Photo Gallery By Janet Schultz© NYHOL
Photos can be purchased by going to https://janetschultz.smugmug.com (Go to “organize” and scroll down to NJPE vs Caz Bantam)
The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Bantam MOHL Team beat Cazenovia 7-1 for the 2024 Bantam WNY Regional House League Chamnpionship at Dwyer Arena Sunday afternoon.
By Warren Kozireski —
Bentley University sophomore goaltender Connor Hasley tasted success early in his collegiate career being named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month in October 2022 after his first month in a Falcons uniform.
But this season the 6’3”, 194 lb. North Tonawanda, NY native is taking it to another level. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, he stands ninth in the nation with a 2.26 goals against average and tied for third with three shutouts.
“No secret, just coming to the rink every day and having fun and keeping your wits about yourself,” Hasley said. “Keep the pressure off and tell yourself it’s just a game.
“We (goaltending teammate Nicholas Grabko) have a great dynamic going and we know each day either of us can go and win a game. It’s all about competing where we’re trying to be better than each other and it pushes us both to be better.”
Hasley spent three seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and was prepared to take his pads to the OHL where he was a Kitchener Rangers draft pick, but instead headed to Northwood Prep for two campaigns.
Then it was the NAHL for one season in Odessa and one year in the USHL at Cedar Rapids before heading to Waltham, Massachusetts.
“After my U-16 year I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I knew prep school was a good option and I knew it was a good spot for scouts to look at me. In the NAHL I knew a coach there who knew me from another team. Then I went to Cedar Rapids—it’s all part of the path. Where you’re wanted and where you want to play, and I thought I got some good game experience and here I am.
“Kitchener would have been a great spot obviously, but I wanted the academic side of it too and I think that’s the path I was leaning towards. Whatever happened, happened and I’m at a great school and great hockey.”
Hasley is leaning towards Finance as a major but is still exploring potential majors at this point.
He started his youth hockey days with the Wheatfield Blades. “At the Hockey Outlet, the old Sabreland. That’s where it all started. I grew up playing house there and then I played select and then Triple A. Pretty much since I was four years old up until I was13.”
Hasley has evolved to see his name listed among the best in Division I hockey in the nation this season, but he is not letting that phase him as the Falcons end the regular season and get ready for the AHA playoffs.
“I try to stay away from those things honestly and just try to play hockey. Don’t worry about the stats, get some wins. I take pride in it, but I don’t pay close attention to what the stats say because those are team stats.”
Playoff ready approach…
(Photos provided by Bentley Athletics/Men’s Hockey Departments)
By Warren Kozireski —
All Colby Seitz did as a freshman was score nine goals with 23 points, help SUNY Cortland set a program record with 11 conference wins and win SUNYAC Rookie of the Year honors—the first from the Red Dragons since Dan Broderick in 2014-15 and the second in school history.
And of late, Seitz has been playing on an all-New York line with Williamsville’s Nate Berke and Long Island’s Stephen Kyrkostas.
“He came out of the gate really hard, which was fun to see,” Cortland head coach Joe Cardarelli said. “Playing with (senior) Nate Berke has kind of mentored him on the ice and pointwise, he’s on pace from last year. We look for continual improvement and that’s been a high bar for him.
“As a sophomore he’s still a leader on the ice in the way he approaches the game and I’m real proud of the effort that he puts in. More importantly he penalty-kills for us, he’s a 200-foot player that is a possess and create guy, so it’s the best of both worlds.”
The 6’0”, 181 lb. right wing stood second on the team with two weekends remaining in the regular season with 14 points while playing in every game. He was also tied for first in plus/minus at +12 and second in shots on goal.
“Just working hard and my linemates have been playing together for a lot of years,” Seitz said in early February. “Things have been going well. I really didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. It’s just hockey; it’s a game every single day, so just go out there and do what you can and hope the bounces go your way.
“My older brothers all played, and I just looked up to them. Three brothers and we all played hockey, so it was an easy choice watching my older brothers.
Oldest brother Gary played junior hockey with the Buffalo Regals, Jr. Sabres and Jr. Blades, Dylan played in the QMJHL (Moncton) and the OHL (Kitchener) after going through Nichols School and the Jr. Sabres. Younger brother, Brody, is with the Jr. Sabres in the OJHL this season.
And Colby Seitz spent five seasons with the Jr. Sabres organization before jumping to Corpus Christie in the NAHL for his final season of junior hockey.
“My parents loved being able to catch as many games as they can, so it worked out. (Corpus Christie) reached out to me the year prior. Actually, got drafted by Lone Star and then they traded me and once I got there, I found my role and things worked out from there.”
The Red Dragons made the playoffs one year prior to Seitz and his classmates arrived and have been a solid top-four team in their SUNYAC conference since.
“Last year we all came in and knew we could make a difference. We knew we could come in and do a lot. It (last year) didn’t end the way we wanted (losing in the first round on home ice), but I think we have a pretty good chance to make a nice run this year.
“Every year I think we’re trying to build on what we did last year and hopefully this year we can get by that first round and who knows after that. Anything can happen in this league, it’s crazy.’
(Photos provided by Cortland Athletics/Men’s Hockey Departments)
By Warren Kozireski —
Plattsburgh senior forward Adam Tretowicz joined the Cardinals for their unusual under .500 campaign in 2019-20 and then 20-21 was cancelled. Since the 5’11” 175 lb. graduate student was named an assistant captain as a junior and saw his team win the SUNYAC tournament before losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
This season as captain, the Cardinals are back to their more familiar setting ranked in the top-five in Division I while the Baldwinsville native has already set personal bests for points (18, third on the team) and assists (13, second on the team) as of this writing.
“It’s always good to win anywhere, but on the road, it brings the team together with everyone chipping in and it was a really good one tonight,” Tretowicz said after Plattsburgh defeated nationally ranked Geneseo on the road.
“We lost two really good captains last year and I just kind of wanted to step in. I knew we were going to have a really good team again this year, so that’s one of the reasons why I came back (for his fifth year). Anything I can do to help is kind of my role here.”
“He plays in important faceoff, penalty kill, he’s a leader on this team, he’s scoring some goals for us, he does it all as a 200-foot guy and he’s really developed himself into a really good leader over the last three or four years,” Plattsburgh head coach and 2023 SUNYAC Coach of the Year Steve Moffat said.
“He’s the heartbeat of the team.”
His father, Dave, played for Clarkson University in the late 80’s-early 90’s before he spent three seasons in the now-defunct International Hockey League (IHL) with Phoenix and Fort Wayne. That made it inevitable that son would follow.
“I’ve had skates on since I can remember, so it’s been a long road over 20 years now.
Tretowicz played one season of high school hockey at Baldwinsville before jumping to the Buffalo Jr. Sabres for four years, the last as captain, where he put up 40, 48 and 60 points in his final three seasons.
“It was close by, and they had a good program and I played against a bunch of those kids growing up playing summer tournaments with them and they wanted me to go there. I just liked it there and I had a great time there and it led me to here, so I can’t be happier. I was young enough where my parents were driving so, I thank them for that.”
He led all Cardinal rookies in goals, assists and points and was named the Mike Daoust ’01 Rookie of the Year in his freshman season. He has had steady offensive numbers throughout before his coming-out party this year, but he is not looking too far ahead.
One good thing about the lost pandemic year was it allowed players like Tretowicz to play for a fifth season and get a Graduate degree with the extra time. His is in Data Analytics.
“Just going to finish the season and then see what happens. My dad has been telling me to get a job, so that’s what I’m working on, but just trying to focus on one game at a time.”
“It’s a little bit emotional sometimes, but you try not to think about it because just being around the guys is contagious. It’s going to be the last time in my life being around guys and being competitive, so just embracing it right now.”
(Photos provided by Plattsburgh Athletic Department/Men’s Hockey)
By Warren Kozireski —
Canisius College senior forward Griffin Loughran may be donning the uniform of his third college hockey team and has been fighting through his share of injuries this season, but he stands 20th among active Division I players with 92 career points and 18th in goals with 41.
And he has accomplished everything offensively while playing a scrappy, in-your-face style.
“I gotta play a certain way; I’ll do whatever it takes to get the boys fired up whether that’s scoring goals or making a big hit,” Loughran said in early February. “Energy is important especially this late in the year so whatever it takes right now.”
The 5’7”, 146 lb. 25-year-old had three solid seasons with Northern Michigan, especially his sophomore campaign with 23 goals and leading the team with 39 points in 37 games, before registering 12 more points in one season at Michigan State.
After a season off, he decided to return home for a final go-round in front of family and friends and where four family members previously attended.
“Just situational stuff,” Loughran said about transferring. “I like it at Northern (but) wanted to play somewhere a little better. Went to (Michigan) State and then things didn’t work out there so nothing better than home so came home for my last two years and it’s been great ever since.”
Earlier in his hockey development Loughran started with West Seneca and then spent 2013-14 with the Buffalo Regals before joining the Buffalo Jr, Sabres for two years and racked up 114 points in 74 games with the 18U AAA squad.
That launched him into the NAHL with Youngstown and Corpus Christi in 2016-17 and 42 points in 50 games with Fargo in the USHL one year later prior to college.
“I was a young guy in Youngstown and wasn’t getting a lot of playing time, so they sent me down to Corpus. They didn’t want me back, so Fargo drafted me, and we beat Youngstown in the finals (where he was named MVP in the Clark Cup).
“Favorite memory so far but if we get another Atlantic Hockey championship that will be ahead of it.”
Loughran dabbled in lacrosse as well in his younger days in Orchard Park, something he feels helped him with his work ethic.
“The legendary (Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee) Gene Tundo was my head coach and I feel like that’s the sport where I learned to work how I do on the ice. Take an inch, give a mile. Lacrosse is fun.
“Lacrosse is a nasty sport. You can whack whoever you want…so I think that leads into a little bit here (hockey) where if it’s a ground ball or a loose puck you just have to work. Grind it out and go to war.”
Playoff mind set.
(Photos provided by Canisius Athletics and Men’s Hockey)
BY MICHAEL MEYERS –
The New York Raptors played in the 2024 Special Hockey Festival Tournament held in Broome County on February 24 and 25.
On Saturday, Feb. 24 the Raptors played a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Ice House Complex. The Raptors played as a combined team with with the Central Park Stars and Space Coast Super Canes.
The Raptors and Flyers played to a 9-9 tie. The Raptors record is now 3-2-1.
The Raptors Combine Team played a second game on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The Raptors and Devils played to a 5-5 tie. The Raptors record is now 3-2-2.
The Raptors Combine Team and Devils played again later that day. The Devils defeated the Raptors, 6-3. The Raptors record now stands at 3-3-2.
On Sunday the Raptors played the Virginia Cool Cats. They defeated the Cool Cats, 9-7.
The Raptors record is now 4-3-2.
(Ed. Note – Michael also reported that there was one Raptor injured during the two days. It was Michael. He is OK and didn’t miss too much game time. RS)
By Warren Kozireski —
The points have been a little harder to come by since his junior hockey days, but West Point blueliner Owen Nolan is playing a key role for Army as they enter the postseason.
“We have ten “D” and we have been playing all ten because they are all so close together,” Army head coach Brian Riley said. “When “O” is out there, he can skate (and) he gives us a physical presence. He is steady and when the puck is on his stick, he makes good decisions.
“We don’t have one senior (on our defense), so every game we’re getting probably two or three new guys in, and I think that’s helped us.”
After playing in only eight games as a freshman and garnering his first point—an assist Jan. 13 versus Canisius—he has dressed for 20 games in 2023-24 and registered three assists.
“Trying to find a role early on has been important for me,” Nolan said late in the regular season. “As a team we’re trying to play a little more physical and that’s a presence I bring, so it’s good to contribute when I can.
“The penalties have been ramping up a bit for me which I have to control so the physical presence I bring helps the team. We have a really strong back end and I feel like that’s a strong part of the team so being able to rotate ten guys in is pretty beneficial and I don’t think a lot of the teams in our league can do that.”
Older brother, Tommy, also played collegiately at Cortland State and their father, who played as a kid in the Bronx, coached both growing up.
The 6’0”, 185 lb. Nolan committed to West Point as a 19-year-old in his final year at Millbrook, played two more years of junior hockey and then headed to the banks of the Hudson River.
“Played with the Westchester Express basically my whole life until I was 16, 17 and then went to Millbrook prep school in New York. From there went out to Surrey (BCHL) and played there for a little bit and then went to Lone Star (NAHL).
“I enjoyed it (Surrey). I went out there once in the spring to go to a camp and I fell in love with it, so I tried to out there with one of the better teams and it ended up working out, so it was a fun experience.”
And why Army?
“A lot of things. I think I wanted to challenge myself at a school and I think I wanted a different experience, and it is a very different experience. So, I’m taking it one day at a time.”
(Photos provided by United States Military Academy/Army Men’s Hockey Team)
By Warren Kozireski —
Junior Joe DiRisio banged home the rebound of a Maggio Buccholz shot from the point 4:01 into overtime to launch Batavia Notre Dame United to a 3-2 victory over Webster Thomas and their first Class B Section V title as a combined program.
Senior defenseman Brennen Pedersen opened the scoring on his first shift of the game with a shot from the right point with Jameson Motyka assisting to stake BND to a 1-0 first period lead.
“I don’t score many; I just try to throw it on net and not have it get blocked,” Pedersen said. “I came off the bench and saw the puck coming out of the zone and I got up there and cranked it and got it on net.”
They made it 2-0 at 5:25 as leading scorer Ivan Milovidov grabbed a turnover at the blueline and scored an unassisted goal.
At 13:22 of the second Webster-Thomas sophomore Cameron Hall netted his team-leading12th goal of the season after an assist from Theadore Paprocki to close the gap to one goal.
After killing a BND power play late in the third period, the Titans tied the game 2-2 as senior Ryan Goel scored at 13:22 with an assist from classmate Trevor Veno.
BND then was called on to kill a Titans power play over the final two minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime for DiRisio’s game-winner.
“Stick to our game, we knew we needed to stay calm, we needed to possess the puck and everything else would fall into place,” DiRisio said. “There are no words to describe it.
“It’s a lot of history for Batavia—46 years for the Ice Devils and 34 years for the Fighting Irish and this is the third year that we’ve been together, and this was the vision,” BND head coach Marc Staley said.
Batavia Notre Dame will host Kenmore East at noon Saturday at RIT’s Polisseni Center in the New York Regional playoffs while Webster-Thomas gets an at-large berth to the state playoffs and will play Section III’s Skaneateles.
(Photo provided by Warren Kozireski/NY Hockey OnLine)
By Warren Kozireski —
It has been a minute or two since McQuaid tasted success in high school hockey. 2015 in fact when they won a New York State title.
They ended that drought coming back from a 2-0 deficit with four unanswered goals to win 4-2 and end the Cinderella run of Portside, who had defeated second-seed Hilton and top-seed Pittsford in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively.
The Portside Royals (Brockport & Spencerport) took a 1-0 first period lead on their first shot of the game 6:52 in as Justin Pastorella fed Kevin Eckerd for the goal.
At 11:03 of the second, Pastorella fed Connor Thomas for another tally putting the Royals ahead 2-0.
McQuaid began their comeback late in the second period as freshman Chase Brock assisted Jack Cellery’s power play marker giving the Knights some momentum heading into the locker room.
On the first shift of the third, the Knights tied the game 2-2 as Lou Zaari pounded in the fourth rebound as McQuaid was swarming the Portside net.
Just 47 seconds later Brock set his shot from the left faceoff circle just inside the near post to give McQuaid a 3-2 lead.
Brock added an insurance tally with a rebound goal at 15:23 of the third for the final margin.
“Very happy; little stressed and the adrenaline is going, but looking forward to celebrating,” Brock said. “In the locker room I think we all knew that it was going to happen and great leaders on our team really took us through it.
“Our big thing last year was going into games and taking teams for granted and this year we play every team the same way no matter who they are.”
“We built throughout the year, but our first period wasn’t one of our better periods of the year…but they were able to regroup and start to turn it on and start to compete and turn it up in the third,” McQuaid head coach Joe Dugan said.
“It has been a moment that was being built towards and also credit to the guys who aren’t with us now who were part of that. Building the culture and competitiveness the way we wanted that done and it is nice to get a result for that.”
McQuaid advances to the New York State tournament and will host Ithaca Saturday at 2:30pm at RIT’s Polisseni Center.
(Photo provided by Warren Kozireski)
Photos and Story by Janet Schultz, NYHOL©
The 2023-24 WNYGVIH Federation Season has come to an end. While Niagara County took the 2024 Federation Championship, they lost in the Section VI Championships to Kenmore/Grand Island/Lockport.
KenGiPort went on to face Canton in the NYS Regional Championship where they won and then lost to Adirondack United in the Championship.
On the Private Championship for the League, St. Mary’s of Lancaster prevailed over Monsignor Martin and placed 5th in the League.
The Coaches met and have named the 2024 All-Fed Teams.
First Team:
On Forward are Bella Jayme, KenGiPort, Izzy Bourgeault, KenGiPort and Maya Griffin, FFLOP.
On Defense, Jocelyn Smaczniak, FFLOP and Jenny Wild, CASH.
In Goal: Kennedy Ruest, NiCo.
Jayme and Bourgeault each had a record-breaking season landing them on the All-Time Scoring List at #6 and #8, respectively. Jayme has 69 goals and 56 assists in 95 games played and Bourgeault has 52 goals and 65 assists in 98 games. This season alone Jayme scored 23 goals and 24 assists and Bourgeault, 20 goals and 20 assists to put them in first and second place in Year-End scoring totals.
Griffin is fifth this season with 14 goals and 14 assists in 19 games played. She is on the “radar” for the All-Time Career Points list.
Defenders Smaczniak and Wild made their mark for their teams as they put pucks in the net and served penalty minutes in the box. Smaczniak had 3 goals and 11 assists, including one game-winner along with 13.5 penalty minutes. Wild had 4 goals and 2 assists, a game-winner and 3 minutes in penalties.
In Goal Ruest played 904.56 minutes, making 385 saves on 414 shots. She had four shutouts and a .930 save percentage and .930 GAA. Ruest record was 16 wins and 4 losses in regular and post-season play. Ruest is #22 on the All-Time Goaltending Record.
Second Team:
Forwards Sam Latini, NiCo; Abby Zimmerman, NiCo and Alexandria Franke, Monsignor Martin.
Defenders Lila Cudney, FFLOP and Madeline Marzec, KenGiPort.
Goaltender Samantha Horne, KenGiPort.
Latini put up 20 goals and 17 assists this season, playing in 20 games. Her teammate Zimmerman was just behind her with 19 goals and 17 assists in 19 games played. Latini had four game-winning goals and Zimmerman had two. Franke logged 12 goals and 2 assists, with three game-winners in her 17 games. Latini and Zimmerman are both “on the radar” for the All-Time Career Scoring List.
Cudney and Marzec could be counted on to help their goalie and keep pucks from the net. They also scored with Cudney having 7 goals and 9 assists with two game-winners. Marzec had a goal and three assists with nine penalty minutes.
Another outstanding goaltender in the Federation, Horne stopped 343 of 375 sog in 903.53 minutes of play. She had six shutouts and posted a 19-3 win-loss record. Horne had a .915 save percentage and 1.59 GAA.
Third Team:
Forwards Sophia Phillips, HHEWS; Emily Lysiak, LIDA and Avery Szczesek, St. Marys of Lancaster.
On Defense Hailey Cooper, HHEWS and Faith O’Connor, NiCo.
In Goal Kerrigan McCarthy, FFLOP
Phillips played in 18 games and posted 11 goals and 4 assists including 2 game-winners. Lysiak had 4 goals and an assist in 17 games. Szczesek kept St. Mary’s of Lancaster in the game with 13 goals and 8 assists in 18 games, including two game-winners.
H. Cooper and Faith O’Connor made their marks in the assisting with Cooper having six and O’Connor 15.
Another outstanding goaltender McCarthy posted 273 saves on 300 shots for a .910 save percentage and 2.29 GAA. She played 530.73 minutes posting a 9-5 record with two shutouts.
Honorable mentions went to: Brynn Cafferty, LIDA; Madison Mallone, NiCo; Teagan Willats, KenGiPort; Amelia Homac, LIDA; Gabe Lowell, St, Marys; Shannon Pogorzala, Williamsville; Morgan Cooper, HHEWS; Addison Cherry, Monsignor Martin; Ella Celej, CASH; Avery Hall, St. Marys of Lancaster; Betsy Accurso, St. Marys’ Ella Buczynski, HHEWS; Carly Irzycki, LIDA and ate Kelley, Monsignor Martin.
Accurso is #5 on the All-Time Goaltending List after just one season in the league. She played 530 minutes and made 161 saves on 171 goals. She has a 5 wins, 1 loss record with a .942 save percentage.
This year’s Coach of the Year is Gregg Grosskopf of NICo. Grosskopf and his assistants, Michael Dunlop and Shawn Latini, coached the NiCo team to a 13-3-0 regular season, going undefeated for 9 games before losing to LIDA in January. Grosskopf took Coach of the Year honors his first year out when NiCo fought hard with a new and young team, ending in last place, winless.
Honorable Mention:
*Statistics as of posting 2/13/2024 WNYGVIH Stats
By Warren Kozireski —
The Rochester Americans ushered in the team’s 68th member of the Amerks Hall of Fame Friday night in defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick.
“It’s special; it’s an emotional night for us as a family,” Fitzpatrick said. “Having been raised here, been an Amerks fan for so long and I keep telling people that growing up we wanted to be a Rochester American. We didn’t have a ton of access to the NHL and the names I remember growing up are from the Amerks.”
Born and raised in Rochester, the 49-year-old spent his early professional career in various cities in the NHL and AHL before landing back in his hometown in 2001.
Fitzpatrick’s career began with the Rochester Monarchs before he headed north to the Ontario Hockey League with Sudbury Wolves before turning pro to join Fredericton in the AHL for their playoff run. He would go on to play in the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Nashville Predators organizations until getting the call from Buffalo.
“When I signed here in 2001, we had our daughter and one on the way, so the intention at that point was to play here as long as I could and create that home.
“My first game here was shortly after 9/11, it was a full barn and the (American) flag was draped through the whole ice and it was a very surreal time, and the crowd was really into it. In the arena you felt part of something special, so I think that game, my first game here, was definitely one of the more memorable ones.”
From there, Fitzpatrick went on to spend five of his final nine pro seasons in an Amerks uniform, including his final two seasons from 2008-2010, where he served as team captain.
In total he played in 211 games with Rochester, accruing 14 goals, 50 points, and 240 penalty minutes. While the on-ice accolades are noteworthy, Fitzpatrick made a concerted effort off the ice, giving back to the community that made him the McCulloch Trophy recipient, given to the player whose commitment to the Rochester community goes above and beyond, in four of his five season with the Amerks.
“As a teenager you hope, and you have a lot of dreams but to have played in the NHL and then to be able to come home and play for my hometown team is beyond anything imaginable in my teenage years.”
(Photos From Rochester Americans Hockey Team)
By Warren Kozireski —
With four teams ranked in the top six in the nation in the USCHO poll, two more between six and 12 and two receiving votes this could collectively be the best season college Division III teams in New York State have ever had.
Sure, some New York-based programs have won national championships, advanced to the final four and made the NCAA playoffs, but it is hard to remember this many strong teams in the same season.
Defending national champion Hobart is again atop the national poll with a 23-2-1 record entering their NEHC semifinal playoff game against Southern Maine. Tanner Hartman and Ignat Belov combined for 76 points with both in the top-ten nationally in points per game. The Statesmen also lead the national allowing less than one goal per game.
Second-ranked Utica won their seventh consecutive UCHC regular season title this time with a semi-perfect 20-0-1 conference record and 20-2-3 overall. The Pioneers stand third in the nation in goals allowed with the goaltender tandem of junior Bryan Landsberger and freshman Ethan Roberts. They advanced to the conference semi-finals with a win over Nazareth in the first round.
Geneseo is slotted fourth in the country led by sophomore Adam Damaski’s 19 goals (fifth in the nation) and won their fifth SUNYAC regular season crown over the past ten seasons with a 21-4-0 regular season. They host a semi-final playoff game Sat. 2/24.
SUNYAC rival Plattsburgh is sixth nationally at 19-4-2 and12-3-1 in the conference to finish third in the SUNYAC behind junior goaltender Jacob Hearne’s 1.74 goals against average. They defeated Potsdam in overtime in the first round of the postseason.
Eighth is Elmira with a bounce-back 19-6-1 overall record with all six losses coming in NEHC action. Seniors Nicholas Domitrovic and Janis Vizbelis are in the top 20 nationally in points per game. They squeaked out a 3-2 overtime victory against Babson in the quarterfinals to earn a semifinal date with 12th ranked nationally Skidmore.
The Thoroughbreds finished 18-6-2 behind NEHC Goaltender of the Year Tate Brandon and advanced to the semifinals for the third consecutive season. They hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2012.
Oswego and Hamilton College both are receiving votes. The Lakers finished second in SUNYAC with a 12-4-0 record with the second leading goal scorer in the nation in Shane Bull but struggled against non-conference opponents with four more losses. The Continentals, behind freshman Luke Tchor’s 32 points (13th in the nation) ride a three-game winning streak into the postseason and host Amherst in the NESCAC quarterfinals.
After the nine automatic berths are handed out to conference champions, four additional teams will be awarded at-large selections to the upcoming NCAA Tournament. It may take more than one hand to count how many call New York State home.
By Janet Schultz; Photos by Janet and Randy Schultz© NYHOL
They played one to six years with the Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Federation. They played against players they played with on their house and travel teams. The fought hard every game, they comforted each other in bad times and celebrated the good times. They became family and their families supported each team as whether they had a player on it or not. Now it’s time for a group of Seniors to move on to continue their education and possible ice hockey. We wish them well and celebrated their accomplishments, big and small.
A single senior with Clarence/Amherst/Sweethome, Sara Ablove will graduate from Clarence High School. The forward played She joined CASH as a freshman.
Frontier/Franklinville/Lake Shore/Orchard Park graduated four players this season including Forward Mya Dalton, Forward Lauren Draszkiewicz, Goaltender Kerrigan McCarthy and Forward Emily Patton.
Dalton has been with FFLOP for three years and will attend the University of Buffalo for a career in Nursing. She remembers FFLOP’s dance parties in the locker room before games. She is the daughter of Kevin and Robin. Mya had 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points this season.
Draszkiewicz, (Louuu) is a lifetime member of the FFLOP team, having joined them as a seventh grader. After graduating from Frontier High School she will be attending St. Bonaventure studying Physics Engineering and playing D1 Lacrosse. Her favorite memory are the friends she has made playing hockey over the years. She is the daughter of Rich and Jill and has a brother, Jake. As a forward she had one goal and one assist this season.
Always making saves for FFLOP, Goaltender McCarthy came to the team as an eighth grader. The daughter of Tom and Lisa will be attending Lineman School in the fall after graduating from Orchard Park High School.. She loved playing along side her best friends over the past five years. As a Goalie, McCarthy stood out with 530.73 minutes in goal this season; two shutouts and a .910 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average. She is credited with 9 wins and 5 losses.
Forward Emily Patton will graduate from Frontier High School and head to Daemen University this fall in their Accelerated Physician Assistants Program. Her favorite memory is scoring the overtime winning goal against Monsignor Martin. Her parent are Dave and Jen. Patton had 10 goals and 4 assists this season.
Hamburg/Eden/West Seneca/Holland are saying goodbye to Liliann Drzazgowski of West Seneca High School; Hailey Cooper, Eden High School, Hanna Barrett, Eden High School and Alexandra (Lexie) Hodil, West Seneca West High School
Barrett has played five years with HHEW, along side her sisters. The Forward will attend college to study Speech Therapy. Barrett’s favorite memory is winning against Kengi last season. She also plays field hockey and lacrosse. Barrett had 3 goals and 5 assists this season.
Cooper, daughter of Coach Eric Cooper, has also played five years for HHEWS and her favorite memory is better Monsignor Martin in the playoffs, even though HHEWS was seeded last. She plans to attend Gannon College for Occupational Therapy. Cooper has been named to All WNY Team in 2023; All WNY Field Hockey First Team in 2023 and also plays softball. The Defender accumulated six assists this season.
Hodil played left wing for HHEWS for the past two years. She will be attending Cansius College in Physical Education and then plans to attend the Police Academy. Her best hockey memory is getting kicked out of a game and then listening to the opposing parents scream at her! She had 2 goals and one assist this season.
Lili Drzazgowski will graduate from West Seneca West High School and then go on to college to play hockey and study sports management. She played for HHEWS for three years as a forward scoring 3 goals and 2 assists this season. Her best memory is defeating KenGi last season. Drzazgowski won the Coaches Award for HHEWS as the player who goes above and beyond for the team both on and off ice. She is a member of the National Honor Society, serves as vice president of Student Council and is a member of the National Spanish Honor Society. She also plays varsity Flag Football.
KenGiPort seniors include Juliet Chadima, Sam Horne and Mylie Philbrick.
Chadima has been with KenGiPort for five years and her favorite memory is taking the bus to the States. She plans to attend Emery Riddle College and play D2 Lacrosse. Chadima is a forward graduating from Grand Island High School. She had a goal and 4 assists this season; but was also the person helping set up her teammates for their scoring chances.
Sam Horne will be remembered for her goaltending that helped get KenGiPort back to the States this season. She is a four-year member of the team and plans to attend Potsdam to major in elementary education and hopes to play softball and possibly hockey after graduating from Kenmore West. Her favorite member is winning KenGiPort’s first sectional title in 2022 and staying overnight with the team. Her parents are DJ and Tracy and she has a sister, McKenna. Horne played 903.53 minutes between the pipes with a .915 save% and 1.59 GAA.
Philbrick only played two years with KenGiPort and plans to attend Hilbert College or Niagara University in Sports Management and Marketing. She may play ice hockey. Her favorite part was the team’s focus and hard work while having a good group of teammates that made it all fun. Her parents are Guy, Stacey and sister Laynie. Philbrick had four assists this season.
Snow and schedules postponed Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew/Alden’s graduation ceremony until later this season for Seniors Amelia Homac and Carly Irzycki.
Homac joined the team as a ninth grader from Iroquois High School and just finished her fourth season as a defender. She also served as co-captain this season. Homac also has completed three years in LaCrosse and two years of Field Hockey. She was named Most Improved Player in Field Hockey in 2023 as the team won the Section VI title and finished as a NYS Finalist. Homac is also a member of the Volunteer Firefighters since 201 and volunteers at St. Martha’s Youth Group and officiates ice hockey. She is the daughter of Michelle and Scott Homac. Her plans are to study marketing or business in college. Homac
LIDA graduates Goaltender Carly Irzycki who has been with the team for six years. She will graduate from Depew High School and served as co-captain along side Homac this season. Irzycki also played girls varsity LaCrosse and was named a Second Team All Conference Player. She plans to continue playing Lacrosse at the DIII level with Canton University where she will be studying finance. She is the daughter of Steven and Sarah. Irzycki is third on the goaltending stat list with 718.87 minutes played; .924 save % and 1.82 GAA. She had 16 wins and 9 losses with 4 shutouts.
Monsignor Martin graduates include the Honadle twins as well as Mary Kate Christ, Rebecca Sander, and Alexandria Franke.
Christ has played two years with Monsignor Martin and also played Lacrosse at Sacred Heart Academy during her high school career. She will attend Niagara University to study sports management and is most proud of her first varsity goal against Williamsville.
Sander will graduate from Mt. St. Mary Academy where she also played golf. Her plans are to attend Geneseo University to major in Psychology and Sustainability Studies. She is proud to have been part of the team that won the Private School Championship in her freshman year.
Ryann Honadle has played for Monsignor Martin for four years and also played golf and softball for Mt. St. Mary’s Academy. She will be studying computer science at college. Ryann has served as Captain for MonMar and is proud of the team’s two-time Private School Championship. She had a goal and 6 assists this season.
Reese played for the team for three years. She plays softball and basketball for Mt. St. Mary’s Academy and will be majoring in computer engineering at college. She agrees with her teammates that winning the Private School Championship two years in a row is her favorite memory. Reese had 7 goals and 3 assists this season.
Franke played four years with MonMar. She also played golf at Mt. St.Mary’s Academy. She will attend Lebanon Valley College where she will play hockey and study exercise science with a goal to become a physical therapist. Her proudest moment is when MonMar won the Private School Championship in her freshman year. Another favorite memory is when then-Senior Cam Brownschidle came to practice late and was paired up with her for drills even though Cam could have paired with another senior. Franke had 12 goals and 2 assists this season and was awarded the Derek Cline Memorial Scholarship.
The Niagara County Lady Warriors (NICO) had five seniors this season including Marina Mansfield, Julia Hoffman, Francesca Williamson, Faith O’Connor and Madison Mallone.
Mansfield played six seasons with NICO and plans to attending Buffalo State College for forensic chemistyr. She is the daughter of Jim and Christy Mansfield. She also played Track and Field for Starpoint. The Defender/Forward is sixth on the WNYGVIH Federation Scoring list for the season with 15 goals and 9 assists in 20 games.
Hoffman played four years with the team and this season had 2 goals and 4 assists as a forward. She will graduate from Lewiston-Porter and plans to study criminal justice at a college to be named. She also played softball. Her parents are Doreen Hoffman and Daryl Hoffman.
Williamson, a defender, will graduate from Niagara-Wheatfield High School and want to pursue a career in criminal psychology. She played six years with NICO and this season received the Coaches Courage Award. While attending college she plans to continue ice hockey and also lacrosse. Her parents are Nadine and Jim Williamson. Williamson had 1 goal and 5 assists this season.
The daughter of Sean and Christine O’Connor, Faith will graduate from Starpoint Central High School and go to SUNY Niagara (formerly Niagara County Community College). She had 15 assists this season in 20 games played.
Mallone played six years for NICO and is 6th on the Season Scoring List with 16 goals and 10 assists in 8 games played. The daughter of Fred Mallone and Lori Mallone she plans to study criminal justice and play DIII hockey and lacrosse. Mallone was unable to finish the season due to injury.
St, Mary’s of Lancaster says good-bye to Senior Reece Gall who has been with the team since it’s inception three years ago. She served as Captain the past two seasons and is acknowledge by her coach as leading by example. She is an honor roll student and has chosen to attend Hood College in Maryland and play DIII ice hockey while studying health care administration. Her goal is to be the CEO of a hospital. Her parents are Nicle and Randy Gall and sister, MacKenzie. Gall was a forward and played in18 games garnering 6 goals and 4 assissts this season.
Captain Shannon Pogorzala ends her four-year high school hockey career at with Williamsville as she graduate from Williamsville East High School. The Defender played in 19 games and had two assists.
NYHOL would also like to recognize Seniors from first-year Webster who just completed their first and last season in Section V Girls Varsity Ice Hockey. Maddie Strelick, goalie from Webster Thomas; Nina Obi, forward from Webster Schroeder; Liv Lucania, defender from Schroeder and Meg Springer, forward/defenderfrom Webster Thomas.
Also recognizing Oswego Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Seniors as they visited WNY for a tournament. Graduating this season are Alyssa Carr, defense ; Anna Michalski, defense; Beatrice Rastley, forward; Zoey DeRocha, defender, and Chelsea Storms, goaltender.
Photo and Story by Janet Schultz© NYHOL
The Oswego Lakers skated away with back-to-back victories over Buffalo State College last weekend. They will now face-off against national ranked #12 Cortland in the first round of the SUNYAC Playoffs beginning February 24 in Cortland.
Friday night the first period ended goal-less. Oswego’s Helen Vandamme, of Pittsford, shot in the first goal of the evening, assisted by Lake Placid’s Rylee Preston and Rochester’s Rachel Corbett. Second ends 1-0. In the third period Mack Hull of Watertown found the back of the net, assisted by Lauren Schell and Leah Coley. The game ends with a Laker’s win. Buffalo’s Jessica Auge stopped 31 of 33 and Oswego’s Lexi Levy stopped all 22 shots for the win.
Former WNYGVIH players Vanessa Willick and Lilli Adimey each had 4 shots on goal that evening.
Saturday was Senior Day for Buffalo State as they honored Bethany Horvatits of Elma and Gabby McCrory of Buffalo. Both played for Cazenovia and Horvatits played in the WNYGVIH Federation. Also honored were Seniors Hannah Tingley, Rylee Garrow, Amanda Mindzora and Katie Sarich.
The Bengals lost 4-1 to the Lakers and ended their season 2-22-1 overall and 0-18-0 in SUNYAC. The lone goal came from Miya Silva, her second of the season. For Oswego Hull, Coley and Sophia Kyrkostas each had a goal and an assist. Auge made 33 saves for Buffalo.
Oswego will meet Cortland in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs. They split with Cortland in January. Cortland is 18-5-2 overall and 13-4-1 in SUNYAC. The Red Dragons upset #2 Plattsburgh 3-2 last weekend. WNYGVIH Alumnus Natalie O’Brien had a goal in that game.
Oswego honored their Seniors a week ago. Three familiar names in New York graduating this year are Rachel Corbett, Rochester and the Buffalo Regals; Sophia Kyrkostas, Selden/Selects Academy and Rachel Brase of Spencerport/Spencerport High School. Others include Kensie Malone and Meghan Buxton.
The SUNYAC Championship will be held March 2 at a place to be announced.
