Optimism runs amok at the beginning of every hockey season, with each team insisting that its conference is wide-open and that a league title is there for the taking. This time, they mean it. Really. It’s been a while – four years, to be precise – since anyone other than Oswego has captured the SUNYAC … Read more
Hockey players will eagerly go the extra mile to get ahead. In Todd Graham’s case, those miles have often come about 10,000 at a time while wedged for hours and hours in the seat of an airplane. Then again, when you’re large, Australian, and itching to play hockey, you’ll range as far afield as you … Read more
Competion. That’s the SUNYAC calling card. Or at least that is the feeling held throughout the league at dawning of the new season. While it’s true that Oswego and Plattsburgh — who between them have won every SUNYAC regular season title since 1998 — remain the teams to be in the nine-team loop, there are … Read more
Once again, a SUNYAC team made it to the Division III national championship weekend. Once again, it was Oswego, but once again, they fell in the semifinal round. The season also saw Geneseo and Buffalo State recover very nicely from NCAA sanctions, Plattsburgh stumble only to come back and win the SUNYAC championship, Fredonia make … Read more
It was certainly a trying year for Geneseo last season when the NCAA sanctions were handed down. Yet, despite that distraction, the Ice Knights finished very strong. “I used the analogy last year that I wanted us to perform like a good stock,” Geneseo coach Chris Schultz said. “We got off to a rough start … Read more
The NCAA men’s and women’s ice hockey rules committee gets this chance only once every two years, so there’s a little more emphasis to get it right. In the next month, leading up to and through the committee’s meeting June 8-11 in Indianapolis, the dialogue about potential rules changes will lead to debate and then … Read more
The NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions announced sanctions, effective immediately, against Geneseo and Buffalo State that will keep the schools out of the postseason this season. Though the sanctions are imposed on the entire athletic program, they primarily affect ice hockey. According to the NCAA, Geneseo and Buffalo State awarded grants almost exclusively to … Read more
What happens when you have three different coaches in your four-year career? Just two championships and 167 points. That’s the story of Geneseo’s Mitch Stephens, which Russell Jaslow brings us, letting us know that change is okay.
There is no truth to the rumor that Geneseo has etched on their SUNYAC championship trophies, “Help Wanted — Coach Needed.” But, no one would blame them if they did. For the second consecutive year, Geneseo was looking for a new coach after they won the league title. Once again, the head coach left to … Read more
Geneseo has chosen Chris Schultz as head men’s ice hockey coach. Schultz replaces Jason Lammers, who accepted a position as an assistant coach for Ohio State. Lammers left after one season behind the bench for Geneseo, guiding the Ice Knights to their second straight SUNYAC title. SCHULTZ A native of Rochester, N.Y., Schultz was the … Read more
Jason Lammers has been named an assistant coach for the Ohio State men’s hockey team, effective Aug. 1, head coach John Markell announced Monday. Lammers spent last season as the head coach at SUNY Geneseo, his alma mater, where he led the Knights to the NCAA Division III tournament. “We’re tremendously excited to add a … Read more
Questions Unanswered A few weeks ago, I filed what I expected to me be my last column for 2005-6. I already said my thank you and farewells. However, two key items have developed since then which I felt was necessary to talk about now instead of waiting six months. Unfortunately, there are two questions that … Read more
This intriguing matchup features a tale of two coaches-a first-year coach who guided his team to a repeat SUNYAC title, and a long-time mentor whose team captured its seventh title under his guidance, but is making its first NCAA appearance. UMass-Dartmouth is in the postseason for the 22nd time under John Rolli, but this is … Read more
All Rookie Team and Defensive Awards For years, the SUNYAC has issued first and second All SUNYAC teams as well as Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year awards. After a suggestion from the coaches, it was felt that there was also a need to name an All Rookie … Read more
The Cat Can’t Catch The Bird The Buffalo State Bengals great turnaround season came to an end as they were not able to keep up with the Plattsburgh Cardinals. The first game was as most expected, a tight, hard fought contest with the teams trading goals all the way till the third period. Ben Kemp … Read more
It’s Decided … For Now One of the wildest seasons in SUNYAC history is finally decided, with some positions coming right down to overtime. When all was said and done, the top four were just like last year with Oswego taking the regular season title followed by Geneseo, Fredonia, and Plattsburgh. The Lakers didn’t make … Read more
A Grand Farewell What better way for Oswego to say goodbye to the Romney Field House than with an emotional roller coaster shootout 7-6 victory over archrival Plattsburgh and then blowing out Potsdam, 9-3, to wrap up the sold out weekend. However, it wasn’t easy. Despite the bravado Oswego coach Ed Gosek put on during … Read more
Crank Up The Stress “For all the coaches, I’m sure it’s stressful,” Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said. I have always written that I believe the SUNYAC playoff system is the best in all of college hockey because it allows for every team-no matter what position they are in-to fight for a spot in the standings … Read more
Bizarro World Last week I mentioned there was perfect symmetry for the start of the second half of conference play as the travel partners squared off coincidentally giving us the match ups of 1st vs. 8th, 2nd vs. 7th, and so on. With that symmetry, one would have expected some of the outcomes to be … Read more
Strong Performances There were some strong performances by SUNYAC teams in their final week of nonconference play. Topping the list was Oswego’s 4-2 triumph over Division I RIT. Oswego used forechecking, coupled with a strong game in net by Ryan Scott, who made 30 saves to beat their rivals despite being outshot 32-23 in front … Read more