SUNYAC has seen its own fair share of changes over the past couple of seasons. First, Brockport and Geneseo departed to join the ranks of the UCHC. Two familiar rivals in Oswego and Plattsburgh battled for the conference title with the Lakers earning their fist SUNYAC title in many years. Now this season, the league has taken another step in becoming one of the toughest top to bottom with the additions of three-time national champions Hobart and Skidmore joining after the dissolving of the NEHC. Nothing like making your conference better and everyone’s schedule more difficult.
The Favorite
Hobart is on a roll like very few teams in the history of D-III hockey have ever been (maybe the old Middlebury teams in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s where the Panthers won five and then three successive national titles). The Statesmen are deep everywhere and return depth and skill led by forward Tanner Daniels, defenseman Bauer Morrissey and the best goaltending tandem in D-III with Mavrick Goyer and Damon Beaver. Add-in a dynamic transfer in Arvega Hovsepyan from Salve Regina and the talent is there to challenge for more end of season hardware.
The Dark Horse
Oswego saw their young roster develop last season and took that talent to the SUNYAC title and an NCAA appearance where they lost in the first round to Trine. The talented group of now sophomores is led by forward Josh Burke who led the team in points while Brandon Cohen scored nearly twenty goals to pace the offense. If the defense led by Travis Baker and the goaltending of senior Brandon Millburg stay solid, the Lakers will be in contention to repeat.
Players to watch
Buffalo State: Vadim Kiriakov – forward; Marcus Cumberworth – goaltender
Canton: Evan Pringle – forward; Reilly McKinnon – forward
Cortland: Ronan Mobley – goaltender; Colby Seitz – forward
Fredonia: Antoine St Onge – forward; Gavin Bloder – forward
Hobart: Tanner Daniels – forward; Damon Beaver – goaltender
Morrisville: Maxim Maziarchuk – forward; Tyler Zembrzycki – forward
Oswego: Josh Burke – forward; Brandon Cohen – forward
Plattsburgh: Vlad Pshenichnikov – forward; Spencer Bellina – defense
Potsdam: Mike Grace – coach; Mason Hoehn – forward
Skidmore: Cooper Rice – forward; Ryan Waltman – forward
USCHO predicted finish
- Hobart
- Oswego
- Plattsburgh
- Cortland
- Skidmore
- Buffalo State
- Potsdam
- Fredonia
- Morrisville
- Canton
Hobart opens their campaign with a home-and-home series against long-time rival Elmira before playing another UCHC stalwart the following weekend with a two-game series against Utica. No question the schedule makers have given us great hockey matchups from the drop of the first puck this season.