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Fensore Looks Ahead To NHL Entry Draft

By
Randy Schultz
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0

BY RANDY SCHULTZ –

Domenick Fensore felt that being a teammate of projected 2019 number one draft pick, Jack Hughes, in the upcoming National Hockey League Draft worked to his advantage this past hockey season.

“To go against Hughes and all of the other guys on the team every day in practice, I knew it would make me better in the long run,” said the 17 year-old Fensore, a native of Thornwood, NY, who played this past season on the US U18 National Hockey Team. “It made me push myself and challenge myself everyday.”

While Fensore is considered a player who could go high in the Draft, at 5-7 and 154 pounds looks can be deceiving.

“There are guys playing NHL hockey right now that aren’t the biggest or tallest,” remarked the young defenseman, who has been playing hockey since he was four. “But they’re fearless and not afraid to go into corners.

“That’s my style of game. And I think I convinced many of the NHL teams during my interviews with them that I can make a contribution to their team.

“The game of hockey today is changing. More defenseman are puck moving and fearless. If you can move the puck and think fast, you can make it in the NHL today.”

Fensore bsegan playing organized hockey with the Westchester Express, Fairfield Jr. Rangers, the PAL Jr. Islanders and finally to the NTDP.

Did the defenseman’s game improve this past year with the NTDP?

“I think I grew all year long,” answered Fensore, who grew up in Westchester, NY.  “I think I started the year kind of slow.

“But as the year went on I kept playing my game and getting better in the gym and on the ice everyday.”

While growing up Fensore did play a couple of other sports.

“I played lacrosse and baseball,” said Fensore. “I stopped playing baseball when I went to the US National program two years ago.

“And I must admit that I do miss it.”

Fensore, who grew up a New York Rangers fan, was one of 10 players listed in the Top 29 prospects that could be drafted this year.

“I think there are so many people dedicated to the program to continually make it better,” remarked Fensore. “They work at getting each and every player better.

“And that’s the attitude of the players coming to the rink everyday and that is they want to be better everyday. We just want to get better and every practice and every game.”

Although he will be at the upcoming NHL Draft in Vancouver, BC, Canada, the defenseman admits that he will be watching the draft very closely.

“You want to see your teammates do well,” said Fensore. “I want to see each and everyone of my teammates who are eligible for the draft get taken in this draft.

“That’s what this is all about.”

Happy Father’s Day!

By
Randy Schultz
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0

A Happy Father’s Day to all of those hockey dads out there. Have a great day. From the staff of NY Hockey OnLine.

Buie Returns With Beauts

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Randy Schultz
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Corinne Buie

Two-Time Isobel Cup Champion, Two-Time All-Star Corinne Buie is Back with the Buffalo Beauts

June 14, 2019 – There has yet to be an NWHL season without Corinne Buie playing in the Isobel Cup Final. The outstanding forward will continue her drive for five Finals, becoming the first player to sign with the Buffalo Beauts for the 2019-20 season.

Wearing a letter on her jersey the past two seasons in Buffalo, Buie has established herself as a well- respected leader and veteran since the NWHL’s inception. She helped lift the Boston Pride to the first-ever Isobel Cup title in 2016, before scoring the championship-winning goal for the Beauts in the 2017 Cup Final to become the league’s first two-time champion. Since then, she helped lead Buffalo to two more Final appearances.

She’s 24-18-42 over 74 career games.

“I am so proud to have Corinne back for her fourth season in Buffalo,” said general manager Mandy Cronin. “She has been an integral part of the organization, and we are thrilled to have her wearing Beauts’ blue again.”

A native of Edina, Minnesota, she played her collegiate hockey at Providence, amassing 100 points (44-56-100) in 128 games for the Friars. After posting 24 points (11-13-24) and a career-best plus-17 rating in her freshman season, she was named a Hockey East All-Rookie selection.

Buie graduated from Edina High School, where she was a prolific multi-sport athlete, earning seven varsity letters and All-State honors in both hockey and soccer.

While playing for the Beauts, Buie works as a barista at Daily Planet Coffee in Buffalo. She is continuing her education and is pursuing a career in audio engineering.

About the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)

Established in 2015, the NWHL became the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players and share in revenue from select apparel sales. The mission of the league is to promote and develop women’s hockey, increase participation and interest in the sport at all levels, and shine a light on the role models that fill the rosters of all of its clubs. The league is made up of the Boston Pride (2016 Isobel Cup champions), Buffalo Beauts (2017 champions), Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters (2018 champions), and Minnesota Whitecaps (2019 champions). For more information, please visit NWHL.zone and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @NWHL.

Contact: Amanda Ghysel, NWHL amanda@nwhlhq.com photos by Michael Hetzel and Matthew Raney

“Buffalo has become like a second home to me, and I am very excited to continue my career as a Beaut,” said Buie.

In addition to her pair of Isobel Cups, Buie has been selected to play in a pair of All-Star Games – in Pittsburgh in 2017 and in Minnesota in 2018 – and represented Team NWHL in the two-game series against the U.S. National Team prior to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. In her three seasons as an integral part of Buffalo’s offense, Buie has 29 points (16-13-29) in 50 games.

(Photo by Janet Schultz)

Beauts Name Head Coach

By
Randy Schultz
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0

Pete Perram Named Head Coach of Buffalo Beauts

Pete Perram, a respected coach with more than two decades of experience in women’s hockey at the international, club, collegiate and local level, has been named the new head coach of the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League.

“Pete Perram is the perfect person to lead our team in Buffalo,” said Beauts general manager Mandy Cronin, who was coached by Perram during her playing career. “I have first-hand experience with his team leadership and bench management. He is the kind of coach that you want to work hard for, day in and day out. With his relatability and wealth of experience, I know he will be highly respected by our players, staff and fans. We are thrilled to have him leading the way for the upcoming season.”

Perram was the head coach of Switzerland’s Women’s National Team between 1998 and 2001. During his tenure, the Swiss national team finished second at the Group B IIHF World Championships in Latvia in 2000.

After returning to his native Canada, Perram accepted a coaching position with the Senior AAA Durham TELUS Lightning team in Ajax, Ontario. He remained their head coach for six years. It was during that time in the now-defunct NWHL (unrelated to the current one) that Cronin, a goaltender, played for Perram. In addition, Perram was a coach mentor for the Etobicoke Dolphins Girls’ Hockey Association and coupled that experience with coaching their Intermediate AA program for two seasons. From 2009 to 2015, he was associate coach of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks women’s hockey team.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to coach the Buffalo Beauts and play my role in showcasing amazingly talented and dedicated hockey players,” said Perram. “I look forward to working with Mandy Cronin in taking this great organization to the next level of success and to provide incredible entertainment for hockey fans in Western New York.”

About the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)

Established in 2015, the NWHL became the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players and share in revenue from select apparel sales. The mission of the league is to promote and develop women’s hockey, increase participation and interest in the sport at all levels, and shine a light on the role models that fill the rosters of all of its clubs. The league is made up of the Boston Pride (2016 Isobel Cup champions), Buffalo Beauts (2017 champions), Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters (2018 champions), and Minnesota Whitecaps (2019 champions). For more information, please visit NWHL.zone and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @NWHL.

(nwhl.zone photo)

Porter To Return To Amerks

By
Randy Schultz
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0
Photo: Micheline V/ Rochester Americans

PORTER RETURNS ON ONE-YEAR AHL CONTRACT

Amerks captain returns for fifth season in Rochester

(Rochester, NY) – Rochester Americans General Manager Randy Sexton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with veteran forward Kevin Porter on a one-year American Hockey League contract for the 2019-20 season.

Porter, 33, returns for his fifth season with the Amerks after finishing fourth among all Rochester forwards in assists (29) and seventh in points (39) in 58 games during the 2018-19 campaign. He also appeared in all three of the Amerks North Division Semifinal games against Toronto, adding two points (1+1) and five shots.

Over his 12-year pro career, Porter has notched 331 points (122+209) in 481 career AHL games between Rochester, San Antonio, Lake Erie (Cleveland), Grand Rapids and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while also tallying 24 points (3+7) in 39 Calder Cup playoff games.

Porter, who has served as Amerks team captain each of the past two years and three times in his previous four seasons with Rochester, has collected 58 points (29+29) in 249 NHL contests with Phoenix, Colorado, Buffalo and Pittsburgh.

Prior to turning pro, the Detroit, Mich., native amassed 183 points (85+98) in 162 games over a four-year collegiate career at the University of Michigan (CCHA). As a senior, Porter won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top collegiate player after registering 63 points (30+33) and helping the Wolverines to an NCAA Championship while serving as team captain.

He was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the fourth-round (119th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.

USA Hockey Board Ratifies Declaration of Safety, Fair Play and Respect

By
Randy Schultz
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0
 
Initiative Centers Around Changing Body Checking Culture in Youth Hockey
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –The USA Hockey Board of Directors unanimously ratified the Declaration of Player Safety, Fair Play and Respect at its Board of Directors meeting last Saturday (June 8) in a significant move focused on improving the game at the youth level, particularly related to player safety.
The Board meeting was the culmination of the organization’s four-day Annual Congress here that included meetings among USA Hockey’s various committees, sections and councils.The focus of the Declaration is a concentrated effort to change the culture around body checking and competitive contact at all levels of play and clearly define what is acceptable and unacceptable.
The Board’s action makes clear that a body check must be an attempt to win possession of the puck and not an effort to punish or intimidate. Further, USA Hockey is committed to a culture where there are: 1) no late hits 2) no hits to the head and 3) no checking from behind.
“This Declaration was a collaborative effort of the leaders involved with safety, youth hockey, coaching and officiating and is a blueprint for shifting the mindset of body checking in youth hockey,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. “It is imperative we make some significant changes and this document outlines that way forward.
”Over the course of the summer and through the upcoming season, USA Hockey will work with all constituent groups in providing video examples and other educational materials to ensure all groups fully understand the principles of the Declaration of Player Safety, Fair Play and Respect.
“Safety is always our top priority and our Board took an extremely proactive step with this new initiative,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “This Declaration is the culmination of a lot of hard work by many groups over many months that resulted in moving something forward that is in the best interest of our youth players.”
“USA Hockey has a strong commitment to player safety and this Declaration is an important step forward,” said Dr. Michael Stuart, chief medical and safety officer for USA Hockey and also the co-director of sports medicine at the Mayo Clinic. “All stakeholders in the game of hockey will work together to change culture, promote sportsmanship and ensure mutual respect.”
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
USA Hockey’s Annual Congress also included significant discussion around diversity and inclusion and efforts to address changing demographics and attracting additional groups to the sport. The dialogue was guided in part from the organization’s strong partnership with the NHL and the shared focus of the two groups on making sure hockey is for everyone.“We’re excited about taking the next step in advancing our efforts around diversity and inclusion and the focus on those efforts during our Annual Congress put a positive spotlight on some of our opportunities for additional progress,” said Kelleher.
“Adding Stephanie Jackson as our first director of diversity and inclusion is an important step as we continue to move forward on these important topics to help make our sport better and even more inclusive.”
RECORD NUMBERS
The Board learned that the 2018-19 season included a record 567,908 players. The total includes a record 123,303 at the 8U entry level and also a record 181,765 adult players. In addition, the number of girls and women playing increased by more than 4% overall from 2017-18 to a record 82,808. The number of coaches and officials also increased over 2017-18, with more than 60,000 coaches and 25,000 officials part of USA Hockey.
ELECTIONS
At Saturday’s (June 8) Board of Directors meeting, the Board also:
• Re-elected Bill Hall (Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.) as secretary
• Re-elected Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.) as vice president and chair of the international council
• Re-elected Donna Kaufman (Tacoma, Wash.) as vice president and chair of the junior council
• Re-elected Bruce Urban (Queen Creek, Ariz.) and Shelley Looney (Kenmore, N.Y.) to the two available director at-large positions
• Elected George Atkinson (Spring Lake, Mich.) as director representative to the executive committee
• Affirmed the following as athlete directors: Robert Esche (Whitesboro, N.Y.), Jenny Potter(Minneapolis, Minn.), Craig Brady (Rochester, N.H.), Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich.), Caitlin Cahow (Chicago, Ill.), John Michael-Liles (Vail, Colo.), Lyndsey Fry (Chandler, Ariz.) and Brianne Bittle-McLaughlin (Moon Township, Pa.)
• Affirmed Taylor Lipsett (McKinney, Texas) and Molly Engstrom (Siren, Wis.) as athlete representatives to the executive committee
• Elected Al Murdoch (Ames, Iowa) and Tom Lenz (Vienna, Va.) as director emeritus
NOTES: During Saturday’s Board of Directors meeting, Jim Smith presented President’s Awards to longtime Board members Bill Daly (Montville, N.J.) and Jenny Potter (Minneapolis, Minn.), as well as USA Hockey staff members Dana Ausec, Pam Gibson and Jodie Penn . . .The USA Hockey Annual Congress included two significant award dinners and details can be found here.

Blues Win Stanley Cup

By
Randy Schultz
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0

Although they are not NY-based, we congratulate the city of St. Louis and the St. Louis Blues on winning the 2019 Stanley Cup. Great story and job well done.

Former Syracuse U. Grad Named To USA Hockey Position

By
Randy Schultz
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0
Jon Edwards Named Manager of Communications for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and USA Hockey Arena
PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Jon Edwards has been named manager of communications for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and USA Hockey Arena, it was announced today.
Edwards joins USA Hockey after spending the past three seasons with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder in Glens Falls, New York, where he served most recently as the director of communications.During his time with the Thunder, Edwards led a wide range of initiatives, including all media and public relations efforts, managing the team’s social media channels, and devising and implementing marketing campaigns.Edwards’ tenure with the Thunder included back-to-back North Division championships (2016-17, 2017-18).
He was also widely involved with media efforts when Glens Falls hosted the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic.Prior to joining the Thunder, Edwards spent three seasons in minor league baseball, working for the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) and Altoona Curve (AA) where his focus was video production, creative services and game presentation.
A 2016 graduate of Syracuse University, Edwards earned his bachelor’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

NWHL June Recap

By
Janet
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0

By Janet Schultz

Signings and re-signings are happened in the NWHL, just not here in Buffalo. The latest news has been the hiring of Mandy Cronin as General Manager for the upcoming season.

Cronin is a goalie out of the University of Maine who was a co-founder of the CWHL, as well as a player. She is also founder and director of M-Power Hockey and has served as a coach with USA Hockey.

The latest signing was Amanda Boulier resigning with the Minnesota Whitecaps for a second season. The St. Lawrence graduate is from Watertown, Ct.

Jordan Bricker inked her fifth season with the Connecticut Whale. She spent her collegiate hockey at Colgate before transferring to the University of Wisconsin.

Colleen Murphy signed with the Metropolitan Riveters after playing a season with the Whale and one season with the Buffalo Beauts.

Shannon Doyle, a founding member of the league, resigned her fifth season with the Whale.

A leading scorer from the University of Minnesota, Nicole Schammel has signed with the Whitecaps. In addition to playing hockey she is a sales representative for J.K. Medical and comes from Red Wing, Mn.

Jonna Curtis has resigned with the Whitecaps. She was the recipient of the 2019 NWHL Newcomer Award.

Mary Parker has resigned her contract with the Boston Pride, as did Mallory Sauliotis.

Elena Orlando and Taylor Marchin have re-signed contracts with the Whale.

Lexie Laing, the 12th pick in the 2017 NWHL Draft has signed to play her rookie season with the Boston Pride. She follows in the footsteps of sister Brianna who is currently playing for the Pride and sister Denna who was suffered a severe spinal cord injury in the 2015 NWHL Women’s Winter Classic.

11 Manhattanville Hockey Players Selected To Winter Academic All-MAC Teams

By
Randy Schultz
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0

Manhattanville Sees 12 Student-Athletes Selected to Winter Academic All-MAC Squads

ANVILLE, PA. – Following a successful winter season, in which three teams qualified for their respective conference tournaments – with one, capturing a conference title and advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals – 12 student-athletes from the Manhattanville College men’s and women’s hockey teams and men’s basketball squad were recognized by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) with spots on the 2019 Winter Academic All-MAC teams, the conference announced Tuesday, June 11.

Six Manhattanville men’s hockey players earned the honor – the most of any school in any sport – out of a possible 11 spots this year. All six selections for the Valiants were seniors: Oscar Arfelt(Stockholm, Sweden/Connecticut Oilers (EHL)), Eric Berglund(Sollentuna, Sweden/Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL)), Casper Dyrssen (Stockholm, Sweden/Northern Cyclones (EHL)), Marco Ferraro (Toronto, Ont./St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)), Matt Lippa(Richmond Hill, Ont./Oakville Blades (OJHL)) and Bryan Platt(Trumbull, Conn./Springfield Pics (USPHL)). Arfelt and Lippa earned the honor for the second time, while the other four were first-time honorees.

Out of a possible 10 spots for women’s hockey, the Valiants earned a total of five, which tied for the second-most selections in a single sport among all MAC schools, tied with Lycoming College wrestling. Senior Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) led the way and was joined by juniors Ali Howard (Rye, N.Y./Rye), Zoey Pellowitz (Arlington, Va./Washington Pride (JWHL))and Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alta./Ontario Hockey Academy). Sophomore Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) was also honored. Pellowitz is a two-time honoree, while the rest earned the accolade for the first time.

Sophomore Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph)represented Manhattanville men’s basketball as one of the 10 possible Academic All-MAC honorees.

Overall, Manhattanville had 12 winter sport Academic All-MAC honorees, second among all MAC schools behind only Messiah College’s 15. The Valiants had the most selections among all MAC Freedom institutions, with King’s College behind them as the only other double-digit school at 10. Additionally, Manhattanville accomplished this while only sponsoring six of the nine winter MAC sports (no men’s and women’s swimming or wrestling).

This is the sixth year that the MAC has chosen All-Academic teams, as the conference strives to honor its top student-athletes both on the playing surface and in the classroom. The nomination and voting process is conducted by the Athletic Communications/Sports Information Directors of all 17 MAC member schools in a way that mirrors the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, with voting based on both athletic and academic success.

Eligible Academic All-MAC nominees must maintain at least a 3.20 semester GPA (on a 4.0 scale) during their athletic season, while also competing for their team as a starter or key reserve.

Comets Sign Two Players To Contracts

By
Randy Schultz
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0

COMETS SIGN SEAMUS MALONE AND VINCENT ARSENEAU TO AHL DEALS

Utica, N.Y. – Utica Comets General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the club has signed forwards Seamus Malone and Vincent Arseneau to one-year AHL contracts.

Arseneau, 27, skated in 38 games with the Comets last season, registering 11 points (9-2-11). He originally joined the team during the 2017-18 campaign while on a PTO, picking up a goal and an assist in 20 games.

The Isle-de-la-Madeleine, QC native has played in 236 professional games between the AHL and ECHL, amassing 115 points (65-50-115).

Malone, 23, joined the Comets on an ATO on March 15 and tallied three goals in six games before he suffered a season-ending injury. He recently completed his senior year at the University of Wisconsin, where he tallied 26 points (8-18-26) in 37 games. He registered 104 points (33-71-104) in 143 career games with the Badgers.

Prior to his time at Wisconsin, the 5-10, 181-pound forward suited up in 163 games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, collecting 131 points (55-76-131). The Naperville, Ill. native played four games with the U17 U.S. National Team, racking up two goals and two assists in the 2012-13 season.

Trevor Zegras Looks To Impress at NHL Combine

By
Randy Schultz
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0

BEDFORD’S ZIGRAS PROJECTED AS TOP-TEN PICK FOR NHL DRAFT THIS MONTH

By Warren Kozireski–

The nay-sayers note that Trevor Zegras played on a line with projected 2019 NHL first overall draft pick Jack Hughes with the U.S. National Team Development Program and that inflated his numbers.

Some scouts say he has a better shot than Hughes, is a better playmaker and is one of the top skaters (described as pro-level mobility) among this year’s draft pool.

We’ll find out what NHL team think on Friday, June 21 during the first round in Vancouver.

He is ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and tenth by several other ranking services. The New York Rangers pick second and 20th, the Buffalo Sabres seventh and 30 or 31 and the New York Islanders 23rd in the first round.

“Playing with Jack and Alex (projected top-ten pick Turcotte) every day and all these guys I think pushing me every day and I think that’s where I made the most strides,” Zegras said after Day One of the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo.

“Growing up my favorite player was Patrick Kane and obviously his passes are way better than mine, but I just try to do what I can and maybe emulate him a little bit. I’m a really good playmaker who sees the ice pretty well. I think I do a lot of good things away from the puck and trying to become a 200-foot player and a depth center.”

Zegras is committed to play this fall for Boston University. He saw his offensive numbers explode from 91 points over a combined 87 games with the U.S. Under-17 National Team and the Development Program’s USHL team in 2017-18 to 127 points in 87 games this past year with the U-18 and USHL squads.

The 6’0”, 168 lb. center couldn’t have better timing for where the NHL is going in terms of speed and finesse compared to a decade ago.

“Fast, high-skill pace and you have to play both ends of the ice if you want to go high in the draft.”

(usa hockey photo)

Devils Sign Popugaev To AHL Contract

By
Randy Schultz
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0

DEVILS SIGN NIKITA POPUGAEV TO AHL CONTRACT

Popugaev is a 2017 fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils

BINGHAMTON – The Binghamton Devils announced that the club has signed forward Nikita Popugaev to an American Hockey League contract for the 2019-2020 season. The announcement was made by Binghamton’s general manager, Tom Fitzgerald.

Popugaev, 20, is a 2017 fourth-round pick (98th overall) of the New Jersey Devils. The Moscow, Russia native played in 17 games for Binghamton and recorded five points (three goals, two assists). Prior to joining the Devils, Popugaev spent the 2018-2019 season and parts of the 2017-2018 season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with both CSKA Moscow and Khabarovsk Amur.

The 6-foot-6, 217-pound forward played three seasons of junior hockey (2015-2018) in the Western Hockey League with Moose Jaw and Prince George. In 154 regular-season games in the WHL, Popugaev recorded 47 goals and 76 assists for 123 points.

Memorial Day Weekend

By
Randy Schultz
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0

To all of our followers, please have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend from the staff of NY Hockey OnLine.

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