ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A trio of seniors on the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team received year-end accolades from the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), as announced by the league office. Connor Powell ’20 was named to the All-UCHC First Team, while Nick Ford ’20 and Christian Lloyd ’20 were selected to the All-UCHC Second Team.

Powell is making his second consecutive appearance on the All-UCHC First Team, after capping a phenomenal four-year career with the Soaring Eagles. The Merrimack, New Hampshire, native produced 34 points on 12 goals and 22 assists during the 2019-20 campaign. Of his 12 tallies, five were registered on the power play, one came shorthanded, and two others held up as game-winning goals. In conference-only games, Powell tied for first in the UCHC in power-play points (16), sixth in points, seventh in goals, and eighth in assists.

Powell, a former AHCA All-American and the 2019 UCHC Co-Player of the Year, found his groove midway through the season and pieced together a 12-game point streak from January 14-February 21. During that stretch, the senior captain logged five of his 10 multi-point performances of the season. Powell concluded his career with 141 points in 106 games played. His 141 points, the program’s 19th-highest point total, are derived from 64 goals and 77 assists.

Ford received All-UCHC Second Team accolades for a second consecutive season, the third All-UCHC honor of his four-year career. The New Lenox, Illinois, native enjoyed another phenomenal season for the Purple and Gold in 2019-20, as he became just the third Soaring Eagle in program history to lead the team in points in three consecutive seasons. He joins former EC greats Pierre Rivard ’04 and Kurt Kalweit ’84 with that honor.

In 26 games, Ford produced 40 points on 13 goals and 27 assists. His 40 points were the second-highest total of his career, while the 27 assists were a career best. Ford was a model of consistency on the offensive end of the ice, as he tallied at least one point in all 26 games this season. Ford exits Elmira with 149 points, a mark that is tied for 14th in EC history, on 63 goals and 83 assists.

After spending his first three seasons with Division I Sacred Heart, Lloyd capped off his collegiate career with an All-UCHC Second Team nod. Lloyd was Elmira’s highest-scoring skater from the blue line with 19 points on six goals and 13 assists. He is sixth in the league in defenseman scoring and ranks third among UCHC blueliners when considering conference-only statistics.

Half of Lloyd’s goals were registered on the power play this season and all three of those power-play goals helped Elmira secure wins against Neumann (Nov. 15), Utica (Nov. 23), and Chatham (Jan. 17). Additionally, Lloyd recorded four multi-point games, including a career-high three-point performance against Chatham.

2020 UCHC Award Winners
Co-Player of the Year: Donald Flynn, Wilkes University
Co-Player of the Year: Conor Landrigan, Utica College
Rookie of the Year: Brandon Osmundson, Utica College
Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Fritz, Utica College
Goaltender of the Year: Michael Tilford, Nazareth College
Coach of the Year: Gary Heenan, Utica College

First Team All-UCHC
Forward: Connor Powell, Elmira College
Forward: Donald Flynn, Wilkes University
Forward: Conor Landrigan, Utica College
Defense: Daniel Fritz, Utica College
Defense: Michael Gurska, Wilkes University
Goaltender: Michael Tilford, Nazareth College

Second Team All-UCHC
Forward: Brandon Osmundson, Utica College
Forward: Nick Ford, Elmira College
Forward: Nick Fea, Wilkes University
Defense: Christian Lloyd, Elmira College
Defense: Aaron Murray, Stevenson University
Goaltender: Gianluca Baggetta, Utica College

UCHC All-Rookie Team
Forward: Brandon Osmundson, Utica College
Forward: Austin Master, Stevenson University
Forward: Tommy Cahill, King’s College
Defense: Jacob Cuffley, Utica College
Defense: Ziki Mroz, Lebanon Valley College
Goaltender: Ryan Kenny, Stevenson University

TROY, N.Y. – ECAC Hockey has announced its monthly award winners from men’s hockey and two Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes have been recognized. Todd Burgess has been named Player of the Month, while Owen Savory earned his second consecutive MAC Goaltending Goalie of the Month.

A senior forward from Phoenix, Ariz., Burgess led the Engineers to a 6-3-0 February, including a 5-1 mark in ECAC Hockey play. Netting a league-best nine goals to go along with three assists for a league-high 12 points, he had the second-highest plus/minus among conference skaters at +10, with three power play tallies, 28 shots and six blocks at the defensive end. His month was highlighted by a four-goal outing against Princeton on February 22 – registering his first collegiate hat trick in a 7-1 win.

Burgess posted a six-game point stream during the February in which he scored eight goals and added three assists for 11 points. He produced three power play tallies and one game-winning assist during the stretch, with a +8 rating. In six conference games in February, he netted a team-high seven goals with two assists for nine points and a +10 rating.

Playing in 32 games for the Engineers this season, Burgess has a team-high 14 goals and six assists for 20 points. The team-leader in goals per game (0.44), power play goals (5), hat tricks (1) and shooting percentage (17.7%), he is a former standout with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Defensively, he has 12 blocked shots, while being assessed 10 minor penalties for 20 minutes.

In 102 career games, Burgess has 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points.

A sophomore from Cambridge, Ont., Savory went 6-2-0 in February with a 1.51 goals against average and a league-best .954 save percentage in eight starts. Recording league-highs in total saves (247) and shutouts (3), he had save totals of 38, 37 and 29 in his three shutouts, including RPI’s first road whitewashing of Harvard since 2000.

Savory has started 24 games for the Engineers this season, posting a 13-9-2 record, with a 2.06 goals against average and a .932 save percentage and five shutouts – the most by an RPI netminder since Nathan Marsters ’04 had five in 2003-04. In 18 ECAC Hockey contests, the former St. Catharines Falcons standout went 11-6-1 with a 1.74 goals against average and a .941 save percentage and four shutouts. He led all conference goalies in both save percentage and shutouts, while ranking third in goals against average, fourth in winning percentage (.639) and seventh in total saves (479).

Nationally, Savory currently ranks second in shutouts, seventh in save percentage and 12th in goals against average. His five shutouts are one shy of the school record of six, which is held by Laing from the 1999-00 season.

In 49 career games at RPI, Savory is 18-24-5, with a 2.26 goals against average and a .929 save percentage, which both rank first in program history. His six career shutouts are fourth all-time.

The Engineers, who are 17-15-2 overall, went 13-8-1 in ECAC Hockey, earning a First Round bye in the conference tournament. They host a best-of-3 quartefinal series March 13-15 at the Houston Field House.

TROY, N.Y. – ECAC Hockey has announced its weekly award winners from men’s hockey and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Owen Savory has been named MAC Goaltending Goalie of the Week for the fourth time this season and second in a row.

A sophomore from Cambridge, Ont., Savory went 2-0 last week with league-bests in goals against average (0.50), save percentage (.985), saves (66) and shutouts (1). He opened the week by stopping all 29 shots in a 2-0 shutout of Harvard on Friday – the first road shutout of the Crimson since Joel Laing ’00 in 2000. On Saturday, he made 37 saves in a 4-1 victory at Dartmouth, help RPI clinch fourth place in the conference standings and a bye through the opening round of the playoffs.

Savory has started 24 games for the Engineers this season, posting a 13-9-2 record, with a 2.06 goals against average and a .932 save percentage and five shutouts – the most by an RPI netminder since Nathan Marsters ’04 had five in 2003-04. In 18 ECAC Hockey contests, the former St. Catharines Falcons standout went 11-6-1 with a 1.74 goals against average and a .941 save percentage and four shutouts. He led all conference goalies in both save percentage and shutouts, while ranking third in goals against average, fourth in winning percentage (.639) and seventh in total saves (479).

Nationally, Savory currently ranks second in shutouts, seventh in save percentage and 12th in goals against average. His five shutouts are one shy of the school record of six, which is held by Laing from the 1999-00 season.

Since January 1, Savory has been one of the top goalies in the country, sporting a 10-2-1 record in 13 starts. His 1.15 goals against average, .963 save percentage and five shutouts are all tops in the nation over that span.

In 49 career games for the Engineers, Savory is 18-24-5, with a 2.26 goals against average and a .929 save percentage, which both rank first in program history. His six career shutouts are fourth all-time.

The Engineers, who are 17-15-2 overall, went 13-8-1 in ECAC Hockey, earning a First Round bye in the conference tournament. They host a best-of-3 quartefinal series March 13-15 at the Houston Field House.

By Warren Kozireski —

Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Buffalo State senior defenseman Charles Barber had scored more goals this season than in his first three season’s combined and set a career high with 12 points with two regular season games plus any postseason contests remaining in his collegiate career.

The Queensbury-born Barber spent his first three collegiate campaigns with Plattsburgh State, but headed west for this, his final go-round prior to what he hopes is the launch of his professional hockey career.

“He has been phenomenal for us,” Buffalo State head coach Steve Murphy said. “The kid is logging 30 minutes a game here at the end of the year. He’s been a great kid and phenomenal teammate that all the guys like and helped us a big amount this year.

“It’s unfortunate that we only get him for one year, but he’s given us a good, steady presence back there and a guy that we can count on that works hard every day, does things the right way and brings energy and a great pickup for us.”

“I had a little bit of a disagreement with the coach at Plattsburgh and reached out to a couple of SUNY schools and coach Steve called me within 20-25 minutes and offered me a spot,” Barber said in mid-February. “I wanted to think about it because I was thinking of going to Castleton where my younger brother (sophomore defenseman Andrew) plays. But I like the area so I figured I would go and enjoy my senior year. He offered me a lot of playing time, which he has come through with.

“It was a little different and I had to adjust to a little different playing style, but after a few weeks I got used to it and he’s put a lot of faith in me and let me play my way.”

The 6’2”, 205 lb. left shot stood tied for 11^th in the SUNYAC conference in points. He began his hockey journey with five years in the CP (Clifton Park) Dynamo program in the Albany region before spending two seasons with the New York Bobcats in the Eastern Hockey League, the last featuring an offensive burst of 12 goals and 12 assists in 35 games leading to upstate New York with the Cardinals.

“I started playing for them (CP Dynamo) when they were a brand-new program when I was 13 (years old) I believe. We brought it up a little bit and won a state championship—kind of snagged it from the Jr. Sabres actually.

“Then Eisenhower Twin Rinks down in Long Island (for the Bobcats). I like the coach a lot, went down there a played a lot and he got me a spot with Plattsburgh.”

“As a senior I hope we pull off a nice winning streak heading into the playoffs. After that I’m hoping to maybe get a bit of a sniff (professionally) with team and I’m going to have to prove myself to them and coach Steve has helped me as much as he can, so we’ll see if we get a bounce from that.”

“Out of school I might try to go to flight school down in Florida and be a pilot (for commercial airline) or try to become a state trooper back home.”

But first there are still games left to make a last-month impact with his adopted senior year team.

By Warren Kozireski —

With three reason remaining in the regular season, Colgate University was within one win of equally their total from all of last season. Three regulars on the blueline graduated, which opened a spot for New York City freshman Anthony Stark and he has stepped headlong into the fire missing only two of the team’s first 28 games.

“After being away, this was a chance for me to get closer to home where my parents and family could come see me play,” Stark said in early February. “My sisters are at Oswego, so not too far.

“For some reason there seems to be a need to small, right-shot defensemen lately.”

The 5’9”, 170lb. blueliner has four assists this season playing often on the third defensive pairing, but was still looking for his first collegiate goal as of Feb. 13.

He started hockey with the Westchester Vipers where he played for five years before jumping to renowned hockey factory Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota for three years of prep school.

There he netted 20 goals with 78 points at three different levels in 147 games.

“I started late; didn’t start skating until I was about nine and, after five years in Westchester, it was time to make a decision about whether I was serious about this and my best friend, Aerin Frankel the Northeastern University starting goaltender, told me about Shattuck St. Mary’s so I went there.

“Then two years in the USHL before I got the opportunity to come here.”

He played ten games in the NAHL with Austin before getting an opportunity in the USHL with Madison where, after he committed to Colgate in October, he scored six times last season in 56 games.

Now he is making the needed adjustments to Division I college hockey.

 “(It’s the) speed mostly and seeing how small the gap is between the best teams and everyone else. Learning how to close the gap between the forwards coming into the zone.”

It is a much-needed crash course as the Raiders will lose three more seniors to graduation after this season leaving Stark with another opportunity to step into the void.

By Warren Kozireski —

Sophomore Travis Broughman scored his career high 14^th and 15^th goals on the season while senior Michal Gillespie (New City) assisted on both and one other by Josh Zizek as Oswego defeated Plattsburgh 4-1 in the SUNYAC semi-final delayed until Tuesday night due to a compressor failure late last week.

The Lakers will travel to third-in-the nation Geneseo Sat. night at 7pm for the championship game in a rematch from one season ago.

Broughman opened the scoring at 1:33 of the first and made it 2-0 Oswego at 5:17 of the second period on the power play as he roofed a shot from the right faceoff circle.

Joey Scorpio followed a little over two minutes later with his third of the season and Zizek added on the fourth in the final minute of the second period.

Gillespie tied his career best with the three helpers.

Plattsburgh senior defenseman and Niagara University transfer Andrew Pizzo broke up the shutout bid with a power play goal—his third of the season—at 8:22 of the third, but the Cardinals would get no closer despite their goalie pulled for the final 90+ seconds.

“The last couple week I think our line has been making a lot of plays and moving the puck quick and a lot of plays that actually haven’t fallen in the net, but we just have to keep playing the right way and it seems we’ve been doing that,” Gillespie said.

Oswego goaltender Steven Kozikoski (Liverpool) made 21 saves in registering his sixth win of the season in eight starts.

“Do or die and we really don’t have much to lose here now,” Gillespie said about this weekend’s championship game. “After tonight we’re excited.”

GENESEO, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (7-18-2) hit the road for the SUNYAC quarterfinals against No. 2 SUNY Geneseo (21-3-2) on Saturday night, falling by a final score of 7-0. The game marked the end of the careers of the five Potsdam seniors including forward Bryce Ferrell (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres), forward Vincent Guimond (Sorel-Tracy, Quebec/Gloucester Rangers), defenseman Sean Winikates(Phoenix, Ariz./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers), forward Nate Zweig(Binghamton, N.Y./Syracuse Stars) and forward Tyler Young(Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers).