The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team looks to rebound this year after a difficult 2014-15 campaign that saw it miss the postseason for the first time in four years. Last season, the Bears posted a 9-15-1 mark (5-12-1 ECAC West) for a seventh place finish in the ECAC West.
However, Potsdam returns nearly everyone after graduating only one player. Izzy Fayerman served as the Bears captain for three seasons and ranks fourth on the program’s all-time scoring list with 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points.
“Izzy will be missed both on and off the ice as she provided great leadership not only last year as captain, but her entire career,” said Bears ninth-year head coach Jay Green.
Seniors Sally Mooney (Columbus, Ohio/Wyoming Seminary) and Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary) will serve as the Bears’ captains this season, while fellow senior Abby Tardelli (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) and junior Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss Prep) will be assistant captains.
Potsdam puts a veteran team on the ice in 2015-16. Twelve of the 20 players on the roster are upperclassmen. The entire squad is balanced with six seniors, six juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen.
FORWARD
Seniors Mooney, Alison Greene (Massena, N.Y./Norwich University) and junior two-time All-ECAC West selection Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge) will lead the Bears offensively. After missing over half the season to injury as a sophomore, Mooney was healthy again last year. She played in all 25 games and posted five goals and four assists for nine points. Greene joined Potsdam during the second semester last season and still managed to finish third on the team in scoring with six goals and six assists for 12 points. A year removed from her USCHO.com and ECAC West Rookie of the Year season, Ott led the Bears in scoring again with 10 goals and 12 assists. She is already sixth on the program’s all-time scoring list with 32 goals and 26 assists for 58 points.
Juniors Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) and Roberta Beatty (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan/Ontario Hockey Academy) are back after strong seasons. Peterson scored three goals and assisted on six for nine points and Beatty contributed a goal and three assists for four points.
Three sophomores return to bolster Potsdam’s offense. Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators) had a strong freshman campaign with eight points on four goals and four assists, while playing in 23 games. Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) scored four goals and two-sport athlete Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) had two goals and two assists.
Three newcomers will suite up for the Bears at forward. Sophomore Waddington native Taylor Marcellus (Waddingon, N.Y./Ontario Hockey Academy) joins freshmen Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) and Jenna Patterson (Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman Wildats).
“All are expected to make contributions as first year players,” Green said. “The freshmen forwards have skill sets that should provide needed offensive support for our returning lineup. They all have the competitiveness and attributes we hope will develop and be significant contributors in the years ahead.”
DEFENSE
Six of Potsdam’s seven defenseman are veterans and five were with the team last season. Marsman is back to anchor the defensive corps. The senior has steadily improved into the one of the toughest and most stable blue liners the Bears have. Last year, Marsman added playmaker to her resume, finishing second on the team with 10 assists. She has missed only one of Potsdam’s 77 games since she put on a Bears’ jersey as a freshman. Emily Kriwox (Tupper Lake, N.Y./Tupper Lake Lumberjacks) and Rachel Grefke (Livonia, Mich./Victory Honda) are Potsdam’s other senior defensemen. Kriwox saw action in 24 games last season and Grefke played in all 25.
Van Wagner and Kady Hart (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) make up the returning junior class. Both played in every game during 2014-15 and registered a goal and an assist apiece.
Junior Madison Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/The College of St. Scholastica) joins the Bears after spending the last two seasons manning the blue line for the College of St. Scholastica. In 35 games with the Saints, she scored a goal and recorded three assists for four points. Freshman Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Team Detroit), also a member of the women’s soccer team, makes the trek from Michigan.
“We are expecting Madison to make an impact and be a major contributor for the next two years,” Green said. “Rylie brings quickness and skill to the defense corps and is looked upon to make significant contributions immediately as well.”
GOAL
After two seasons of limited action, Tardelli steps into the starting role between the pipes for Potsdam. The senior, who was the conference’s all-rookie goaltender with a playoff game start two seasons ago, was 2-6 with a 4.54 goals-against-average and a .885 save percentage. In her second season with the Bears, sophomore Massena native Megan Hans (Massena, N.Y./Cornwall Typhoons) will back up Tardelli.
SCHEDULE
Potsdam plays its usual challenging ECAC West schedule this season, which includes four games with the the last three national champions in Plattsburgh and Elmira. The Bears open conference play at Buffalo State on Nov. 6. Potsdam will play nonconference contests against familiar foes in Saint Michael’s, Canton, Hamilton and New England College as well as start a new rivalry with Becker.
The Bears open the season in South Burlington, Vt. on Oct. 30, when they battle the Purple Knights of Saint Michael’s at 7 p.m.
