Buffalo Stars to operate Full Season U16 Team
The Buffalo Stars Juniors will operate a Full Season U16 team for the 2012-2013 season that will participate in the National Junior Prospects Hockey League. The team will be open to Tier 1 caliber players in the 1996 and 1997 birth year.
The National Junior Prospects Hockey League is a showcase hockey league which was created and designed by coaches in order to develop and promote hockey players who are committed to enhancing their skills in preparation for the next level of hockey. The NJPHL will showcase these players on their member teams at five showcase events across the United States in front of all levels of Prep School, Junior A, and NCAA Collegiate hockey programs.
The NJPHL consists of Tier 1 teams in 3 divisions: U18, U16, and U14 with an area that extends from Tampa, Fl to Wenatchee, WA to Boston, MA and everywhere in between.
The Buffalo Stars in our inaugural year will participate in the U16 Division. This past season the U16 division consisted of the following teams:
Ft Wayne Komets; Lake Erie Warriors; Naperville Sabres; Phoenix Firebirds; Pittsburgh Junior Penguins; Pittsburgh Predators; Pittsburgh Viper Stars; PK Warriors; Richmond Generals; Tampa Bay Lightning and Wenatchee Junior Wild.
In addition to the league schedule, the Stars U16 will participate in 3-4 additional Midget Showcase events on the East Coast and an additional 20-24 home and home games with league and non league teams. The Stars anticipate a schedule of 54-60 games.
“The Buffalo Stars U16 team will be a feeder for our Buffalo Stars Junior Program. This will be an additional full season opportunity for our 15-16 year old player who wishes to pursue hockey outside of the established split-season culture that dominates the WNY area” said Buffalo Stars President Pete Preteroti. “The team will operate in conjunction with our Junior teams and will operate just like the Junior teams do”.
The team will begin an intense 3 week Training Camp in August at Holiday Twin Rinks. Camp will conclude with a weekend of training at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. The U16 team will mirror the Buffalo Stars Junior Training Camp and will be involved in some joint training sessions with them.
The Buffalo Stars will conduct tryouts for this team at Holiday Twin Rinks on:
Monday, April 2nd: 9:15-10:45pm
Tuesday, April 3rd: 9:15-10:15pm
The Buffalo Stars will also conduct preliminary Junior Tryouts during these times.
Additional details will be announced over the next 10 days.
For more information about the Buffalo Stars contact Pete Preteroti at 716-685-1122 or SportsNiag@aol.com or call Mike Flatley at 716-480-9209 or goalie1039@roadrunner.com
Visit the Buffalo Stars on line at: www.buffalostars.com
What is Junior Hockey?
by Peter Preteroti
This is the first in a series of articles about Junior Hockey in New York State. This month we will examine what Junior hockey is and what teams play within the boundaries of New York.
The goals of junior hockey are to develop and promote to a higher level, highly skilled and motivated players who are 15-20 years of age.
The program is available to high school students and graduates who seek a greater or different challenge than that which might be available through their prep school team, high school varsity or club team or area 18 & under teams. The principal purpose of this development program is to prepare the athlete for career advancement either in a collegiate program or a professional opportunity.
Junior hockey leagues/teams are certified, annually, by the USA Hockey Junior Council, in the following classifications: Tier I; Tier II and Tier III. There are also Junior programs that do not register with USA Hockey. For the purpose of our article, we will focus on the USA Hockey member teams.
Tier I is the highest amateur level in USA Hockey and those players have all expenses covered for them. This includes all ice fees, equipment, and room and board expenses. These teams are usually for profit and they derive most of their income from paid gate and marketing agreements. These teams are usually in small city markets where the Junior team is the “big” game in town.
Tier II is similar with the only exception being that the player is responsible for his own room and board. All other expenses are covered by the team. Once again these teams generate most of their income from gate and marketing fees.
Tier III is tuition based hockey. Players pay to play hockey and are responsible for all cost and expense associated with the team. Rates to play can range from 5k to 9k depending on where the team is located. In the larger markets in the east, ice costs drive the price up as ice costs per hour can vary between $190 and $450 per hour.
The goals of Junior hockey include:
- Skill Development – To provide talented young players with the opportunity to develop in an organized, structured, competitive and supervised environment.
- Quality Coaching – To provide considerable training time, quality coaching instruction and concerned oversight.
- Social Maturity – To provide players with a healthy, constructive environment in which to develop socially.
- Educational Advancement – To provide assistance and opportunities for the accomplishment of the participant’s educational goals.
- Recruiting Exposure – To provide players with exposure to collegiate and professional scouts and recruiters.
- Advanced Competition – To provide players with exposure to national and international competition.
- Time Management – Players need to learn how to manage their time by balancing work, school and the high demands of his hockey team, especially while on the road.
- Protection of Amateur Status – To protect, most importantly, the amateur status of all participants under the rules and guidelines established by the International Ice Hockey Federation, USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, the NCAA, the NAIA and the National Federation of High Schools.
New York State has the largest number of USA Hockey registered Junior teams within their boundaries. These teams include:
(West): Buffalo Junior Sabres OPJHL; Buffalo Blades GOJHL; Buffalo Stars Empire; Buffalo Stars ESHL; Rochester Maksymum EJHL; Rochester Maksymum Empire
(Central & North): Syracuse Empire; Adirondack Empire
(East): Applecore EJHL; Applecore Empire; Applecore ESHL; Brewster Empire; Brewster ESHL; Suffolk MET; Suffolk ESHL; Long Island Royals MET; NY Saints MET; NY Bobcats AJ; Metro Moose MET
Next month we will examine some of the challenges being faced by Junior programs and the changing face of Junior Hockey in the Un
RIT Announces 2012-13 Men’s Hockey Schedule
ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men’s hockey team unveiled its 2012-13 schedule on Tuesday. The Tigers, now entering their eighth season at the Division I level, will play 34 regular season games and one exhibition contest. RIT, just two years removed from a Frozen Four Appearance in 2010, will play 14 regular season home games at Ritter Arena on the campus of RIT and one regular season contest at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester.
The Tigers will play Division I newcomer Penn State University at Blue Cross Arena during Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend on Saturday, October 20 at 7:05 p.m. It is the fourth straight year RIT will be home during its annual homecoming weekend. RIT has drawn sellout crowds of 10,556 fans during the last two Brick City Weekends against UMass Lowell and St. Lawrence.
On Saturday, October 6, RIT hosts Ottawa University of Ontario in an exhibition contest at 7:05 p.m.
From there, RIT heads on the road to play two games at historic Yost Arena against perennial power University of Michigan on Oct, 11-12. It will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. Michigan has won nine NCAA National Championships and has a streak of 22 straight NCAA Tournament berths.
In addition to the two road games at Michigan, RIT plays a single non-conference road game at Colgate on Oct. 26, then travels north to play St. Lawrence for a pair of contests to ring in 2013 on Jan. 4-5. RIT’s lone home contest at Ritter Arena against a non-conference foe will be on Friday, Nov. 23 against Clarkson. Four of RIT’s seven non-conference games are against ECAC opponents.
“It will be another exciting season of hockey as we have challenged ourselves with another difficult schedule,” said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. “Playing Michigan is always a difficult task but playing them at Yost (Arena) makes it that much more challenging. We are again excited to be playing at Blue Cross Arena where we will welcome Penn State to Division I hockey. We have sold out two years in a row and next year’s ticket will be even more difficult to get after beating St Lawrence last year in what might have been one of the most exciting games in our Division I history.”
The Tigers will play Atlantic Hockey Association western pod foes Air Force, Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara, and Robert Morris three times, and play two games apiece against eastern teams American International, Army, Bentley, Connecticut, Holy Cross, and Sacred Heart. In all, 27 of RIT’s 34 games will be against Atlantic Hockey Association opponents.
RIT opens AHA regular season play with a home contest against rival Robert Morris on October 25 at Ritter Arena, starting at 7:05 p.m. The Tigers play two contests at Robert Morris on Feb. 8-9.
RIT plays a Sunday night game at Air Force, the two-time defending Atlantic Hockey Champions on Dec. 2 at 8:05 p.m. The Falcons then make the trek to play two games at Ritter Arena on Feb. 22-23. The Tigers play rival Canisius at home on Nov. 10, then end the regular season with a home-and home with Golden Griffins, home on March 1 and in Buffalo on March 2. The Tigers play single home games against Mercyhurst (Nov. 9), and Niagara (Jan. 25), then go on the road to play each squad twice more.
RIT plays its final 16 games against conference foes. The Tigers host AHA eastern pod competitors Sacred Heart on Dec. 7-8, Bentley on Jan. 11-12, and Connecticut on Feb. 1-2. RIT then travels to play two games at American International, Holy Cross, and Army.
The Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs begin with a best-of-three series for the fifth through twelfth place finishers from March 8-10. The top four teams get a first round bye. Quarterfinal action will be held at the top-four sites from March 15-17. The Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament Semifinals and Championship will be held on March 22-23 at the Blue Cross Arena for the seventh straight season.
RIT will look to earn its second berth in the NCAA Tournament as a Division I program. The 2013 NCAA Division I Tournament begins on March 29, and ends with the Frozen Four on April 11 and April 13 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.
“These games will all prepare us for another exciting and difficult league schedule as we hope to get back to the NCAA’s this year,” said Wilson, now entering his 14th season behind the bench at RIT. “We look forward to this year’s challenges and hope to see everyone at our games.”
Last season, RIT finished with a 20-13-6 record and advanced to the AHA Championship game for the third straight season. RIT has recorded five straight AHA Semifinals berths and is 130-72-27 since the start of the 2006-07 season.
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CORNELL VIA FAIRPORT: COLE BARDREAU
Cornell freshman forward Cole Bardreau missed one game in this—his first season of collegiate hockey. That wouldn’t be news except for the fact that he played for several weeks with a broken bone…in his foot.
The 5’10” 185 lb. center finished his first collegiate season with four goals and four assists. Included were two power play goals and a clutch game-winner in overtime on home ice against Dartmouth January 20th.
“I knew I always wanted to go Ivy (League), so it was between Cornell, Harvard and Yale,” said Bardreau. “My first college game was Cornell-Harvard here which was an unbelievable experience, but I came for a visit and fell in love with the atmosphere.
“It’s one of a kind that set the standard and the education and it was close to home, so it is a perfect mix. The bad news is I only get two tickets every game and all my grandparents, aunts and uncles want to come. It’s been a great experience so far.”
The website “Bluechip Bulletin” in July described the soon-to-be 19 year old as “a smallish, pesky energy line guy with a stout build. A streaky offensive contributor, Bardreau is never going to lead your team in scoring. Or if he is, you’re in trouble. What he is going to do though is draw penalties, work his tail off, and be the kind of player you want to have in the dressing room.”
“That’s probably the best part of my game. I’ve always been a little agitator guy out there stirring things up. I try to get guys off their game whenever I can. I’m not the biggest guy which tends to bother them more.”
“I’m used to a bigger guy clearing the way for me on my line, but I’m getting used to playing with smaller guys. It’s a little tougher in the corners getting beat up, but I’m enjoying playing with the skill guys.”
Previous to this season, Bardreau played two seasons of high school hockey at Fairport before spending the 2010-11 season with the United States National Team Development Program playing international competitions in addition to a handful of games in the USHL. For the 2010-11 season, he appeared in 60 games and scored 11 goals and had 15 assists for 26 points, ranking him eighth on the team.
He was also a member of the U.S. team that captured the gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship in April 2011 in Germany. He also represented the United States at the 2010 U-17 World Hockey Challenge.
And as for the broken foot…
“I really didn’t notice for the first week and I had a rough beginning of the season with mono, but now I think I’m getting back to full strength. Just freewheeling and getting back out there again.”
Bardreau won a Section V hockey title at Fairport before departing for the USDTP and his former coach asked him to write an inspirational speech before their title game against Pittsford this past February.
While the speech didn’t work (Pittsford defeated Fairport for the championship), he still has found memories of his high school playing days.
“The school spirit here at Cornell is on another level, but the high school stage with a couple thousand people and all your buddies in the crowd going nuts was an unbelievable experience.
“Stepping stones along the way…” *
WHEATFIELD BLADES CAP OFF FAIRY TALE SEASON WITH CHAMPIONSHIP
W
heatfield was well represented and has good reason to be proud of its Wheatfield Blades Squirt Mixed AA hockey team. The team is made up of seventeen local youngsters who gave it their all.
On March 31, 2012 the Wheatfield Blades Squirt Mixed AA team beat the Hamburg Hawks team with a final score of 4-3 for the WNY AHL (Western New York American Hockey League) championship. This caps off a record season for Wheatfield which only had two losses in regular league play as well as capturing the Silver medal in the coveted Revolution International tournament in Wilkes Barre, PA in February 2012. The tournament is one of the most prestigious youth hockey tournaments in North America featuring the top teams across the world. Over 100 teams traveled to Scranton in February for four days of exciting hockey competition. The Wheatfield Blades impressively skated their way into the finals against the Scranton Knights where they secured a Silver medal with outstanding performances.
The excitement continued at the Championship game and was a well fought battle that saw Hamburg winning 0-1 at the first period. Both Hamburg and Wheatfield cored in the second to start the third period 2-1. Through persistence and determination Wheatfield scored 3 unanswered goals in the beginning the third period. In major league fashion,
Chuckie Schmidt scored the crucial game winning goal to win the championship for the Wheatfield Blades.
The other three Wheatfield goals were scored by Brenden Dewey, Luke Wilson and Zach Porter. Assisting the scoring efforts were Chuckie Schmidl, Adam Franasiak and Colton Jankowski.
Coach Ken Franasiak said “We are very, very proud of our boys. We had a fabulous season in both league & non-league play. To see what these remarkable eight, nine and ten year old young men can do is a true testament to their hard work and dedication. The entire coaching staff is extremely proud as well as the entire organization. To have a record in our division with only two losses in league play the entire season is really only half the story. These boys have amazing skills and heart. Their hard work and drive made it a real pleasure watch and we’re proud to be part of such an exciting season.”#
(Submitted by Wheatfield Blades Hockey)
New Yorker’s Tapped for National Camp
New York State will be well-represented at the 2012 National Development Camp to be held in Minnesota in July.
Named to the camp were:
Girls Select 14:
Defense: Brittani Mingoia, Ronkonkoma; Claire Werynski, Williamsville; Jordan Emerson, Potsdam
Forward: Abby Cleary, Buffalo; Michele Robillard, Orchard Park; Victoria Allard, Springville; Lila Toczek, North Tonawanda.
Goalie: Bailey Lewczyk, Buffalo.
Abby Cleary played U14 last year and will again in 2012-13. She has been with the Bisons since she was 5 years old. She also plays with the Selects Hockey. Abby is a center and was the team’s leading scorer for the past five years. She will attend Nichols School as a freshman in Fall 2013. Abby is the daughter of John, Maureen and has a brother Jack and sister, Ellie. Ellie will also play on the U14 team this coming season.
Victoria Allard plays for the Hamburg Hawks.
Girls Select 15:
Defense: Oliva Zafuto, Niagara Falls; Kylie McCloskey, Manorville; Caroline Ross, Brockport
Forward: Elizabeth Gerace, Jamestown; Catherine Crawley, Washingtonville; Kalie Grant, Potsdam; Cailey Hutchison, Hicksville.
Goalie: Katharyn Snyder, Lake Clear
Oliva Zafuto played with the Bisons for the past two years on the U14 team and will advance to the U16 team in Fall 2012. Prior to the Bisons she was a member of the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles and played varsity at Nichols School, Buffalo, this past season, where she is a sophmore. Oliva is a offensive minded defenseman. Oliva was selected for the National Camp in her first year of eligibility last year. She is the daughter of Steve and Marie and has a brother, Steven.
Caroline Ross came to the Bisons this past season from the Rochester Edge. She is currently in the 14U but will go to 16U next season. Caroline will be attending the NAHA in the fall. She attends Aquinas High School in Rochester and is the daughter of Ray and Terri. Caroline is described as a very intelligent, stay-at-home defenseman. This is her second trip to the National Camp.
Girls Select 16:
Defense: Toni Ann Miano, Bronx; Hannah Sorkin, Melville; Caroline Buckholtz, Greenlawn; Brandy Streeter, Morrisville; Taylar Cianfarano, Oswego; Madison Sansone, East Amherst; Annika Zalewski, New Hartford
Goalie: Julianna Iafallo, Eden
Girls Select 17:
Defense: Jennifer Ryan, Victor
Forward: Madeline Elia, Lewiston, Margret Troiano Ogdensburg.
We wish these young and talented players all the best and encourage them to have a great time!
Chazy Girls Hockey Excels in 2011-12
Since the 2006-07 season the ladies of Chazy Youth had six excellent chances to win a state title at either the U14 level of in the Upstate New York Girls High School League. They fell short each time.
The latest heartbreak was a tough 2-1 loss to Potsdam in the high school championship on home ice on Feb. 11.
Despite the pain and frustration, the girls plowed on in their U19 season.
To their delight, the Flyers finally broke the ice by winning the state championship for U19s in Potsdam with a 2 to 1 win over the Ithaca Stars.
The win propelled the Flyers into the USA Hockey Tier II National Championships in Dallas, Texas March 28 to April 1.
“It was nice to finally win one and get that monkey off our backs,” Head Coach Ray Guay said.
“The girls really deserved it.”
In Texas, the girls from the tiny club in Northern New York more than held their own.
They lost to eventual finalish Colorado Elite Prep in a shootout after a 2 to 2 tie in the opening game. Amanda Peterson and Jess Huber tallied goals for the Flyers with Sara LoTemplio getting two assists.
Christina Emery had a strong game in net for Chazy.
In their next match, the Flyers dominated Team Alaska, a semi-finalist in a 4 to 1 win. Peterson, who was playing ill, Huber, LoTemplio and Emily Raville all had goals.
In the final game of the round-robin portion of the tournament, Chazy lost to the Steel City Selects of Pittsburgh despite holding a commanding 38-19 advantage in shots on goal.
The Flyers made it into the playoff round and faced defending champion and host Alliance Bulldogs.
Chazy fought hard and had several chances to score early on, but were denied.
The Bulldogs eventually pulled away for a 5 to 1 win, but with the shots on goal at 27 to 23 for Alliance, the game was much closer than the score indicated.
The Flyers wound up finishing the season as the 5th ranked team in the nation according to HockeyRankings.com.
”We really did have a memorable season, and we might not be a big money club, but our girls all have tremendous heart and we are proud of every single one of them,” Guay said.
(Submitted by Chazy Girls Hockey)
CLIFTON PARK NATIVE HELPS BC TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
By Warren Kozireski
Junior defenseman Patch Alber’s name doesn’t show up on the scoresheet very often, but he was a major cog on the blueline as Boston College defeated Ferris State 4-1 to win their fifth overall and third title in five years.
“Each one is different and every one is special; they’re seasons that will live on forever so it’s hard to pick one,” said Alber in the postgame locker room. “I think the adversity we faced this year makes this one a little bit sweeter along with a 19 game winning streak.”
Alber played for two seasons and graduated from Northwood Prep in Lake Placid after leaving the Albany region guiding them to the best record in school history (40-8-0) in 2005-06 earning New York State High School Athletic Association second-team all-star honors.
Two more seasons with the Boston Junior Bruins of the Eastern Junior League followed where he led all defensemen in scoring his final season there with 28 points and a +20 rating.
Then Boston College came calling.
“It was just an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down; it was unbelievable. They seem to like the short guys and I fit right in with that.”
As a freshman, Alber got into the line-up as a regular late playing in 17 games total, but all eight postseason contests with three points including his memorable first collegiate goal against Miami in the Frozen Four semi-final at Detroit.
Last season, he played in 34 games with a pair of goals and seven assists while ranking third among BC defenseman with a +19 rating.
This season he netted one goal with a career high 13 assists to rank third among the d-corps.
“It was an awesome year all around. We look at pressure as something that we can only put on ourselves and whatever is outside the room doesn’t really matter. I was able to play more of a role with this year’s team, but it’s always awesome to win.”
WNY Girls Varsity 2nd Season a Success
By Janet Schultz
The second season of the WNY Girl’s Varsity Ice Hockey Federation season ended with as much excitement as the Inaugural Season gave us.
With West Seneca and Monsignor Martin within a point or two of each other for first place all season; and Kenmore and Williamsville pushing towards the top, it was anyone’s call who would be where at playoff time.
As it turned out, West Seneca was in first and drew Lancaster, a struggling team all season, in the first round of the playoffs. West Seneca beat them soundly and moved into a playoff spot.
Monsignor Martin drew a bye for the first round.
Seeded #4, Kenmore played #5 Amherst/Sweethome KATZ and Orchard Park/Frontier faced off against Williamsville.
The result was Kenmore 4 over KATZ 0, and Orchard Park/Frontier 2, over Williamsville 1, in overtime.
West Seneca, Kenmore and Orchard Park/Frontier headed to the semi-finals along with Monsignor Martin.
In the first game Monsignor Martin got on the scoreboard first off the stick of Tara Barnhardt, assisted by Ashley Songin and Julia Duquette. That was followed by one dumped in by Duquette, assisted by Marielle Buffamonte. Kenmore answered back when Kate Miller scored, assisted by Lina Mirabella.
In the second period it was Monsignor Martin’s Rachel Lenard with the only goal of the period. She got an assist from Rachel Ziarnowski putting the score at 3-1 and taking Monsignor Martin to the Championship Game.
In the second game Orchard Park/Frontier and West Seneca played a tied game from the second period through the second overtime period. It was then that West Seneca’s Nicole Kirchberger, assisted by Jillian Schrader got one past Goaltender Danielle Glinski ending the game at 2-1.
West Seneca would now face Monsignor Martin in the League Championship.
Once again it was a game that no one could call. West Seneca got on the board first with a goal off the stick of Hailey Glynn in the first period. The scored remained 1-0 through the second but in the third MM’s Julia Duquette had the game of her life as she put in two goals that would take Monsignor Martin to the sound of the buzzer and the 2012 League Championship.
The season didn’t end there. The Section VI Championship was up for grabs.
As a private school, Monsignor Martin isn’t part of Section VI. That put Kenmore up against West Seneca.
One more time, a game that had everyone on the edge of their seat.
Kenmore and West Seneca remained scoreless going into the third period. At that point Goaltenders Lauren Pray (Kenmore) and Sydney Glynn (West Seneca) had faced 23 and 10 shots on goal.
At the 4:44 mark of the third period Lina Mirabella shot one in, assisted by Kate Miller and Kara Zelasko.
The remaining third period was a fight up and down the ice but Kenmore held on to the 1-0 score and became the 2012 Section VI Champions.
Outstanding in Goal was Pray who held back 42 shots from the West Seneca team.
This season was as exciting as the Inaugural season. No one knew what the end result would be. What it gave spectators was another year of great hockey skill, fast action and lots of entertainment.
The League is looking forward to more school’s sponsoring teams for the 2012-13 season and make the league even more competitive and exciting.*
NYSHSHCA DIVISION 1 ALL-STATE TEAMS
DIVISION 1 FIRST TEAM
F Max Kaufman (Sophomore-Pittsford)
F Shawn Lynch (Senior-West Genesee)
F John Redgate (Senior-Suffern)
F Willie Sanchez (Senior-Suffern)
D Mike Layman (Senior-Saratoga Springs)
D RJ Tinklepaugh (Senior-West Genesee)
G Tyler Stark (Senior-Suffern)
DIVISION 1 SECOND TEAM
F Ryan Chauvin (Senior-Massena)
F Nick Matos (Junior-Niagara-Wheatfield)
F Garrett Reilly (Senior-Rome Free Academy)
F Scott Sims (Senior-Williamsville North)
D Robbie Michel (Junior-West Genesee)
D Brandon Schrader (Junior-Niagara-Wheatfield)
G Ryan Bourgeios (Senior-Saratoga Springs)
DIVISION 1 HONORABLE MENTION
F Eric Hamilton (Junior-Cicero North Syracuse)
F Tyler Lashomb (Senior-Massena)
F Alex Luse (Senior-Saratoga Springs)
D Luke Bender (Senior-Massena)
D Nino DiPasquale (Senior-Pittsford)
G Jake Watson (Junior-Canton)
NYSHSHCA DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE TEAMS
DIVISION 2 FIRST TEAM
F Don Battista (Senior-Kenmore East)
F Colin Reilly (Senior-Pelham)
F Josh Sova (Senior-Oswego)
F Oakley Thomas (Senior-Salmon River)
D Matt Landis (Senior-Pelham)
D John Phillips (Senior-Oswego)
G Matt Healey (Senior-Salmon River)
DIVISION 2 SECOND TEAM
F Taylor Davis (Sophomore-Kenmore East)
F Brian Gara (Senior-Cazenovia)
F TJ Kazubski (Senior-Amherst)
F Cody Mariano (Senior-Oswego)
D Graham Lambdin (Senior-Pelham)
D Tye Terrance (Sophomore-Salmon River)
G Trevor Diamond (Senior-Skaneateles)
DIVISION 2 HONORABLE MENTION
F Tyler Kesler (Senior-Notre Dame of Batavia)
F Nick Pagliacci (Senior-Kenmore East)
D Zach Coughlin (Junior-Brockport)
D Trent Yule (Senior-Oswego)
G Dylan Niewienski (Senior-Churchville-Chili)
G Tucker Wepner (Sophomore-Williamsville East)
MSG VARSITY ALL HUDSON VALLEY TEAM
ALL HUDSON VALLEY FIRST TEAM
F Ian Palfrey (Senior-ETB)
F John Redgate (Senior-Suffern)
F Colin Reilly (Senior-Pelham)
D Matt Landis (Senior-Pelham)
D Steve Scholer (Senior-Suffern)
G Tyler Stark (Senior-Suffern)
ALL HUDSON VALLEY SECOND TEAM
F Frazier Bostwick (Junior-John Jay Cross River)
F Willie Sanchez (Senior-Suffern)
F Joe Wegwerth (Sophomore-Brewster)
D Graham Lambdin (Senior-Pelham)
D Frankie Sherding (Senior-ETB)
G Jaime Ketchabaw (Senior-Ryetown/Harrison)
2011-12 CDHSHL AWARDS
Player of the Year
Alex Luse (F)
Saratoga
Leading
Goal Scorer
Alex Luse (F) – Saratoga
All-CDHSHL Team
Joe Chiara (F) – Shaker/Colonie
Dean McMahon (F) – CBA
Sam Vincent (F) – Bethlehem
Nicholas Parente (D) – Bethlehem
Brendon Wormley (D) – Saratoga
Austin Clark (G) – BHBL/BS
CDHSHL 1st Team
Chase Godfrey (F) – BHBL/BS
Nick McKinney (F) – Glens Falls
Kevin Miles (F) – Shenendehowa
John Bassett (D) – CBA
Joe Ferraro (D) – Shenendehowa
Peter Mirazik (G) – Niskayuna/Schenectady
CDHSHL 2nd Team
John Gosstola (F) – Bethlehem
Eric Egan (F) – Shaker/Colonie
Nick Winters (F) – Saratoga
Alex Wright (D) – Glens Falls
Mike Laymen (D) – Saratoga
Ryan Bourgeois (G) – Saratoga
CDHSHL Honorable Mention
Anthony DeMarte (F) – LaSalle
Andrew Mundweiler (F) – Guilderland/Mohonasen
Evan VanEpps (F) – CBA
John Countryman (F) – Queensbury
James Rizzo (F) – Glens Falls
John Marra (D) – Niskayuna/Schenectady
Andrew Crist (D) – Queensbury
Rob Orban (G) – Queensbury
Monsignor Martin Takes 2012 WNYGVIH League Championship
I
n a very close race all season long it seemed that Monsignor Martin would face West Seneca in the finals, barring any upsets. They were within a point of each other at any given time during the season. In the Inaugural season (2010-11) Monsignor Martin lost in the championship to Williamsville. It was a very intense game through all three periods.
West Seneca got on the board in the first period and the second stayed at 1-0. Action picked up in the third period as Julia Duquette put one in a 7:19 and then again at 12:11. Monsignor Martin shot 41 pucks at West Seneca Goalie Sydney Glynn and Monsignor Martin goalie Courtney Wesolowski stopped all 18 shots by West Seneca.*
Home Grown: Matt Gilroy
by Randy Schultz
It is the Tuesday following the NHL trading deadline. In what seems like a whirlwind trip, Matt Gilroy skates onto the ice of the TD Garden in Boston.
For the third time in two seasons, the 27 year-old defenseman is wearing a different NHL Team sweater. On this night its with the Ottawa Senators, the team he had been traded to just 24-hours earlier by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
And has been the case since he was nine years old, Gilroy wears the number 97 on his back. While it may appear to be somewhat flamboyant, there is a special reason Gilroy wears that particular number.
“I wear it in honor of my late brother, Timmy,” explained Gilroy, a native of North Bellmore, NY. “He died when he was just eight years old.
“When we were kids growing up, I would wear 98 and he would wear 97. We did it to honor Wayne Gretzky.
“After he died, I decided to change my number to 97 to honor Timmy. I’ve worn it on every team I’ve every played on.”
But it really hasn’t always been that easy.
“There were some teams when I was growing up, where I couldn’t get 97,” recalled Gilroy, the won of Frank and Peggy Ann Gilroy. “Then I would wear either a nine or seven.
“Then my mom would stitch a patch with 97 on it some place inside my jersey. I’ve always had something to remember Timmy with.”
One place in particular where Gilroy almost didn’t get to wear 97 was with Boston University. Legendary head coach, Jack Parker, never allowed such high numbers to be worn by any of his players.
Well almost never.
“I guess the person who really helped me out there was assistant coach, Mike Bavis,” said Gilroy. “He understood why I wanted it (Bavis’ twin brother died on Sept. 11, 2001 on one of the two planes hijacked and flown into the World Trade Towers in New York).
Coach Bavis talked to Coach Parker. I’m not sure what he said to him, but I finally got permission to wear 97.
“I wasn’t really sure I was even going to get it because I was a walk-on with Boston. And the only spot I could fill was defense.
“I was a natural forward. But I knew my only chance on playing with BU was switching to defense.
“So I did.”
Gilroy is a 2003 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, where he captained their hockey team to two New York State championships. He was MVP in his junior year as well as earning all-league selections in his junior and senior campaigns.
Despite his great play, there were no offers on the table waiting for Gilroy when he graduated from high school. Size may have had something to do with it.
“I was around 5-7 or 5-8 at the time and weighed around 150-pounds,” remarked Gilroy, who is now 6-2 and weighs 195-pounds. “It wasn’t until after I got into college that I really had a growth spirt.”
Gilroy then opted to play junior hockey for two seasons with the Walpole Jr. Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
With still no offers on the table, it was off to Boston University. So why did Gilroy play hockey to begin with?
“I came from a large family (10 children) and my parents let us play whatever we wanted to growing up,” explained Gilroy, who also played lacrosse in high school. “My dad was a great basketball player for St. John’s and is in their Hall of Fame.
“But I think I was influenced by the success at the time I was growing up of the New York Islanders and the fact they had won four Stanley Cups before I was even born. And hockey was a sport I just seemed to excel at.”
Gilroy’s story at BU is legendary. Making the team as a walk-on, the defenseman would go on to earn All-American honors three times, win the Hobey Baker Award in his senior year and lead the Terriers to the 2009 NCAA men’s hockey championship.
For the record, Gilroy was just the third player in NCAA history to earn three All-American honors (Rick Meagher and Chris Drury being the other two) and he was just the fifth player to win the Hobey Baker and and NCAA championship in the same season.
Interestingly, Gilroy could have left BU after his junior season. Undrafted by the NHL, Gilroy was a hot free agent prospect.
“He turned down all offers and returned to BU for his senior year.
“I had dreamed of someday playing in the NHL, but I knew that a pro hockey career would not last forever,” said Gilroy. “And you only get one shot at college hockey as well for four years and I wanted the college education.
“It was a tough decision, but one I don’t regret. We won a championship and winning the Hobey was just a nice finish to my college career.”
Ironically, one of his most memorable moments in youth hockey came as a mite player.
“That year I played on a line together with my brothers, Timmy and Frank,” remembered Gilroy. “It was the only time that ever happened.”
One coach he credits with his success was the legendary Aleksey Nikiforov.
“He’s the best,” remarked Gilroy. “He first coached me when I was 10.
“He’s also coached Mike Komisarek, Eric Nystrom and Chris Higgins. He taught us to be hockey players, not positional players.
“I think that is the main reason why I was able to make the move from forward to defense when I went to Boston University.”
Gilroy signed a two-year deal with the New York Ranger as a free agent for the 2009-10 season. That was followed by another one-year contract with the Lightning for this season.
With high school hockey championships under his belt, as well as one NCAA hockey title, there must be a Stanley Cup in the future for Gilroy.
“We will have to wait and see about that,” concluded Gilroy. “I don’t know where my NHL career will take me.
“But it would be great to cap off a hockey career with the Cup. It would be a dream come true.
“We will just have to wait and see what happens.”*
