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WNY Hockey Report Late Spring 2014 WNY Hockey Report is for everything hockey from Buffalo to Rochester to Jamestown, New York. We cover everything from the Sabres, Amerks, College, Junior, High School, Youth, Amatuer, Womens, Senior...and more!
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October 2014VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 9
It’s Hockey tIme!
In this Issue:
Men’s College Hockey
Rochester Hockey News
Gary Hill MemorialAnd More!
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In this Issue:Men’s College Hockey .......................................................................................... 4Gary Hill Memorial Tournament ....................................................................... 7HPHD Training ........................................................................................................ 8Around the Associations ..................................................................................... 9Women’s Hockey .................................................................................................10RIT Tigers Open New Den .................................................................................11 Top Shelf Training ................................................................................................12Rochester Americans .........................................................................................17Precision Training ................................................................................................18Buffalo Junior Sabres .........................................................................................19Rochester Jr Americans .....................................................................................20Rochester Youth Hockey News .......................................................................20Junior Hockey: Everyone Can Lead ...............................................................21Senior Hockey .......................................................................................................22Lars Heads West ...................................................................................................23 College Club Hockey ..........................................................................................26
Contents
P.O.Box 302East Aurora,
NY 14052716-830-0182
Managing PartnerIan C. Woods
Vice President, Business DevelopmentNed McDonnell
Publisher & Managing EditorRandy Schultz
Designer & PhotographerJanet Schultz
Senior ColumnistsWarren Kozireski
Contributing EditorJeff Kolcon
Communications & Marketing DirectorVal Andrews
ColumnistsJanet Schultz - [email protected]
Michael Mroziak - [email protected] Lewis - [email protected]
Matt Ondesko - [email protected] Barnett - [email protected]
Steve Thomson - [email protected] Metzger - [email protected]
Mike Smietana - [email protected] Vitko-Woods
WNY HOCKEY REPORTNo part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy and facsimile, without permission in writing from the
publisher.
WNY HOCKEY REPORT is an equal opportunity employer.
Contents 2013Western New York Hockey Report.
All rights reserved.
WNY HOCKEY REPORT (USPS 7650) is published monthly, except for May and July, by Ian C. Woods of WNY Hockey Report,
245 Lawrence Woods, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Periodicals Postage Paid at Orchard Park, NY and
Additional Offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Western New York Hockey Report
P.O. Box 302East Aurora, N.Y. 14052
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Men’s College Hockey
Division I College Season Previews
CanisiusDespite winning
just two regular season games after Feb. 1, the Golden Griffins got hot at
the right time and advanced to the Atlantic Hockey Championship game for the second consecutive year before falling to Robert Morris.
And despite losing three of their to-five scorers in Kyle Gibson, Ben Danford and Patrick Sullivan, expect to return for a third time.
“Our expectations haven’t changed,” head coach Dave Smith said. “We just now have two freshmen classes that believe that Canisius hockey should be nowhere else but in the championship game.”
The top line down the stretch last season returns intact in Ralph Cuddemi, Mitch McCrank and Shane Conacher. Cuddemi finished tied for the team lead in goals with 15, McCrank was fifth in assists and Conacher was tied for third in assists as a freshman.
Cody Freeman, Braeden Rigney, Tyler Wiseman, Doug Beck and Matthew Grazen (East Amherst) are all back for their senior campaigns along with sophomores Jack Hidi and Josh Kielich (Orchard Park) up front.
Seniors Doug Jessey and Logan Roe will anchor the defense with junior Chris Rumble expected to quarterback the top power play unit after he registered 19 points in a season that started late due to his cancer recovery. Junior Mathew Backhouse and sophomore Geoff Fortman will also see plenty of minutes again on the blueline.
In goal, the team loses its all-time leader in most stat categories in Tony Capobianco, but has complete confidence in junior Keegan Asmundson, who had a better goals against average and save percentage in his two year career albeit in many fewer games.
“This has become our normal path for our goaltenders,” Smith said. “Capo replaced Dan Morrison, who had set most of the goaltending records and now Keegan. He has waited his turn for two years and is poised and ready to take the next step.”
The team welcomes eight freshmen to the program in forwards David Parrottino (Lincoln-USHL), Jeff Murray, Ryan Schmelzer, Nolan Sheeran and Mike Sabatini (Sault Ste. Marie-NAHL), defensemen David Bennett (Cumberland-CCHL) and Jack Stander (Sioux
Falls-USHL) plus goaltender Reilly Turner (Cumberland-CCHL).
“We are excited by our entire recruiting class and look forward to the eight freshmen making an immediate impact this season.”
The team will moves to the HarborCenter as its home rink, but play its first two regular season games at First Niagara Center hosting Western Michigan. Ohio State will be the opponent in the first games at HarborCenter Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and the team will travel to Maine for its other two non-conference games in early January.
“It is a special facility and you can’t underestimate the power of the Buffalo Sabres and the NHL and the facility in our future recruitment,” Smith said. “We’re excited about drawing larger crowds and it’s difficult to measure how good that feels.”
NiagaraAfter earning just three
wins in the 2013 portion of last season’s schedule, the Purps rebounded to finish sixth in the conference and advance to the playoff semi-finals before being eliminated.
And, after losing just four seniors, they hope to build on that momentum in 2014-15.
Hugo Turcotte had a breakout sophomore year leading the team in goals and assists with Isaac Kohls, a quintet of sophomores in TJ Sarcona, Stephen Pietrobon, Brock Edwards, Patrick Conte (Niagara Falls) and Phil Nasca plus juniors Dan Kolenda and Mike Conderman (Greece) returning up front. Also back are senior forwards Sam Alfieri (Buffalo) and
Chris Lochner off injury-plagued campaigns.
“We have a lot of depth returning up front,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “We struggled on the power play, but the learning curve of last season should be in our favor.”
For the second year in a row the defense was hit hard with the graduation of Matt Williams and Kevin Ryan, but Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie selection and Niagara Falls native Vince Muto and co-captains Kevin Albers and Matt Dineen return on the backline along with junior Matt Chirantano plus sophomores Tyler Akeson and Kevin Patterson.
“Albers is the stay-at-home guy who logs about 27-30 minutes a game, so we will build around
him this season. And Muto was in Montreal’s camp this summer so we are nine deep there with recruits and really strong.”
In goal, sophomores Jackson Tiechroeb and Adrian Ignani battled it out for most of last season and will again with the coaching staff expected to ride the hot hand.
The squad welcomes seven new additions including local product Lawrence Smith (Grand Island) on the blueline via Carleton Place (CCHL).
Others are fellow offensive blueliner Keegan Harper, a trio of centers in Luke Edwards (brother of Brock), Robert Angiolella and Derian Plouffe, plus forwards Stanislav Dzakhov and speedster Albin Karlsson.
The Purple Eagles begin the season with non-conference home games with Clarkson and St. Lawrence and will travel for airs at Notre Dame and North Dakota. The AHA schedule begins and ends with home-and-home series with Robert Morris in October and February.
RITThe Tigers went winless over a
nine-game stretch from late-January through February that dropped them through the standings and resulted in a first round road playoff series, which they lost to Holy Cross.
Now they embark on this season after losing two of the top offensive defensemen and two of their top scoring forwards—ultimately 35 of 94 total goals. And from a team that finished second-to-last in conference goals scored to begin with.
“I’m not really that worried about our offense,” head coach Wayne Wilson said. “We expect to have Matt Garbowsky (who missed all but 13 games with an injury) back for a full year and guys like a Caleb Cameron; I’ve seen what he can do offensively from when I saw him in the recruitment process.”
S o p h o m o r e Todd Skirving and junior Dan Schuler (Webster) return after posting solid seasons. Seniors Brad McGowan and Brandon Thompson, junior Josh Mitchell and sophomore Danny Smith will also be given opportunities to fill the goal void.
Juniors Alexander Kuqali and Brad Shumway are the mainstays on the defense along with a trio of sophomores in Dustin Fostvelt, Alex Perron-Fontaine and Michael Holland, who all played in 19 or more games in their inaugural college seasons.
Another key will be in the crease. “We need to find a number one goalie who can consistently stop the puck,” Wilson said. “Up until Shane’s (Madalora) graduation we always had the best goalie in the league and we need to get back to that. All have had their ups and downs and we can’t name a starter right now.”
Mike Rotolo (Greece) looked like he would emerge last fall, but stumbled down the stretch. Then Jordan Ruby was given a shot before also struggling. And
by Warren [email protected]
Canisius goaltender Keegan Asmundson.
Niagara forward Mike Conderman.
Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie selection and Niagara Falls native Vince Muto
returns to the anchor the Niagara blueline.
RIT Junior Dan Schuler
Last years top goal scorer Ralph Cuddemi returns for
another season.
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Men’s College Hockey
Ken McLean played just one game last season as a sophomore. Rotolo won nine of the team’s 12 games last season, so will likely get first dibs.
The team has added seven newcomers with four forwards, including Cheektowaga and Buffalo Jr. Sabres alum Max Mikowski, and three defensemen.
“Max may not show up on the score-sheet right away, but physically he can be a difference maker around the net.”Mark Golberg
(Cumberland) and Myles Powell (Cowichan Valley), and Anthony Repaci (Toronto Jr. Canadians) step in at forward with Matt Abt (Whitecourt) and twin brothers Brady and Chase Norrish (Yorktown Terriers) joining the blueline corps.
The Tigers will inaugurate the long-awaited Polisseni Center on October 10th against St. Lawrence with Clarkson the following night. Boston College is the opponent for the annual Homecoming game at the Blue Cross Arena Oct. 18. The team will travel to Yale to battle Wilson’s son Stu n late-November and will play in the Mariucci Classic in Minnesota in early January to complete their non-conference schedule.
Mike Rotolo won 9 of the team’s 12 games last year.
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Eight graduated high school seniors were recently named as recipients of the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Gary Hill Memorial Scholarship for 2014. The eight included John Conti, Joseph Corio, Thomas Corrao, Joseph Dobmeier, Lucus Hurtt, Joseph Langer,
Michael Laurendi and Jake Schoelles.The NJPE Gary Hill Memorial Scholarship is awarded
to graduating high school students, both male and female, who exhibit evidence of dedication to the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Hockey League (formerly Grand Niagara Hockey League), extracurricular activities, and humanitarianism in the community and academic achievement. All played at one time or another for the Junior Purple Eagles.
It is awarded in memory of the late coach, Gary Hill, who served as a positive role model and exemplified all of these attributes. As a coach and friend to young hockey players, Hill was well respected to this day lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him.
Conti is a graduate of Canisius High School and is the son of John and Julia Conti. He will be attending Canisius College, majoring in Business Finance.
“Even though hockey is a sport, the friendships that myself and my parents made through my involvement have molded me into the man I am,” said Conti. “These experiences go beyond the sport. It’s a life lesson.”
Corio is a graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School and is the son of Joseph and Gina Corio. He will be attending the University of Buffalo, majoring in Environmental Engineering.
“I was not the best hockey player, but my team always treated me equal in playing time and gave me a chance
with the puck,” commented Corio. “By this gesture, I learned a lot about respect.” Corrao, a graduate of Grand Island High School, is the son of Thomas and Monique Carrao. He is attending SUNY Fredonia, majoring in Liberal Arts.
“Hard work, discipline, teamwork, and coming together as one unit are life lessons that have become part of who I am today,” said Carrao. “I look forward to using these lessons in my future endeavors.”
Dobmeier graduated from Niagara Falls High School. The son of Kevin and Denise Dobmeier, Joseph is attending SUNY Brockport and majoring in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training.
“The hockey rink is a place where I have grown and made memories and friends,” remarked Dobmeier. “It’s more that just a rink. It’s a place where I’m comfortable. It’s home.”
Hurtt is a graduate of Canisius High School. The son of Ronald and Mary Jo Hurtt is attending Boston College and is majoring in Political Science.
“Hockey has influenced my character development with dignity,” stated Hurtt. “Sportsmanship, teamwork and a common goal will help me in y future.”
Langer is a graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School. He is the son of Nicole and is attending Niagara University, majoring in Life Sciences/pre-Pharmacy.
“Hockey and team playing has helped me manage my time, problem solve, make quick decisions and listen to instructions,” said Langer. “It has encouraged me to benefit from challenges and use moral values.”
Laurendi is the son of Tom and Deborah Laurendi and is a graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School. He is attending Niagara University, majoring in Sports Management.
Laurendi was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and its outcome has had a profound effect on him. “My teammates wanted me on the ice with them, never treating me different but with respect during my illness,” recalled Laurendi. “It was the same with the coaches. “This to me is the true meaning of sportsmanship.”
Schoelles is the son or Loreen. He is a graduate of Niagara
Wheatfield High School and is attending the University of Buffalo, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
“My current work ethics can be traced back to my hockey experiences with the gifted coaches at Dwyer Arena,” said Schoelles. “I’m incredibly fortunate.”
This is the 10th anniversary of the Gary Hill Memorial Scholarship. To date 51 scholarships have been awarded.
“Gary was a wonderful role model for young hockey players,” stated Judy Villani, chairperson of the scholarship committee for the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles. “He taught many young hockey players how to play good, solid hockey.
“He certainly helped mold many of these young players at the time into the wonderful, outstanding citizens that they are today in our community and around the country.”
“Gary Hill’s legacy lives on,” concluded John Nichols, president of the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagle hockey organization. “Through the generosity of his family and these scholarships, Gary still keeps on giving to the kids in our organization.
“It’s the way Gary would have wanted it.”
by Randy [email protected]
Gary Hill Memorial ScholarshipsGary Hill Memorial Scholarships
DON’T MISS OUT ON NIAGARA HOCKEY!
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Sun., Oct 5 vs Brock 3:00 pmFri., Oct 10 vs Clarkson 7:00 pmSat., Oct 11 vs St. Lawrence 7:00 pmSat., Oct 18 vs Robert Morris 7:00 pm
2014 - 2015 HOME GAMES
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HPHD Training
by HPHD Coach – Jon Haun
Youth Hockey players are spending their critical hockey development time in otherwise ineffective activities that are perceived to have direct benefits and results in their ability to play the game of hockey. I’m referring to the off-ice work outs and specialized dry land training sessions for youth players male and female, ages 8-14.
This is going to be a tough pill for a lot of people to swallow based on their own perceptions. However the proof is in the actual application in relationship to the game of hockey and to the development of the youth hockey player.
When it comes right down to it, if you do not have the proper execution of skills ie: skating, puck handling, shooting, save selection. You could do as many jumping jacks, squats, shuffles, hops, resistant bands and weights as you want. However, without the pure hockey skills, you won’t be able play hockey at that level you are trying to reach.
I’ll say it another way. Having strong legs won’t make you a faster skater. It just makes you a stronger slow skater. The only way to become a better hockey player is through technique and the disciplined execution of that developed technique on a consistent basis.
Players should receive the needed exercise and flexibility training from their hockey coach or hockey
instructor through dynamic sessions and or high tempo practices. This will give them the opportunity to develop anaerobic, aerobic and physical load capacity (that doesn’t mean full ice flow drills for 10 yr olds)
Realistically, under aged, active players should be focused on 2 main areas of off-ice training.
1. Flexibility - to increase range of motion and therefore increase power output.
2. Functional Movement – the ability to move your body in its most efficient and functional way.
Now please note: If your general fitness professional hasn’t talked regular about or have any written literature using the words “Functional Movement”, then they don’t do it. I’ll guarantee that they will now after reading this article.
Off-ice fitness for performance is for older developed players 16 and up, that have the physical maturity to handle it. The way that it will benefit their game, it is for longevity and not for execution. The majority of players under 16 won’t see any benefits directly in their play.
Here is the proof. Sam Bennett at 18 yrs old was drafted #4 overall in 2014. At the NHL Pre Draft Combine held in Toronto, he was unable to complete 1 pull-up. Sam Bennett was quoted as saying “I wanted to do the best I can in every test. But, I guess, ultimately games aren’t won or lost if you can do a pull-up in the gym.”
Let’s be clear, that on-ice skill and potential is worth tons more than a lack of pull-ups.
NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr says “(At age) 17, 18, 19, if you go back in history with some of the players in the game, they’ll find that there was one summer that really made a difference in their physical development,”. Have patience coaches, players and parents. That stage will come.
In the last 5 min of the game and you find that your team needs a goal. Does the coach put out the physically strongest players or skilled players to put the puck in the net?
At the end of the day it comes down to the player’s ability to participate in the game and the only proven way is through skill development and skill execution.
I encourage coaches, players and parents to consider a path with individual skill instruction and development time. This will ultimately have a greater impact on your individual and team game, with much better results.
Steve Thomson – Over 25 years of Professional Coaching Hockey Experience
High Performance Hockey Development (HPHD) Training Center is WNY only premier fulltime hockey training center that offers a variety of programs to accelerate the hockey development of players, teams and coaches of all ages and levels from youth to the professional ranks. Individual, small group and team and coach programs available every day. Home of HPHD Hockey Academy www.HPHD.us
You Can’t Score Goals from the Weight Room
Sign up sheets available online @ www.wheatfieldblades.com or in the pro shop.
WheatfieldBlades
Join us for our 9th Annual
• 3 on 3 format with goalie• 3 games minimum (6 max per team)• Two – 10 minute periods
Open to all Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee & Bantams House and Travel
Join us on Saturday, October 18th as we Pink The Rink to support Breast Cancer Awareness.Events planned throughout the day.
December 6, 2014 at Hockey Outlet$240.00 Per Team
Cross Ice Tournament
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Help us share the news about how your teams and players are doing this season. Send your results, as well as news about off-ice activities such as charity drives or other special events, to [email protected].
Bud Bakewell BruinsThe Bud Bakewell Bruins Midget U18
Tournament-Bound team got their 2014-15 season off to a successful start, winning the 2014 NU Early Bird Tournament at Dwyer Arena on the Niagara University campus.
The Bruins opened the tournament with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Buffalo Stars. John Liberti and Brian Losel both scored twice, while Kyle Fallon made 25 saves. Fallon followed that up with 20-save performance in a 7-0 shutout win over Clarence. Erick Santiago led with two goals and two assists, while Matt Metz had two goals and one assist. Liberti added a goal and assisted on two more, while Losel and Jeff Wawrzynek also scored.
The Bruins then downed the hosts, Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles, 5-1. Liberti scored twice and Metz once, while Gage Holler added two goals. Luke Stewart got the start in goal and made 15 saves in the win.
The team then suffered its only loss of the tournament, a 2-1 decision, to Cazenovia Park. However, the Bruins won the rematch in the championship game. Michal Swacha scored a hat trick, while Alan Szumla had a goal and three assist. Sam Cruver added a goal and assist, while Stewart again started in goal and made 19 saves.
The Bruins’ Bantam Major Tournament-Bound team also appeared at the Niagara Early Bird tournament, finishing as runners-up in their division. The team went 2-0-1 in the preliminary round and led the entire division in goals scored, with every skater picking up at least one point.
The run began with a 9-0 win over the Niagara County Coyotes. Lucas Vandevelde netted a hat trick while Austin Spatorico scored twice, including what proved to be the game-winning goal. Goalie Dominik Militello picked up the shutout.
The team followed up with a 1-1 tie against the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles. The hosts broke the scoreless tie with 4:46 remaining in regulation time. The Bruins pulled goalie Evan Kumpf, who had played a strong game, in favor of an extra skater and the gamble worked, as Josh Costolnick netted the game-tying goal with 59 seconds remaining.
The Bruins then faced some internal opponents, the Bud Bakewell Bruins Mixed, and skated away 8-2 winners. Cole Miller and Josh Provenzo both scored twice for the winners.
The championship game saw a rematch with the hosts. Costolnick and Colin Branka scored to put the Bruins ahead but, after cutting the lead to 2-1 in the second period, NJPE scored two shorthanded goals in the third to come from behind and win the title.
Buffalo BisonsThe Bisons’ Girls 16U team started
off their season as finalists in the Green Division at the Stoney Creek (Ont.) Midget Showcase (see photo).
The Bisons are teaming up with Canisius College men’s hockey this season to help enhance on-ice instruction for the association’s member players. Noah Segall, who joined the Golden Griffins’ staff as its Director of Hockey Operations in June, will work with Bisons hockey director Shelley Looney and the association’s skills instructors throughout the coming season, including regular visits and interaction with members of the Canisius squad.
“We think having these young men on the ice will provide our players with the opportunity to see firsthand how drills should be executed,” said Looney in a statement released by the Bisons. “Having Division I college skaters on the ice is bound to raise the tempo at every practice. This is all part of our new partnership with Canisius College, who will be using the North Buffalo Rink this fall for practice before moving to the HARBORCENTER in late October.”
Looney went on the express her special thanks to
Canisius College Head Coach David Smith, who has been a long time friend, parent, coach and supporter of Bison Hockey: “Coach Smith has been a great resource to me this summer as we have been developing the new skills instruction program for Bison Hockey. We are very excited to begin implementing what we have designed.”
Buffalo RegalsU16 AAA win the USHL Atlantic Challenge
A brand new state of art facility opened in Long Island, within a mile of the Nassau Colliseum. Twin Rinks at Eisenhower Park. The USHL hosted the 2nd annual USHL Atlantic Challenge.
Hosting u14, u16, u18 and u20 AAA teams from all over the country. The event also hosted games between the Cedar Rapid Rough riders, Lincoln Stars and Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, along with the USA Hockey National Development u18 team. The event included a player/coach meet and greet and question and answer symposium hosted by Robert Fallen, president and commissioner of the USHL. The panel consisted of Pat Lafontaine, John Vanbiesbrouck, Peter Ferraro, Chris Ferraro, representatives from College Hockey Scouting and NHL Central Scouting.
The Buffalo Regal u16 AAA team coached by Matthew Barnaby won the tournament with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss. Outscoring their opponents 25 to 9.
The Regals Girls 10u team WON the Oakville Tournament this past weekend! The girls won all 5 games and all 5 were shut outs!!! This is certainly an exciting start to the season.
Buffalo StarsThe Stars once again held their official
home opener by hosting their annual Salute to American Troops weekend at Holiday Twin Rinks. This year’s festivities, held September 20, included fundraisers to support the Wounded Warrior Project. The annual Salute has become synonymous with the Buffalo Stars organization in September.
The Stars’ stable of teams were already busy weeks before. The Midget U18 played a seven-game exhibition schedule, through which they went 2-4-1.
“The boys just want to get on with league play,” said head coach Jerry Wheeler. “They are anxious to show that they can compete in this league. We just added our 20th player and our roster is now complete. Our focus is now on making
a run to qualify for the States.”The U18 team consists of goaltenders Antonio Szpara
and Jack Niesyty. The defense includes Peter Jankowiak, Christian Buczyk, Alex Kusmierz, Alex Huff, Iliaselias Vergos and Lucas Majiejewski. The forwards include Anthony Deperno, Alex Lynch, Zachary Benzo, Dustin Dabb, Cameron Webb, Jason Raimondi, Brendan Abel, Cody Zajaczkowski, Kyle Sroka, Matt Gajewski, Jamie Cummings and James Heinike.
The Stars U18 Midget team competes in both the WNYAHL AA Tournament-Bound Division as well as the National Junior Prospects Hockey League. Their NJPHL season was set to begin September 26 in Detroit.
The Buffalo Stars Girls programs, the 19UTB and 19UNTB teams, along with Coach Dawn got together for some unique team bonding in the preseason, participating in the 5K Color Run charity event.
HARBORCENTER, NJPE, Tonawanda Lightning announce partnerships
Two associations announced they are joining into youth development partnerships with the Buffalo Sabres’ forthcoming HARBORCENTER, the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles and Tondawanda Lightning.
According to a statement forwarded to WNY Hockey Report by Jr. Purple Eagles officials: “All of NJPE’s travel teams will be participating in this program at some time during the season. The team will receive two hours of programming and an on-ice practice session at the HARBORCENTER designed and executed by Academy of Hockey staff which includes Kevyn Adams, Adam Mair and Martin Biron.”
The Lightning are equally excited to be working soon with the Academy of Hockey: “This unique program provides select associations the opportunity to practice at HARBORCENTER with the Academy of Hockey coaches and utilize all of the world-class features of the facility. It also allows HARBORCENTER to build relationships and connect with teams in the surrounding communities who share similar goals and have the ambition to further develop and improve players’ and coaches’ knowledge of the game, technical skills and performance both on and off the ice.”
Wheatfield BladesThe Wheatfield Blades’ 16U AAA team
celebrated the start of a new season with victory at the Tier I AAA Labor Day Face-Off Tournament in Boston, Massachusetts.
The tournament drew teams from throughout the northeastern U.S. Head coach Bob Hermann credited the emphasis on team play and precise passing as the key to the Blades’ success: “This is a tight team with all the boys playing for each other.
“The line of Steffan, Marinelli, and Hailey pumped in a total of 22 goals, with Steffan scoring 10 of them. Downie, Miklinski, and Smyth provided a physical presence combined with a timely scoring touch.
“The ‘all energy’ line of Vivian, Braun and Amodio gave the opposing teams fits with their aggressive forecheck. But the key to the tournament win was locking down the defensive end. The defensive crew of Wildt, Wahler, Spataro, Canada, and Torcasio played sound and physical defense. Combined with the stellar goaltending of Hermann and Von Hedemann the back end only allowed 6 goals in 7 games.
The team remained undefeated, at 9-0-1, at deadline.
Continued on page 26
Around The AssociationsEdited by Michael Mroziak
Around The Associations
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The season is here and we’re ready.
The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles has a new 19U team coached by a familiar face to women’s ice hockey—Scott Welch.
The team is a Tier 1 Tournament Bound 19U team with the goal to provide the best exposure for WNY girls by participating in the most highly scouted College Showcase Tournaments in North America, according to Welch.
They opened their season at the Boston Beantown Classic Showcase Tournament and finished second in a field of 60 teams from throughout the United States and Canada.
In their first game they took an impressive 5-0 win against Cam Am United, a team of US and Canadian players. A 4-0 win over Pro Hockey of Toronto rounded out the first day of the tournament.
On Day Two they beat the Titans 3-1 and in the fourth game of the tournament they went up against the University of New Brunswick, tying the game with less than four minutes left and defeating the Titans 2-1 in a shootout.
Then it was on to the West Coast Selects, whose goalie plays for the USA 18U Team. The Purple Eagles took advantage of rebounds and beat the Selects 3-0.
As they moved to the quarterfinals they played Skate to Excellence, a team from Minnesota. Another win
with 3-0. In the Semi-finals they faced the Minnesota White Caps, an All-Star Team consisting of 14 DI players and several who play on Team USA. They held on for a 1-0 victory.
They faced the Montreal Express in the finals and with a little over 5 minutes left Montreal went on ahead to beat NU 2-1.
They also played in the North American Hockey Academy College Showcase in Burlington, Vermont over Labor Day.
Opening against the PWHL’s Oakville Jr. Hornets, the Purple Eagles came up short with a 3-0 loss. They went on to face the Minnesota Starzz with the Purple Eagles leading 1-0 with a little over 5 minutes left in the game but the Starzz put in two quick goals. Niagara won’t be stopped and stormed back with 2 goals in the last 3 minutes to win 3-2.
On to the A Championship Playoffs they would face the Bay State Breakers (Boston). They lead 1-0 through the halfway point of the final period but with less than 4 minutes to go Bay State scored 2 goals.
To close out the tournament the Purple Eagles took on the Minnesota White Caps and with a total team effort won the game 3-1.
Their record is 13-2 as they prepare for the Stony Creek University Showcase in mid-September
Welcoming a OlympianThe WNY area is welcoming Olympian Shelley Looney
to the hockey scene. Looney will serve as Director of Hockey for the Bison Hockey Organization. She will be instituting an age appropriate skill development curriculum for the Bison’s from Mites to Midges, both
boys and girls. WNY Hockey will be talking with Looney shortly and will share her insights into women’s ice hockey with our readers.
Around the CampusRIT will dedicate their new arena on September 18.
Located at the south end of the RIT campus, the Gene Polisseni Center will be home to the Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. With 4,000 seats and additional standing room, it has a total capacity of 4,300. We will have more coverage of the Dedication in an upcoming issue.
RIT’s women’s ice hockey team opens its season with an exhibition game against the Pursuit of Excellence on September 29 in the Polisseni Center. Their regular season opens at home against Union College on October 3. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
Buffalo State’s women will open their 2014-15 season against Plymouth State in Plymouth, NH followed by a game against Nichols College in Massachusetts. They open their regular season against Potsdam in Potsdam on November 7 and 8. The Bengals home opener will be against Neumann College on November 14 at 7 p.m.
Latest NewsThe NYSAHA West Section has approved for formation
of the Buffalo Ice Breakers, a women’s “C” hockey team. The Team will skate out of Hockey Outlet. Girls ages 18 and up are invited to skate. They will be playing a schedule of games that include local women’s teams and collegiate teams. For information contact Allyson Zurawski at [email protected]
Women’s Hockey
Women’s Hockey
by Janet [email protected]
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WNYHockeyReport.com
RIT officially opened their new $38 million ice hockey rink in a ceremony Sept. 18. The Gene Polisseni Center sits on the south side of the Student Alumni Union, boasts 4,000 seats plus 300 standing room and includes reserved chair-back seating, a special club section and six corporate suites—four on the club level, one on the media level and a unique bunker suite at ice level.
Gene Polisseni served as vice president of marketing at Paychex until he died in 2001. Most of his professional life was devoted to helping build the payroll services company, but hockey always remained his personal outlet. He organized youth and adult amateur leagues throughout the area and he regularly attended professional hockey games.
The Polisseni Center is among the few new arenas without a center-ice scoreboard. Instead, two 23-foot-by-13-foot high-definition video boards—a gift from J.M. Allain ‘03, president and CEO of Trans-Lux Corp.
Both the women’s and men’s teams began practicing
on the ice surface the week of Sept. 15 with the first game an exhibition game for the women on Sept. 29 against followed by the first regular-season game Oct. 3 versus Union. The men’s exhibition game is Oct. 4 against Brock University with its season opening Oct. 10 versus St. Lawrence.
“I can’t wait to see what a sellout crowd will look and sound like here compared to Ritter,” said Churchville native and sophomore forward Garrett McMullen. “With the Corner Crew and student section, it’s going to be a great place to play. It’s great to see everyone come together to support a top-notch facility.
“There is some added pressure now to win in front of even more fans, but it’s a good pressure. My first memories at eight-nine-ten years old is going to Ritter and thinking this was the NHL of Rochester. Once I decided to pursue hockey, my goal was to come back in Rochester. My freshman year last year was a great experience with Ritter’s last year and now this is just amazing.”
Tiger freshman forward Matt Mikowski from Cheektowaga and the Buffalo Jr. Sabres only saw Ritter Arena as a recruit watching from the stands, but still could draw comparisons.
“Very different, but I can see the same Ritter magic even though it was smaller. This is special.”
All of the 4,000 seats are gray and black except one, located in Section 107, Row K, Seat 8, that is orange in tribute to former RIT goaltender Green B. Williams from the class of 1978. After graduation he was killed in a pilot-training accident in 1984 while enlisted in the Air Force.
Tigers Open New Den
by Warren [email protected]
RIT Tigers Open New Den
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WNYHockeyReport.com
By Mike Smietana [email protected]
Throughout the day many of us including myself drink coffee, milk, juice etc. without even considering a glass of water. Sometimes many of us just do not consider it because we want something that tastes good and some of us just do not even realize how much our bodies actually need water. When you think about our bodies it is known that every metabolic process that our bodies have is using water and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. According to the Mayo Clinic, “every system depends on the water you take into your body. When your body does not get enough water this can cause dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. Water carries nutrients to your cells and also flushes out toxins in your body.”
Ok, I do not want to attempt to break down the science of the process to bore you anymore but we as parents, players, and coaches everyone needs to take notice that the consumption of pure water is probably the most overlooked nutritional aspect to a hockey players diet.
So, how much water should an athlete drink each day? Information for this is based on how active a person is their daily life. For example an active hockey player would need to consume much more water than a sedentary adult. Therefore, each person is different and no single guideline will give you the exact science as to how much water your body actually needs. However,
if each athlete is more aware about their specific bodies needs this will help give a better e s t i m a t i o n . So, when I say more aware the old adage of “listen to your body” comes to mind. Are you feeling thirsty, are you getting f a t i g u e d and have heavy legs?
Now, I can already see coaches and managers of teams thinking they are really helping this area because they do bring water to the bench for the players. This is a great gesture, which does help, however can actually be counter-productive causing a player to cramp up if too much water is consumed. The key is for a player to be hydrated before the game even begins. Also, many parents of players are being lured into buying their son or daughter sports drinks, energy drinks and juices are exactly what each player needs. However, this is not something that should be consumed every
day! They are loaded with sugar, caffeine and will lead to performance crashes. Please, I urge the parents and players to instead buy a bottled water or even use filtered tap water. This will save a lot of money each month and in the long run will be more efficient for your body.
Therefore, if you start to consider that athletes lose water through not only through having that heavy equipment on, but also breathing, and sweating and other forms of excretion. With that said for an athlete you must replenish his/her water supply especially before and after games. I hate to break it to everyone, but during games is really not a great time to hydrate. Like I mentioned previously, there really is not a magic formula to the correct amount of water. There is the old formula that say drink 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water a day. This is a not necessarily accurate because it’s not taking into account if someone is exercising or not exercising, if they are working out outside, in the heat, working out all day etc. Also, if an athlete is eating fruits and vegetables daily this will increase the water intake levels as well. On average food provides about 20 percent of the total water intake. Therefore, consuming many fruits, and vegetables such as watermelon and spinach are 90 percent or more water by weight.
Therefore, if an athlete would like to continue to be a top shelf athlete they need to be sure to try and not drink to many other liquids besides. Water is more of a sure thing that is calorie free, sugar free and inexpensive. For more information on Top Shelf Training, please check out www.topshelfhockey.us
The importance of drinking water
Top Shelf Training
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For the third consecutive year the Amerks slotted into the seventh seed for the Calder Cup
Playoffs and, for the third consecutive year, they were eliminated in the first round.
But last April/May they avoided the dreaded playoff sweep as the seventh seeded Amerks extended their series with second-seed Chicago to the limit before falling in game five on the road.
That is only part of the story of every development team’s mission, however, as seven prospect skaters who played in Rochester and two prospect goaltenders all got at least a sniff of NHL playing time.
And this year promises to be as, if not more, competitive as the continuous battle for NHL jobs creates opportunity; especially in a rebuilding organization such as Buffalo.
As training camp gets underway, on paper and using educated guesses as to who will be kept in Buffalo and who will at least begin the campaign in Rochester, it appears that goaltending and defense should be the Amerks strong-suits.
With Matt Hackett out until December or January recovering from his devastating knee injury and Jonas Enroth and Michael Neuvirth both on one-way contracts, the goaltending in Rochester will likely be a battle between Nathan Lieuwen and Andrey Makarov.
Lieuwen began last season—his second as a professional, but first fulltime in the AHL—as the number two behind Hackett, but slowly emerged to take over the top spot, win 17 regular season games and be named the Amerks Rookie of the Year. Makarov began his first pro year with Fort Wayne in the East Coast League before being recalled to Rochester in mid-March. He finished the regular season with a seven game winning streak.
“As long as our goaltending stays healthy in Buffalo, we expect to have Nate and Mak here in Rochester,” head coach Chadd Cassidy said by phone. “We are hoping that Nathan can pick up where he left off before his injury.”
“I also like our depth on the back end and am excited about how tough we will be to play against.”
Depending on what transpires in training camp, the Amerks should be loaded and deep in defensemen. Buffalo has room for seven with Tyler Myers, Josh Gorges, Mike Weber, Andrej Mezaros and Andre Benoit expected to have jobs. That leaves room for two prospects from a list that includes Mark Pysyk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, Nikita Zadorov and Chad Ruhwedel with the other three to start in Rochester.
Add to that mix veterans Drew Bagnall, Nick Petrecki, free agent signee Tyson Strachan via Washington/Hershey, Matt MacKenzie, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc along with rookie Brady Austin (7th round pick in 2012—33 points with Belleville last season), and that adds up to nine blueliners competing for six starting spots.
The depth isn’t quite as impressive at forward, but should still be productive.
Again, assuming 11 of the forward spots will be taken by veterans already on the Sabres roster, that leaves two openings for Nick Deslauriers, free agent signee Zac Dalpe, Matt Ellis, Mikhail Grigorenko, Johan
Larsson, Phil Varone and Luke Adam not to mention first round draft pick Sam Reinhart.
The remainder, barring a trade or other transactions, form the first two lines in Rochester.
Also in the forward mix for the Amerks are second year returnees Daniel Catenacci, Tim Schaller, Joel Armia, Colin Jacobs and Kevin Sundher, veterans Patrick Kaleta and Brayden Irwin, free agent signees Allen MacPherson and Jordan Samuels-Thomas from Clarkson and Quinnipiac respectively, and rookies Justin Kea and William Carrier, a second rounder who was acquired in the Ryan Miller-Steve Ott deal with St. Louis.
Simple math adds up to 17 forwards for 13 spots.“It will be an interesting year for everyone here and
in Buffalo battling for spots,” Cassidy understated. “The coaching staff sat down this summer and counted a good number of second and third year pros who have the ability to step up for us. Plus we have some good, younger pieces.”
Does Buffalo keep mostly veterans and allow the youngsters to develop in Rochester as they transitioned to mid-year last season? Or slowly integrate the prospects into the mix?
It should be an interesting training camp to watch and an eventful season. Just activate the transactions app on your phone to stay up to the minute.
NOTES:• Adirondack has switched affiliates from Philadelphia
to Calgary and were reassigned to the North Division with Rochester. Logic is fleeting that Syracuse is in the Northeast while Utica and Adirondack—both farther away and east of the other teams in the North (Hamilton, Toronto, Rochester)—are assigned to the North. And we wonder why students struggle with geography?
• The 76-game schedule has the Amerks playing 30 of their 38 home games on weekends, with 19 Friday home games, eight Saturday home dates and three Sunday home outings. The team will also host seven games on Wednesdays and one Monday game.
• Rule changes for this year adopted by the AHL Board of Governors:
Rule 85 (“Overtime”)- During the regular
season, the sudden-death overtime period will be seven minutes (7:00) in length, preceded by a “dry scrape” of the entire ice surface.
- Teams will change ends at the start of overtime.
- Full playing strength will be 4-on-4 until the first whistle following three minutes of play (4:00 remaining), at which time full strength will be reduced to 3-on-3 for the duration of the overtime period.
- If the game is still tied following overtime, a winner will be determined by a three-player shootout.
Rule 20.4 (“Major Penalties”) - An automatic game misconduct will be applied to any
player who has been assessed two major penalties for fighting or three major penalties for any infraction in the same game.
Rule 9.6 (“Helmets”) - A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during
play will be assessed a minor penalty unless he immediately (a) exits the playing surface or (b) puts the helmet back on with the chin strap properly fastened.
Rochester Americans PreviewRochester Americans
by Warren [email protected]
Athletic Republic Rochester is pleased to announce our Athlete of the Month for October.
Conlan KeenanRochester Junior Americans Premier Conlan, a forward for the Rochester Junior Americans Premier, leads the USPHL Premier Division in goals with five through five games. Last season, Conlan scored 25 goals and had 61 points for the Junior Americans Elite team, finishing 5th in points and 7th in goals in the USPHL Elite Division. Athletic Republic is proud of his accomplishments and we’re excited to see what he can do this season.
Congratulations Conlan, keep up the hard work!
www.athleticrepublicrochester.com585-426-8488
AthleticRepublicRochester ARRochester
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WNYHockeyReport.com
by Mark Metzger – [email protected] Precision Hockey I have been able to train
professional, college, junior, high school, and youth hockey players. I am privileged to have the opportunity to write columns for Western New York Hockey Report. I have been in many rinks throughout my hockey career, both in the US and Canada, and seen many hockey reports. By far, the WNY Hockey Report has the most prevalent information and is the most influential hockey magazine I have come across. As I write my first article before the 2014-2015 season gets under way, I want to remind players and coaches that player development is critical. It takes countless hours of practice and extreme dedication to become the skilled player you strive to be. This journey is the fun part. Although it is important to train with the proper instructors and coaches, it is vital to keep the fun in the game.
Coaches - Know Your Players and Believe in Them
Coaches pick their players for a reason. They strategically build their roster based upon what they envision for their team. Some players make the team based on their skating skills and playmaking ability, while others are added to the roster because they act as a solid stay home defenseman. Either way, the hope is that these players can give your team the extra push necessary to qualify for states or win the league championship. As a coach, it is important that you believe in every player on your roster. It is crucial to foster an environment where players are not afraid to make mistakes on the ice. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and it is the coach’s job to bring the best out of all players and advance them to the next level. All players develop differently. Some may peak early on, while others may reach their potential later in the season.
Some players are visual; they can see a team breakout on the board and understand it right away. Other players need a demonstration to comprehend the idea. Give all your players the opportunity to learn by providing them with different methods of instruction. You never know where the players you are coaching today or will coach in the future may end up. Believe in the players on your roster and this will inspire them to do great things!
Players - Train and Have a PurposePrecision Hockey has the unique capability of giving
players one-on-one attention. This allows for the players to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Recently, an AHL player came to Precision Hockey to work on maneuvers needed to be more effective in the offensive zone and get the puck to the paint. Several game scenarios were practiced on the ice. After the practice was over this player remained on the ice practicing his skills we were working on. This player was constantly working on his game. A comment he made stuck with me; “I have to get better as a player with the little things or I won’t make it to the next level. This is the difference between making the team and getting cut.” I could not have said it better myself! Self-motivation and the drive to become better is what will take you to the next level.
Meaningful practice is essential. I have seen many players shoot the puck without a purpose. This often results in an easy save or inaccurate shot. When you shoot the puck in practice, shoot low to create re-bounds and scoring chances, just as you would if you were in a game. Your practice habits become your game habits. Every pass, shot, drill and shift should be played with a purpose. Do the little things right. That is what separates the average player and the stand out player. Shooting pucks at home in the driveway, stickhandling
for fifteen minutes, or working out with strength and conditioning coach is what makes the difference. Separate yourself from the rest. Be unique and find your identity as a player. Always remember, work hard and train with a purpose.
Coaches & Players - Act like a ProfessionalWatch Peyton Manning, the Quarterback for the
Denver Broncos. When he is down by three points with two minutes to go in the game, he never gives up. He is confident. His body language is incredible and he commands the field so well. As a development coach I have seen many players get down on themselves and give up to quickly. When I see a goaltender let in a bad goal and then slam his stick against the crossbar, I cringe. Or when a defenseman comes back to the bench after their pass is intercepted and slams the door, swears, comes up with an excuse, or puts his head down, I shake my head. That doesn’t help the team or player in anyway.
From the perspective of a player or coach, it may seem at times that there is no chance to win the game. These are the perfect opportunities to remind players: (1) it is okay to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them (2) never give up, that’s when you really lose. It is important to instruct and teach your players. Don’t penalize players for their mistakes. Motivate your players so they to want to get back on the ice after mistakes. A player feels so much more confident on your team when they know the coach is confident in their ability. On the other hand, if players keep making the same mistakes then they need further instruction.
Remember, always keep your cool, forget about it, and get back to the game. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s how you react to them that counts. To all the coaches and players this 2014-2015 season, good luck and enjoy the game!
What It Takes to Get to the Next LevelPrecision Hockey Training
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14 15
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Welcome to HARBORCENTER!Buffalo’s Newest Hockey Arena
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Buffalo Jr Sabres
by Ed Grudzinski [email protected]
The Buffalo Jr. Sabres Pee Wee Major Team traveled to Port Huron, Michigan to participate in the Little Caesars Fall Challenge that was filled with top level teams from USA and Ontario. The team had an excellent weekend by knocking off top ranked teams to advance to the championship game against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens where they came up short losing 6-2 to take 2nd place for the tournament.
“This weekend was a great display of hard work, being focused, determined and believing we can play with anyone. I am so proud of my boys how they battled in each game this weekend. Every game was a grind and we grew as a team this weekend on and off the ice,” said head coach Mark Mobus.
The team opened up the tournament by defeating host team Little Caesars 3-2. Goalie Luke Pavicich was excellent in goal and made a huge glove save in the third period to keep the score at 3-2. Ben Carey, Kyle Neudorf scored the first two goals for Buffalo and Declan McDonnell had the game winning goal. Ethan Bishara finished the game with 3 assists.
In the second game, the team lost to Westchester 7-3. Scoring for Buffalo was Bishara, McDonnell and Sam Saccone. On Saturday morning, the team was faced with a must win game to advance to the Quarterfinals and did so by defeating the St. Louis Jr. Blues 7-5. Buffalo goal scorers were McDonnell, Saccone, Austin Robinson, David Bunn, Nate Styles, Bishara and Griffin Tominez. Goalie Andrew Doran was in net for the win.
In the Quarterfinals Buffalo was matched up against Chicago Young Americans and won 3-1. Luke Pavicich was the winning goalie for Buffalo. Saccone scored Buffalo’s first goal and McDonnell added the next two.
Buffalo defeated Barrie Colts in the semi-finals 9-5 in an offensive outburst for the team. Robinson scored two goals, McDonnell, Michael Bevilacqua, Neudorf, Saccone, Matt Yeager, Tominez and Bunn each scored one goal. Doran was the winning goalie for Buffalo.
Buffalo defensemen Sam Saccone, Jacob Zwirecki, Lucas Bell, Michael Bevilacqua, Justin Weber and Mitchell Floccare gained valuable experience from the tournament and had a great weekend.
The Jr. Sabres Pee Wee Major team (12U) opened up the season with three wins in their first three games, defeating the Rochester Grizzlies and the Southern Tier Admirals twice at Riverside Ice Rink.
In both games against the Admirals, the visitors held leads going into the third period only to see the Jr. Sabres rally to win. In the first game, the Admirals led 4-3 before David Bunn scored the game-tying and game-winning goals. They were his second and third goals of the game. Sean Deakin and Griffin Tominez, who assisted on the game-tying goal, also netted goals.
In the second game, the Admirals led 3-0 before Bunn scored another hat trick and Jacob Zwirecki, Tominez and Ethan Bishara added goals to complete a 6-3 comeback.
12U Runner Up Finish in the Little Caesars Fall Challenge
Bottom Row L to R: Griffin Tominez, David Bunn, Matt Yeager, Jacob Zwirecki, Kyle Neudorf, Declan McDonnell, Sean Deakin, Andrew Doran. Top Row L to R: Luke Pavicich, Head Coach
Mark Mobus, Assistant Coach Dave Costello, Justin Weber, Ethan Bishara, Mitchell Floccare, Sam Saccone, Ben Carey, Nate Styles, Assistant Coach Kevin Deakin, Michael Bevilacqua, Lucas Bell,
Austin Robinson
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WNYHockeyReport.com
Rochester Jr Americans
Rochester Jr AmericansRochester Junior Americans Premier Team Shines at Junior Bruins Shootout
After two disappointing losses in their debut as members of the USPHL Premier Division, the Rochester Junior Americans Premier team was eager to rebound with a strong showing at the first league-wide showcase of the season.
Rochester did just that with a perfect weekend at the Junior Bruins Shootout in Marlboro, Massachusetts from September 19th-21st. The Americans finished with a 3-0 record at the showcase to improve to 3-2 overall on the young season.
Facing the host team Boston Junior Bruins in their first game of the showcase, the Junior Americans jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just 1:31 into the contest with a Shaun Patry goal. After the Bruins tied the game at 1-1, Conlan Keenan scored a pair to give Rochester a 3-1 advantage heading into the break. Cody Guidorzi added a goal in the second period and Rochester held on for a 4-2 win over the Bruins.
The Americans dominated the Bruins and nearly doubled their opponent in shots 26-14 throughout the contest.
Rochester followed up their big win over Boston with a 3-1 victory over the Islanders Hockey Club on Saturday. After giving up a power play goal early in the game, the Junior Americans got goals from Connor Boyd and Andrew Behshid to take a 2-1 lead into the break. Nick Petrella added a second period goal and Will Massey turned aside 22 shots in the victory.
The weekend was capped with a 4-0 dissection of the Portland Junior Pirates, as Massey turned in a stellar
performance with 27 saves for the shutout. Guidorzi, Keenan, and Patry all scored along with newcomer Roshen Jaswal to put the Americans ahead 4-0 after just one period.
The top line of Keenan, Patry, and Boyd accounted for six of the 11 Rochester goals on the weekend. Keenan has five goals early in the season to tie for the USPHL Premier Division lead. Petrella has seven assists on the young season to lead the division.
Rochester hosts their first USPHL Premier Division game of the season on September 26th against the CT Junior Rangers at the Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex.
Rochester Junior Americans 18U Win Rochester Midget Invitational
The Rochester Junior Americans 18U team defeated the St. Lawrence Thunder 5-4 in overtime to win the 2014 Rochester Midget Invitational Championship.
Nicholas Pulli scored the game winner for Rochester, who stormed back from a 2-0 first period deficit to take a 4-3 lead in the third period. St. Lawrence scored a late equalizer to force the extra period, but Pulli’s third goal of the game allowed Rochester to hoist the trophy in their first pre-season tournament.
Rochester cruised through preliminary play, going 4-0-0 while scoring 35 goals. Goalies Alex Johnston and
Sean Kuhn anchoreda dominating defense, allowing just four goals in preliminary play. The playoffs saw Johnston earn a shutout in the semi-finals against West Seneca as well.
“Both goalies provided consistent play while having timely saves when needed,” said assistant coach John Cullen. “Alex and Sean are both working hard in preparing for the season and this weekend was a big step in their development heading into the USPHL season.”
The 18U Junior Americans have taken the momentum from their first tournament win of the season into USPHL play, winning their first three 18U Division games by a combined score of 22-1 and going 3-1 overall at the Boston Junior Bruins USPHL Shootout.
Rochester Youth Season Kick Off at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex
On Sept. 13th, Rochester Youth Hockey held a season kick-off event to jump into the 2014-2015 hockey season. This event featured 3 on 3 cross-ice pick-up games for age groups, Mites through Bantams, and a 2-hour family open skate. All players who attended received a RYH t-shirt, co-sponsored by Locker Room Sports. Participants also enjoyed a free Abbott’s ice cream compliments of Bill Gray’s Restaurant. This was a well received family event for Rochester Youth Hockey to kick off our season. RYH plans to continue this as a yearly event.
www.ryhockeytournaments.com
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Junior Hockey
Everyone Can Lead
This is the time of year when coaches are figuring out the players that represent the team as captains or alternate captains. Some coaches choose to have the players vote. Some coaches appoint their captains. A few coaches find a way to combine voting with appointed roles. In other words “I pick the captain and the team votes on the alternates.” Finally, we all know the coach that always picks his own kid.
I thought I would put together a list of traits that may help coaches through the process. It is extremely important to understand that the entire team needs to learn leadership traits, not just a select few. The more that a team understands what is expected of them as leaders, the easier it is to guide the group as a captain and as a coach.
The list of traits is not complete due to the size of this article. It is compiled from my experience in the United States Marine Corps, my training as a manager at Ford Motor Company and experience as an MBA student and eventually teaching at the MBA level.
Judgment – The ability to think clearly, calmly and orderly to make a sound decision.
Dependability – The ability to be relied on to complete a task.
Initiative – Taking action to complete a task without being asked.
Decisiveness – Making good decision quickly.
Integrity – Being truthful and honest in what you say or do.
Enthusiasm – sincere interest and exuberance towards your team and sport. Optimistic! Cheerful!
Bearing – The way you conduct and carry yourself!
Unselfishness – Avoidance of making yourself comfortable at the expense of teammates.
Knowledge – Knowing the team rules, systems, and policies. Know your teammates.
Loyalty – Devoted to your team, your teammates, coach and organization.
There are plenty of leadership assessment tools available. There is also plenty of books and online materials that can summarize the ten traits listed above with slightly different angles and points of emphasis.
My hope by publishing this list of traits is two fold:
First, I hope that there is a possibility that some coaches will utilize this as either a benchmark to help develop leaders of all of their players. If not the 10 traits
listed, maybe it sparks a coach to go out and construct his own set of essential traits. There is no trait listed that is age dependent.
Not only can these traits be taught to beginners, they can be utilized by the coach for self improvement. Hopefully, some coaches will take the popularity contest out of leadership and start instilling some structure that evolves his or her entire team.
Second, my hope is that some players read this list. Maybe they are prompted by a coach or a parent. There is nothing on this list that is hockey centric. All of these traits can be utilized in all aspects of life including family, school, church and your career. Players that are aspiring to play at a higher level can definitely gain by utilizing these traits. Many, if not all, of these traits are not only desired by professional teams, they are required by professional teams. Many NHL franchises spend large amounts of time and money assessing these type of leadership traits prior to signing a player into their organization.
Remember, you don’t have to have a letter on your jersey to be a leader.! !! If you are interested in reading more on this subject, please email me at [email protected]
by Jeff [email protected]
AttentionBoys & Girls!
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NJPE offers boys and girls travel and house divisions.
• Unequaled partnership with the Niagara University Men’s Division I College Hockey program.
• Nationally recognized in 2013-14 by USAH by achieving GOLD status, 2 and 2 challenge for growing the game of hockey.
• Hosts two national tournaments: Thanksgiving Day, November 28 – 30th, 2014, and Patriots Day, Feb 13 – 16th, 2015
• Free NJPE goalie clinics with Bob Janosz for travel and house division goalies.
• Harbor Center Youth Development Partnership program, The Academy of Hockey Gold Partner.
• NJPE / Gary Hill Memorial College Scholarships program.
• 10U Girls hockey program, partnering with the NU girls club hockey team.
• NJPE hosts our own end of season Super Saturday Championship for Instructional players and end of Season Super Sunday Championship for House Mite thru Bantam.
• All house players enjoy end of season NJPE Divisional Banquets.
The Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles are home to over 800 boys and girls youth hockey players. Our travel & house programs are one of the largest in New York State!
THANK YOU...John Nichols, travel president, and Steve Logar. Your service on the Jr. Purple Eagles Board of Directors and the endless hours of time volunteered helped keep our organization one of the best in the country.
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WNYHockeyReport.com
Senior Hockey
by Ron Nowakowski
Another summer session has come to a close for the Holiday/Leisure Adult League, with a couple of surprise teams skating away with the championship trophies. In the C Division, the difference between 1st and 6th (those that qualified for the playoffs), was a mere four points, which was certainly reflective in the competition in the playoffs. Mad Dogs (3rd place) dropped the 6th place Blumpkins, while 4th place Elmwood Cozumel got by ACHA Alumni to advance to the semis. Mad Dogs headed into the third with a 2-1 lead over 2nd place Blackthorn, and was able to hold on to for a 4-2 victory over the second highest scoring team. Meanwhile, Elmwood Coz appeared to be coasting to victory when they gained a 3-0 lead early in the third, before 1st place Arriba Flames stormed back with two goals to narrow the gap. They could not get the equalizer however, and Coz went on to the identical 4-2 victory. The championship game featured a scoreless first period, not for lack of opportunities, and it certainly seemed that OT might actually determine the winner. Greg Brown finally broke the scoreless skid with a pair of goals, and outstanding goaltending by Tom Galanes helped propel Elmwood to a 3-1 championship win.
The C3 Adams division’s fifth place Cousin Stevie sneaked by 4th place Keystone Killers with a 7-6 win, and then faced the 1st place Stars & Snipes, and delivered a stunning 4-3 victory. The other semi-final matchup featured the 3rd place Certo Bros facing off against 2nd
Bar Bill Tavern, who proved too much to handle and came out with a 6-3 win. In the championship game, Bar Bill’s Josh Schmitt not only scored the game winner, he tallied a total of five points leading his teammates to a 7-2 win over Cousin Stevie. The Patrick division’s opening round saw 4th place Men @ Work defeat 5th place Spiel the Wine in overtime 6-5, which provided them the momentum to also defeat 1st place Mercedes Benz 4-1. The other semi-final matchup saw 2nd place Winnipeg Vets take a 5-4 lead going into the third period, but 3rd place Catholic Health came back to tie, and score a late goal to finish a 6-5 comeback victory. Tim Gallo and Mike McCarthy helped C.H. to a hard fought 5-3 win in the championship game.
The Blair Div of C4 featured the top 8 teams squaring off, with the first round matchups of #1 M. Wood shutting out 8th place Affordable Chiropactic, 2nd place Goat Sharks squeaked out a 4-3 win over 7th place Hydro, 3rd place Metal Prep held on for a 4-3 win over 6th place Norsemen, and finally, 4th place Motley Crew skated to a 5-2 win over 5th place CVM Electric. The second round featured the high scoring M. Wood overpowering Motley Crew by a 6-2 score, and the Goat Sharks posting a shutout of Metal Prep, 8-0. In the championship game, the Sharks scored an early first period goal, and it looked like it could hold up. However, Brian Inman led the charge in the second period with two points on four goals, and goalie Tony Auld blanked the Sharks the rest of the way, for the final 4-1 score. In the McFall Div, 1st place Wolfpack dispatched 8th place Bulldogs by a 13-1
score, 2nd place Ice Wolves skated past 7th place Hawks by a 8-3 margin, 3rd place Falcons were upset by the 6th place Whig Party 6-2, and 5th place Sabers needed overtime to defeat the 4th place Outlaws 6-5. The semis featured the Whig party keeping the game close until the third period, when Wolfpack put in a couple insurance goals to advance after a 3-0 win, meanwhile, the Ice Wolves had little trouble in coasting to a 10-3 victory over the Sabers. The championship game featured the two highest scoring teams in the division, and it certainly lived up to expectations, which included five lead changes. But Wolfpack’s Sam Smith helped the scoring binge with two points, and Bryan Wallace chipped in two goals, including the game winner (6-5 final score) just over two minutes after the Ice Wolves came back to tie.
Holiday/Leisure Summer Session Comes To An End
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A Goodbye And Thank You
It is quite amazing how on the cusp of moving to the opposite end of the country could spark up so many fond memories of the area you are in right now and have lived in for your entire existence on this earth.
To have worked with such incredible people here at WNY
Hockey Report and with all of the coaches, administrators, players, former players and organizations around Western New York and beyond has been an absolute blessing and a joy for me.
Now I move on to Orange County, CA on October 3 to begin a new life and pursue a lifelong goal in becoming a play-by-play broadcaster for a pro hockey organization as well as being the head editor for SportSpeak Southern Cal.
In February of 2013 on a snowy afternoon, our Managing Partner Ian Woods and I got together at a Panera Bread and talked about having someone cover the club hockey scene in the area.
Little did I know that throughout the last year and a half this job would take me to places I’ve never been to before and had the opportunity to meet and interview people that I thought I’d never get the pleasure to talk to.
Working for WNY Hockey Report has been an amazing learning experience. Sure mistakes were made, as they should for any young journalist, but I learned from them and made sure that those issues were remedied.
The coaches in the UNYCHL (Upstate New York Club Hockey League) and specifically Commissioner Andy
Musto were so generous and open to any questions for each monthly report.
From former Brockport North Stars coach Rustin McNiff, who was nice enough to do two interviews with me and gave me an incredible amount of content to work with, to Musto always being available for a conversation regarding the league.
The UNYCHL is now stronger than ever with three new schools (Skidmore, Utica and Daeman) joining the 13 others in a league that’s all about guys and universities looking for to play competitive hockey at an affordable rate.
I’m confident that the league will continue to prosper under Musto’s watch and will grow the club programs across the state to levels not seen before.
However I did not forget what the schools in the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) did for me, especially Niagara Purple Eagles head coach Larry Brzeczkowski.
Larry and I did an interview following his team’s triumph in the NECHL Championship game over defending champ U.B at the Northtown Center back in March of this year.
Let’s say that it was the best interview since it was more than just a game for him. It was years and years of work and dedication that culminated into his first title in his 17 years as head man at Niagara.
It was stories like that one that made this job special. So if you get the chance to read this Larry, I wanted to
say thank you for being up front, honest and passionate about the game.
And certainly something worth noting was a travel assignment Ian gave me last August, going to the Bill Gray’s Iceplex in Rochester, NY to cover their annual
Summer hockey festival. To spend the day there and meet and interview such
wonderful people involved in not only the game of hockey, but people involved in the festival itself was a real treat.
To interview the likes of former Buffalo Sabre Ric Seiling, longtime Rochester Americans broadcaster Don Stevens, to the fine people representing the Roc City Roller Derby and especially the event organizers, it was an incredible day to go and talk to all these people that did so much to make that event such a success.
To Curator Phil Pritchard at the Hockey Hall of Fame, it was an absolute pleasure getting to know the intricacies of your rather interesting and utterly mesmerizing career as the “Keeper of the Cup”.
The stories you shared and the amount of care and travel that goes into the complex life of Lord Stanley’s Cup was indeed extraordinary to learn.
I thank you for taking the time to give us an opportunity to learn what it’s like to be well, the babysitter to the richest prize in our sport.
And last but not least, I’d like to thank my mom and my dad, my family, friends, co-workers and everybody else that has been so supportive over the years.
To everyone in Western New York, thank you for supporting this publication and continuing to support in the distant future. There’s a lot of great people who work for this organization and I’m confident that it will continue to thrive years from now.
So in closing, thank you everyone for such an enjoyable ride.
Men’s Club Hockey Report
by Lars [email protected]
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WNYHockeyReport.com
College Club
College Club Hockey Offers Lesser Known Hot Rivalry
by Michael Mroziak [email protected]
Think of college hockey in Western New York and the first programs that may come to mind are the NCAA Division I programs at Canisius College, Niagara University and Rochester Institute of
Technology. Or, the Division III programs in local SUNY-based schools including Buffalo State, Fredonia or Brockport. There’s also Erie Community College.
Hidden in the fabric of local college hockey are club level teams, some of which play in the shadows of their NCAA counterparts on campus. Niagara and Canisius have club teams along with the largest university in the immediate Buffalo area, University at Buffalo.
And when the two meet, they can put on some lively shows.
“It’s as intense a rivalry that you’ll find when the Leafs are at First Niagara Center,” said Ryan Burgess, a local public address announcer whose hockey gigs include the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and University at Buffalo.
UB and Niagara’s club teams are even considered among the top programs by the American Collegiate Hockey Association, the umbrella organization under which several club leagues compete. UB and Niagara compete in the northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL), which is ranked as Division I under the ACHA structure. Also competing in the NECHL are club teams from Canisius, St. Bonaventure, RIT, Ithaca College, Cornell and Syracuse.
Elsewhere throughout the leagues under ACHA, you’ll spot some other colleges and universities who are more easily recognized for other sports programs. Maryland, Penn State, Oklahoma and Arizona State are just a handful of examples. The ACHA, like the bigger NCAA, is broken down into divisions. There are three divisions of men’s teams and two women’s divisions.
Why compete at the club level? In theory, it’s more right-sized in terms of resources. However, even some ACHA programs offer the near-pro experience that their big brothers at the NCAA level offer.
“Most definitely the right size for most of schools is the ACHA but we, even like the NCAA programs, (have) a bit of an ‘arms race’ among the schools, with larger universities tending to be more successful,” said UB assistant coach Jeremy Kersten via email. “On-campus facilities, larger lockers rooms, financial funding, and full-time paid coaching staffs are becoming commonplace. And some universities fully support their ACHA programs from an operations side of things.”
Like other college sports programs, there are haves and have-nots.
“It is tough to compete against the larger schools with budgets twice ours. We do the best we can with player dues and fundraising,” said Niagara ACHA head coach Larry Brzeczkowski. “We played Arizona State, which is ranked #1 and won the national championship last year, this past weekend (September 19) and lost Friday, 8-3, after flying across the country and playing the same day. Saturday (Sept. 20) we lost, 4-3, and had our chances to win the game. I also believe the larger schools have an easier time getting recruits because of their student body, better budget and possibly easier entrance the school.”
But then there are the little things that small colleges offer that proves appealing to some recruits who sign up for Western New York’s club teams.
“Niagara University is a great education and our graduates always seem to get good career jobs within 12 months after graduation,” Brzeczkowski added. “Our players love the atmosphere here on campus being a smaller college they get to know all their fellow classmates which you cannot do at a large school.”
UB and Niagara have filled their respective rosters with both local talent but also some recruits from elsewhere in the nation. Over at Niagara, returning players include Max Hyland (Grand Island), Dallas Szustak (Cheektowaga), Anthony Russell (Grand Island) and Patrick Ryan (though his parents live in California he has local roots), just to name a few.
Over at UB, which is led by head coach Sal Valvo, the roster is made up mostly of local talents.
“From top to bottom, we have players from South Buffalo, Lancaster, and Amherst, Hamburg and so on,” said Kersten about UB’s roster in an email to WNY
Hockey Report that combined comments from himself, Valvo and assistant coach Chris Maxick. “We have two of the top five offensive players in the country in Brendan Robinson and Mike Schalberg. We have three very talented defensemen on our team that could be the #1 or #2 defenseman on any team in our league, Sean Dungan, John Rein and Dimitri Koutsomitis. All five are local players.
“Two rookies on our team that will be very effective and successful players in this league are Eric Szcecinski and Bobby Piotrowicz. Of our 29 players currently on our roster, 22 of them are from Western New York.”
The rosters on other Western New York clubs are also filled with local talents. Canisius College’s roster featured a vast majority of players from the Buffalo area. St. Bonaventure’s roster, as posted on the ACHA’s official website, was not yet completed but included local talents such as Colin Coppola from Hamburg.
Niagara and UB, though, remain the prominent clubs among the local club teams and both were nationally ranked by the ACHA in their preseason poll. University at Buffalo was ranked 19th while Niagara was 20th.
They’ll meet at the Northtown Center at Amherst on Halloween night. While Niagara will face Canisius in NECHL hockey the previous Friday at Buffalo State College, this is one league where NU-UB has become bigger than NU-Canisius.
“UB has a good team. Sal does a nice job,” Brzeczkowski said. “For the past several seasons, it seems like UB and NU are always fighting for an NECHL championship. I know both teams players really get up for those games. Both games against UB always have good crowds as being 20 minutes away our fans can travel to both arenas.”
“The atmosphere inside the glass is intense and physical, but full of respect amongst players and coaching staffs,” said Kersten. “The atmosphere on the outside of the glass can be hostile, loud, passionate, and could be one of the most contentious opposing fan bases in the ACHA and local hockey.”
More information about the local club teams competing under the ACHA can be found at achahockey.org.
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Around the Associations Continued from page 9
Congratulations to the winners of the Webster Cyclone Challenge travel tournament.The tournament was held the weekend of September 12th-14th at the Webster Ice Arena and the Paul Louis Arena. Championship game results:PW Minor: Webster Cyclones 4 - Rochester Monarchs AAA 2PW Major: Cazenovia Chiefs 5 - Perinton Blades 4Bantam Minor: Webster Cyclones 5 - Monroe County Eagles 4 (OT)Bantam Major: Webster Cyclones 0 - Batavia Ramparts 3Midget 15/16U: Webster Cyclones (Horan) 4 - Onondaga 0
Winners of the PeeWee Major Bracket: Cazenovia Chiefs led
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