By Warren Kozireski
A lot has changed for Michigan State senior defenseman and Hamburg native
Patrick Geary over his four collegiate seasons. He went from not playing for the
first month or so his freshman year to being named the 81 st captain in Spartans
hockey history and a top-pair blueliner.
He also was drafted by his hometown Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round of the 2024
NHL Draft.
“Huge honor especially (coming) from the guys,” Geary said about the captaincy.
“I’ve had great captains all throughout my three years and hopefully I can bring the
tradition along, help these guys out and bring us to a national championship.”
But as usual, do not look for Geary’s name on the score sheet most nights. He is
the quintessential defensive defenseman who posted a career-best +15 plus/minus
as a junior. And through the first five games of his final college season, he already
is second on the team with seven blocked shots through the first five games giving
him 62 over the last two-plus campaigns.
The 6’1”, 195 left shot has totaled eight goals and 31 points over his first 109
Division I games.
And this year he is playing a mentor role to three freshmen and two sophomores
some nights.
“They’ve been really good and developed each game. They’re only going to get
better; they’re high draft picks and very skilled defensemen and once they get a
couple games they’re going to start taking over games.”
The Spartans have advanced to NCAA playoffs in each of Geary’s three previous
college seasons, losing in the regional finals twice including last season.
Geary played in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres system for four seasons before joining
Waterloo in the USHL for two more
Geary got to come back “home” in October as the Spartans played in RIT’s annual
Brick City Homecoming game at Rochester’s sold-out Blue Cross Arena.
“I love coming back here to western New York; it was fun to get back here and see
my family, and it was nice for sure.”
And he is hoping at the end of this season to return “home” after signing a
professional contract with Buffalo and starting in Rochester.
“I’ve always thought of myself as a four-year guy. I never wanted to leave and
honestly, I don’t want to leave after this year. So, it’s sad that it’s coming to an end
but gonna make it the best one for sure.”
