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Maine Black Bears Ally Johnson Signs With Beauts

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Janet
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BUFFALO – Sizable forward and all-around athlete Ally Johnson will begin her professional hockey career with the Buffalo Beauts. The 5-foot-8 center/winger from Milwaukee, Wisconsin completed her collegiate career at the University of Maine earlier this year, and now embarks on her pro career in the Premier Hockey Federation. Johnson’s deal with the Beauts is a 1-year contract. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

“I am super excited and grateful to begin my professional career with the Buffalo Beauts,” said Johnson. “I have heard great things about the team, fanbase, and community. I have followed the PHF throughout my hockey career and I am looking forward to helping grow the game. I am honored to compete for the Isobel Cup as a Buffalo Beaut!”

Johnson played 152 NCAA games across five seasons with the Black Bears. During that time, she put forth 18 goals, 19 assists and 37 points. She set career highs in all three offensive categories in 2021- 22 when she went 8-7-15 for scoring in 30 games. Johnson was named an alternate captain for Maine during her fifth and final season with the program. A robust forward, she played all three forward positions during her time with the Black Bears.

“We had been speaking with Ally for quite some time and there was very much a mutual interest in having her join the Beauts,” said Buffalo GM Nate Oliver. “She is a hard-nosed, tough player who goes to all the dirty areas on the ice and battles. Ally is a player that will outwork you at every cost. I think what fans would find most appealing about Ally is that she is completely enamored with the notion of being a Beaut and competing for Buffalo.”

Prior to beginning her career at Maine, Johnson played her junior hockey for the Milwaukee Junior Admirals. In addition to playing hockey, she has had a highly accomplished amateur career in track and field. She is a four-time state champion in Wisconsin for long jump, triple jump, 4×100-meter relay, and the 100-meter dash.

Now Johnson is primed to begin her professional hockey career in the PHF.

“I push the pace of the game by using my speed, battling in the corners, and driving to the net,” said Johnson. “I offer a strong presence at the faceoff dot and move the puck up ice to create offensive opportunities. I am excited to develop my style of game by learning from my teammates and coaches this coming season.”

Johnson is the third rookie that the Beauts have announced having signed in addition to fellow Black Bear Amalie Andersen and Mount Royal Cougar Tatum Amy. The Beauts have also retained veterans Dominique Kremer, Allison Attea, Summer-Rae Dobson and Emma Nuutinen.

Amerks Legend Jody Gage To Be Inducted Into New York State Hockey Hall of Fame

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Janet
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Most prolific scorer in Amerks franchise history among 15 new inductees as part of Class of 2023

(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans are pleased to announce that Jody Gage, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and three-time Calder Cup Champion, will be inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.

Induction ceremonies are scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 16 at the Hilton Hotel in Troy, NY.

“We are thrilled to be inducting Jody, who has spent his life dedicated to hockey,” said Rene M. LeRoux, Executive Director of the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame. “As a player and as an executive, Jody has shown great leadership and a love of the game.”

“I’m both honored and humbled to be selected among so many deserving inductees,” said Gage. “I was very fortunate to spend my entire playing career here in New York State with two very special American Hockey League organizations in the Adirondack Red Wings and Rochester Americans, with the Amerks, of course, being forever near and dear to my heart. I thank Rene LeRoux and the selection committee for this very special honor and congratulate the rest of the Class of 2023 on their induction as well.”

Gage, who’s now a member of five different Hall of Fames, including three specific to hockey, currently serves as the director of strategic planning in the Amerks’ front office, where he has worked since the 1995-96 season. The role is Gage’s fourth within the organization, having previously served as assistant general manager, general manager and director of player personnel during his tenure in the front office following his retirement as a player.

Originally a third-round selection (45th overall) of the Detroit Red Wings in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, the Toronto native spent six seasons in the Detroit organization, winning his first of three Calder Cups in 1981, before signing a free-agent contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 31, 1985. Gage would spend the rest of his career in the Sabres and Amerks organizations, signing his final contract with the Amerks on August 23, 1995.

Dubbed “Mr. Amerk” during his 11-year career in Rochester, Gage finished as the Amerks’ all-time leader in goals, assists, points and games played. He holds the Amerks’ record for game-winning goals in one season (9, 1987-88) and goals/points by a right wing in one season (60/104, 1987-88). Gage is one of just three players to record 500 career AHL goals and 1,000 career AHL points, and his 17 AHL seasons tie him for third in league history.

Some of his other AHL accolades include the 1987-88 AHL MVP award and a berth on the First Team All-Star squad. He also earned AHL First Team All-Star honors following the 1985-86 and 1990-91 seasons, a place on the AHL’s All-Time Team in 1992 — as chosen by the media — and selection as the U.S. Team Captain for the AHL All-Star Game in 1995. Gage also holds AHL records for the two fastest short-handed goals in one game (8 seconds, 3/25/89), the most 40+ goal seasons (7), and the most playoff goals (51) in AHL history.

In 1999, he was inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame. On March 19, 1999, Gage and Dick Gamble had their No. 9 retired, joining Norm “Red” Armstrong as the only players in team history to receive that honor.

A three-time Calder Cup champion, including two with Rochester in 1987 and again in his final season as a player in 1996, Gage received one of the highest honors of his career in 2006, as he was inducted into the inaugural class of the AHL Hall of Fame. He joined legends Johnny Bower, Jack Butterfield, Fred Glover, Willie Marshall, Frank Mathers and Eddie Shore. The ceremony was conducted at the 2006 Rbk Hockey American Hockey League All-Star Classic in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Jan. 31-Feb. 1).

Danish Olympian Amalie Andersen Signs With Beauts

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Janet
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BUFFALO – The Buffalo Beauts have created history once again by signing the first player from Denmark in Premier Hockey Federation history. Defender and 2022 Danish Olympian Amalie Andersen has signed a one-year contract to join the Beauts. Terms of the contract will not be disclosed. Andersen completed her NCAA career at the University of Maine last month.

“I have heard great things about the Beauts organization and it felt right to sign my first professional contract with Buffalo,” said Andersen. “Nate (Oliver) and the Beauts have treated me professionally from the start which made it feel like the right fit for me.”

The 23-year-old from Herning, Denmark stands 5-foot-8 and is a left-handed shot. Andersen has been a member of the Danish Women’s National Team since the age of 15 years old. She has gone 1-5-6 for scoring across 32 IIHF World Championship games between the Top Division and Division 1A. Andersen made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and played in all four of Denmark’s games.

Collegiately, Andersen played for the Maine Black Bears from the 2019-20 season through 2022-23. She went 2-7-9 for scoring through 60 career NCAA games.

“Amalie is a very rugged defender,” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “As nice as she might be off of the ice, she has a sandpapery disposition on it. Amalie comes from a strong hockey pedigree with her father, mother, brothers, uncles and cousins all having played at a high level. Some people are just naturally gifted in that way, and I do think that there is something to be said for genetics. Aside from that though, Amalie stands entirely on her own with what she can do on the ice and we are very proud that she is now a Buffalo Beaut!”

One of Andersen’s brothers is Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Fredrik Andersen.

Prior to beginning her collegiate career, Andersen played three seasons in Sweden’s SDHL for Linköping HC. She totaled three goals, three assists and six points in 97 SDHL games. Andersen helped Linköping to SDHL silver medals in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

“I am a defender who can play confidently in both the D-Zone and O-Zone, as I have experience in all positions,” said Andersen. “From my experiences in the SDHL and at the University of Maine for D1, along with my international experience, I feel that I have developed a high hockey IQ.”

In addition to signing Andersen, the 2023-24 Beauts roster currently includes four returnees in captain Dominique Kremer and Allison Attea on defense, plus Summer-Rae Dobson and Emma Nuutinen up front. Forward Tatum Amy was also signed by the Beauts and joins Andersen as the team’s current newcomers and two rookies.

McCarthy Moves Another Step Closer To NHL Dream

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Janet
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0

By Warren Kozireski —

It has been and will be 12 months that Clarence Center’s Gavin McCarthy will remember forever.

On defense for Muskegon in the USHL, the 6’1”, 181 lb. former Jr, Sabres put up a career-best eight goals and 19 assists over 42 games despite a broken patella that kept him out of the lineup from December until February.

The set-back didn’t keep him from being one of 70+ NHL Draft prospects selected to participate in the NHL Combine June 4-10 in Buffalo where he finished tied for 10th in pull-ups with 12 and 24th in Horizontal Jump with 108”.

“It took a while to get the strength back in that leg—there was quite a bit of atrophy—but I think going to the gym with a mindset every day where I needed to get back to where I was,” McCarthy said after the Combine physical testing.

“It was great and an honor to be here, especially because I’m from here and this is my home rink, so it was really cool to be out there,”

Gavin has relied on his older brother and future Boston University teammate, Case, this season and leading up to the Combine.

“I saw Case go through the process and he’s given me a ton of advice this year and even coming into this week…good to have that mentor to look up too and ask questions whenever I want.

“One of my biggest focuses was to just get bigger and fill out my frame and I think that’s still one of my biggest focuses, but I need to get stronger so I can play against bigger guys defensively.”

Though he dropped from 39th among North American skaters at midterm to 52nd in the final rankings, in three weeks, the right shot defenseman will likely hear his name called at the NHL Draft in Nashville.

Then Prospect Camp with whichever team selects him and then donning the Scarlet and White of the Boston University Terriers this fall—maybe on the same defense pairing with one of his older brothers.

(Photos by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine; USHL)

Hamburg’s Musty Readies For NHL Draft

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Janet
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By Warren Kozireski —

With the final stages of evaluating the top NHL Draft-eligible players complete following the fitness portion of the NHL Combine in Buffalo June 4-10, Hamburg’s Quentin Musty now must wait until June 28th to find out if he is indeed a first-round selection as many publications and websites have him slotted or falls to the second round.

“I hope pretty good; it was fun out there and a good experience,” Musty said after the Combine. “Kind of see how you match up to other guys. I was pretty busy, so it was a good week.

“I have a lot of teammates last year and years prior that have been to this (the Combine) so I kind of knew what it was coming in and for it to be in my back yard is nice, so yeah, it was a good experience.”

Musty is ranked as high as 12th by Elite Hockey Prospects website, is 14th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and as low as 44th by Draft Prospects Hockey.

The soon-to-be 18-year-old (July 6th) has the build teams are looking for on the wings at 6’2” and 190 lbs. And he is coming off his best offensive season with 26 goals and 78 points in 53 games with Sudbury in the Ontario Hockey League this past season—more than doubling both categories from the season prior.

“Just trying to clean up my game a bit; rounding it out, being more defensive and doing the little things right I think, once I did those it created more chances for me and had the puck a lot more and I think it just grew my game that way.

“I definitely have confidence in my game…I think I know that I can compete at the highest levels.”

As with every player at the Combine, Musty met with and was interviewed by several teams who may be interested in the former Jr. Sabres. And now the wait for June 28th and then the wait to hear his name called—he hopes by one of the teams holding a first-round draft choice.

“You have no idea where you’re gong to go; you could fall, you could rise, you have no idea. The main thing is to get into a camp and try to perform from there. It doesn’t matter where you get drafted, just try to earn a contract and try to earn a spot is the most important thing.

“Being from here and having season tickets growing up, it’s great to be back in this building where I kind of started my hockey career. It’s been my dream to play in the NHL and this is a step towards that, so it’s been great.”

(Photo by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine)

“Small Saves”

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Janet
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0

Here is this week’s edition of “Small Saves.”

Enjoy!

Akwesasne’s Terrance Turning Heads

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Janet
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0

By Warren Kozireski —

Carey Terrance comes from Akwesasne, NY, a small town across the river from Cornwall, Ontario on the St. Lawrence, but he is having a big impact as he was invited to participate in the 2023 NHL Combine in Buffalo June 4-10 as one of the top 100 prospects for the NHL Draft in Nashville at the end of the month.

He was among the leaders in both the Vertical Jump and Chin-Ups with 112” and 12 respectively. That and his coming out season with the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League helps explain his rise from 50th at midterm to 38th in the final rankings among North American skaters.

“I was really prepared (for the Combine)—after I got back from Switzerland, I didn’t have the most time, but made the best of it and the NHL did a great job scheduling everything and it went by smooth,” Terrance said after his session.

“I met with 20 (teams) and everything went pretty smooth, and I was grateful to meet with that many teams, but glad to get it down now and move on.”

Terrance, who turned 18 years old in May, netted 30 goals in 67 games in his second season with Erie—triple what he scored in his first year. That, his skating ability and his Combine numbers could push the 6’1”, 174 lb. center in the latter stages of the first round.

“I was kind of fast my whole life and I think it’s kind of natural, but my mom takes credit saying she made me take my roller blades every day when I was younger, so that’s where my stride came from. She made me roller blade up my road every day to catch the bus and then back down, so credit to her for pushing me my whole life to not sit in my room.”

“It’s confidence; coming into your second year you know what to expect in the “O” and coming in I knew I was going to have a big role in Erie, so I just took the bull by the horns. We didn’t have the season we wanted, but personally I had a pretty good year so I’m excited going into next year.”

And either June 28th or 29th in Nashville he will have an NHL logo next to his name on the line charts for every game.

(Photo by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine)

Buffalo Native Allison Attea Returns To The Beauts

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Janet
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0

BUFFALO – Defender Allison Attea will be back for a third straight season along the Beauts’ blue line. The 24-year-old left-handed shooter signed a 1-year deal with the team. Terms of the contract will not be disclosed. Attea initially joined the team as the Beauts’ fourth-round draft selection (19th overall) in the 2021 Premier Hockey Federation Draft.

“I had a fantastic experience the past two seasons playing for the Beauts,” said Attea. “It’s a great atmosphere at the rink each day and I love playing for my hometown of Buffalo. Returning for another season was an easy decision for me.”

Attea played in 18 of Buffalo’s 24 regular season games during the 2022-23 PHF season. She scored the first goal of her professional career on November 6, 2022 during a 3-2 victory over the visiting Montreal Force. A stay-at-home defender, Attea is 1-2-3 for scoring in 34 regular season games during her PHF career.

“We have always liked Al’s physicality,” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “For someone who is as unassuming as she is off the ice, she doesn’t ever back down from anyone when the game is on the line. If there is traffic around the Buffalo net and a lot of bodies, Attea will always get up in the opposition’s grill. She has a hard shot that is also elusive, and we know she is committed to utilizing her shot more this upcoming season.”

Attea played her NCAA career with Holy Cross. She suited up for 111 NCAA games for the Crusaders, with 86 of them being at the Division I level. Across her four seasons with Holy Cross, she amassed eight goals, 12 assists and 20 points. The 5-foot-7 Attea led all Holy Cross skaters in blocked shots during the 2019-20 (51) and 2020-21 (43) seasons.

“I’m confident in the upcoming season,” she said. “Our team made good strides during last season, and we expect to be a very competitive team this coming season. We have unfinished business – it’s time to bring the Isobel Cup home!”

In addition to re-signing Attea, the Beauts have already announced their re-signing of forward Emma Nuutinen, their free agent signing of rookie Tatum Amy, and their renegotiated second-year contracts for returning forward Summer-Rae Dobson and defender Dominique Kremer. Attea’s re-signing is their fifth player transaction of the 2023 offseason.

Tatum Amy Signs With Beauts

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Janet
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BUFFALO – U SPORTS sensation Tatum Amy is now a Buffalo Beaut. The 5-foot-8 forward from Birtle, Manitoba signed a one-year contract with the team to begin her professional career in the Premier Hockey Federation. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Amy captained the 2022-23 Mount Royal University Cougars to the 2023 U SPORTS National Championship – the first in program history.

“I decided to sign with Buffalo because of the team morale and what the team wants to accomplish overall,” said Amy. “This program upholds a lot of what I believe a successful team should have. I believe it is a great fit for me and I’m extremely excited to get started.”

In 126 games during five U SPORTS seasons, Amy assembled career totals of 21 goals, 59 assists, and 80 points. Her finest performance came during the recent championship season when she set career highs in goals (7), assists (24), and points (31) in 26 regular season games. Amy would go 1- 1-2 for scoring in nine playoff games for the Cougars.

“We love Tatum’s leadership skills, her enthusiasm, and her drive to work hard,” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “Tatum exudes the qualities of what we want the 2023-24 Beauts to be – hard-nosed, hardworking, and cares more than you do. That mindset is what Tatum brought to Mount Royal and captured a championship with. We are excited to see her bring that same mindset to Buffalo. Beauts fans are going to love her.”

Amy was named the 2022-23 Canada West Female Athlete of the Year – that conference’s topmost athletic award. Her 31 points last season also led all Canada West scorers. Additionally, Amy was named a Canada West First-Team All-Star, Canada West Women’s Hockey Player of the Year, the recipient of the Canada West Sportsmanship and Ability Award, and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian. She is also Mount Royal’s all-time leading scorer in program history.

Amy will now be bringing her penchant for winning to Buffalo.

“I see myself as a playmaker and someone who is committed to playing the 200-foot game,” she said. “It brings me joy to see my teammates around me succeed, and I strive to be a difference maker on and off the ice.”

Amy is the first new acquisition of the Beauts offseason following the re-signing of forward Emma Nuutinen and renegotiated second-year contracts for returning forward Summer-Rae Dobson and defender Dominique Kremer.

“Small Saves”

By
Janet
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0

Here is this weeks edition of “Small Saves.”

Enjoy!

Hershey Blanks Amerks; Rochester’s Season Over

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Janet
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BY WARREN KOZIRESKI —

Hershey scored about midway through the second period and made it stand up as Rochester suffered their third shutout of the postseason in a 1-0 loss. The Bears win the Eastern Conference series to advance to the Calder Cup Finals against the winner of Coachella vs. Milwaukee and end the Amerks unlikely playoff run. The Bears remain undefeated on the road in the postseason at 6-0.

“It’s tough when you look at the small picture especially, but you take a step back, which is kind of hard to do right now and look at everything from September training camp to where we are now and…look at the big picture and to be where we are right now is pretty special,” Amerks captain Michael Mersch said.

“It’s been a helluva ride with the team; a lot of ups and downs but at the end—maybe you don’t feel it right now—but a helluva season,” rookie forward Isak Rosen said. “Of course we need to score on that (a five-on-three power play for 1:23 in the second period)…we tried everything.”

Malcolm Subban made 18 saves in the loss as Rochester had largely the better scoring chances but could not convert.

This marked the first time Rochester has played a game in the month of June since advancing to the Calder Cup Finals in 2000 against Hartford.

“It took time for us to be who we became, and they had to fight really hard to become a team that played the right way and loved playing for each other…but we grew to that,” Rochester head coach Seth Appert said.

“(Being one of) the last four teams playing in this league was not preordained for this group. Last year it had been 20 years since (Rochester) had won a playoff series and now we’ve won four in two years and…there’s going to be a North Division banner in this rink for the first time in two decades.

“It’s not the banner we wanted, but it’s still a banner that we’ll be damn proud of.”

Harder Named Colgate’s Donald F. Vaughan Men’s Hockey Coach

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Janet
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Mike Harder ’97 was named the Donald F. Vaughan Head Men’s Hockey Coach in June 2023. 

Harder makes his return to Colgate after spending six years (2013-2019) as an assistant coach for his alma mater. As a coach for the Raiders, he compiled 89 wins with a pair of ECAC Championship appearances and an NCAA tournament bid. Harder will be formally introduced during a press conference Friday, June 9, at 11 a.m. 

Decorated Playing Career
Harder, Colgate’s all-time leading scorer, produced 214 points during his collegiate career. He graduated ranked fourth all-time in goals scored with 88 and second in assists for 126 points. He went on to earn 1997 All-America honors and was a Hobey Baker finalist. As one of the Raiders’ greatest to lace up the skates, Harder was elected to the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008.

One of 13 nominees for the The Hockey Humanitarian Award, Harder led the team in scoring for four straight seasons. A two-time All-ECAC All-Star, he won the Steve Riggs Memorial Award twice for gentlemanly play and a high standard of ability; the Rob Ries Memorial Award once for a player who provides inspiration and leadership; ECAC Merit Medal; and four times was named Colgate’s Best Offensive Player. He was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team in his first season when he led the nation with six shorthanded goals, and Colgate in scoring with 46 points. 

Professional Hockey Experience
After earning his degree in international relations, Harder played 13 seasons professionally across North America and Europe. Included were stops in the American Hockey League (AHL) along with European League ventures in Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Italy. He helped Hartford claim the AHL’s Calder Cup in 2000, and was a key figure in a 2004 championship in the German Elite League of Deutsch Eishockey Liga.

Colgate Coaching Career
Harder began his coaching career at Colgate in 2013-14 as a volunteer assistant. He played a key role in the program’s breakout campaign that saw the Raiders ranked 13th nationally in both major polls after advancing to the NCAA tournament as an at-large selection. 

After being promoted to assistant coach in July 2014, Harder was instrumental in guiding the Raiders to a 22-12-4 overall mark and an appearance in the title game of the ECAC Hockey Championship for the second consecutive season. 

During his time in Hamilton, Harder served five years as the director of recruiting. His first recruiting class led the nation in points and included a Hobey Baker finalist. 

Leader, Mentor, Entrepreneur
As the founder and hockey director of Hockey Club Reno Ice, Harder spent the last four years building a program and community from the ground up. He spearheaded the Reno Hockey Academy, a membership-based skills program. Today, the program has over 500 youth players of all age levels, a para ice hockey team, and a semi-pro team. 

Looking Ahead
Harder returns to Hamilton as the 15th head men’s hockey coach in program history. He takes over a program coming off its first ECAC Hockey Championship since 1990 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. 

The 2022-23 Raiders ranked No. 18 in the final USCHO poll of the season under Don Vaughan, who recently announced his retirement being the third longest tenured coach in Division I. In 30 years behind the bench, Vaughan has the most wins in program history (470).

Amerks Mourn The Loss of American Hockey League Hall of Famer Willie Marshall

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Janet
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Three-time Calder Cup winner played two seasons with Amerks over illustrious 20-year playing career

(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans join the American Hockey League and the rest of the hockey community in mourning the loss of AHL Hall of Famer Willie Marshall. He was 91.

“The Rochester Americans are deeply saddened by Willie’s passing,” said Amerks Hall of Famer Jody Gage, who alongside Marshall was a charter member of the AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2006. “Willie is and remains one of the most iconic figures in our league, and in the game of hockey, and he will be missed greatly. The entire Amerks organization extends its condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

A three-time Calder Cup winner, Marshall played parts of two seasons with the Amerks during an illustrious 20-year playing career that saw him become the most prolific scorer in American Hockey League history.

After breaking into the league with the Pittsburgh Hornets as a rookie in 1952, it wasn’t until midway through the 1958-59 campaign that Marshall would join the Amerks after playing half the season with the Hershey Bears. The year prior, Marshall won the scoring title after a career-best 104-point season and leading the Bears to the Calder Cup in 1958.

He would finish the 1958-59 season with 23 points (7+16) in 19 games before returning to the Bears for four more seasons, where he would again lead Hershey to the Calder Cup in 1959, his third in five years.

A 20-goal scorer in each of his first 12 AHL seasons, Marshall returned to Rochester for the 1971-72 season, his record-tying 20th in the AHL, and retired as the league’s all-time leader in gamed played (1,205), goals (523), assists 852) and points (1,375) as well as hat trick (25).

Additionally, the five-time AHL All-Star ranks second in league history with 119 career playoff points over 112 postseason games.

In 2004, the American Hockey League honored its career scoring leader with the creation of the Willie Marshall Award, which is now presented annually to the AHL player who scores the most goals each season. And in 2006, Marshall was one of seven members of the inaugural class of inductees into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

“At a time when there were only six teams in the National Hockey League, Willie Marshall was one of the greatest players not just in the AHL but in the entire sport of hockey,” said AHL President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson. “His contributions helped shape the AHL’s tradition of excellence that continues to this day. But more importantly, Willie was a devoted family man of character and faith; our deepest condolences go out to his son Will; his daughters Ann, Jane and Joanne; and his entire family.”

Marshall will be remembered with a moment of silence tonight before Hershey and Rochester, two of his former teams, meet in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Rochester, N.Y.

Nuutinen To Return To The Beauts

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Janet
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BUFFALO – Two-time Olympian Emma Nuutinen is returning to the Buffalo Beauts for a second season. The 26-year-old winger made her North American professional debut with the team during the past 2022-23 Premier Hockey Federation campaign. Nuutinen has inked a one-year deal with Buffalo with intentions of being an even more impactful player. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

“I enjoyed my first season with the Beauts and I believe in this program,” said Nuutinen. “I’m beyond excited to be back in Buffalo for another year!”

Nuutinen tallied four goals, six assists and 10 points during her first season as a Beaut while playing in all 24 of the club’s regular season games. Her finest performance came during a 4-2 road victory on February 18 against the Minnesota Whitecaps when she scored a pair of goals, including the game- winner on the power play. Nuutinen finished second on the team for shots on goal with 56 and competed for PHF Team World at the 2023 All-Star Showcase.

“I think last season we saw glimpses of Emma’s brilliance,” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “She was on the mend from a knee injury and didn’t really have the same timetable as everyone else to be at peak performance last season. The best is yet to come. Physically, Emma is one of the most powerful players

I have ever worked with. I call her ‘Mestari’ which is the Finnish word for ‘the Champ’. Noora Räty told me last year that this is what the Finnish National Team players have always called Emma, so I followed suit – it’s definitely a word that properly defines Emma!”

The 5-foot-10 native of Vantaa, Finland is an Olympic bronze medalist for Team Finland from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. She also won a silver medal and two bronze medals in competition at IIHF Women’s World Championships. Nuutinen is a 7-time member of the Finnish Women’s National Team and is 2-1-3 for scoring in 12 Olympic contests between the 2014 Sochi Games and the 2018 tournament.

Collegiately, Nuutinen played NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of North Dakota and Mercyhurst University. She scored 10 goals, nine assists, and 19 points in 34 games at North Dakota as a freshman before playing her final three NCAA seasons for Mercyhurst. Nuutinen’s top season offensively came as a senior when she tallied 21 goals, 19 assists, and 40 points in 34 games for the Lakers. In total, Nuutinen went 55-45-100 for scoring in 121 career NCAA games. She ranks fourth all- time in scoring by a Finnish player in NCAA history.

“PHF fans can expect to see a definitely more confident Emma on the ice this coming season,” said Nuutinen.

The re-signing of Nuutinen follows this week’s announcement of negotiated second-year contracts for returning forward Summer-Rae Dobson and defender Dominique Kremer as the Beauts continue roster building for the 2023-24 PHF season.

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