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Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation Announce Five Finalists, Four with NYS Connections

By
Randy Schultz
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The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation announced five finalists for the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey’s “finest citizen” for leadership in community service.

Hank Kempf (Wilmette, Ill.), Junior, Defense, Cornell University

Hank Kempf (Wilmette, Ill.), Junior, Defense, Cornell University

Kempf founded the “Big Red Blocks for Healing” campaign that is raising funds for Kesem, a national charitable organization that supports children who are affected by a parent’s cancer. The fundraiser is nearing $6,000 in pledges alone and hopes to raise up to $15,000. In addition to Kempf’s campaign, he has been active within the Cornell and Ithaca communities, aiding several not-for-profit organizations and helping a diverse array of community members. His efforts have included: supporting the Newfield Schools Mentor Program; working with the Racker Center, which provides strength-based support for individuals with disabilities and their families; and participating in local fundraisers for cancer research. He has also been active with the Portal de Belen Foundation, participating and leading the Cornell men’s hockey team’s service trip to the Dominican Republic this past summer, where the group spent time building a community service center, distributing clothing, shoes, and food to those in need, and participating in other acts of service. The group also provided computers, school supplies and sports equipment to local schools and played baseball nightly with the community’s kids.

Dylan Lugris (Buffalo, N.Y.), Junior, Forward, Penn State University

Dylan Lugris (Buffalo, N.Y.), Junior, Forward, Penn State University

Lugris formed a strong bond with the local sled hockey organization, the State College Coyotes, after arriving on campus in 2021. He started attending their weekly practices and encouraged teammates to join him as he learned more and more about the sport of sled hockey and the Coyotes organization. In an effort to make a difference for a struggling organization that only practiced once a week and did not compete in actual games, Dylan came up with the idea of the Penn State Sled Hockey Classic last January. His mission is to grow the game of hockey while bringing awareness and knowledge to the sport of sled hockey and to provide the Coyotes the means necessary for organizational growth. As a result of his efforts, a charity sled hockey scrimmage between the Coyotes and the Penn State men’s hockey team at Pegula Ice Arena in front of the passionate Penn State fan base was held. All preparation and in-arena logistics were managed solely by Dylan and his Penn State teammates. Since the initial Penn State Sled Hockey Classic in February 2023, the Coyotes have more than doubled in roster size and are now proud members of the Northeast Sled Hockey League. The Coyotes compete in multiple games per month thanks in large part to the nearly $50,000 Dylan and his Penn State teammates have raised for the organization over the past year.

Jack Quinn (Lancaster, Mass.), Senior, Forward, Long Island University

Jack Quinn (Lancaster, Mass.), Senior, Forward, Long Island University

Through his years at LIU, Jack Quinn has reached hundreds of people with his altruistic spirit and servant heart. Jack truly embraces the maxim “never underestimate the impact you can have on someone else’s life.” Standing in the gap for those in need has been a theme throughout Jack’s life and has carried over with distinction throughout his collegiate career. Jack does not limit himself to serving just one group, but rather a wide range of individuals across multiple organizations, stepping in wherever there is a need. To this end, Jack has taken the initiative to lead on-ice events with a number of youth hockey organizations in Long Island year round, including practices/clinics with the Long Island Gulls, Long Island Arrows, Beaver Dam, P.A.L. Islanders and NY Islanders Learn-To-Skate program. He has participated in the Hockey Helps Marathon to raise funds for local charities and led LIU with the Island Harvest Food Bank Drive, a hunger-relief organization with a mission to end hunger on Long Island. Jack similarly took the lead role with LIU Hockey in preparing Thanksgiving meals for Long Island families in need through an organization called Carroll’s Kitchen. Jack also spent many hours finding homes for rescued animals in LIU’s Pet Adoption Program and volunteering to raise awareness regarding heart disease with the American Heart Association. In addition, two organizations that Jack has been particularly close to, and to which he continues to dedicate his service, are the Long Island Warriors, a hockey program consisting solely of military veterans who use hockey as therapy in coping with physical and mental disabilities; and to the Hockey in Harlem program which provides inner city youth with access to hockey.

Raice Szott (Daysland, Alberta), Senior, Defense, Merrimack College

Raice Szott (Daysland, Alberta), Senior, Defense, Merrimack College

Szott has developed, coordinated and participated in several events and initiatives that exemplify Merrimack’s mission to engage and support the community. Szott launched the Merrimack College Women’s Hockey Community Service Committee, which has led to several volunteer and fundraising opportunities in the Merrimack Valley. She has coordinated fundraisers to support local nonprofits, including first responders and the Ellie Fund, a local foundation that assists men and women suffering from breast cancer. Szott has coordinated volunteers for Merrimack’s Relay For Life, local girls’ hockey programs and after-school programs at local elementary schools. In addition, Szott oversaw logistics for a number of events, including: a teddy bear toss at a Merrimack College women’s ice hockey home game to benefit Toys for Tots; multiple Skating Strides games for the Ellie Fund; and a team event for the school’s “Relay for Life Walk” this coming April. Szott also created a program dedicated to teaching and mentoring young girls to help them build confidence through ice skating and hockey.

Sarah Thompson (Ottawa, Ontario), Senior, Forward, Syracuse University

Sarah Thompson (Ottawa, Ontario), Senior, Forward, Syracuse University

Thompson launched ‘Sticks Together’ two years ago to provide children in disadvantaged areas opportunities to learn and grow through the sport of ice hockey. She has led humanitarian trips to Buenos Aires, Argentina, aiming to reach families living in low-income communities where opportunities for children to learn and play sports can be few and far between; and to Muizenberg, South Africa, where the focus was to provide an opportunity for children whose schools lack the funds and resources to provide physical education classes for their students. Thompson is currently planning a similar trip this summer to Tigman Village, Palawan. As a part of the ‘Sticks Together’ initiative, Thompson partners with CARHA Hockey and Play It Again Sports to collect recycled hockey sticks and other street hockey equipment to use during the trips and then donate to the schools.

Gabbie Hughes from Minnesota Duluth was honored as the 2023 recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

The 29th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award will be honored in a ceremony on Friday, April 12 as part of the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four weekend in Staint Paul, Minnesota. Additionally, the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation will make a donation to the charity most important to each of the five finalists. These donations are made possible with the generous support of the award’s partners and donors.

Skaneatles’ Morrissey NEHC Rookie of the Year

By
Randy Schultz
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0

By Warren Kozireski —

Wherever Bauer Morrissey has played hockey of late, his second season has been much better than the first. He jumped from seven to 31 points in his second season with the Rochester Coalition and from 22 to 37 in two campaigns with Cranbrook in the BCHL.

Hobart can only hope recent history repeats itself after the 5’9”, 183 lb. defenseman was named New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Rooke of the Year after putting up four goals with 22 points over 24 games. Sand that’s prior to the nationally top-ranked Statesmen entering the NCAA playoffs.

“It’s an honor but we’re really only looking at winning a national championship so that’s most important,” Morrissey said on the final weekend of the regular season.

“We have a great culture here with (head coach) Mark Taylor and ten seniors have done a great job integrating the freshmen into the culture and every day we build on that…and get better.”

“We had high expectations because he’s got a great head and great hands and knew he was a great kid with a lot of (Hobart) roots going into his background,” Hobert head coach Mark Taylor said. “You get somebody with good talent and good character and he’s probably going to have some success.

“We know we have to live with some things when they come in first semester, but by the second semester the senior out there and on the bench doesn’t care if you’re a freshman or a sophomore or a junior, they just want you to play good.”

Born in Leesburg, Virginia, Morrissey moved with his family to Skaneateles when he was 15 years old. He played two seasons with Skaneateles High before leaving home for two years with Millbrook Prep School and two more with Cranbrook before heading to Geneva.

His father played with Taylor at Elmira. His grandmother, Louise Six, graduated from William Smith in 1963 while his uncle, Matt Kerwick, graduated from Hobart in 1990, was an All-American lacrosse player for the Statesmen and was the Statesmen’s head coach for seven seasons.

Like his other family members, Morrissey has fit in seamlessly.

“Honestly I didn’t know what to expect, but because the seniors are so great to us I felt really comfortable coming in and (the coaching staff) let me do my thing and play my game. I think it does take half a year or a year to get your feet wet and get to know who you’re playing with, get to know the level you’re at.

“I decided to go back for my overage year in junior…so coming in I was 21 (years old). I felt like I needed to mature my game because I still have some holes in my game and that couple of years to develop really helped me.

“They (family) always stayed in my ear about Hobart and, if things fell through for Division I, then this would be the next best option which it has been.”

(Photos provided by Hobart Athletics/Men’s Hockey Team)

Hobart Wins Second Consecutive National Championship; RIT & Cornell Win Conference Titles

By
Randy Schultz
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0

By Warren Kozireski —

Typical of their season, Hobart shutout third-ranked Trinity 2-0 to win their second consecutive Division III men’s hockey national championship. Typical because it marked the team’s 13th shutout of the season breaking the previous mark of 12 held by Geneseo since 2019.

The Statesmen were the number one seed going into the tournament and defeated  Curry 4-3 in four overtimes and second-ranked Utica 3-1 to reach the title game. They outscored their opponents 161-30 this season.

Hobart is the first team to win back-to-back national championships in Division III men’s ice hockey since St. Norbert in 2011 and 2012.

RIT won their fourth Atlantic Hockey Conference championship and earned the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. They are the fourth seed (15th overall) in the Sioux Falls Regional and will battle number one seed Boston University in the first round at 5pm Thursday.

The conference top-seed Tigers played every playoff game on home ice sweeping best-of-three series with Robert Morris and Niagara before taking down American International, who finished fifth in the regular season, in the final 5-2.

“Our penalty killing was outstanding, and then when the power play got its opportunities, we capitalized quickly there as well,” RIT head coach Wayne Wilson said after the final. “I think the thing I can say about this team, probably more so than a lot of other teams I’ve coached, is contributions came from everyone.”

Cornell won their 13th Whitelaw Cup as champions of the ECAC, but first since 2010, when they took down St. Lawrence 3-1 in the championship game. They swept Harvard and beat Dartmouth in the semi-finals to advance.

The Big Red earned the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and are a third seed. They were placed in the Springfield Regional and will face-off against second seed Maine in the first round at 5:30pm Thursday.

(Photos by Koz/NY Hockey OnLine)

Skaneatles Repeats

By
Randy Schultz
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By Warren Kozireski —

Skaneateles broke a 1-1 with four unanswered goals over the final two periods to defeat Queensbury/Lake George 5-1 to win the New York State Division II hockey title for the second consecutive season, becoming the 13th team in history to do so at any level.

The Lakers took a 1-0 first period lead as sophomore defenseman Noah Testa scored from the left point with assists from Casey Morrissey and Andrew Falkenberg at 10:48.

Queensbury earned a late first period power play and converted to tie the game 1-1  just 23 seconds into the second as junior defenseman Brodie LaNoir scored stick side.

The Lakers then began to control play and netted the go-ahead goal seconds after a penalty kill as senior Andrew Gaglione scored low glove side after a rush down the left win at 4:36 with an assist from classmate Jack Torrey.

“It was a bad penalty on our end, so we definitely had to flip the emotions around,” Gaglione said.

Junior Cole Palmer made it 3-1 at 9:46 using speed to beat the defenseman wide and tuck the puck inside the post and Gaglione scored his second of the game as he backhanded in a loose puck in the slot at 12:54 of the second.

Skaneateles made it 5-1 at 8:39 of the third as freshman Braedan Taggert feathered a perfect pass through the defenseman’s legs to sophomore Trevor Jensen on the rush for the goal.

“It feels amazing making history for Skaneateles; it just feels awesome,” Gaglione said. “We’ve been working hard at it all year and I think we definitely deserve it. We knew we could be anyone that we play if we just play our game and it really showed.”

“In 1989-90 we lost in the state championship in 90 after we won in overtime (in 1988-89) and in 2016 we lost in overtime after we won in 2015, so this was on our agenda and we finally got it,” Skaneateles head coach  Mitch Major said.

“It’s been the same all year; our depth is very difficult to keep up with and we told the boys that as long as it was close after the first period, we were going to be fine and that was the case. The number one thing we have this year is depth—we had seven goals yesterday (semi-finals) with seven goal scorers, so that is the theme of the whole year.”

The Lakers defeated Webster Thomas 5-1 and Batavia Notre Dame United 7-2 in the first two rounds to reach the championship game.

Named to the All-Tournament Team were Queensbury/Lake Goerge senior Tanner Fearman and junior Jake Dickerson and Skaneateles’ Falkenberg, Torrey Paro, goaltender Danny Angelina and Most Valuable Player Gaglione.

This marks the sixth state hockey title for the program having also won in 1983, 1989, 2015, 2019 and 2023.

(Photos by Koz/NY Hockey OnLine)

NY Hockey OnLine Update

By
Randy Schultz
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0

As many of our followers may have noticed, following a week of no posting, we have once again started to post NYS-related hockey stories. We will be posting stories over the next couple of days that should have been posted last week. But we feel that they are important enough to still the get recognition they deserve.

In addition, over the next two to three weeks we will be posting stories that are timeless and gathered during the regular hockey season but just ran out of time to post them.

Thanks for your understanding and continued following of NYH OnLine.

Suffern Wins Fourth State Title

By
Randy Schultz
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By Warren Kozireski —

Suffern broke a 1-1 tie with three second period tallies and added two empty-net goals to defeat Orchard Park and win the Division I New York State championship at HarborCenter in Buffalo.

Orchard Park struck first as junior Brady Ciano, who had a hat trick in the Quakers semi-final victory, let a shot go after a right wing rush that hit the stick of the goaltender and deflected in at 7:549 of the first period.

Suffern tied it on junior Philip McCarthy’s power play goal from Charlei Windwer and Tyler Pomeranz with less than nine seconds remaining in the first period.

That momentum carried the Mounties into the second period as senior Ayden Greenberg stripped the defenseman of the puck and found sophomore Sean Tyrell in front of the net at 9:08 for a 2-1 lead.

“I knew we needed a big goal and Greenberg gave me a seed pass and I was able just very lucky to bury it and celebrate with the boys,” Tyrell said.

Suffern then took control of the game using a five-on-three advantage to score twice within 89 seconds. Senior defenseman Nick Bonanno slid the puck just inside the left post with assists from Jake Rostawanik and  Schaefer Pinotti at 10:44 before Tyrell scored his second of the game from Pomeranz at 12:13.

Orchard Park tried to claw back getting a power play goal at 8:21 of the third period as freshman Nolan Zakrzewski banged in the rebound of a Matthew Norum shot to close the gap to two, but the Mounties got two empty net goals by Greenberg and Bonanno to seal the victory.

“It feels pretty amazing—my first state championship…we worked at it all season, but it feels very good,” Tyrell said.

“We stuck to our game all year,” Suffern head coach Rob Schelling said. “These kids work so hard every day since the beginning and to have that first goal go in, which was not the best of goals…just shows the character of this group.

“Going to the state championship now three years in a row shows you what kind of group we have here. Sean Tyrell is the youngest of four Tyrell brothers to have played for us, so for his family to get what they get for what they’ve done for our program is great.”

Named to the All-Tournament Team were Nolan Zakrzewski and Brady Ciano with Suffern’s Philip McCarthy, Ayden Greenberg, Charlei Windwer, goaltender Nick Downey and Most Valuable Player Sean Tyrell.

Suffern, who defeated Monroe-Woodbury 11-0 and Massena 5-2 to advance to the championship game, previously won state hockey titles in 1992, 2012 and 2022.

(Photo by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine)

Future Sabres: Viktor Neuchev

By
Randy Schultz
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0

By Warren Kozireski —

After producing just five points over the first 23 games of his American Hockey League career, Buffalo Sabres 2022 third round draft pick Viktor Neuchev has turned the corner leading all Rochester rookies in scoring with seven goals and 12 assists in 34 total games.

Included in his output since Jan. 1 is a pair of three-point efforts. His 54 shots on goal also is tops among first year Amerks.

“Neuchev’s growth lately has been fun to see,” Rochester head coach Seth Appert said. “His habits, his daily work ethic, just all of that stuff has been on-point. You form your habits in practice and we’ve (the coaching staff) have been seeing it for two months now with him and now more often it’s coming out in games.

“We’ve seen this with Rosie (Isak Rosen) and Kulie (Juri Kulich) about this time last year; Peterka about this time two years ago where those lightbulb moments are flickering and he’s starting to put the pieces together.

“The guys are pulling for him—he’s really won over the locker room because of the work he’s put in. When you get rookies in and they’re pretty high draft picks, the older guys in the room are watching what’s the attitude, what’s the work ethic, what’s the daily habits. Is this a guy that we want to root for and Neuchev has won them over.

The 5’11”, 171 lb. Russian native played last season in the KHL and has obviously had difficulty with the language both on and off the ice.

“At the beginning of the season it was difficult,” Neuchev said via Google translate. “In principle to adjust to life in America…but by November it became much easier. I get used to this hockey; I begin to train more off the ice which leads to results.”

“He’s a young kid; I think he’s done a really good job translating his habits from practice to a game and he’s become much more consistent in practice, and it shows with how well he’s been playing as of late,” veteran forward Graham Slaggert said about his teammate.

In late January, Neuchev was elevated from the fourth line to the top line due to an injury and responded with a two-point effort including his sixth goal of the season and fourth in eight games.

“He’s earned that with two months of practice habits, daily habits,” Appert added. He’s one of the first three or four guys here every day. He’s in the shooting room early every day and he’s one of the last guys out.

“The majority of practice days he’s here probably from eight to two o’clock in the afternoon and working most of the time and not just hanging around watching highlights.

“It’s good to see him get rewarded with a promotion and it was good to see him take advantage of that promotion on a line.”

Neuchev is still sometimes a healthy scratch—the coaching staff calls them rest days with his adjustment to the number of games in a season—but is just beginning to show what Sabres scouts saw in him prior selecting him 74th overall after his 40 goal, 67-point 2021-22 campaign with Avto Yekaterinburg. A six-game point streak Dec. 29-Jan. 20 this season is one indicator.

“It’s not a coincidence…he works extremely hard every day on his game whether it’s the shooting room or video,” veteran teammate Brett Murray said. “It doesn’t surprise me that pucks are starting to go his way and he’s starting to score and get points. He’s a great player and it was fun to be on his line.”

(Photos provided by Rochester Americans Hockey/American Hockey League)

Super Sunday High School Club Hockey Championships Report

By
Randy Schultz
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0

BY RANDY SCHULTZ –

BUFFALO, NY — Three champions of Western New York Boys High School Club Hockey were crowned at the 40th annual Super Sunday High School Club Hockey Championships held at the KeyBank Center.

ST. JOE’S vs. ORCHARD PARK B (Large School Final)

Forward Sean Girdlestone scored two goals and added two assists in leading the Orchard Park B Quakers to a 6-2 win over the St. Joe Maroons to win the Large School Club Hockey Championship in game one of the triple header Super Sunday at the KeyBank Center.

With the score tied, 2-2, entering the third period, Orchard Park opened the period with a power play goal at 3:28 scored by Coles Anders Purrenhage. Kaden Amici and Jacob Dietz assisted on the goal that put the Quakers in front for good, 3-2.

A little over four minutes later Girdlestone scored his second goal of the game to put OP up, 4-2. Dietz had the assist.

Jacob Johnson put the Quakers up 5-2 at 10:32 of the 3rd period. Jake Zelasko and Girdlestone assisted.

Drew Vanderwerf scored the final OP goal at 15:47 into an empty Maroons net. Girdlestone got the lone assist.

Orchard Park tied it up early in the 2nd period, 1-1, on a goal by Sean Robertson. Coles Anders Purrenhage got the lone assist.

Less than four minutes later the Maroons took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Michael Armento at 7:03. Nathan Werder and Zachery Sullivan got the assists.

But with less than a minute remaining in the period, Sean Girdlestone tied the game for the B’s, 2-2, at 16:11. Cameron McCarthy and Purrenhage got the assists.

Joshua opened the scoring for the Maroons at the 12:52 mark of the first period to give St. Joe’s an early 1-0 lead. David Girdlestone got the lone assist on the goal.

SUPER SUNDAY NOTES – Girdlestone was voted the MVP of the champion team. Michael Armento was the MVP of the runner-up team.

ELPS VS. JAMESTOWN

Derek Nolder scored two goals and Nate Smith scored a goal and two assists as ELPS defeated Jamestown, 7-5, to win the Mixed School Championship.

Just :21 into the 2nd period Brian Coupe put ELPS up 3-1. Goalie Colton Hornquist got the lone assist.

Jamestown came right back on a goal by Jameson Walsh with Mason Lobb and Bergen Nelson assisting.

Then, in a matter of 1:12 ELPS scored three straight goals with the first coming from Josh Cherry, unassisted. That was followed by a goal by Nate Smith, with assists going to Gabriel Kempf and Keegan Green.

The third goal came off the stick of Derek Nolder with assists Nate Smith and Keegan Green. ELPS led at that point 6-2.

ELPS upped the score to 7-2 at 15:00 on an unassisted goal by Brian Crupe.

Jamestown closed out the scoring in the period when Gavin Smith scored an unassisted goal to cut ELPS’s lead to 7-3.

Gavin Macauley opened the scoring for ELPS at 9:23 of the first period. Derek Nolder got the lone assist.

At 15:02 Nolder put ELPS up 2-0. Nate Smith got the assist.

Jamestown cut the ELPS lead to 2-1 at 16:53 of the 1st period when Brandon Smith scored. Jason Walsh and Mason Lobb got the assists.

NOTES: MVP of the runner-up team went to Mason Lobb. MVP for the championship team was Derek Nolder.

EAST AURORA/HOLLAND VS. ST. MARY’S

Ethan Cole scored two third period goals and goaltender Tyler Pritchard turned back several crucial shots on goal by East Aurora/Holland to lead St. Mary’s to a 4-1 victory and win the Small School Championship.

Going into the third period St. Mary’s was leading 2-1. Cole’s two goals came early and late in the period to give his team a 4-1 lead.

East Aurora/Holland tied the game, 1-1, early in the second period on a goal by Tomas Zolet. But late in the period Anthony Higgins gave St. Mary’s a lead they would not give up.

Finnin Carney assisted on East Aurora/Holland’s only goal. Luke Higgins and Robert Walter assisted on the lone St. Mary’s goal of the second period.

St. Mary’s Ashton Addesa opened the scoring to give his team a 1-0 lead over East Aurora/Holland at 2:16 of the first period. Cole got an assist on the goal.

NOTES: Team runner-up MVP went to Sean Casey. MVP on the winning team went to Pritchard.

(Photos by Randy Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)

NJPE BANTAM MOHL TAKE CHAMPIONSHIP

By
Janet
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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.

North Tonawanda’s Hasley Among Nation’s Best

By
Randy Schultz
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33 Connor Hasley, Goaltender Bentley Men's Ice Hockey 2023-24 Bentley Men's Hockey vs Army West Point 1/2/24

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)

Eden’s Seitz Avoids Sophomore Slump With SUNY Cortland

By
Randy Schultz
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0

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)

Baldwinsville’s Tretowicz Making His Last Season Count

By
Randy Schultz
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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)

Orchard Park’s Loughran Taking One Final Lap With Griff’s

By
Randy Schultz
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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)

Raptors Report From Broome County, NY

By
Randy Schultz
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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)

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