This Week in SUNYAC: Mar. 4, 2010

It Took Some Work I finally caught my breath. I think. The Oswego-Morrisville semifinal game was quite a roller coaster. From thinking you were witnessing a major upset to seeing Oswego declare enough is enough, scoring five straight goals for the comeback. “The positive is some other teams, some other years, there would have been … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Feb. 25, 2010

A First and a Return Last year, I used the above headline after the play-in round. It is just as appropriate this year. Last year, it was Brockport making it to the semifinals for the first time after their first ever playoff win and Geneseo returning. This year, Brockport is the team returning to the … Read more

SUNYAC Play-In Game Preview

It’s Playoff Time And with it comes this midweek column to preview the play-in round. There are two rematches of a different sort in the first round. A rematch from last year, and a rematch from last weekend. Potsdam and Brockport do it again one year later, once again at the Tuttle North Ice Arena … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Feb. 18, 2010

Last Weekend As we head into the last weekend of regular season play, let’s get the easy information out of the way. Oswego has clinched first place and home ice throughout the SUNYAC playoffs. “If you told me we would have been in this position at the start of the year with 12 freshmen and … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Feb. 11, 2010

Settling In With just three games left in the regular season (except for Morrisville, who has four left), teams are starting to settle into certain positions. Of course, some of this is due to two teams not eligible for postseason play. The two bye positions are virtually settled. Oswego still holds a five point lead … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Feb. 4, 2010

The Aftermath Now that a week has passed since the NCAA announcement sanctioning Buffalo State and Geneseo, the two teams involved have had some time to let it sink in. Their reactions have been admirable, and any anger they have is channeled properly. “In terms of how the team is handling it, they are remarkably … Read more

Four Repeat as Humanitarian Nominees

Four repeat nominees are among the 18 college hockey players nominated for the 2010 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. Colgate senior Ethan Cox, Denver senior Brandon Vossberg, St. Cloud State senior Caitlin Hogan and Brockport senior Todd Sheridan are on the list again; all were nominated last year as well. The other nominees: … Read more

NCAA Hits Geneseo, Buffalo State with Probation; Teams Ineligible for 2010 Postseason

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

This Week in SUNYAC: Jan. 28, 2010

As Expected “Somehow, I get the feeling after the weekend is over, the only thing that is going to change amongst this cluster is some shuffling around within.” That’s what I wrote in last week’s column. That’s exactly what happened. Sure, the spread amongst the gap widened by one point. But, that’s like saying Calista … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Jan. 21, 2010

Non-Conference With just two non-conference games remaining for SUNYAC teams (Morrisville at Manhattanville on Jan. 24 and Plattsburgh at Middlebury on Feb.2), the SUNYAC has done extremely well against other conferences. They currently hold a 6-2-3 margin over the ECAC East, 8-2-0 over the ECAC Northeast, 2-0-0 over MASCAC, 1-0-0 vs. MCHA, 4-2-1 over NESCAC, … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Jan. 14, 2010

A Win For Division III Hockey The game was finally played. Oswego vs. Adrian. East vs. West. Established program vs. upstart. Fans vs. fans. Perhaps, in the end, the result wasn’t quite what each side wanted. Oswego had an opportunity to blow out Adrian in the first period, but they missed on numerous scoring chances, … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Jan. 7, 2010

Three Tournament Champions Potsdam, Oswego, and Plattsburgh all celebrated the new year by bringing home hardware to put in their trophy cases. All three played in holiday tournaments, and all three won them. Potsdam was perhaps the most impressive of the lot because not only were they the only ones who did it on the … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Dec. 10, 2009

A Rare Feat Scoring a hat trick is an accomplishment to be proud of. Scoring a natural hat trick (three consecutive goals without anyone on either team scoring during that time span, and some would say it has to happen in the same period) is an even greater achievement, though it does rely on a … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Dec. 3, 2009

Unfamiliar Contempt Familiarity breeds contempt. Or so the saying goes. However, for Potsdam and Utica, two teams that haven’t played each other since Oct. 2005, they had no problems developing plenty of enmity toward each other. They played a two game series in central New York. A hard fought, hard hitting, highly emotional two contests. … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Nov. 19, 2009

Developing Stories The season is still quite young. However, certain stories are already starting to develop. For starters, and not surprisingly, Oswego and Plattsburgh are staking their claim as the elite teams in the SUNYAC as well as national contenders. Overall, they each have only one loss, are playing tight defense, and especially in the … Read more

This Week in D-III Women’s Hockey: November 12, 2009

Making Strides The 2009-2010 Division III women’s hockey season is well underway and we have already had a couple of major surprises to start off the season. Adrian, a team picked to make some major noise in their first season as an official member of the NCHA, is off to a 0-4 start; dropping two … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC: Nov. 12, 2009

Oswego Makes First Big Statement Oswego accomplished two tasks early in the 2009-10 season. The Lakers broke a 10 game winless streak against their arch nemesis and they became the team to beat in the SUNYAC. And they did it on the road. They accomplished these tasks be defeating Plattsburgh, 5-2, after blowing a 2-0 … Read more

This Week in SUNYAC

First Big Upset It didn’t take long for the first big upset involving a SUNYAC team. Morrisville, playing their first game of the season, stunned Elmira, playing their third game, 2-1, in the Thunderdomes. “A great win for our program,” Morrisville coach Brian Grady said. “A great confidence boost. I think it’s huge. I told … Read more

SUNYAC Season Preview

It wasn’t too long ago when the SUNYAC was stacked with talented goaltenders. Netminders like Brett Walker, Rick Scott, Craig Neilson, Sean Sheehan, Matt Meacham, Ryan Venturelli, Tyson Gajda, Greg Van’t Hof, and Ben Binga. Now, there are a plethora of questions concerning goaltending for many teams. Plattsburgh lost Bryan Hince to the pros. Oswego … Read more

Western New England Tabs Fredonia Assistant Heffernan

Western New England has named Fredonia assistant Greg Heffernan as its new head coach. He replaces Chris Bernard, who left for the top job at Potsdam. “We’re very excited to have Greg on our staff,” Western New England athletic director Mike Theulen said in a news release. “He has the experience necessary to take our … Read more