gosek said.

The coach said the Lakers need to look at it as a learning experience and turn the page. After starting last season with 12 consecutive victories, Oswego State was knocked from the unbeaten ranks much earlier this year.

“Sometimes you have to take a step back to move a couple forward,” Gosek said.

Laker fans are encouraged to step forward and help the United Way on Saturday. It will be United Way Day at the Rink, and fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items to help the United Way stock local food pantries.

Food donations will be accepted at both the Laker women’s hockey game at 3 p.m. against Cortland, and the Laker men’s hockey game at 7 p.m. against Brockport.

Here’s a closer look...


Brockport at Oswego State

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Although the Lakers defeated Brockport twice last season (4-2 at Brockport, 7-1 in Oswego), Gosek says his team can’t look past the Golden Eagles.

“They’re a much-improved team,” he said. “They have solid goaltending. James Cody is one of the most dangerous players in our league. He’s always had good games against us. They’ve got something to prove.”

Cody, a senior, has two goals and three assists to lead Brockport this season.

Senior Ian Finnerty (2-2) is another threat for the Eagles.

The Lakers will count on their defense led by seniors Jared Anderson and Hank Van Boxmeer to keep Brockport in check.

Junior goalie Andrew Hare (3-1, 1.65 GAA, .942 save percentage) has seen the bulk of the action in net thus far for the Lakers.

Brockport (0-1-1 SUNYAC, 0-2-1 overall) is trying to find some consistency. The Eagles tied Fredonia 4-4 and lost to Buffalo State 8-1 in their conference openers.

Oswego State is looking for improved effort and execution over the Utica game.

“We want to make ourselves better every week,” Gosek said. “These will be two great tests for us this weekend.”

Source: http://palltimes.com/articles/2011/11/02/sports/doc4eb1ef7ebba69556831573.txt

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CODY IS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) tallied three points during the SUNYAC weekend against Fredonia State and Buffalo State, skating to a tie and a loss, respectively.

For his efforts, Cody has been named the Brockport Male Athlete of the Week.

Cody helped put the Golden Eagles ahead 3-1 with his second goal of the season against Fredonia State. After the Blue Devils took a 4-3 lead, the forward assisted on the game tying goal to Mike Hollander (Thornhill ONT), as the game finished to a 4-4 draw.

In Brockport's loss to Buffalo State on Saturday, Cody assisted to Patrick Hayden (Springfield, PA) for the Golden Eagles only goal of the game.

Cody led Brockport with 16 goals and 30 points in the 2010-11 season and leads the team in both categories through the first three games this season.

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BROCKPORT TROUNCED BY BUFFALO STATE

The Athletic Department's recap of last night's game...


Sophomore Patrick Hayden (Springfield, PA) scored his first goal of the season for The College at Brockport Hockey team to give the Golden Eagles and early 1-0 lead Saturday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game against Buffalo State in the Tuttle North Arena in Brockport. The Bengals tied the score late in the first period and then scored three power play goals in the second period to take a 4-1 lead. A shorthanded goal and three insurance goals led to an 8-1 victory for the Bengals.

In the first period, James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) and Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) worked the puck around the zone before feeding Hayden at the point who fired a low shot that beat the Buffalo State goal to the glove side for the early lead with just 6:44 elapsed in the first period.

Buffalo State (1-1 Overall, 1-1 SUNYAC) knotted the game with less than three minutes left in the period but the Bengals had a man advantage for most of the second period and took advantage with three power play goals. The first came with just 31 seconds gone in the period and the second was two minutes later. The third advantage goal for the Bengals was with a two-man advantage at the 7:43 mark of the period.

In the third period, the Bengals scored a shorthanded goal to take a 5-1 lead and added on two more before five minutes had run off the clock in the final stanza.

A final goal at 11:31 was the final margin of victory.

Senior Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) made 21 saves and freshman Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, ONT) played the final 16 minutes and made seven saves.


Box score: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbfsbrc1.o29


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DUNKIRK OBSERVER RECAP OF FREDONIA GAME

From the pages of today's paper....


Fredonia State opened its SUNYAC season with a 4-4 tie Friday at the College of Brockport.

"(The game) was just what we expected," Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith said. "It was a good SUNYAC game. It was a good college hockey game."

Freshman forward Jared Wynia scored a pair of power-play goals, his second and third goals of the season.

His second of two goals broke a 3-3 tie early in the third period.

The Blue Devils (2-0-1 overall) trailed 3-1 until scoring twice late in the second period. Andrew Christ scored his first goal of the season at 18:28. Mat Hehr forged a 3-3 tie with his second goal at 19:45.

"Hopefully we were able to learn some lessons tonight," Meredith continued. "We lost some momentum in the second period and they scored three quick ones. Luckily, we were able to score a couple late in the second."

The momentum carried over into the third period. Wynia hit the back of the net 1:44 of the third period.

Brockport's Mike Hayward scored on a power play at 11:51 of the third period to tie the game at 4-4. It was the first power-play goal allowed by the Blue Devils after 17straight successful penalty kills.

A power-play goal by Wynia opened the scoring at 4:32 of the first period.

The Golden Falcons scored three straight goals in the second period the Steve Sachman, Adam Shoff and James Cody.

"I think we could have handled adversity better," Meredith added. "We're still in search of a full 60 minutes. Until we play a full 60 we're going to get what we deserve."

Fredonia State goaltender Mark Friesen made 35 saves, one fewer than Brockport's Oliver Wren.

The Golden Eagles ended the night 0-1-1 overall.


Source:

http://observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/564945/FSU--Brockport-skate-to-tie.html?nav=5010

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BROCKPORT AND FREDONIA TIED 4-4

Fredonia came into the game rated 25th in the nation in the USCHO preseason poll and they were expected to win by most everyone outside of Brockport. Proving that they’re not the same team as last season, the Golden Eagles instead tied the Blue Devils, with a 4-4 final tally.

The physical play Fredonia feared worked in Brockport’s favor. Despite having a height advantage, Fredonia was consistently manhandled and numerous Blue Devils ended up on the ice or had lost control of the puck. This allowed Brockport to match Fredonia shot for shot as they made chances where there were none.

Fredonia drew blood first when a hard shot perpendicularly bounced off Oliver Wren’s pad right to a wide open Jared Wynia who buried the puck behind Wren. Brockport then went on a 3-2 tear in the 2nd. The first of those was scored by Steve Sachman who grabbed a Troy Polino assist and, standing beside the net, pushed it past goaltender Mark Friesen.

4 minutes later Adam Shoff was working from the corner and blasted a hard shot over Friesen’s left shoulder. That was repeated a minute later when James Cody put another one over Friesen’s left shoulder. That was a recurring theme, when in the third period Mike Hayward went glove side on Friesen during the power play. Friesen’s weakness was definitely found and exploited.

Friesen did have a gave-saving stop with 4:50 left in the third, coming outside of the net to cut off the angle and then sitting a blast that surely looked like it was going in. That display was duplicated by Oliver Wren with 40 seconds left in the third. Oliver had another stellar moment with just over 5 seconds left in OT when he made the best glove save of the game.

It was an excellent game overall, despite both teams looking absolutely exhausted in the third.

Random thoughts:

· The sophomores looked very comfortable and decisive in their play. Their newfound confidence bodes well for this season and the future

· Freshman Troy Polino was sharp last night. He assisted on a goal but really made an impression on the back check. He had the finest defensive play of the game with 10:20 left in the first when his blanketing defense stopped a for-sure goal. A few other times he laid some nice hits on Fredonia and got control of the puck

· The ice arena is markedly improved. Gone are the bland walls, replaced with the sizable paintings of the new Eagle and Brockport logos. That really brightened-up the place

· Thanks to the Eagle Crazies (student sections) for the “Congrats Confer” sign. You guys are awesome! And, speaking of signs, the blown-up picture of Bobby Conner was hilarious

· The puck drop by Terry McGuire and her daughters Jacquelyn, and Erin McGuire (assisted by Sean McCrossen) was a nice tribute to EJ McGuire who left the hockey world too young at 58 years of age earlier this year



Here’s the Athletic Department’s recap of the game…


Senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) scored one goal and assisted on a third period goal that tied the game up at 4-4 but neither team would score again as The College at Brockport Hockey team and Fredonia skated to a 4-4 tie Friday night in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game in the Tuttle North Ice Arena in Brockport.

Fredonia (2-0-1 Overall, 0-0-1 SUNYAC) took the early lead with a goal in the first five minutes of the contest.

Brockport (0-1-1, 0-0-1) came back with three goals in a span of five minutes in the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore Steve Sachman (Medford, NY) started the flurry as freshman Troy Polino (Limerick, PA) pick up his first collegiate point with the assist to tie the game at 1-1. Four minutes later, Senior Adam Shoff (Port Dover, ONT) picked up a loose puck and fired a shot past the Fredonia goalie for a 2-1 Golden Eagles lead.

Just under a minute later, Cody scored his second goal of the season with a pass from Bobby Conner (Lititz, PA) and Brockport held a 3-1 lead.

Late in the period, Fredonia rebounded to score twice in the final 1:32 of the period including the second goal with just 15 seconds remaining in the stanza to tie the score back up at 3-3.

After an early Brockport penalty in the third period, Fredonia took a 4-3 lead with its second power play goal of the game 1:44 into the period.

With 8:09 left to play in the third period, junior Mike Hayward (Toronto, ONT) finished off a series of passes from Cody and sophomore Mike Hollander (Thornhill, ONT) for the game-tying goal.

Neither team was able to score in the remaining eight minutes of the period or the five-minute overtime period and the game finished in a 4-4 tie.

Senior Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) made 35 saves for Brockport and Mark Friesen was credited with 36 saves for Fredonia.



Boxscore:

http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcfre1.o28


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A BIG WEEKEND AT TUTTLE ICE ARENA

It’s a big weekend coming up…the opening weekend of home play at Tuttle Ice Arena!

The action begins tonight at 7:00 against the Fredonia Blue Devils, a top 20 team in the polls after going 14-13-1. This year’s team may not reach such heights after losing so many key seniors (among them three 25+ point guys, including Jordan Oye and his spectacular 40 points). But, their Number One scorer, Bryan Ross, returns. Even without that supporting cast he’ll do well…he’s a player who makes everyone around him better (hence his 31 assists last year) so expect some new goal scorers to emerge. Among them is Alex Morton, capable of a 15 goal season. Sophomore goalie Mark Freisen is a real rising star in the conference, having block 91.7% of the shots he faced in his rookie year.

When last the two teams faced one another they tied up 2-2. Fredonia could not figure out netminder Joey Reagan, who stopped 47 shots. Don’t expect that many attempts this time around, but do expect a tight game with Brockport leaning heavily on its 2nd line to produce. Fredonia will be unable to deal with Brockport’s brute force, so I’ll hazard a guess that they fall 4-2 to the home team, the SUNYAC upset of the week.

There will be a pre-Game tribute to former Golden Eagle player and coach E.J. McGuire. E.J. went on to Coach in the OHL, AHL, and NHL before becoming the Director of Central Scouting for the NHL. E.J. passed away in April after battling cancer, a few months after entering Brockport’s Hall of fame.

Saturday is Alumni Day with the annual Alumni Game at 1:00 PM. Following the Saturday evening game there will be a post Game gathering at 58 Main Restaurant.

Saturday’s affair finds Brockport hosting Buffalo State at 7:00. This will be a tough game. Buffalo was an improved team last year and they remain virtually intact. By the end of the season I expect them to tough it out and end up third in the conference. Trevor McKinney can put a real scare into the best of teams (he had a stellar 17 goals last season) and Kevin Carr with his .922 save percentage will be a tough egg to crack.

When last they played Brockport in February they handily beat a Cody-less Brockport 4-1. I don’t envision such domination, but nonetheless, I see the home team falling to the visitors. I’ll throw a 4-2 score out there (the fourth being an empty-netter). But, Brockport can stage an upset if they get under the Bengals’ skin…they are a heavily-penalized team that could give James Cody some serious man-advantage chances.

This officially starts my 19th season of attending Brockport hockey games. Now I know I’m getting old: Some of the guys on the team weren’t even born when I started watching the Golden Eagles! I’m excited about this season and look forward to some great moments. I’ll definitely be in attendance at Saturday’s game, but Friday is still up in the air: Two-a-weeks are tough with my daughter still in newborn mode. But, we’ll see how it goes tonight.

Good luck to the team and coaching staff!

_

USCHO SEASON PREVIEW OF THE SUNYAC

Today USCHO.com released SUNYAC columnist Russel Jaslow's preview of the conference. Here's how Brockport was assessed....

Brockport State Golden Eagles

Coach: Brian Dickinson, 18th season overall (123–271–40) and 15th season at Brockport (109–223–34)

2010-11 overall record: 4–18–3
2010-11 SUNYAC record: 2–13–1
2010-11 SUNYAC finish: Ninth
2011-12 predicted finish: Ninth

Key Departures: Tom Galiani (7–10–17), Justin Noble (4–12–16).

Key Arrivals: Mike Hollander (F, transfer from Becker), Chris Marinakos (F, transfer from Wentworth), Bobby Chayka (D), Aaron Green (G), Jay Meloff (D).

Key Players: James Cody (16–14–30), Ian Finnerty (7–17–24), Adam Shoff (6–7–13).

Biggest Challenge: “Our competition,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “Our league has gotten significantly better. Everybody has done a great job recruiting. Coming off the year we’ve had, we aren’t looking back. We can only look forward.“

Outlook: Losing Todd Sheridan took a larger toll on Brockport than most expected. After two years of playoff success, the Golden Eagles plummeted last year to just two conference wins, four overall.

Oliver Wren got most of the work in goal, but he will have to up his game. Otherwise, Joe Reagan or freshman Aaron Green will have to step in and perform. Brockport was tied for the worst conference defense with Potsdam at 5.00 goals per game allowed. They also had the worst penalty kill.

However, it didn’t help that Brockport had trouble scoring, with the most anemic offense at 2.50 goals per game and the worst power play at just 11 percent.

Brockport does return their two leading scorers, James Cody and Ian Finnerty. They have transfers from Becker (Mike Hollander) and Wentworth (Chris Marinakos), as well as the Player of the Year in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League, Bobby Chayka.

Chayka is a defenseman, as are fellow newcomers Marcus Farmer and Jeff Meloff. Whether they can help stem their red light from turning on will be a key factor.

Brockport certainly isn’t shying away from competition. Their nonconference schedule includes Utica, Hamilton, Elmira, Neumann twice, and Elmira. At the very least, the Golden Eagles will be battle-tested.

Mark Your Calendar Game: December 3 vs. Morrisville. It will be interesting to see how Brockport finishes up the first half of the SUNYAC schedule, ironically against a team which has to replace a stalwart goaltender like Brockport the year before.

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To see how the rest of the conference looks, read the full report here:


http://www.uscho.com/2011/10/27/sunyac-2011-2012-season-preview/


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WBSU SEASON PREVIEW WITH COACH DICKINSON

HOCKEY'S PROMISING SEASON

In this week's Stylus, sports writer Any Lipari looks at the Golden Eagles' season and the first game of it....


Last season was a year in transition for Brockport hockey. They started 0-10-1, but the feeling around the SUNYAC conference was they weren't as bad as their record would indicate. Brockport finished the year 4-18-3 and only had two wins in the SUNYAC conference.

Players and coaches said last year it took the young players a while to get acclimated to Division III hockey. Later in the season, they were pleased with how the rookies were developing.

Following back-to-back seasons with a playoff victory, the hockey program was as successful as it has ever been. Last season's last place finish was seen as a disappointment instead of the norm.

Brockport had a mixed identity last season. They had seniors like Justin Noble, Tom Galiani and Ray Tremblay who were a few of Brockport's top scorers, mixing with the younger players trying to get experience. At times, it looked as if the team couldn't decide whether it should prepare for the future or play for the present and try and keep up the success the team had in previous seasons.

The goalie situation is a prime example of the wavering. Senior Oliver Wren and sophomore Joe Reagan split time between the pipes last season. Wren started the season as the starter, but the games started being split between the two during the second half of the season. Brockport will likely have the same plan for this season as well.

One bright spot for Brockport last year was James Cody, who returns for his senior season. He led the team with 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists). Ian Finnerty also returns for his senior season after leading the team with 17 assists. Senior Adam Shoff will also return this season after a 13-point season a year ago.

Outside of those three, Brockport has a huge drop off of experienced point scorers. If Brockport is to return to the playoffs this year, the sophomore class will need to have a big season. Sophomores Bobby Conner, Mike Baxter, Brendon Rothfuss and Chris Cangro all had significant playing time last year as freshmen and this season will go well as long as they play well.

Defensively, Brockport is old in comparison to the forwards. Senior Gregg Amato and junior Mike Hayward will anchor the defense as they did a year ago. Sophomore Matt DeLuca started all 25 games last season and should continue to be a factor in the back.

Brockport's season started last Saturday, Oct. 22 with a 5-3 loss to Utica College. Brockport started with a 2-0 lead on goals scored by Finnerty and Cody. Utica came back and scored three times in the second period. Finnerty scored his second goal of the game in the third, but the Golden Eagles came up short in the end.Wren got the nod in goal and had 32 saves.

Brockport starts conference play this weekend with home games against Fredonia Friday, Oct. 28 and Buffalo State Saturday, Oct. 29. The puck drops at 7 p.m. in the Tuttle North Ice Arena. Brockport will not have another home game until Dec. 3.



Source: http://www.thestylus.net/hockey-season-promising-despite-opening-game-loss-to-nationally-ranked-utica-college-1.2664758

BROCKPORT'S PHYSICAL REPUTATION

What can make Brockport players and fans feel good about the Brockport Golden Eagles is the fear that the team's physical play elicits. You can see that it in the interview in The Dunkirk Observer with Fredonia's Jeff Meredith. While talking about his team's successes this weekend, this slipped out....

"I think we really ironed some wrinkles out. I was excited to see the execution. Next week at Brockport it's going to be twice as physical as it was (against Assumption). We have to be ready for that."

That's impressive....other teams are already worried about the checks, hits and blue collar play.


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WKTV RECAP OF THE UTICA GAME

Watch WKTV news' recap of the game here:

http://www.wktv.com/sports/Pioneers-win-regular-season-opener-132392143.html


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BROCKPORT FALLS TO UTICA, 5-3

The Athletic Department's recap of the season opener...


Senior Ian Finnerty (Ardmore, PA) scored a pair of goals and added an assist for The College at Brockport Hockey team but an early 2-0 lead disappeared in the second period as Utica College recovered and skated to a 5-3 victory Saturday night in the season opener for both teams at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica.

Brockport (0-1) came out fast scoring twice in the first period of the game to open up an early lead. Finnerty was credited with the first goal of the season tipping in a shot from the point from senior James Cody (Schwenksville, PA) on the first power play opportunity of the contest.

“I was happy at the way we came out strong in the first period,” said head coach Brian Dickinson. “I was also proud at the way we battled back in the third period. We could have packed it in after the second period but stayed with it and came out strong again for the third. I was happy with the overall effort tonight especially since it is so early in the season.”

Finnerty had a part in the second goal as well feeding Cody who fired a shot past the Utica goalie for the early 2-0 lead.

In the second period, Utica – ranked No. 13 in the national preseason poll – came back with three goals in the second period to take the lead. Two of the goals came in the opening minutes of the period with a goal at the 1:45 mark in the period and the second a minute later at 2:41.

In the third period, Utica extended the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal at the 8:12 point in the final period.

Finnerty scored for the Golden Eagles to trim the Utica lead to 4-3 with an unassisted shorthanded goal but a late empty-net goal by the Pioneers was the final margin in the game.

Senior Oliver Wren (Oakville, ONT) made 32 saves for Brockport.


Box score: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/mbrcutc1.o22


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THE CODY WATCH

James Cody came into the 2011-2012 within reach of the 50 goal and 100 point career milestones. He began the season with 41 goals and 82 points. We'll be tracking his progress here. You can find "The Cody Watch" counter in the left toolbar of this website, just below the statistical leaders box.

UTICA COACH SUSPENDED FOR TONIGHT'S GAME

Here's an interesting development for tonight's game...



Gary Heenan will not be behind the bench when the Utica College men’s hockey team opens its regular season at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Heenan, the founder of UC’s hockey program and the only coach in the team’s 11-season history, will serve a one-game suspension for a secondary violation of NCAA rules and will miss the Pioneers’ game with SUNY Brockport. Assistant coach Juliano Pagliero will lead the team in his absence.

The violation, discovered and reported to the NCAA by UC athletic director Jim Spartano, involved a workout that was posted on the team’s web site last spring for the notification of the players. The workout, posted by an assistant coach, was described as “mandatory,” which is not allowed.

“I was aware of the rule,” Heenan said. “I was unaware the language was in there. Our guys were totally aware the workouts were voluntary. I’m disappointed in myself for not catching this. It’s an unfortunate way to start the season.”

Spartano said he and Heenan agreed the suspension would be for the first regular season game rather than tonight’s exhibition game with the Royal Military College.

“We wanted it to be meaningful,” he said. “I’m 100 percent certain it was inadvertent. It was something that slipped through the cracks. Gary stepped up to the plate and accepted responsibility.”

Heenan will be in the building for the game, but Spartano said he will not be allowed on the bench or in the locker room or have contact with the players.



Source:

http://www.uticaod.com/breaking/x888172984/UCs-Heenan-suspended-for-regular-season-opener-Saturday

BROCKPORT 7th in SUNYAC COACHES' POLL

The SUNY Brockport men's ice hockey team tied for seventh in the State University of New York Athletic Conference pre-season coaches' poll.

Oswego State, last year's SUNYAC regular season champion, topped the poll with 63 points, including seven first place votes. The 2010-11 tournament champion Plattsburgh State Cardinals received 54 points and one first place vote. Brockport, Potsdam and Cortland each got 16 votes to tie for seventh place.

2011-12 SUNYAC Men's Ice Hockey Pre-Season Poll

1. Oswego 63 (7)

2. Plattsburgh 54 (1)

3. Geneseo 53 (1)

4. Fredonia 44

5. Buffalo St. 33

6. Morrisville 29

7. Potsdam 16

- Brockport 16

- Cortland 16

VOTE IN THE POLL

The homepage of Brockport Athletics has poll that asks the following....


The Brockport Hockey Team opens the 2011-12 season Saturday at Utica College. Who will be the first Golden Eagle to score a goal?

Bobby Connor
Ian Finnerty
Adam Shoff
James Cody
Brendon Rothfuss
Mike Hayward
Other

Vote at: http://www.gobrockport.com/

SEASON PREVIEW OF UTICA

If you're curious about Brockport's opponent, check out this season preview from WKVTV:

BROCKPORT TO VISIT UTICA ON SATURDAY

No one ever said it was easy for the Golden Eagles. Even the non-conference games offer up some tough opponents. Case in point: This Saturday’s season opener at Utica (7:00 PM start).

Utica comes into the season ranked 13th in the nation and they aren’t missing a beat after last year’s great season…they lost only 1 senior after going 17-8-1, their best record in the 24 year history of the program. They have a serious home advantage, sporting some of the largest crowds in DIII (last year’s season opener against Brockport had 3,800 in attendance).

They are led by Tim Coffman (who posted 34 points on the season). He shared the team lead of 11 goals with Evan Chlanda, Jon Gaffney, and Trevor Hertz. So, they definitely have some depth and a few solid lines.

Their goaltending is top notch with duties shared by Evan Smith (.920) and Nick Therrien (.914). They are aided by a defense that allows just 26 shots per game.

As good as Utica is, Brockport held their own against them last year, taking a 2-1 game into the final seconds when Utica’s empty goal made it 3-1. Oliver Wren was exceptional in goal, stopping numerous point blank shots en route to SUNYAC Goalie of the Week honors.

Look for more of the same on Saturday with a determined and more-polished Brockport unit putting a scare into the home crowd.