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Colgate Tops RIT in Women’s Hockey

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Janet
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By Janet Schultz, NYHOL

The Colgate Women’s ice hockey team took charge over the RIT women in Friday nights game at the Gene Polisenni Center in Rochester.

Avery Pickering dropped one in at 11:52 of the first period and Kristyna Kaltounkova added the second at 15:45 to end the first 2-0.

Then it was Kaia Malachine scoring for Colgate at 26 seconds of the second period and that closed out the second at 3-0.

In the third period RIT came out ready for some action and Emma Pickering scored at 6:10 of the third period to put a goal on the boards for RIT. However, Kaltounkova added another for Colgate and then Sara Stewart sealed the win with a fifth goal.

Adding assists Friday night for Colgate were Emma Pais (2), Jamimee Spring, Elyssa Biderman (2), Casey Bargiei, Neena Brick and Alexia Aubin.

RIT goalie Sophia Bellina got the assist on RIT’s goal. She faced 29 SOG. For Colgate Hannah Murphy stopped 16 of 17.

Photo Album by Janet Schultz© NYHOL. No reproduction, copying or downloading without permission of NYHOL.

Cornerstone Arena Celebrates 10th Anniversary

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Randy Schultz
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FREE PUBLIC SKATING EVENT!

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (October 4, 2024) — Lockport Ice Arena & Sports Center Inc. (LIASC) is pleased to announce the 10th anniversary of the opening of Cornerstone CFCU Arena! It is presented by Catholic Health, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Lockport Memorial Hospital. The public is invited to join in the celebration on Saturday, October 19th with a free public skate and ice cream social from 1-3 p.m. A photo booth and other family-friendly activities will also be offered during that time.

“We welcome everyone from the area to attend,” said Shelley Unocic, Executive Director of the Arena. “People who have never been to the arena in its 10 years of existence, we invite you to come out and give us a try. For those who have bee n here before, we welcome you back to see the progress we’ve made in our first decade.

“We also want the public to understand that we are not a city-owned rink. We are a non-profit organization. We rely on our community using the arena to keep us going. I can’t wait to see everyone on the 19th!”

About Cornerstone CFCU Arena:

Located at the intersection of Grigg Lewis Way and Market Street, in the heart of downtown Lockport, the complex features two NHL- size rinks along with full concessions, The Penalty Box restaurant and a performance training center. The facility is the proud home of the Lockport Lock Monster youth hockey organization. Cornerstone offers an array of opportunities including: learn-to-skate, figure skating, youth/men’s league hockey, sled hockey, public skating, birthday parties and ice bumper cars for everyone. Over 150,000 players, parents, spectators, and visitors frequent the arena annually.

About Lockport Ice Arena & Sports Center Inc. (LIASC):

Lockport Ice Arena & Sports Center, Inc. is the federally-designated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that owns Cornerstone Arena. Our mission is “to combat juvenile delinquency and community deterioration, promote social welfare and physical fitness, lessen the burdens of government and promote the development of good sportsmanship through the conduct of supervised athletic games.”

Quartet of Cornell Men’s Hockey Alumni Named To Opening Night Rosters For 2024-25 NHL Season

By
Randy Schultz
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NEW YORK — Former Cornell men’s hockey forwards Morgan Barron and Riley Nash and defensemen Joakim Ryan ’15 and Sam Malinski ’23 were named to their respective NHL teams’ opening day rosters as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, it was formally announced by the league office.

Barron is entering his fifth NHL season and third full season with the Winnipeg Jets. Over 80 games last season with the Jets, Barron scored a career-high 11 goals and added seven assists. Three of Barron’s 11 goals were game-winners for Winnipeg, who fell to Colorado, 4-1, in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Primarily playing on Winnipeg’s fourth line, Barron averaged 10:30 of ice time and recorded 122 hits last season, ranking fifth on the Jets and second among the team’s forwards.

Nash and Ryan were designated as non-roster injury selections by the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively.

Nash is looking to appear in his 13th NHL season since making his debut during the 2011-12 season with the Hurricanes. Last season, Nash appeared in one game for the Rangers, suiting up against the Washington Capitals on Dec. 9, 2023. With the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, Nash accumulated 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) across 41 contests.

After playing for the Malmö Redhawks in Sweden over the last three seasons, Ryan is vying to return to the NHL after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes on July 14. During his time with Malmö, Ryan accumulated 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 156 games. His most recent NHL appearance was during the 2020-21 season with the Hurricanes, where he suited up in four games.

Malinski will start the 2024-25 season with the Colorado Avalanche. He aims to build on his rookie season, during which he played 23 games with the Avalanche and recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists). Additionally, he participated in 46 games with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, where he accumulated 27 points (five goals, 22 assists). Malinski earned 37 points in 69 games between the NHL and AHL levels (eight goals, 29 assists).

Tonight marks the start of the NHL regular season with three games, starting with the Seattle Kraken hosting the St. Louis Blues at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). In this game, Jessica Campbell, a former Cornell women’s hockey player, will make NHL history when she becomes the first female assistant coach behind the bench for an NHL regular-season game.

Among the other season-opening contests later tonight, Boston will play against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference final at 7 p.m. in Sunrise, Fla. Following that, the Utah Hockey Club will have its inaugural game when it hosts the Chicago Blackhawks at 10 p.m. ET (8 p.m. MT). All three games can be watched on ESPN or streamed on ESPN+.

Barron and Malinski are set to make their season debuts on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Winnipeg will be playing against the Edmonton Oilers, while Colorado will be facing the Vegas Golden Knights. Both games are scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET. The game between Colorado and Vegas will be broadcast live on TNT and can be streamed on Max, HBO’s streaming service.

(Photo provided by Cornell Athletics/Men’s Hockey)

NU Women Top West Virginia in Weekend Series

By
Janet
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Story and Photography by Janet Schultz, NYHOL

The Niagara University Women’s ACHA D2 team took West Virginia in a weekend series. They defeated them 6-0 on Saturday and then it was a 6-1 victory for the Purple Eagles on Sunday.

On Sunday Annabel Cross got NU on the boards first in the first period, followed by a second goal by Grace Miller. In the second period it was all NU with a goal by Myiah Kastelan. NU’s Holly Lesage had a powerplay goal and added the final goal to the game in the third. NU’s Skylar Berube added another and the game ends 6-1 with West Virginia’s Riley Mazur having the loan goal for W Virginia.

NU had 49 shots-on-goal to West Virginia’s 23. Stopping 22 of those shots was NU’s Amanda Crudwell.

Photo Gallery by Janet Schultz©

Photos cannot be used without permission of NYHOL and Janet Schultz. Copies are available for purchase thru [email protected]

They will also be available for purchase at https://janetschultz.smugmug.com within the next few weeks.

George Roll Announces 2024-25 Season Set To Be His Last; James McDonald Named Coach-In-Waiting

By
Randy Schultz
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ROCHESTER, NY – Nazareth’s only men’s ice hockey coach in program history, George Roll, announced the 2024-25 season will be his last behind the benches, a career that will have spanned 37 seasons, including 28 as a head coach. James McDonald, a 2020 graduate of Nazareth, who has been a fixture of the program after stellar career playing and having coached the Golden Flyers for the past four seasons will take over the program upon Roll’s retirement.

Roll was hired in 2012-13 to build the Nazareth men’s hockey program from the ground up. In 12 seasons he has compiled a 110-161-32 overall record.

Roll’s coaching career began at Nazareth with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over SUNY Geneseo on October 18, 2012 at the Sports Centre at MCC. The veteran coach helped the Golden Flyers to steady improvement as they went from six wins in their first season (2012-13) to eight in the second and 12 in the third season.

During his tenure for the Golden Flyers, Roll has helped coach two AHCA All-Americans in Henry McKinney in 2022-23 and Dominik Gabaj in 2016-17. Gabaj was named the ECAC West Player of the Year as a senior in 2016-17.

In 2022-23, Roll’s squad delivered its best season ever, as the Golden Flyers went 18-8-2 overall and 14-5-1 in the UCHC to earn the second seed for the conference tournament. Nazareth advanced all the way to the UCHC Final, falling to #1 Utica 5-3.

The Bowling Green graduate began his head coaching career at Oswego State in 1996, coaching for seven season and going 119-77-17. He coached eight years after that at Division 1 Clarkson before taking over the Nazareth program in 2012-13. 

Said Roll, “I have truly enjoyed my 13 years at Nazareth to see the development, not only of the program, but more importantly of what the players have done upon graduation off the ice — I am proud of the impact they have made after their time at Nazareth.” “It’s hard to walk away because it has been such a positive experience for me and the type of the people we have had in the program, but it is time for a new chapter of Nazareth hockey. James McDonald is the right person to continue to lead this program and it’s in great hands.” 

McDonald was a four-year standout as a player for the Golden Flyers who served as team captain in his senior season of 2019-20. He scored a team-best 16 goals that season, including four in a win at Lebanon Valley in 2020.

His 105 career games ranks third all-time at Nazareth and his 35 career goals is second all-time.

(Photo provided by Nazareth Athletic/Hockey Department)

Women’s Ice Hockey Around New York/Week 1

By
Janet
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RIT in action last season

By Janet Schultz, NYHOL

The Tigers of RIT opened with a double win against Assumption in the new Atlantic Hockey America League (AHA).  It was 3-0 on opening night and 5-0 the following day at the Gene Polisseni Center.

Forward Ireland Stein was named AHA Rookie of the Year after getting her first collegiate goal in the 3-0 victory on Friday and then added another on Saturday, both powerplay goals. Addie Alvarez had the first goal of the 2024-25 with Sophia Bellina in goal for the Tigers.

RIT is on the road this weekend to Union.

At Niagara University the D1 team beat Brandtford 4-3, lost to McKendree 4-1 and then had a double loss to Maryville University.

the D2 team opens October 4 at Brockport. The beat Hamilton in an exhibition game 3-1 under new head coach Anthony Marano.

Sad news coming out of Buffalo is that the University of Buffalo Student Association has deregistered the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. There is a move to try and have them reinstated and we will keep you posted.

Colgate women beat St. Lawrence in exhibition play before splitting with Mercyhurst. They won the first of the doubleheader 3-2 and then lost 3-4 in overtime. Colgate is on the road this weekend with Minnesota/Duluth. The winning goal in the season opener came from Kara Malachino. Colgate is under a new head coach in Stefan DeCosse.

Syracuse had planned a trip to Minnesota but it was postponed. They open this weekend (October 4 & 5) against Stonehill.

RPI beat the University of Windsor 6-0 in an exhibition game before a split with Holy Cross in the season opener. They lost the first game 2-3 and then won the second 2-0. Ayla Croffin scored the first goal of the season in the 3-2 loss, with Reese Keaty in goal. RPI is at Sacred Heart this weekend.

Union opened with a loss to Robert Morris under new Head Coach Tony Maci but came back in the second game and won 4-2. Maren Friday had the season’s first goal and also is now the All Time Leader In Goals by a Defenseperson. Union faces RIT this weekend.

Clarkson is on its winning ways once again with a double victory over Saint Michaels. They play Vermont this weekend.

St. Lawrence lost to Colgate 3-1 in an exhibition game before opening their season with a 3-0 win over Merrimack. They are playing Ohio State University October 4 and 5.

Scoring those three goals were Alexia Cote, Ally McLeod and Anna Segedi. Goalie Emma Sofie Nordstrom made 13 saves.

KENGIPORT 2023-24

WNYGIVH

The Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League opens on November 26 with Frontier/Lakeshore/Orchard Park at Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew/Alden and Hamburg/Holland/Eden/West Seneca at Williamsville. Both games are a 4 p.m. puck drop at Holiday and Northtowns, respectively. 

This is the 15th Season of the WNYGVIH and a celebration is planned for Thursday, November 21 at the Grapevine Banquet Facility, 333 Dick Road, Depew.

The evening will  feature a buffet dinner, a guest speaker and some special surprises. 

The event will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude by 10 p.m. The cost will be approximately $35 per person (we are checking on some tax exemptions). The cost includes dinner and gratuity and includes soft drinks. 

Deadline for reservations is November 7 for payment and commitment. Bill Pavone is currently setting up a payment app and we will share that information as soon as we can.

All current and former players and coaches are invited as well as all the  staff, administrators and parents who have been involved over the past 15 years.

Please be patient, we will have finalized details shortly and if you have questions feel free to email [email protected]

WNYGVIH  is also looking for sponsors who can help offset some of the expense. Our minimum commitment to hold the price is 100.

Once again this season Janet and Randy will be covering all the WNYGVIH news, as well as the boys.  If you have news, events or a story idea please let us know. For the women’s side, [email protected] and for the boys [email protected] 

Janet will also be photographing games and will have photos available for purchase through Smug Mug. There are still last year’s photos posted at that site,but they will be removed by the beginning of this season. Go to https://janetschultz.smugmug.com

Happy Hockey Season!

RIT WOMEN’S HOCKEY 2024-25 SEASON OUTLOOK

By
Janet
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Bellina save in Union game last season (J DS chultz Photo)

BY RANDY SCHULTZ –

Following three seasons that totaled just seven victories between 2020 and 2023, the Celeste Brown-coached Rochester Institute of Technology Women’s hockey team had a 13-19-3 record for the 2023-24 hockey campaign. Coming into this season, there is a lot of hope for the Tigers to have a winning record and some post-season success.

What does Coach Brown think?

“Last season was positive in terms of growth,” answered Brown, a former RIT player and a captain with the women’s Tigers team. “We’re still looking for another level of success.

“It was a rewarding season for our players. They bought into a process that proved successful.

“This season is going to be a fun season. We’re still learning and evolving and bringing in some first year players that are going to be playing big roles on the team.

“The big question will be is ‘how to we get them (freshmen) up to speed in the team’s first eight games, which will be against some tough opponents.

“Our goal right now is to win the AHA at the end of the season. Each practice and each game is a brick towards that goal.”

Looking back at last season what does Brown think the players learned?

“We learned how to take care of business with certain situations,” responded Brown, a native of Great Falls, Montana. “It’s about inviting that pressure in to perform and do it when it counts.

“We’re looking at improving our game even more on the ice this season.”

Brown pointed out that last year was a breakthrough year in the four seasons she has been coaching the Tigers. Things seem to come together after struggling through a learning process with a relatively young team.

“It was a lot of work,” explained Brown. “Rebuilds are a process and that is what we were going through.

“We finally got everything under control. We learned about what is expected from each other and from ourselves.

“I think we knew what to expect so as the season went along nothing was a surprise to us.”

How frustrating was it for Brown, as a coach, to go through those first three seasons which saw the team win just seven games?

“I think it’s the same for me as it was for the players,” commented the 32-year-old Brown. “There is a burning desire inside of me to help put this program where it should be.

“We’ve stayed on our course We’re still making progress.

“There still could be setbacks. But the team has to stay focused.”

So what about this year?

“We have 11 seniors on the team,” said Brown. “Plus we have two graduate students so that makes 13, which is over half the team.

“I’m not going to single out one player. I think that whole class is the key to this year’s team and its success.

“I’ll be looking to them to push each other, to push other teammates and push our culture.

“If that happens we will be successful.”

The 11 seniors include: Baiey Kehl, defense; Jessie Burks, defense; Bronwyn Khangsar, defense; Athena Vasdani, forward.

Jordyn Bear, forward; Kyla Bear, defense; Annie Burks, forward; Megan McCormick, forward.

Kylie Aquaro, forward; Addie Carr, defense; Sarah Coe, Goalie.

The two Graduate players are Nicole Ness, forward and Mia Tsilemos, defense.

There are also two players who were born in NYS including: Addie Alvarex, sophomore, forward, Rochester; Camryn Brownschidle, junior, defense, Clarence.

Alvarez
Cam Brownschidle (RIT Photo)

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2024-25 Rochester Americans Season Preview

By
Randy Schultz
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By Warren Kozireski —

Rochester finished the 2023-24 regular season tied with Cleveland atop the North Division standings with 88 points but were seeded second for the Calder Cup playoffs with one fewer victory. Their season ended in game five of the Atlantic Conference semi-finals to Syracuse.

Now they begin anew with a new head coach in Michael Leone following Seth Appert’s promotion to Buffalo and a plethora of Sabres draft picks trying to make their way to the National Hockey League.

With preseason still in progress it is speculative about who of the prospects might dent the Sabres roster to start the season, but the numbers will likely mean some disappointed with being sent to Rochester. It’s a good problem to have.

That list is led by Jiri Kulich, who paced the Amerks with 27 goals last season and defenseman Ryan Johnson, who split last season between Buffalo (41 games) and Rochester (27 games). Both may be squeezed back to the AHL for more playing time.

Kulich could be joined at forward by fellow high draft picks Isak Rosen (tied for team lead with 50 points), Noah Ostlund, Lukas Rousek (41 points), Anton Wahlberg, Aleksandr Kisakov and Viktor Neuchev.

Last year’s co-leading scorer Mason Jobst should be back with fellow veterans Brett Murray, Graham Slaggert, Brendan Warren and/or Tyson Kozak to support and mentor the younger players.

Newcomers up front could include big center Josh Dunne, who scored 20 goals two seasons ago with Cleveland and Tyler Tullio (a 2020 fifth round pick by Edmonton acquired as part of the Matt Savoie trade) along with Riley Fiddler-Schultz, who spent last season in the ECHL with affiliate Jacksonville and Oliver Nadeau, a 2021 fourth-round pick who was his teammate for most of last season.

15 players for potentially 13 positions.

Rochester appears to be deep on the blueline especially if 2019 first round selection Ryan Johnson is squeezed out in Buffalo. Kyle Clague, Ethan Prow, Peter Tischke, Zach Metsa, plus newcomers and five-year AHL veterans Colton Poolman and Jack Rathbone provide leadership while either Jacob Bryson or Buffalo native Dennis Gilbert, who played 34 games in Calgary last season, could also be sent down.

They join defense prospects Nikita Novikov, back for his second AHL season and Vsevolod Komarov, who was named Defenseman of the Year in the QMJHL last season with Quebec and Drummondville after racking up 69 points in 60 games.

But that’s potentially ten defensemen for seven spots.

Goaltending is the $10,000 question. With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen establishing himself as the clear number one in Buffalo, do the Sabres send Devon Levi to Rochester to get more minutes and keep 15-year NHL veteran James Reimer as his backup?

Or is it the UPL-Levi tandem in Buffalo with Reimer and either Felix Sandstrom, who played last season with Lehigh Valley, or Michael Houser in Rochester?

Answers come in the next few weeks with the season opener Sun. Oct. 6 at Syracuse and the home-opener Fri. Oct. 11 versus Belleville.

Tomkins Girls Hockey Association Exhibit On Display In Ithaca

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Randy Schultz
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BY RANDY SCHULTZ –

In a few weeks the Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Federation will begin their 15th season of play. It’s hard to believe that a decade and a half has passed since that opening faceoff.

But the WNYGVIHF are just kids when compared to the Tomkins Girls Hockey Association (aka the Ithaca Shooting Stars) in Ithaca, NY. They are the oldest girl’s hockey organization in New York State, developing the player and the person since 1972.

The TGHA will begin their 52nd season of play in just a few short weeks. This organization has set the gold standard for other girl’s hockey organizations to follow.

Late last spring NY Hockey OnLine travelled to Ithaca for one of the TGHA meetings. We had the opportunity talk and listen to several of the veteran members of the Association.

Mary Grainger, a spokesperson for the Association, explained how the organization has grown over the years.

“Ithaca has always been a hockey town,” said Grainger. “When Title IX was passed into federal law in the spring of 1972, opportunities for girls and women to play hockey in Ithaca has already been established.

“When Cass Park opened here in November of ’72, the Tompkins Girls Hockey Association was organized enough to hold a practice the same week the Park opened. We are very proud of the fact that we were the first all-girls hockey program in New York State and just the third in the country at the time.

“Credit has to be given to the parents, coaches and players who have grown the program over the years. They built a strong foundation for girl’s hockey to grow from.”

By the time TGHA got to their 50th season of play for the 2022-23 season, the organization was looking to connect with as many of their former players, coaches, parents, referees and fans in general to celebrate their golden anniversary. Several events were planned through the season.

Thanks to social media and simple word of mouth, the TGHA alumni has grown. Thanks to the efforts of people within the organization, enough TGHA memorabilia and photographs were gathered to set up an exhibit at the Ithaca History Center.

In February of this year an exhibit and Kiosk opened there called “We Broke the Ice.” It runs through the end of this year.

“We’ve told people who come to visit the exhibit to allow enough time to see it,” said Grainger. “There are digital display sections to click through, as well as drawers of artifacts to look at.

“It’s an exhibit that tells the story of the growth of girls and women’s hockey in Ithaca.”

This Sunday, Sept. 29th, two guest speakers will be at the History Center from 3-5 p.m. to tell of their experiences with TGHA.

For hockey fans in general, the “We Broke the Ice” exhibit is worth the visit.

RIT and Union Among Four Men’s Hockey Teams Chosen To Play In 2025 Friendship Four Hockey Tournament

By
Randy Schultz
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(Representatives from the four men’s hockey teams that will play in the 2025 Friendship Four show off their school’s jerseys (photo: Miami Athletics). (Story as reported by USCHO)

The Odyssey Trust has unveiled plans to continue the Friendship Four and Friendship Series U.S. college hockey tournaments through 2026.

Marking 10 years of NCAA hockey in Belfast, games are set to take place at the SSE Arena in Nov. 2025 and Jan. 2026.

Founded by the Odyssey Trust and held in Belfast since 2015, the Friendship Four and Friendship Series are the first and only NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey tournaments to take place outside of North America.

The Friendship Four, which will take place in Nov. 2025, will see the Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart, Miami, and Union go head-to-head for the coveted Belpot Trophy at the SSE Arena.

For the first time, four women’s teams will take part in the Friendship Series, with Boston University, Harvard, Quinnipiac, and Minnesota Duluth set to make history in Jan. 2026, following three successful two-team Friendship Series tournaments in 2019, 2020, and 2024.

“I am very proud to announce the return of both the Friendship Four and Friendship Series in 2025 and 2026, and I look forward to welcoming both new and returning teams to the SSE Arena,” said Odyssey Trust chair Martin McDowell in a statement. “For nearly a decade, the tournaments have provided unique opportunities for North American student-athletes to have a cross-Atlantic experience in Belfast, using ice hockey as a tool to educate and create a spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity, and fair play.”

The high-profile tournaments are designed to promote education, social welfare, and community interaction, building on the Sister Cities agreement between Belfast and Boston signed a decade ago. The agreement aims to foster stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural, faith-based exchanges, and educational linkages between the two cities, as well as to increase awareness of Belfast and Boston being growth cities in the connected health and life sciences, creative industries, tourism, financial services, and knowledge economy sectors.

To support the growth and development of the two tournaments, a new legacy committee – the Friends of the Friendship Advisory Board – was formed in Jan. 2024. Reporting to Robert Fitzpatrick, chief executive of the Odyssey Trust, and chaired by McDowell, the board will meet twice a year, once in Boston and once at the annual Friendship Four tournament, with a focus on growing relationships with collegiate ice hockey programs across the United States.

“As we approach a decade of the Friendship Four, it’s been fantastic to see how the tournament has gone from strength to strength,” said Quinnipiac deputy director of athletics Sarah Fraser. “Undoubtedly, the significance and impact of the games reaches far beyond the ice, offering student-athletes a rounded cultural experience in Belfast. Looking ahead to the next two tournaments, I feel particularly proud that 2026 will see the first four-team women’s tournament take place at the SSE Arena, providing a great opportunity to showcase the up-and-coming talent within the female game.”

Ahead of the tournament’s 10th anniversary next year, the Friendship Four returns to Belfast this November with Notre Dame, Harvard, Boston University, and Merrimack set to compete for the Belpot Trophy at the SSE Arena.

(Photo by Miami Athletic Dept. and USCHO)(Story as reported by USCHO)

Cornell Men’s Hockey Ranked No. 9 To Open 2024-25 Season

By
Randy Schultz
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0

Big Red’s Eighth Consecutive Season Ranked in USCHO.com Preseason Poll

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell men’s hockey team is opening the 2024-25 season as the No. 9-ranked team in the first DCU/USCHO.com poll of the season, it was announced.

Cornell collected 585 points, finishing 48 points behind No. 8-ranked Quinnipiac and 96 points ahead of No. 10-ranked Wisconsin. The Big Red also received two of the 50 first-place votes in the poll, joining top-ranked Denver (42 first-place votes) and No. 2-ranked Boston College (six first-place votes).

The Big Red are ranked within the top 20 of the preseason USCHO.com poll for the eighth consecutive year. Cornell is one of six teams to be ranked in the first USCHO poll in each of the last eight seasons, joining Denver, Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota, Notre Dame, and Providence.

Of the teams ranked in the preseason top 20, Cornell is scheduled to play three programs, highlighted by No. 5-ranked North Dakota, who will make a trip to Lynah Rink for the Big Red’s first two regular-season home games on Nov. 1-2.

Cornell will play No. 8-ranked Quinnipiac three times in the regular season, including twice in consecutive weekends as it will host the Bobcats at Lynah Rink on Friday, Nov. 22, before clashing on the storied ice of Madison Square Garden in New York City for the biennial Frozen Apple game on Saturday, Nov. 30. The Big Red will play on the Bobcats’ home ice on Saturday, Jan. 18, at M&T Bank Arena in Hamden, Conn.

The only other ranked program in the USCHO.com preseason poll that Cornell is scheduled to face this season includes No. 14-ranked UMass in the first game of the Desert Hockey Classic, hosted by Arizona State, on Friday, Jan. 3, at 5:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. MT). Cornell could play No. 20-ranked Arizona State the following day, should the Big Red and Sun Devils record the same result.

Cornell’s 2024-25 campaign begins Saturday, Oct. 19, when it hosts Princeton in a scrimmage at Lynah Rink at 5 p.m. Following an exhibition with the University of Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 26, Cornell will open a four-game homestand to open the 2024-25 regular season, beginning with its two-game series with No. 5-ranked North Dakota on Nov. 1-2.

DCU/USCHO.COM PRESEASON POLL

Bold denotes scheduled Cornell opponent for 2024-25 season

TEAM (First-place votes) — POINTS

  1. Denver (48) — 988 points
  2. Boston College (6) — 945 points
  3. Boston University — 869 points
  4. Michigan State — 775 points
  5. North Dakota — 755 points
  6. Minnesota — 748 points
  7. Michigan — 690 points
  8. Quinnipiac — 633 points
  9. Cornell (2) — 585 points
  10. Wisconsin — 489 points
  11. Colorado College — 449 points
  12. Maine — 425 points
  13. Providence — 392 points
  14. UMass — 329 points
  15. Omaha — 262 points
  16. St. Cloud State — 247 points
  17. Western Michigan — 224 points
  18. Minnesota Duluth — 95 points
  19. Notre Dame — 79 points
  20. Arizona State — 61 points

Northeastern — 61 points

Others receiving votes: RIT (55), St. Thomas (53), Michigan Tech (47), Bemidji State (44), New Hampshire (31), Sacred Heart (29), Penn State (23), Harvard (22), Holy Cross (14), Ohio State (14), Minnesota State (12), Dartmouth (10), Merrimack (9), Clarkson (8), UConn (7), AIC (4), UMass Lowell (4), Colgate (3), LIU (2), Brown (1), St. Lawrence (1)

(Photo provided by Cornell Men’s Hockey)

Twelve Cornell Men’s Hockey Alumni Named To NHL Training Camp Rosters

By
Randy Schultz
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0

ITHACA, N.Y. — Twelve former Cornell men’s hockey players are listed on NHL training camp rosters, as each of the 32 clubs announced their rosters over the last week. All teams’ training camps are open in preparation for the preseason slate, which starts this Saturday, Sept. 21.

The Colorado Avalanche have three former Cornell players at their training camp, the most in the NHL. Former defensemen Jacob MacDonald ’15 and Sam Malinski ’23 and forward Matt Stienburg ’23 are those donning Avalanche sweaters over the next couple of weeks.

Last year, MacDonald played 40 games with the San Jose Sharks and the San Jose Barracuda, the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. He scored a total of 13 points (seven goals, six assists). MacDonald is returning to Colorado after spending the last two seasons in San Jose. Before that, he played in Colorado in parts of four seasons (2019-23) before being traded to San Jose on Jan. 25, 2023.

Malinski aims to secure a spot on the Avalanche roster during this year’s training camp. Last season, he played in 23 NHL games for the Avalanche, recording 10 points (three goals, seven assists). In addition to his 46 appearances in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, Malinski totaled 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) last season.

Stienburg is coming off a 13-point campaign with the Eagles last season, collecting five goals and eight assists over 54 appearances.

Forward Cole Bardreau ’15 and defenseman Travis Mitchell ’23 are wearing New York Islanders jerseys at training camp, making the Islanders the only other NHL club with multiple Cornell alumni.

Bardreau is starting his sixth season with the New York Islanders organization. Last season, Bardreau scored 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 70 games with Bridgeport, the Islanders’ AHL affiliate. Bardreau has played in 11 NHL games, with 10 coming in the 2019-20 season. His most recent NHL appearance was on Dec. 2, 2022, against Nashville.

Mitchell’s inaugural professional season was with Bridgeport last season, where he recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in 34 games.

Among the other seven former Big Red players attending training camps are Joakim Ryan ’15 (Carolina), Gabriel Seger ’24 (Detroit), Jeff Malott (Los Angeles), Anthony Angello (Nashville), Jack Malone ’23 (New Jersey), Riley Nash (N.Y. Rangers), and Morgan Barron (Winnipeg).

Ryan is seeking a return to the NHL after playing for the Malmö Redhawks in his native Sweden for the past three seasons. During his time with Malmö, he totaled 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 156 games. Ryan signed a one-year, two-way contract with Carolina on July 14. His last NHL appearance was with the Hurricanes during the 2020-21 season, where he played four games. After graduating from Cornell in 2015, Ryan played for the San Jose Sharks from 2017 to 2019, followed by stints with the Los Angeles Kings in 2019-20 and the Hurricanes in 2020-21.

Seger signed a one-year contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, on June 11 after a successful senior season at Cornell. He played in all of Cornell’s 35 games, registering a team-high 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists). His 44 points were the most by a Cornell player since Ryan Vesce (19-26—45), and the 30 assists were the most since Stephen Bâby (33) during Cornell’s 2002-03 season, which saw the team advance to the Frozen Four.

Seger was recognized for his offensive success in 2023-24, earning All-ECAC Hockey and All-Ivy First Team honors. He also received academic honors from ECAC Hockey and the Ivy League and multiple awards at the team’s year-end banquet.

Angello will compete for a spot on the Nashville Predators roster for a second consecutive season. Last year with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators’ AHL affiliate, Angello had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 46 games. His point total was the most he had in a season since logging 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 44 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2021-22. Angello last played in the NHL in 2021-22, the last of his five-year tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played in 31 games across three seasons (2019-22).

Malone is starting his first full season of professional hockey after playing one game with the Utica Comets, the Devils’ AHL affiliate, following his post-graduate season with Boston College. Malone scored 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) with BC in 41 games last season. This season is the first of Malone’s two-year AHL contract that he inked on April 17.

Nash is aiming to play in his 13th NHL season this year. Last season, the former first-round draft pick scored 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 41 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate. He also played one game with the Rangers last season on Dec. 9 against Washington.

Barron just finished his fourth NHL season and second full year with Winnipeg. During his time with the Jets last season, he played in 80 games, scoring a career-high 11 goals and adding seven assists. He also delivered 122 hits and achieved a plus-10 rating.

The opening night rosters for all 32 NHL teams are due to the league office on Monday, Oct. 7.

(Photo provided by Cornell Men’s Athletic/Hockey Dept.)

Tony Maci Named Head Coach of Union College Women’s Hockey Team

By
Randy Schultz
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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Bringing nearly a decade of ECAC Hockey coaching experience to Schenectady, Tony Maci has been named the next head coach of the Union College women’s hockey team, Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin ’93 announced on Wednesday.

“I’m extremely thankful and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the Union College women’s hockey program,” Maci said. “I’d like to thank President David Harris, Vice President for Student Affairs Annette Diorio, Jim McLaughlin, Beth Tiffany, and everyone involved in the search process for giving me the opportunity to come to Schenectady. Throughout this whole process I kept hearing the same thing about Union College and the campus community, and that was there are great people here. That is something I want to be a part of.”

“We are very happy to welcome someone with Tony’s experience to Union as our next head women’s hockey coach,” McLaughlin said. “His focus on the overall experience and support of student-athletes came through clearly during the interview process. As our program continues to develop and improve, Tony’s track record of success will be an incredible benefit to our players and what they look to achieve both on and off the ice.

“It is a very exciting time for our women’s hockey program and I look forward to seeing Tony behind the bench this season.”

Maci has spent the last eight years on staff at Clarkson University, serving as the top assistant on Matt Desrosiers’ staff before recently earning a promotion to Associate Head Coach. During his time on the bench, the Golden Knights have blossomed into a perennial title contender, winning a pair of Division I national championships in 2017 and 2018, reaching four Frozen Fours and making the NCAA Tournament seven times. As the team’s recruiting coordinator and skills coach, Maci has recruited and developed two Patty Kazmaier Award winners, nine AHCA All-Americans and 38 All-ECAC Hockey honorees during his time in Potsdam.

“I’d like to thank former Athletics Directors Steve Yianoukos and Scott Smalling, Athletic Director Laurel Kane, Assistant Athletics Director Ben Gaebel and especially Head Coach Matthew Desrosiers, as well as, all of the student athlete and people involved in the Golden Knights women’s hockey program for the support throughout my career at Clarkson University,” Maci added. “This has not been an easy decision to leave the North Country and Clarkson, as it’s a special place for my family. It’s where I met my wife, Sarah, and where all three of our children have been born. It holds a special place in our hearts.”

Maci started his Division I coaching at fellow ECAC school Princeton University, where he helped guide the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16 with a 22-9-2 record, the most wins in program history at the time. He got his start in the college coaching ranks three years earlier as an assistant coach at Division III Adrian College, pushing the young program to a combined 59-15-6 record over three years and its first NCHA regular-season title in 2014-15.

A native of Grosse Ile, Mich., Maci graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2005 with a degree in English and was a five-year member of the Saints men’s hockey team.

Maci takes over a Union women’s hockey program that is trending positively, having posted two of the three winningest seasons in the program’s Division I history in the last two years, including a program-record 11 wins in 2022-23. Last season, the team won a program-record four games in a row in December and January, capped by its second win over a nationally ranked team with a 2-1 (OT) win at Penn State University.

“We are going to be a group that works hard both on and off the ice, as well as in the community,” continued Maci. “We will put a premium on player development first so that we can play an exciting skilled brand of hockey, while working hard as exceptional student-athletes in the classroom.”

Before moving to a brand-new facility at Mohawk Harbor in 2025, the Garnet Chargers will begin their final season in Messa Rink on October 4 against Rochester Institute of Technology after a season-opening series at Robert Morris University on September 27-28.

(Photo provided by Union College Women’s Athletics/Hockey Team)

USA Hockey 2024 Annual Meeting Recap; Trimboli Re-Elected, Utica’s Esche Honored

By
Randy Schultz
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0
(Ed. Note — NY Hockey OnLine is sorry that this was not posted in a more timely fashion.)

Mike Trimboli (Massena, N.Y.) was unanimously re-elected to a second three-year term as president of the organization on June 8 during the USA Hockey Congress Meeting in Denver that concluded the organization’s four-day Annual Meeting.
“I’m humbled to continue to serve this great organization,” said Trimboli. “I’d like to thank our Congress for its confidence in me, and it is with much optimism that I look forward to the future.“It is always inspiring to see the passion and dedication that shines through during our Annual Meeting. We are so fortunate to have a collaborative environment with volunteers from across the country, our staff and other constituent groups working together as a team to drive the continued growth and evolution of the game.”

GROWTH
Participation numbers for the 2023-24 season were shared during the Annual Meeting and included 564,468 players, up by 1.49%. Youth players grew to 389,820, while adult players increased to 174,648. The number of female players hit an all-time high of 93,610 in 2023-24, up by 2.58%. The season also included record numbers of coaches (64,280/4.14% increase) and officials (31,125/9.87% increase).

PLAYING RULES
USA Hockey’s councils, committees and sections reviewed the numerous playing rule proposals that were submitted and will ultimately be voted on during the USA Hockey Winter Meeting this coming January in Nashville. Any rule changes approved will go into effect for the 2025-26 season and remain in place for a four-year cycle. 

ELECTIONS
In addition to the re-election of Mike Trimboli as president, the Congress also re-elected Keith Barrett (Northfield, Vt.) as vice president and Youth Council chair and elected Tom Cline (Sylvania, Ohio) as vice president and Adult Council chair. Caitlin Cahow (Banford, Connecticut), Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.), Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.), Lyndsey Fry (Chandler,  Ariz.), Shelley Looney (Brownstown, Mich.), Chris Clark (South Windsor, Conn.), Matt Herr (Alpine, N.J.) and Bobby  Butler (Marlborough, Mass.) were elected as athlete representatives to Congress, with Cahow and Grove also elected to serve as athlete representatives to the Board of Directors. In addition, Dave Margeneau (Maple Grove, Minn.) was elected as representative at-large to Congress, Bob Joyce (Newton, Mass.) as director at-large to the Board and Gordon Bowman (Plymouth, Mich.) as director emeritus.

MULDER SALUTED
Don Mulder (Fond du Lac, Wis.), who is retiring from his volunteer efforts with USA Hockey after five decades, received a standing ovation during Saturday’s Congress meeting. Mulder has served in varying roles within the organization, including the last 12 years as vice president and Adult Council chair.

AWARDS
USA Hockey honored several individuals as part of its annual awards program and also recognized its Service Award recipients during Friday’s President’s Awards Dinner. For the full recap, click here. At Saturday’s Congress meeting, USA Hockey president Mike Trimboli presented President’s Awards to volunteer Robert Esche(Utica, N.Y.), as well as staff members Tony Driscoll (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Heather Mannix (Plymouth, Mich.).

OTHER NOTES
It was noted and celebrated that U.S. national teams played in more gold-medal games in major international competition than any other nation in 2023-24, with gold medals in the Youth Olympic Games, IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship and IIHF World Junior Championship, and silver medals in the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, IIHF Women’s World Championship and IPC Para Sled Hockey World Championship.Attendees were reminded that the requirement for neck laceration protection for players in all USA Hockey age classifications, other than adults, in all games and practices, and also for on-ice officials under the age of 18, goes into effect on August 1, 2024. That legislation was passed by the USA Hockey Congress at its January 2024 meeting.
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