Geneseo Ice Knights Sr., Conlan Keenan (Webster, NY) puts stamp on SUNY Geneseo career, having been chosen as 1 of 3 students to receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. He becomes just the 4th Ice Knight in program history to earn this prestigious award.
CHEESE IS BACK IN BUFFALO! U.S. OLYMPIAN AND NWHL ALL-STAR LISA CHESSON SIGNS WITH THE BEAUTS
BROOKLYN – The NWHL and Buffalo Beauts are proud to announce the return of an all-time great player and advocate for women’s hockey. Defender Lisa Chesson, a former Olympian, longtime member of the United States National Team, two-time NWHL All-Star, and 2017 Isobel Cup champion, has signed a contract to play for the Buffalo Beauts in 2020-21. It will be Chesson’s fourth season in the NWHL.
“The NWHL has made significant progress over the years in giving us a place to play, but most importantly, making an impact on the next generation of women’s players,” said Chesson. “I am beyond excited to have another opportunity to continue to grow the game both on and off the ice, and I’m really looking forward to next season with Buffalo and the NWHL.”
With the USNT, Chesson helped her country win gold medals at the World Championship in 2009 and 2013, and silver in 2012. As a member of Team USA when they earned the silver medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, she had 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games. She also competed in five Four Nations Cups.
In a celebrated collegiate career at Ohio State, Chesson was 27-62-89 in 145 games.
In the NWHL, Chesson played three straight seasons for the team from 2016 until 2019 and was a top defender on the Beauts’ Isobel Cup-winning squad in 2016-17. In 37 NWHL regular season games, Chesson has two goals, 15 assists and 17 points and is +11. Her plus-15 in 2018-19 led all Beauts defenders. She was selected to play in the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game in Minnesota and 2019 event in Nashville.
An Ohio resident, Chesson is a software developer for Prevedere, a global business intelligence solutions company based in Columbus. Forever dedicated to advancing hockey as a game for everyone, she assists in clinics for players of all levels in Ohio and looks forward to doing the same in Western NY when she re-joins the Beauts.
CARTER BANCKS NAMED UTICA COMETS 2019-20 IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR
The Utica Comets are proud to announce that Carter Bancks has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Utica community during the 2019-20 season.
Carter is unequivocally the leader of the Utica Comets. And while it’s recognized by the 3,900 fans in our building every night because he is the man with the “C” on his jersey, his impact as a leader has been felt by tens of thousands of people in our region over his career with the organization. Those familiar with the hockey side of the organization will tell you that Carter is the top off-ice leader in the dressing room. Those familiar with the community side of the organization will tell you that Carter is the top off-ice leader outside of the dressing room as well.
Carter doesn’t have a switch that turns on and off. He is always his authentic self. And, to the benefit of countless people, his authentic self is caring, giving, dedicated, and grateful to those who have embraced him as one of their own. He is insanely generous with his time and energy in an effort to make the lives of those around him better.
As the longest tenured Comet and a 10th-year pro, Carter could have very easily deferred his community involvement to some of the younger guys in the locker room. But instead of that, he actually volunteered and attended more appearances than any other player on our team. We always knew that we could count on Carter in any scenario that required a community influencer. You knew he could bring joy and energy when meeting with area children, and you knew that he could bring compassion and sympathy when meeting with injured veterans or abused women. We leaned on Carter many times this season in many different situations, and he delivered each and every time.
Carter Bancks isn’t just synonymous with Utica Comets hockey. Carter Bancks is synonymous with Utica as a whole.
He is the consummate example of a professional, and anyone in the hockey world, not just the AHL, should look up to him.
Bancks is now one of 31 finalists for the AHL’s 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League at a later date.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch are proud to announce that Daniel Walcott has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Syracuse community during the 2019-20 season.
Over his five seasons with the Crunch, Walcott has consistently worked with a variety of organizations to become a socially informed and active member of the Syracuse community.
Walcott worked with PEACE, Inc. to become a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program during the 2018-19 season. After a rigorous background check and interview process, he was matched with his little, Jeremiah. Walcott spent part of the summer in Syracuse where he purchased a house and continued to be a mentor for Jeremiah. His work with Jeremiah and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program continued into the 2019-2020 season.
Being part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program means making a large time commitment and becoming responsible as a mentor for a young member of the Syracuse community. In addition to activities, Walcott has spent two seasons building a relationship with Jeremiah as a role model. He helps Jeremiah with his homework and is in contact with Jeremiah’s mother to help him with in-school behavior and responsibilities.
Walcott consistently maintains a strong relationship with both his team and the fan base. He continued to be a leader in the team’s efforts to raise money and support the greater Syracuse community. During the holiday season, Walcott joined his teammates in decorating ornaments that were sold during a December game to support the team’s Change for Change campaign benefitting Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. He visited the children’s hospital and spent time doing arts and crafts with the kids during BHG’s annual holiday party. Additionally, he participated in celebrity bartending to raise money for the Upstate Cancer Center.
During his time in Syracuse, Walcott has become personally close with a number of fans and corporate partners. He wore an “I Fight For Bob Richards” patch on his jersey during the team’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night to honor a friend and long-time Crunch season ticket holder during his battle.
Walcott has also spent his time at different schools, organizations and community centers. He continued the annual visit to Canton Woods Senior Center to spend an afternoon playing pool and shuffleboard with recreation members. He also visited French Clubs and local high schools to speak to the students about being bilingual and cultural diversity, while encouraging their study of another language.
To further his understanding of Syracuse, Walcott did ride-alongs with Officer Dave Demand of the Syracuse Police Department. These ride-alongs offered Walcott the opportunity to learn about the community and develop a stronger appreciation for local law enforcement.
Once the season was postponed, Walcott worked with the front office to take over the team’s TikTok account and create content for fans. The content was meant to provide fans with some entertainment and laughs during a difficult time.
Walcott’s positive energy and willingness to interact with the fans makes him a favorite in Syracuse. He consistently volunteers to participate in team events and motivates his teammates to do the same. He works with the front office to ensure he is in tune with community needs and puts his valuable time to good service. His involvement with the community and fans makes him a great role model on the team and a positive representative of the Syracuse Crunch organization.
Walcott is now one of 31 finalists for the AHL’s 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League at a later date.
STREET NAMED DEVILS’ 2019-20 IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR
Street is now one of 31 finalists for the AHL’s 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
BINGHAMTON – The Binghamton Devils are proud to announce that captain Ben Street has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Binghamton community during the 2019-20 season.
During the first season with the Devils, Street has committed over 20 hours of community service, attending events such as talking with local youth hockey players and meeting with fans. He spearheaded a shopping trip with his team, who purchased over $400 of food to donate to an annual food drive (Fill the Food-A-Bago). Aside from his time in the community, Ben and his wife Jessica brought the team together to donate Christmas presents to over 20 children in need for the local Family Enrichment Network during the holidays, as well as attending the Toys-for-Tots Spaghetti Dinner where he served spaghetti in return for donated toys.
Street is now one of 31 finalists for the AHL’s 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League at a later date.
NATHAN PAETSCH NAMED AMERKS 2019-20 IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR
Defenseman now one of 31 finalists for the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans are proud to announce that defenseman Nathan Paetsch has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Rochester community during the 2019-20 season.
After winning the same award for the second straight year last season, Paetsch has continued to deepen his footprint in the local community despite only playing in 10 games during the 2019-20 campaign.
Prior to the start of the season, his seventh in Rochester and third since the 2010-11 campaign, Paetsch accompanied several Amerks players, coaches and office staff by delivering season tickets to various local businesses and corporate partners of the organization.
While being a healthy scratch for the first three months of the season, Paetsch, a former five-time winner of the Amerks’ McCulloch Trophy for his commitment and dedication to the Rochester community, made the most of his time, however, as he would regularly make appearances to meet with fans and other youth organizations either during or following games as part of the Captain’s Club program.
A few weeks later, Paetsch kicked off the 15th season of the ever-popular Amerks Reading Power Play Program at the Fairport Public Library. The Amerks Reading Power Play program involves players stopping by local libraries, reading to kids and giving a hockey demonstration and allows the kids to learn about the game of hockey and the shows the importance of reading.
As the holidays approached, Paetsch again spearheaded a full-team outing as all 27 Amerks players, in addition to head coach Chris Taylor, visited two Rochester-area hospitals in the same day.
In January, the Amerks partnered with the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester to host “Defend the Ice Month” for the third consecutive season. The month-long campaign focused on efforts to help raise awareness for polar bear and ice conservation primarily in the Arctic regions. The Amerks wore special polar bear-themed jerseys along with matching socks in support of polar bear awareness. To kick off the month, Paetsch, along with forward Tyler Randell, volunteered to appear in video public service announcements and made regular visits to the Zoo in support of the cause.
The Amerks once again partnered with New York’s 529 College Savings Plan for the return of theAmerks Jr. Reporter Program and Paetsch helped provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to local kids that won the chance to interview him and get a tour of the Amerks locker room afterwards as well as watch an Amerks practice.
In February, Paetsch participated in the annual ball hockey game against a group of athletes from Lifetime Assistance, a local organization dedicated to fostering independence, dignity and respect for individuals with disabilities.
Later that month, Paetsch led a one-hour on-ice session following an Amerks practice as part of the Grow With the Pros! Mentor Program in partnership with the Professional Hockey Players Association. Paetsch was joined by forward Jarrett Burton and fellow defenseman Casey Fitzgerald as the group provided on-ice instruction focused on skill development to close to 40 youth participants before hosting an interactive off-ice panel style discussion where PHPA Mentor Instructors left a lasting impression by detailing their hockey journey, including the adversity they had to overcome to make it to the professional ranks, while explaining the importance of teamwork, character and maintaining a positive attitude. The one-of-a-kind experience concluded with each participant having the opportunity to sit across the table from the Player Mentors for an official contract signing.
Over the next few weeks, Paetsch will spearhead a massive community-wide initiative in which he will personally distribute food donated by Caraglio’s Pizza and a host of other Amerks local partners to all Rochester-area hospitals and medical centers to feed healthcare workers and medical professionals on the front lines against COVID-19. Paetsch will visit Rochester General Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital, Highland Hospital and Unity Hospital as well as several other WellNow Urgent Care facilities in the Greater Rochester Area.
One of Paetsch’s most admirable attributes is his willingness to develop personal relationships with the fans. Following games which came with a “jersey off the back” presentation to the winning fans, Paetsch always took it upon himself to greet each fan with a smile and thank them for being such a loyal supporter of the team.
In addition to being a true Amerks ambassador both on and off the ice, these are just a few of the outstanding things Paetsch is consistently doing to make a difference in the Greater Rochester Community all while serving as one of the Amerks assistant captains.
Paetsch is now one of 31 finalists for the AHL’s 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League at a later date.
Congratulations to all of the New York State-based teams that qualified.
While the 2020 Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, USA Hockey is pleased to celebrate the hard work and achievements of hundreds of youth, girls, high school players, senior women and sled players across the country who qualified for this year’s Nationals.
“I grew up playing hockey and I’m also a youth hockey parent and coach,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey, “so I can understand the significant disappointment of having the season cut short. That does not take away from the great accomplishments of teams that qualified for Nationals. This has been an unusual year and we’re proud of everyone part of the USA Hockey family for how they’ve handled the adversity we’re all facing. And when the time is right, we look forward to getting back to local rinks and on the ice to enjoy a sport that brings so much joy to our lives.”
Congratulations to all the 2020 USA Hockey National Championships qualified teams (complete list below).
YOUTH TIER I
14U
Boston Jr. Eagles (MA)
Cleveland Barons (OH)
Florida Alliance (FL)
LA Jr. Kings (CA)
Shattuck St. Mary’s (MN)
15U
Anaheim Jr. Ducks (CA)
Cape Cod Whalers (MA)
Florida Alliance (FL)
Minnesota Blue Ox (MN)
Ohio Blue Jackets (OH)
Wallingford Hawks (CT)
16U
Florida Alliance (FL)
LA Jr. Kings (CA)
Mid Fairfield Rangers (CT)
Neponset Valley River Rats (MA)
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (PA)
Shattuck St. Mary’s (MN)
Sioux Falls Power (SD)
18U
Boston Jr. Eagles (MA)
Esmark Stars (PA)
Rhode Island Saints (RI)
Nashville Jr. Predators (TN)
San Jose Jr. Sharks (CA)
Shattuck St. Mary’s (MN)
Sioux Falls Power (SD)
GIRLS TIER I
14U
Alaska All Stars (AK)
Belle Tire (MI)
Minnesota Lakers (MN)
Minnesota Walleye (MN)
Periton Monarchs (NY)
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (PA)
Team North Dakota (ND)
Washington Pride (DC)
16U
Assabet Valley Red (MA)
Belle Tire (MI)
Connecticut Polar Bears (CT)
Minnesota Elite Grey (MN)
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (PA)
Shattuck St. Mary’s (MN)
Team Colorado (CO)
Team North Dakota (ND)
Valley Eagles (NY)
Valley Thunder (AK)
Washington Pride (DC)
19U
Anaheim Lady Ducks (CA)
Belle Tire (MI)
Boston Jr. Eagles Maroon (MA)
Canton (NY)
Connecticut Polar Bears (CT)
Minnesota Elite Black (MN)
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (PA)
Rochester Youth Hockey (NY)
Shattuck St. Mary’s (MN)
Washington Pride (DC)
YOUTH TIER II
14U
Affton Central States (MO)
Alaska Oilers (AK)
Arvada (CO)
Atlanta Fire (GA)
Birmingham Bulls (AL)
Boston Jr. Eagles (MA)
Charlotte Rush (NC)
Chicago Hawks (IL)
Clearwater Ice Storm (FL)
Couer d’Alene (ID)
Dallas Penguins (TX)
Delaware Ducks (DE)
Essex Sting (VT)
Gold K-Wings (MI)
Greenville Road Warriors (SC)
Maine Gladiators (ME)
Montgomery (MD)
Nashville Flyers (TN)
Reston Raiders (VA)
Steel City Ice Renegades (PA)
Team Montana (MT)
Team South Dakota (SD)
Team North Dakota (ND)
Team Wyoming (WY)
Tri Cities (WA)
Tulsa Jr. Oilers (OK)
Utah Jr. Grizzlies (UT)
Vegas Jr. Golden Knights (NV)
Wonderland (CT)
16U
Affton Central States (MO)
Alaska Oilers (AK)
Arctic Foxes (PA)
Atlanta Fire (GA)
Boston Jr. Huskies (MA)
Charleston Colonials (SC)
Clearwater Ice Storm (FL)
Idaho Jr. Steelheads (ID)
Littleton Hawks (CO)
Maine Moose (ME)
Montgomery Blue Devils (MD)
Nashville Flyers (TN)
New Hampshire Avalanche (NH)
Northern Express (IL)
Oklahoma City Oil Kings (OK)
Red Bank Generals (NJ)
Rogue Warriors (NC)
Seattle Jr. Admirals (WA)
Team South Dakota (SD)
Texas Tigers (TX)
Vegas Jr. Golden Knights (NV)
West Haven (CT)
18U
Ashburn Xtreme (VA)
Atlanta Phoenix (GA)
Barnstable Red Raiders (MA)
Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (NC)
Chesterfield (MO)
Dallas Penguins (TX)
Eugene Jr. Generals (OR)
Falcons (IL)
Florida Jr. Panthers (FL)
Howard Huskies (MD)
Igloo Jaguars (NJ)
Littleton Hawks (CO)
Maine Moose (ME)
Minnesota Voyageurs (MN)
Mission Arizona Ice (AZ)
New Hampshire Avalanche (NH)
Park City Minors (UT)
Pittsburgh Predators (PA)
South Anchorage (AK)
Sylvania North Stars (OH)
Tri Cities Jr. Americans (WA)
Wonderland Wizards (CT)
GIRLS TIER II
14U
Chicago Bruins (IL)
Florida Alliance (FL)
HC Fairbanks (AK)
Honeybaked (MI)
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (PA)
Rome Grizzlies (NY)
Steel City Selects (PA)
Team Wyoming (WY)
16U
Anchorage North Stars (AK)
Depew Saints (NY)
East Coast Wizards (MA)
Florida Alliance (FL)
Little Caesars (MI)
Minnesota Premier Prep Teal (MN)
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (PA)
Steel City Selects (PA)
19U
Alaska All Stars (AK)
Boston Jr. Eagles Gold (MA)
Canton Steel (NY)
Kalkaska K-Stars (MI)
Minnesota Premier Prep Grey (MN)
Nashville Jr. Predators (TN)
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (PA)
Steel City Selects (PA)
HIGH SCHOOL
Division I
Allen (TX)
Bishop O’Connell (VA)
Edwardsville (IL)
Greater Latrobe High School (PA)
Half Hollow Hills (NY)
Hamilton (AZ)
Jesuit College Prep (TX)
North Broward (FL)
Orange Lutheran (CA)
Park City Miners (UT)
Penn (IN)
Santa Margarita (CA)
St. John College High School (DC)
Stoneman Douglas (FL)
Upper St. Clair (PA)
Valor Christian (CO)
Division II
Capistrano Coyotes (CA)
Cincinnati Swords (OH)
Frisco (TX)
Greenville (SC)
Homestead (IN)
Jackson Hole (WY)
Miami Dade (FL)
Missoula Bruins (MT)
Northern Kentucky Norsemen (KY)
Northern Utah Indp (UT)
Northwest Arkansas Ice Hogs (AR)
NUI Cavaliers (UT)
Omaha Jr. Lancers (NE)
Ralston (CO)
Ringgold (PA)
Vegas Jr. Golden Knights (NV)
Waterloo (IA)
Girls
Minnesota Premier Prep Royal (MN)
Monarch Coyotes (CO)
Polar Bears (CO)
Team Anchorage (AK)
Texas Girls HS (TX)
Wyoming Selects (WY)
SENIOR WOMEN
Division B
Belle Tire (MI)
Chesapeake Bay (MD)
LA Lions (CA)
Minnesota Blue J’s (MN)
Minnesota Blue J Hawks (MN)
Victory Honda (MI)
Division C
Anaheim Lady Ducks (CA)
Annapolis Osprey (MD)
Madison Meteorites (WI)
Michigan Whiteout (MI)
Minnesota Blue J Bandits (MN)
Saratoga Storm (NY)
SLED
Buffalo Sabres Senior (NY)
Chicago Blackhawks (IL)
CO Avalanche Warriors (CO)
DASA St. Louis Blues (MO)
Mighty Penguins Senior (PA)
Nashville Sled Preds (TN)
NE Passage Wildcats (NH)
San Antonio Rampage (TX)
NOTE: Youth and girls teams qualify for the Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships through a range of District, Affiliate and State championships, in addition to at-large bids at the Youth Tier I and Girls Tier I and Girls Tier II levels … Not all District, Affiliate and State championship tournaments were held prior to the nationwide closure of public spaces due to the coronavirus pandemic, some Districts and States do not have representation and no at-large teams were selected.
| NewEdge Hockey Development Academy is giving away a Howies Hockey Gift Bag valued at $150.00! CONTEST DETAILS If your birth year falls in the 2005 – 2012 range, you qualify to submit a “hockey” themed drawing to be entered in this contest! The winner will be selected by the NewEdge Hockey Board of Directors and the winner will be notified via email. NEHDA will announce the winner and show the drawing to our email database of 160,000 people! Drawing must be on a standard 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper. Any/all “hockey” themes qualify. Submission deadline is Tuesday April 7th at 5:00pm. 1 Submission per participant. Submitted drawings that do not have the following information will not qualify: – Valid email address – Participant’s First / Last Name – Participant’s Birth Year Just take a picture of your drawing and send it to: info@newedgehockey.com |
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Rochester joins forces with other New York-based AHL franchises for state-wide campaign to benefit American Red Cross amid COVID-19 pandemic
(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans announced that the team has partnered with the Utica Comets, Syracuse Crunch and Binghamton Devils for the New York Hockey Gives Bloodinitiative.
The state-wide campaign is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 17 from noon to 6:00 p.m. with each of the four American Hockey League franchises converting a designated location into blood drives in their respective cities to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Adirondack Bank Center in Utica and Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse will serve as the site for both the Comets and Crunch, respectively, while the Binghamton Devils will host their event at Christ Episcopal Church. Details on Rochester’s location will be announced in the coming days.
With most AHL buildings open and the season currently suspended, the Amerks, Comets, Crunch, and Devils have decided to join forces to use their resources to help New York State maintain a healthy blood supply for hospital patients and shed light on one of the many ways the local communities can help.
“We’re honored and excited for the opportunity to join the efforts of the other New York AHL teams in bringing this state-wide initiative to Rochester,” said Amerks Vice President of Business Operations Rob Minter. “These are challenging times we’re facing right now in each of our communities and we as an organization are eager to do our part in providing aid and support to those who need it the most during this unprecedented time.”
The Red Cross is grateful to the donors who have already given blood and made upcoming appointments, allowing them to meet immediate patient needs. However, during this uncertain time, eligible donors are encouraged to keep scheduled blood donation appointments and make new blood donation appointments for the weeks ahead to ensure a stable supply throughout this pandemic. The American Red Cross is excited to be able to hold events at such large venues during these times of need, especially during an unprecedented period in our society where social distancing is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Each AHL market encourages all healthy individuals to consider taking part in this charitable event, and to do so by signing up at redcrossblood.org, entering sponsor code “Rochester” (valid upon confirmation of location) “Utica”, “Syracuse” and “Binghamton,” respectively, and choosing a donation time. Individuals can also register via phone at 1-800-RED CROSS or via the Blood Donor app.
All Rochester-area donors will receive two vouchers to a 2020-21 regular-season Amerks home game at The Blue Cross Arena. Information on the redemption process will be announced at a later date.
New York Hockey Give Blood Initiative – Blood Drive Locations
Rochester – TBD
Adirondack Bank Center (Utica)
400 Oriskany St. W
Utica, NY 13502
Upstate Medical University Arena (Syracuse)
515 Montgomery St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
Christ Episcopal Church (Binghamton)
10 Henry St.
Binghamton, NY 13901
BROOKLYN – In the first move to build their roster for 2020-21, the Buffalo Beauts have re-signed Taylor Accursi, the club’s leading scorer this past season.
“Buffalo and the Beauts have been really good to me for the past three years, so it made sense to come back and have fun playing in a great league, surrounded by outstanding players, teammates and especially our fans,” said Accursi. “Having the opportunity to once again represent something so much bigger than myself made it an easy decision to return to the NWHL and continue the growth of women’s hockey.”
Accursi scored 16 goals and added 9 assists for 25 points in 24 regular season games in 2019-20. Her 16 goals were tied for fourth in the NWHL. Her four-goal game in the Labatt Blue NWHL Buffalo Believes Classic outdoor game against the Riveters highlighted a season in which she had two separate five-game point streaks. For her outstanding play, Accursi was honored with her first selection to play in the NWHL All-Star Game.
With 26 goals, 16 assists and 42 points in her career, Accursi is tied with Corinne Buie and Kourtney Kunichika for most points in Beauts history. Accursi first burst onto the NWHL scene three years ago with five goals in her first three games. She led the league in power play goals in 2017-18.
The Ancaster, Ontario native played collegiately at Mercyhurst from 2013-2017. As a senior, she scored 9 goals, finished second on the team in scoring that year with 23 points and led the Lakers with a +13.
| BUFFALO, N.Y. — Nichols School has announced that after a thorough search, Michael Benedict will serve as the new Boys’ Prep Hockey Coach and Jon Christiano will serve as Associate Boys’ Prep Hockey Coach beginning with the 2020-2021 season. Michael Benedict is a USA Hockey Level IV Certified Coach who has served as the Assistant Coach for Nichols’ Boys’ Prep Hockey Team for the past season. Michael is a Niagara University graduate and holds New York State teaching certifications in Business and Marketing, Health Education, and Physical Education. Michael will also join the Nichols faculty next year. Prior to joining the Nichols hockey program, Michael served as the Director of Hockey Operations for the men’s team at the Division 1 Minnesota State University. There, he assisted coaches and administrators with scheduling and coordination of games, practices, meetings and student-athlete community service projects, and was responsible for all video needs of the program, including taping games, editing, scouting and recruiting. Previously, Michael served as the Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager for the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness from 2016-2018, the Assistant Coach for the NAHL Corpus Christi IceRays from 2015-2016, and as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the men’s team at Niagara University. Jon Christiano, incoming Associate Head Coach, is currently a Managing Partner and Professional Skills Coach for NewEdge Hockey Development Academy, an elite level skating and skills development and full service hockey academy for Western New York’s top hockey players. From 2004-2017, Jon served as the Director of Professional Scouting for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, where he worked directly with GM Darcy Regier and was responsible for all NHL and AHL scouting and evaluations for the team. He also served as the Assistant Coach of the Italian National Hockey team from 2004-2008, and as the assistant coach of the AHL’s Rochester Americans from 1998-2003. He formerly served as a Video Coach for the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. About Nichols School Nichols School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school serving grades 5 through 12. Located in Buffalo, N.Y., Nichols is non-denominational. Nichols provides access to challenging academic programs, and extensive athletics, arts and more. Students are empowered to think critically, creatively and go beyond the test. Founded in 1892, Nichols is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools. Visit www.nicholsschool.org |
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel has purchased 5,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) masks from hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer that will be distributed to various hospitals throughout Western New York.
“I am so thankful to all those medical professionals that are on the front lines taking care of our community in the battle against this virus,” Eichel said. “The dedication to Western New York that they continue to show is incredible. I am happy to work with my friends at Bauer to purchase these masks. Hopefully, they will help play a part in keeping our hospital workers safer and healthier.”
“We’re all on the same team in helping our medical professionals get the necessary protective equipment they need to help in the fight against COVID-19,” said Mary-Kay Messier, VP of Global Marketing, Bauer Hockey. “Nurses, doctors and so many others are risking their own health to save the lives of others. These are the true heroes of coronavirus. Our team was eager to step up and do what we can, just like Jack is stepping up to help his community in Buffalo. We’re grateful for this partnership with Jack and the Buffalo Sabres, and we hope others continue to help because we all need to support our families, friends and neighbors right now.”
Bauer Hockey and Cascade Lacrosse, both owned by Peak Achievement Athletics, switched from manufacturing sports equipment to producing medical facemasks at the Bauer Innovation Center in Blainville, Quebec, and the Cascade facility in Liverpool, New York. After receiving more requests for products than production could support, the companies made the medical mask design and supplier information available to the public to encourage other manufacturing companies to support production.
(Photo by Janet Schultz)
Online educational hockey-themed resource focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills now available to parents.
NEW YORK / TORONTO – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL), who both remain committed to supporting their fans and families during this ever-changing and difficult time, will now be providing free remote access to Hockey ScholarTM — the hockey-themed STEM curriculum for elementary and middle-school-aged students, powered by EVERFI and part of the NHL & NHLPA Future Goals™ Program.
For the first time since its launch in 2014, the Hockey Scholar program, which consists of 12 learning modules, will be available for both teachers and parents to access. Up until now, the program has only been available through educational institutions and educators. Amid school closures, many parents are challenged with educating their children while they’re away from the classroom and this expanded access to the Hockey Scholar program provides families with educational resources to support them.
Along with increased online access to Future Goals educational resources, a few select players from around the NHL will be playing a role in helping teachers, parents, and students connect and interact with the online Future Goals materials.
Students who complete the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar program will not only gain an understanding of foundational STEM concepts; they’ll also be introduced to careers in hockey related to STEM. The NHL, NHLPA and EVERFI understand that hockey has always been more than a game – it’s a community built around sport and these online tools will allow families to remain connected to the hockey community during this unprecedented time.
Examples of activities within the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar program include:
Exploring the engineering behind equipment such as skates, sticks, and goalie pads.
Calculating the surface area and volume of the ice.
Reviewing the different states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas).
Analysis of geometric constructions and how angles are a key component of the game.
Examination of mass, velocity, and kinetic energy premised on player speed and game dynamics.
Since 2014, over 3.1 million students have participated in the Future Goals program accounting for more than 6.5 million hours of learning. Students who participated in the program saw their STEM skills increase by 82 percent while 93 percent of teachers who incorporated it into their students’ coursework said they would recommend the program to fellow teachers.
Families looking for more information on the Future Goals Hockey Scholar program, including how to enroll, can access these details by visiting nhl.com/futuregoals. Families can also follow and join the conversation on social media by searching #HockeyAtHome and #HockeyScholar.
