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

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(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.

Emma Killeen ’22 Named Assistant Women’s Ice Hockey Coach

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By: Caleb Philips, Director of Athletic Communications

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Emma Killeen, a 2022 Plattsburgh State graduate and former women’s ice hockey student-athlete, has been hired as the new assistant women’s ice hockey coach, as announced Thursday by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.

“It’s great to have Emma back in the Cardinal Women’s Hockey Family,” head coach Kevin Houle said, “She will be a great addition as her knowledge of the game and passion for Plattsburgh State women’s hockey will be a great asset to our program! We are excited to have her on board.”

Killeen enjoyed an outstanding career with the Cardinals as a key piece of the defensive unit over the course of four seasons. Playing 110 games in her career, she tallied five goals and 35 assists and appeared in all 31 games in the team’s 2019 National Championship run. In the championship game against Hamline, Killeen tallied an assist on the game-winning goal as they won 4-0 to secure their seventh national title in program history.

Killeen has coaching experience working in a variety of clinics and camps, including the Elite Hockey Camp at Norwich University and USA Ice Hockey Development Camps. She also volunteered at Learn to Skate outings hosted at Plattsburgh while a student-athlete. Outside of working the ice, she worked at Eclipse Fitness and Spa as well as a CrossFit Coach in her hometown of Watertown, Connecticut.

Outside of athletics, Killeen has most recently worked as a realtor for Regency Real Estate in Connecticut.

A 2022 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, Killeen earned her degree in Business Administration while minoring in athletic coaching.

(Photo provided by Plattsburgh Women’s Hockey)

Kyle Penney Named Captain of Cornell Men’s Hockey For Second Consecutive Season

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Seniors Hank Kempf, Jack O’Leary, Tim Rego to Serve as Alternate Captains

ITHACA, N.Y. — Senior forward Kyle Penney has been named team captain of the Cornell men’s hockey team for a second consecutive season, it was announced by Mike Schafer ’86, the Jay R. Bloom ’77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey.

“He does everything the right way in hockey, training, practice, games, and cares about his teammates,” Schafer said of Penney. “He connects across all classes, freshmen to seniors, and he’s done that since he’s been here. He speaks up and picks his spots to make his point. He’s not soft-spoken but doesn’t waste his words. He works hard and you can’t have a captain that doesn’t do that. He checks all the boxes of great leaders. It’s an honor for him to be a two-time captain and it was going to be evident that the honor was going to be bestowed upon him by his teammates.”

Penney is the seventh player under Schafer’s tenure as the Big Red’s head coach to be named a two-time captain, joining Mitch Vanderlaan ’19, John McCarron ’15, Colin Greening ’10, Stephen Bâby ’03, Kyle Knopp ’99, and Brad Chartrand ’96. Penney is the 14th player on record in Cornell program history to be named a two-time captain. The entire list can be viewed below.

Joining Penney on the leadership team for the upcoming season will be senior defensemen Hank Kempf and Tim Rego and senior forward Jack O’Leary, who will all serve as alternate captains.

“We had great leadership from Kyle, Jack, and Gabriel Seger last year, but when the players sat down and voted, played over in Europe, and came back with all the training, Hank and Tim have played major roles in our program from day one,” Schafer said. “Both are great teammates who work hard at their trade; they have all the characteristics of good captains. We’re excited for our leadership group; they won’t be the only leaders on our team, but those are the guys our team has given a letter to.”

O’Leary is the second player on record in Cornell program history to be named an alternate captain in consecutive seasons, joining Cole Bardreau ’15, who served as an alternate captain for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.

Cornell will begin its 2024-25 campaign with a scrimmage against ECAC Hockey and Ivy League foe Princeton at Lynah Rink on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 5 p.m. The Big Red’s only other exhibition prior to its season-opening game against North Dakota on Friday, Nov. 1, will be a contest against the University of Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.

Fans are still eligible to purchase season tickets for the upcoming season. For more information, please visit bigredtix.com.

MULTI-YEAR CAPTAINS

Cornell Program History

Lance Nethery (1977-78, 1978-79)

Doug Berk (1979-80, 1980-81)

Brock Tredway (1979-80, 1980-81)

Randy MacFarlane (1982-83, 1983-84)

Duanne Moeser (1984-85, 1985-86)

Mike Schafer (1984-85, 1985-86)

Ryan Hughes (1991-92, 1992-93)

Brad Chartrand (1994-95, 1995-96)

Kyle Knopp (1997-98, 1998-99)

Stephen Bâby (2001-02, 2002-03)

Colin Greening (2008-09, 2009-10)

John McCarron (2013-14, 2014-15)

Mitch Vanderlaan (2017-18, 2018-19)

Kyle Penney (2023-24, 2024-25)

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

NYSPHSAA Welcomes Tim Mullins (Section XI) As New Association President

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LATHAM, NY-Tim Mullins, Athletic Director at Bayport- Blue Point High School (Section XI), officially took over on September 1st as the 52nd President of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Mullins begins a two-year term (2024-2026) as President after serving as Vice President and Second Vice President for the previous four years (2020-2024).

Also, on September 1st, Adam Stoltman of Alden Central School District (Section VI) moved into the role of First Vice President. Stoltman served as Second Vice President for the last two years. Debra Ferry of Half Hollow Hills Central School District (Section XI) began her term as the newest NYSPHSAA officer in the role of Second Vice President. Russell Bartlett (Section X) transitioned from President (2022-2024) to the role of Immediate Past President for the next two years and Julie Bergman (Section IV) completed her eight years of service to the Association as the outgoing Past President.

Mullins has been the Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics at Bayport-Blue Point School District since 2003. Prior to that, he worked at the West Islip School District (Section XI) and has been a member of the Section XI and NYSPHSAA boys lacrosse committees since 2003. Mullins is a graduate of West Islip High School and continued on to SUNY Cortland and Adelphi University where he earned his bachelor’s in physical education and holds master’s degrees from the College of New Rochelle and Stony Brook University. 

“I look forward to giving back to this exceptional association that continues to afford our student athletes tremendous opportunities and lifelong memories,” said Mullins. “I plan to take a collaborative approach to follow the mission of NYSPHSAA in the hopes of continuing moving our association forward and maintaining a membership-driven organization.”

Stoltman has been the Alden Central School District (Section VI) Superintendent since 2013. In his 28-year career in education, he has served in many roles including K-12 Physical Education teacher, Adapted Physical Education teacher, Athletic Director, and Middle School Principal all at Alden. Additionally, he was an elementary school Principal in the Akron Central School District (Section VI). He participated in the varsity football and baseball as a student-athlete at Alden before graduating from Canisius College. While earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Canisius, he captained the ice hockey team during his junior and senior years.

“Over the last two years I have developed an even bigger appreciation for the work the NYSPHSAA staff and Executive Committee does to support the incredible work of our member schools, their coaches and administrator,” said Stoltman. “To an individual, members of the committee from across the State remain steadfast in their commitment to providing competitive and safe opportunities that enhance the experiences of our student-athletes, regardless of the level of play.”

Debra Ferry has been the Director of Athletics at Half Hollow Hills Central School District since 2016. Ferry began her career in Manhattan teaching physical education and spent the next 27 years in the field serving in many roles including Section XI President, Section XI Field Hockey Coordinator, NYSPHSAA Female Representative of the Executive Committee and At-large member of the NYSPHSAA Championship Advisory Committee. Ferry has earned degrees from SUNY Cortland (BSE and MSE), Touro College (MSE), and a CAA from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association in 2010. In high school, she participated in volleyball, basketball, softball, and field hockey making her way to the collegiate level to compete in both field hockey and lacrosse at SUNY Cortland.

“I am deeply honored to step into the role of Second Vice President for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association,” said Ferry. “Together, we will continue to champion the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and excellence that defines our student-athletes. I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated NYSPHSAA staff, officers and committees to foster programs in our public schools where all athletes feel valued and have an opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

Outgoing President Russell Bartlett has been a member of the Tupper Lake School District since 1994. He began his teaching career as a chemistry/biology teacher, a role he held for 15 years. After that he spent five years as Tupper Lake’s Student Coordinator. He has also held the positions of athletic director and principal. Bartlett held the Superintendent position at Tupper Lake for the past two years and recently announced his retirement. He has degrees from SUNY Geneseo (B.S), SUNY Potsdam (M.S. Ed) and The State University of New York at Stony Brook (Advanced Graduate Certificate).

All NYSPHSAA officers are appointed by committee and serve an eight-year term on a voluntary basis. The current NYSPHSAA officers are:

President –Tim Mullins (Section XI)
1st Vice President – Adam Stoltman (Section VI)
2nd Vice President – Debra Ferry (Section XI)
Immediate Past President – Russell Bartlett (Section X)

Cornell Men’s Hockey Names Corey Leivermann As Newest Assistant Coach

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Joins Big Red Coaching Staff After Spending 2023-24 Season With USHL’s Fargo Force

ITHACA, N.Y. — Corey Leivermann has joined the Cornell men’s hockey coaching staff as an assistant coach, Mike Schafer ’86, the Jay R. Bloom ’77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey, announced.

In addition to his assistant coaching duties, Leivermann will also oversee the Big Red’s video and hockey operations for the upcoming season.

“I’m really excited to add Corey to our coaching staff with his experience coming from leagues that are vital to our recruiting,” Schafer said. “He has vast experience and connections with the USHL and NAHL, and I’m looking forward to him connecting with our players. He comes highly recommended.”

“I’m excited and honored for this tremendous opportunity to work with Coach Schafer in his last year at Cornell, and with Casey Jones and Sean Flanagan,” added Leivermann. “I’m really excited and ready to hit the ground running with hockey season right around the corner.”

Leivermann joins the Big Red after spending the 2023-24 season as an associate head coach under Brett Skinner with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Fargo had a successful 2023-24 campaign, highlighted by its USHL-record 50 regular-season wins (50-10-2) and concluding their year by winning its second-ever Clark Cup title.

Before his time in Fargo, Leivermann was an associate head coach with the Madison Capitols for two years before being elevated to general manager and head coach of the Capitols for the 2022-23 campaign.

While with Madison, Leivermann coached rising junior forward Nick DeSantis during the 2021-22 season, where DeSantis posted 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 60 games played.

Following his one season of playing professional hockey with the Mississippi RiverKings in the SPHL in 2014-15, Leivermann joined the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as a scout for the 2015-16 season. He spent the next season as the general manager and head coach of the Jersey Shore Wildcats, a NA3HL team, before returning to Wichita Falls to serve as an assistant coach for the remainder of the season upon the conclusion of the NA3HL season.

He remained in the NAHL for the next three seasons, working with the Janesville Jets, where he assumed the role of assistant coach for the entire 2017-18 season and the first half of the 2018-19 campaign before being elevated to head coach on Jan. 2, 2019, a role he held for a year and a half. He also served as the Jets’ director of scouting for two years (2018-20).

After posting 71 points (39 goals, 32 assists) in 20 games during his senior season at Mankato West High School, where he was a two-year captain, Leivermann played two years of junior hockey with Fargo in the USHL, appearing in 108 regular-season games and accumulating 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists). Following his time as a player with Fargo, Leivermann played Division I hockey at Minnesota State for parts of three seasons, registering eight points (four goals, four assists) in 42 games with the Mavericks.

A mid-year transfer to Gustavus Adolphus, a Minnesota-based Division III institution, in 2012-13, Leivermann averaged a point per game over his 40 career games with the Gusties. He registered 20 goals and 20 assists during his time in St. Peter, Minn., highlighted by his 30-point season (18 goals, 12 assists) in 2013-14, where he earned Second Team West AHCA All-American honors while serving as team captain.

Originally from North Mankato, Minn., Leivermann and his wife, Tanya, arrive to East Hill with their dog, Bella.

(Photo provided by Cornell Men’s Hockey)

Conor Foley Named Asst. Hockey Coach at Fredonia

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Fredonia has announced the addition of Conor Foley as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team.

Foley played 115 games over five seasons with Franklin Pierce and UMass Boston, finishing his career with 113 points from 2019 to 2024.

He was a captain his senior year at Franklin Pierce while also winning the league’s highest honor as the player of the year in 2023.

Foley also spent 18 games playing professionally with the FPHL’s Port Huron Prowlers.

(Photo provided by Franklin Pierce)

Girls Hockey Team Making Debut in the North Country

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We are happy to announce the North Country Valkyries will be making their debut as an all-girls team for the 2024-25 ice hockey season! This will be a supplement to coed teams for this season. The goal is to start a girls’ program for the North Country that can grow and be sustainable for future seasons.

This year we are going to hold 8, all girl practices throughout the season. We have requested that each of the following associations provide 2 ice teams for the Valkyrie: Thousand Islands, Watertown, Salmon River, and Lewis County. Based on player interest and age level availability, we would like to identify 2-3 tournaments throughout the season to attend as an all-girls program. The registration, jersey and socks would be an additional fee to be collected as decisions are made about tournament attendance. The tournaments would occur before or after coed league play as well as potential for a holiday/winter break tournament option. Every attempt will be made to work around coed schedules to not interrupt team play. All tournaments are dependent on player/family interest and availability.

Registration is $25. Register your girl player today for the North Country Valkyrie! https://watertownhockeyassociation.sportngin.com/…/3883… We are also looking for coaches, specifically female, but are open to all assistance! Please contact Amanda Caswell ([email protected] or 740-591-798) for additional information.

May be an image of hockey and text

Women’s Collegiate Hockey Report: A Look at the Upcoming Season and a Review of Last Season

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By Janet Schultz, [email protected]

After a very nice summer hiatus from ice hockey, NYHOL is ready to gear up for the 2024-25 season. There is lots to celebrate and to look forward to this season. This season NYHOL will be focusing on the WNY region, but will continue to share NYS news as we can.

So let’s start by taking a look at the College scene.

Women’s ice hockey is growing with the addition of a team at St. John Fisher College in Rochester. They have named Scott McDonald (pictured below) the head coach of the women’s ice hockey team. and will play in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference beginning in the 2025-26 season. Home games will be played at the Rochester Ice Center in Fairport. Reid Lesswing was named Head Coach of the inaugural men’s ice hockey team.

“We are excited to welcome Reid and Scott to our roster of talented and committed coaches at Fisher. We are thrilled that they will serve as the inaugural head coaches for our men’s and women’s hockey programs, and look forward what they will bring to the University; their experience and enthusiasm, and most importantly, their support of our student-athletes,” said Jose Perales, vice president for enrollment management.

Inaugural Head Coach for St. John Fisher, Scott McDonald

McDonald joins Fisher after three years as the player development coach of the Bishop Kearney Selects Girls Hockey Program. In addition, he is owner/leader of Maverick Hockey Development, where he designs custom hockey development programs for all Rochester Area youth hockey organizations.

Prior to his time at Bishop Kearney, McDonald served as the head women’s ice hockey coach at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) from 2006-2018, where his 12-year overall record was 205-154-29. He led the team to the Division III Women’s Ice Hockey National Championship, where the team clinched the title in 2012. In addition, the team had four NCAA Tournament appearances, and achieved two Division I CHA Playoff Conference Championships, two Division III ECAC West Playoff Conference Championships, and three Division III ECAC West Regular Season Titles. In 2009 and 2011 respectively, McDonald was named Conference Coach of the Year, and in 2011 and 2012, he was named National Coach of the Year Runner-Up.

Between 2003-2006, McDonald served as the assistant coach of the men’s Division I ice hockey team at RIT, which at the time competed in the Atlantic Hockey Association, and as assistant coach of the men’s Division III team, competing in the ECAC West. He also served as assistant coach of men’s ice hockey at Utica University for one year.

Professionally, McDonald played for the San Angelo Outlaws in San Angelo, Texas, and the IK Viking club in the Swedish Professional League. McDonald is a graduate of Niagara University where he was a member of the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey team through his undergraduate career. 

“I am truly humbled and honored to be the first head coach of the St. John Fisher University women’s hockey program. The culture and commitment the Athletic Department has is second to none. I’m extremely grateful to be joining this staff and begin building our hockey program from the ground up within their standards,” said McDonald. “Fisher’s strong academic and athletic programs will give us the opportunity to quickly build our program into a perennial contender and challenge teams, not only in the UCHC, but nationally. Rochester has an amazing hockey community that is only getting stronger with the addition of both men’s and women’s hockey.”

The Buffalo State women’s hockey team continues to develop a very young squad with the same goal of reaching the postseason for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Head Coach Rachel Grampp concluded her third season at the helm of the women’s hockey program looking to rebuild the team into a championship contender. The Bengals picked up a pair of wins this season and had multiple individual performances that show promise on a team that featured eight new faces and a reigning Northeast Women’s Ice Hockey League (NEWHL) All-Rookie Team selection.

  As a team, Buffalo State tallied 34 goals, 54 assists, eight power play goals, and a .506 face-off percentage across the 25 game season. The Bengals tallied a season-high in points (21), goals (7), assists (14), and shots (64) in a dominant victory over Hilbert near the end of the season.

Vanessa Willick

  Buffalo State kicked-off the 2023-24 season with an impressive win over Neumann University. Reigning NEWHL All-Rookie selection Vanessa Willick (Williamsville, NY/Buffalo Bisons) picked up a pair of goals while Liz Flores (Colleyville, TX/Dallas Stars Edition) scored her first collegiate goal. Eight different Bengals earned an assist across the team’s four goals while Jessica Auge (Laingsburg, MI/Honeybaked Detroit) made 19 saves in goal. The Bengals outshot the Knights with a 40-12 margin. The Bengals second win on the year came in a dominant 7-0 shutout against Hilbert. Bethany Horvatits (Elma, NY/Cazenovia Chiefs) led Buffalo State with a pair of goals while 15 other Bengals tallied at least one point. Auge and Amelia LeBrun (Plattsburgh, NY/Salem State) combined for the six-save shutout.

Willick and Carys Ursell (Calgary, AB/Calgary Fire) shared the team lead with 11 points on the year. Willick had a team-high seven goals and one game-winning goal while Ursell had the team lead with eight assists and 21 blocked shots. Nearly the entire team registered at least one point while three scored their first collegiate goals. Auge was the leader in the goaltending room compiling 642 saves with a .884 save percentage across 21 starts. She now has 2,506 saves in her career putting her second in program history behind Mary Keddie who made 2,665 saves.

  Grampp’s squad also continues to be a staple in the classroom. Auge, Katie Sarich, and Hannah Tingley were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team while the team had 19 athletes named to the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and 17 athletes earning Dean’s List recognition following the spring semester.

  With a very young team, Grampp has established the foundation for the program she aims to build. With a year of experience under their belt, the goal is to take another leap ahead next season as they climb up the standings in a very strong conference leaderboard. (Recap provided by Buffalo State College Athletics)

Jessica Auge (Laingsburg, MI/Honeybaked Detroit), Katie Sarich (Columbia, MD/Washington Pride), and Hannah Tingley (Stoneboro, PA/Washington Pride) of the Buffalo State women’s hockey team have been recognized for their outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, earning selection to the 2024 Academic All-District Team, selected by College Sports Communicators.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Bruce B. Bates Women’s Hockey Coach Celeste Brown announced the schedule for the 2024-25 season, Thursday. The Tigers’ 34-game regular-season slate features 20 games in Atlantic Hockey America and 19 home dates.

Celeste Brown, Bruce B Bates Women’s Hockey Coach

  “The 2024-2025 season is going to build on our growth from last season,” said Brown, who enters her fifth season on the Tiger bench. “We are set to play four top 15 teams, all who made the NCAA tournament, and we couldn’t be more excited and motivated towards the challenge.”

  RIT kicks off the season on Friday and Saturday, September 27-28 for a pair of non-conference games against Assumption. The Tigers play at Union the following weekend (Oct. 4-5) to take on the Garnet Chargers.

  RIT hosts Colgate for a pair of games on Oct. 11-12, followed by a weekend series against RPI (Oct. 17-18) as part of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend. The Tigers host St. Lawrence for a weekend series Oct. 25-26.

  RIT starts November with two Atlantic Hockey America games against Robert Morris (Nov. 1-2). The Tigers play at Syracuse on Nov. 15 and at the Gene Polisseni Center the following afternoon. RIT plays at Mercyhurst Nov. 22-23 for a pair of AHA games and at Cornell (Nov. 26). RIT closes out the first semester with a pair of AHA games against Lindenwood (Dec. 6-7). 

The Tigers return to action after the semester break on Tuesday, December 31 with a non-conference home game against Cornell. RIT rings in 2025 with a trip to Post (Jan. 4-5) before a road series against Penn State (Jan. 10-11). The Tigers hit the road to face Robert Morris (Jan. 18-19) before a home-and-home series against Syracuse (Jan. 24-25).

Mercyhurst comes to town on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, before the Tigers play at Lindenwood (Feb. 7-8). RIT wraps up the regular season at home against Penn State Feb. 14-15.

  “To all our Tiger Fans we can’t wait to have you back in our building,” said Brown. “We are counting down the days until puck drop!”

All games and dates are subject to change. Stay tuned to RITAthletics.com and @RIT WHKY on Twitter for the latest information about the team.

To support the RIT women’s ice hockey team check out the RIT Breakaway Club. As a member you receive two complimentary season tickets (upgradeable to club lounge), a RIT Athletics Polo Shirt, RIT car decal, RIT Athletics pin, to complimentary tickets to the Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend game at Blue Cross Arena, Zoom sessions with head coach, invitation to a meet and greet with team at a select game. For information call Dan Christner at 585-475-6908 or email [email protected]

Nazareth’s Julia Holmes and Alexis Jones were named to the CSC Academic All District Team. In just its fourth season of existence, the Nazareth women’s hockey team hosted an NCAA quarterfinal contest against #3 Elmira on March 12, 2022. In a hard-fought battle, the Golden Flyers fell 2-1 with a late third period goal from Elmira. Ally Watrous scored her 23rd goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 in the third (check out the goal below). The 23 goals for Watrous remains the single season scoring record at Nazareth. Nazareth also set the school record that season for wins after going 27-2. The Golden Flyers were an unblemished 20-0 in UCHC play.

Nineteen players were named to All Academic Team honor roll from the UCHC and 10 were named to the Scholar All American honor roll from the American Hockey Coaches Association. 

The All-Academic team included Meredith Boettcher, Kate Cascio, Zoe Dupuis, Abby Flanagan, Kieran Fults, McKinley Hoff, Julia Holmes, Ingrid Holstad, Maggie Jacoby, Alexis Jones, Alexis Kindred, Lindsay Moses, Rebecca Mullahy, Juliet Rutigliano, Nikki Sharp, Corsica Skibinski, Sydney Swanson, Makenna Wiljanen and Allie Zack.

The Scholar All-American list included Ingrid Holstad, Meredith Boettcher, Zoe Dupuis, Kieran Fults, Maggie Jacoby, Alexis Jones, Juliet Rutigliano, Nikki Sharp, Corsica Skibinski and Makenna Wiljanen.

The UCHC award required at least a 3.2 grade point average and the ACHA award winners needed at least a 3.5 GPA for each semester of the 2023-24 season.

Hilbert College has become a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference effective in the 2025-26 season. Hilbert recently completed its second season as a women’s ice hockey program and have competed against UCHC opponents in the first two seasons. They play their home games at the Hamburg Nike Base.

“Hilbert Women’s Hockey is very excited to join the UCHC and compete against strong programs within our region,” said Head Coach Earl Utter.

The Hawks had one win last season, a 5-3 victory over Kings College. The roster included NY natives Kaitlin Cowle, Henrietta; Brooke Kwiecien, Perry; Courtney Wesolowski, Depew.

Niagara University is icing two women’s teams this season with a DI and DII team in the ACHA. Anna Quattro remains as head coach for the DI team and they are searching for a DII Head Coach.Opening day for the DI team is Friday, September 27 at 8:15 p.m. against Maryville University. The DII schedule has not been posted.

Around the State:

SUNY Canton women’s ice hockey team tied the program records for the most overall wins and most conference wins in a season playing a 25-game schedule. The wins (14-11-0) tied the mark set by the 2016-17 and 2022-23 teams, while the Roos eight wins in their first season in SUNYAC play this year ties the mark of eight set by last year’s team in the final season in the NEWHL. 

St. Lawrence’s captain Lindsay Charlebois LaSala ‘04 was inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame, Class of 2024. During her time at St. Lawrence she played in 144 games, scored seven goals and added 22 assists for 29 points. She is tied with 12 others for  first in the Saints’ record book with two goals in a game by a defenseman vs Vermont on February 22, 2003. She is also a member of the St. Lawrence team that was inducted into the St. Lawrence University Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Clarkson’s Womens Ice Hockey Team has remained a fixture on the national stage by returning to the Frozen Four. Coach Matt Desrosiers has named Tony Moci as Associate Head Coach for this season.The Golden Knights will open their season against St. Michaels College in Vermont on September 27 and 28 and will hold their home opener against Vermont on October 4 and 5.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has added eight rookies this season. This incoming class features five forwards, two defenders and a goalie; as well as a pair of transfers and a former National player. Included is one New York native hailing from Clifton Park. Natalie Tulchinsky is transferring in from Saint Anselm College, where she played two seasons and prior to that two seasons at Boston College. Last season she had 20 goals and 22 assists and was named NEWHA first team All-Conference as well as the NEWHA Player of the Year.

William Smith Ice Hockey Assistant Coach Kaylee Harnen attended the 2024 WeCOACH NCAA Academy in Denver this summer. This conference is designed for women coaches to elevate their holistic coaching effectiveness by learning advanced leadership skills and strategies that directly effect their personal and team success. 

After eight years at Union College, HC Josh Sciba has accepted a position on the coaching staff of the PWHL New York team. Sciba joins his former coaching partner Greg Fargo. Sciba is the winningest coach in Union Women’s Ice Hockey history.

Former Cornell women’s ice hockey captain, Canadian national team member, and first ever woman assistant coach in the American Hockey League (AHL), Jessica Campbell ‘14, continues her journey of trail-blazing for women and girls. Following a strong two-year run with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Campbell has been named an assistant coach of the Seattle Kraken, making her the first ever female assistant coach in NHL history.

Colgate has named Stefan Decosse (above, Colgate photo) the head coach of the women’s ice hockey program. He is the fifth head coach in Colgate’s history. He has served the past nine seasons as an assistant coach. 

Elmira College announced Greg Haney has their new Head Coach and Jimmy Poreda as Assistant Coach.  Haney spent most of his pro career as a goalie in Orlando in the ECHL and Knoxville and Macon in the SPHL. Poreda spent four seasons at Plattsburgh State where he was a three-time AHCA All-American Scholar. He spent his senior season playing professional hockey in Finland, due to Covid-19 canceling the SUNYAC season.

The SUNY Oswego women’s ice hockey team has named Grace Schnorr as their new Assistant Coach heading into the 2024-25 season.

Schnorr is a native of Camillus, NY where she attended West Genesee High School and won two New York State Titles while being named Player of the Year in her senior season. She went on to play hockey at Cortland from 2018-2023. Grace is still the all-time leader in points (114), goals (63), assists (51), and tied for first for most points in a season with 35 in 2021-22. Schnorr was a three-time All-NEWHL selection including a pair of First Team picks and a spot on the NEWHL All-Rookie Team in 2018-19.

“I’m very excited to get to work with Grace. She will be a great resource for our players; she was a very talented player and has already proven herself to be a strong teacher of the game. She’s won everywhere she has been, and we look forward to adding her knowledge to our program. “Head Coach Mark Digby.

In 2023-24, Schnorr was an assistant coach for the Nazareth University Golden Flyers women’s hockey team. They finished their season with a 22-6-1 overall record securing a spot in the NCAA tournament. 

“I am very excited for the opportunity to join the staff here at Oswego. It is awesome to have the opportunity to work with another great coach and be a part of another strong program. I am excited to be back in the SUNYAC and compete against some familiar opponents, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish soon! “Assistant Coach Grace Schnorr.

The Lakers will home opener will be Friday November 1st against William Smith at the Deborah F Stanley Arena.

Hockey honors went to several New York State natives:

Cortland:  2023-24 Krampade/American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholar list.Elena Eichmann (Gr., Rochester/Syracuse Nationals 19UAAA)Jillian Hlasnick (Sr., Olean/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles U19) – Business Economics2023-24 Division III Men’s and Women’s At-Large Academic All-District teams for District 3: Mia Hlasnick, Olean and Dany Donegan North Syracuse.

Colgate: Elyssa Biederman ‘26, Sydney Bard ‘24 and Allyson Simpson ‘24 were all selected to attend the Team USA Women’s National Festival from Aug. 4-11 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., USA Hockey announced on Thursday.

Potsdam: CSC honors went to Sara Barrett, Tonawanda/Niagara Jr Purple Eagles and Alex Quinn, Potsdam/St Lawrence Steel.

Plattsburgh: Named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Teams were Aziah Thompson(above), Williamsville/Bisons. Thompson was also named a Krampade/American Hockey Coaches Association All American Scholar.

Clarkson: Haley Winn, Rochester/Bishop Kearney Selects, was honored by the CSC.

Editors note: NYHOL will be contacting all Sports Information Offices with regards to press releases, credentials and story ideas shortly. Anyone with information on a New York-related women’s ice hockey story, player or event should contact [email protected]

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Three from WNY area to be on team’s playing Canada.

Grace Schnorr Added To Oswego Women’s Hockey Coaching Staff

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OSWEGO, NY– The SUNY Oswego women’s ice hockey team has named Grace Schnorr as their new Assistant Coach heading into the 2024-25 season.

Schnorr is a native of Camillus, NY where she attended West Genesee High School and won two New York State Titles while being named Player of the Year in her senior season. She went on to play hockey at Cortland from 2018-2023. Grace is still the all-time leader in points (114), goals (63), assists (51), and tied for first for most points in a season with 35 in 2021-22. Schnorr was a three-time All-NEWHL selection including a pair of First Team picks and a spot on the NEWHL All-Rookie Team in 2018-19.

“I’m very excited to get to work with Grace. She will be a great resource for our players; she was a very talented player and has already proven herself to be a strong teacher of the game. She’s won everywhere she has been, and we look forward to adding her knowledge to our program. “Head Coach Mark Digby.

In 2023-24, Schnorr was an assistant coach for the Nazareth University Golden Flyers women’s hockey team. They finished their season with a 22-6-1 overall record securing a spot in the NCAA tournament. 

“I am very excited for the opportunity to join the staff here at Oswego. It is awesome to have the opportunity to work with another great coach and be a part of another strong program. I am excited to be back in the SUNYAC and compete against some familiar opponents, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish soon! “Assistant Coach Grace Schnorr.

The Lakers will home opener will be Friday November 1st against William Smith at the Deborah F Stanley Arena.

(Photo provided by Oswego Women’s Hockey Dept.)

Gahagen Back With Phantoms

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Goalie and Army Captain Returns for 2nd Season in Lehigh Valley

Allentown, PA – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have re-signed goaltender Parker Gahagen to a one-year contract for the 2024-25 season.
Gahagen, 31, stepped up nicely in his 18 games with the Phantoms last season going 7-8-3, 2.59, .914. He also played 14 games with the Reading Royals in the ECHL where he was 10-4-0, 2.28, .936.
Having spent most of his career in the ECHL, the West Point product rose to the occasion as a backup goalie for Lehigh Valley to produce his best-ever AHL campaign.
The 6-3, lefty-catch goaltender from Buffalo, NY is entering his sixth professional season and his second with Lehigh Valley. This is the first time he will have the opportunity to play for the same team in consecutive seasons.
“I love the energy the fans bring,” Gahagen said about his experience at PPL Center. “It’s always a nice buzz in town when things are going well. It’s also nice just having a smaller community as well. You kind of feel like you’re a bigger part of the community because you’re not in a huge market. You just kind of get a more intimate and personal feel with the fans. Looking forward to that and it’s going to be a great time and I’m looking forward to getting back.”
A fantastic moment for Gahagen and Phan Nation came in the team’s regular-season finale on April 21, 2024 when the Army Captain was honored as the team’s nightly Hometown Hero during the second period. While appreciating and celebrating a raucous ovation from the PPL Center crowd, Gahagen triumphantly raised his arms encouraging the fans to give him more!
Gahagen’s accomplishments and tour include four years at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he starred for the hockey team. Upon graduation, he was commissioned into the Army as a Second Lieutenant. While stationed at Fort Carson, CO, Gahagen was assigned to the 1st Strike Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division where he received two Army commendation medals. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 2022 at the rank of Captain but remains active in the reserves.
His 18 games played with the Phantoms was more than he had previously played in his entire AHL career having entered the season with just 12 career AHL games scattered across four partial seasons including his old career-high five games in 2017-18 with the San Jose Barracuda.
His Lehigh Valley debut on October 15, 2023 against the Belleville Senators was also his first AHL game in almost exactly two years and was his first AHL win in three seasons since April 25, 2021. On February 10, 2024 he came tantalizingly close to his first career AHL shutout but the Bridgeport Islanders were credited with a disputed third-period goal that was only allowed following a video review.
Gahagen has played in 30 career AHL games with Lehigh Valley, Milwaukee, Colorado, Toronto and San Jose going a combined 12-12-3, 2.87, .903. His ECHL tour has included a Kelly Cup title with the Florida Everblades in 2022 and five honors as ECHL Goaltender of the Week. The well-traveled backstop has played in 114 career ECHL games with Reading, Jacksonville, Florida, Utah and Newfoundland going 68-30-4, 2.30, .923.
(Photos provided by Phantoms Hockey Team)

Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Fundraising Tournament & Festival Returns August 3

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Now in its fourth year, Rochester Jr. Americans, Rochester’s largest youth hockey organization, is hosting a fundraising tournament and outdoor festival to benefit Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge and Golisano Children’s Hospital on Saturday, August 3, at Rochester Ice Center, 80 Lyndon Rd, Fairport. The outdoor festival is open to the entire community from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The outdoor festival will feature live music from Sentimental Tupperware, Uncaged (Zac Brown tribute band) and Bryan Lyndsay. Attendees can bid on silent auction items, including a suite at an upcoming Rochester Americans or Rochester Knighthawks game and other autographed hockey items. There will also be food trucks, a beer tent, a used hockey equipment sale and games. All proceeds will benefit Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation for Golisano Children’s Hospital.

In addition, nearly 250 Jr. Amerks youth hockey players, ages eight to 18, will participate in the 3v3 hockey tournament, which includes games and the Jr. Amerks Slap Shot Challenge, where players will compete to win prizes for the  hardest slap shot in each age division. Last year, the Jr. Amerks raised $6,500 for Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation.

The Hockey Buddies Charity Cup game will follow the Jr. Amerks 3v3 tournament at 6 p.m. at Rochester Ice Center.

Information on the tournament, including the schedule for the day: 

WHERE: Rochester Ice Center, 80 Lyndon Road, Fairport

WHEN: Saturday, August 3, 2024

  • Games run from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. indoors at Rochester Ice Center
  • Outdoor festival in Rochester Ice Center parking lot runs from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

WHO: Kyle O’Donnell, 19, is the founder of Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation. He’s a former Jr. Amerks player who was diagnosed with pediatric cancer in 2021 and underwent treatment at UR Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Cornell Men’s Hockey To Face ECAC Hockey Rival Quinnipiac In Frozen Apple At Madison Square Garden

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Sixth Biennial Event to Take Place Saturday, Nov. 30

NEW YORK — The cream of the crop of ECAC Hockey will convene on the storied ice in Manhattan on Saturday, Nov. 30, as the Cornell men’s hockey team will face Quinnipiac at the 2024 Frozen Apple at Madison Square Garden, it was announced jointly by Cornell, Quinnipiac, and Madison Square Garden.

Puck drop between the Bobcats and Big Red is scheduled for 8 p.m., and game action will be broadcast on ESPN+. With regular-season contests already scheduled on Nov. 22 in Ithaca and Jan. 18 in Hamden, the meeting in New York City will serve as one of Cornell’s seven non-conference contests for the 2024-25 season.

“I’m incredibly excited for this year’s Frozen Apple game at Madison Square Garden,” said Dr. Nicki Moore, Cornell’s Meakem & Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education. “I am eager to see two of the top programs in ECAC Hockey face each other at such a historic venue as they continue their longstanding rivalry. For Mike Schafer, it will be his final trip to the Garden as head coach, and as a driving force behind the annual Thanksgiving series, I know Cornell fans all around the world will cherish the opportunity to celebrate him in person.”

“We’re really excited to get back to Madison Square Garden. Over the years, we’ve tried to bring quality opponents,” said Mike Schafer ’86, the Jay R. Bloom ’77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Hockey. “This year with Quinnipiac, obviously a rival in ECAC Hockey but also being a nationally recognized name across the country as far as their success is concerned, we hope they bring a lot of fans and alumni to Madison Square Garden to make it a tremendous environment once again. We’re excited for our players and are looking forward to come down and play at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’.”

Tickets for the contest will go on sale tomorrow (Aug. 1) at noon through bigredtix.com. Fans will be able to choose a section and seats will be assigned best available at time of purchase by the Cornell Athletics Ticketing Office.

“We are pleased to welcome our long-time college hockey partner Cornell University back to Madison Square Garden to continue the tradition of The Frozen Apple,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Marquee Events and Operations. “The matchup between Cornell and Quinnipiac, the 2023 NCAA National Champions, will pit two powerhouses against each other for a can’t-miss game.”

“Part of playing in ECAC Hockey is having outstanding opportunities on and off the ice, and this matchup at Madison Square Garden is something special for the student-athletes, coaches, students, fans, and alumni,” added ECAC Hockey commissioner Doug Christiansen. “The defending Cleary Cup winner (Quinnipiac) versus the defending Whitelaw Cup (Cornell) champion is a matchup not to be missed. I am looking forward to a great night at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’.”

Cornell will be playing at Madison Square Garden for the 29th time in program history and the 21st time at the venue’s current location. The Big Red has fared well at the venue, winning its last four games and going unbeaten in nine of its last 11 contests (8-2-1).

During its four-game win streak at Madison Square Garden, Cornell has outscored its opponent by a 16-5 clip, which includes registering shutouts over Boston University, 2-0, in the 2019 Red Hot Hockey game and against UConn, 6-0, in the most recent Frozen Apple contest in 2022.

In the last iteration of The Frozen Apple, Cornell registered its shutout thanks to a hat trick by then-freshman forward Dalton Bancroft, who joined Dick Bertrand ’70 as the lone Cornell players in program history to notch a hat trick at the venue.

This year’s Frozen Apple game will be the sixth in the biennial series that dates back to the first contest in 2012 against Michigan, which was a 5-1 triumph for the Big Red. Cornell also defeated Penn State, 3-1, in 2014, New Hampshire, 3-1, in 2016, and UConn in 2022. The lone setback for Cornell in a Frozen Apple contest was against Harvard, 4-1, in 2018.

Quinnipiac is coming off a 27-10-2 campaign in 2023-24, registering a 17-4-1 mark in conference play to record its fourth consecutive Cleary Cup. The Bobcats became the second ECAC Hockey program on record to win at least a share of the Cleary Cup in four straight campaigns, joining Harvard (1985-89), who won the regular-season title outright three times (1986, 1987, 1989) and splitting the honor with St. Lawrence in 1988.

Last year, the Bobcats ultimately fell to Boston College, 5-4, in overtime of the Providence Regional Final in last year’s 2024 Division I Men’s Hockey Championship. It was Quinnipiac’s second consecutive overtime game in the NCAA Tournament after it edged Wisconsin, 3-2, in the regional semifinal.

This year’s Frozen Apple game will be the Bobcats’ third time playing at Madison Square Garden in program history. Quinnipiac most recently played at the venue on Jan. 9, 2016, where it beat Harvard in overtime, 5-4. The first time Quinnipiac played at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” was when it beat its Nutmeg State rival UConn, 4-3, on March 1, 2003.

“We are very excited to head back to Madison Square Garden and participate in The Frozen Apple,” said Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold. “It was a very memorable contest in 2016 and we can’t wait to get back to MSG for another great chapter in our rivalry with Cornell.”

“We are really excited to get back to such a great venue and play in front of a large-scale audience,” Quinnipiac Director of Athletics Greg Amodio added. “Our experience in 2016 was incredible for our university and this night will serve again as a great way to bring together our greater New York City alumni and fans, as well as our Hamden faithful for another milestone night in Quinnipiac hockey.”

The remainder of Cornell’s non-conference schedule, along with its pair of exhibition contests, will be announced this Friday (Aug. 2) at 10 a.m.

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