Buffalo State is ranked 15th in the D3Hockey.com national poll after closing out the first semester of play with a 9-3-1 overall record.
The Bengals are riding a five-game winning streak into the break having outscored their opposition 29-6 during that stretch. Buffalo State is also 5-2-1 in SUNYAC play and sits third in the league standings. The Bengals boast the league’s top-rated offense, averaging 4.38 goals-per-game and are second in the conference, allowing just 1.99 goals against.
Sophomore defenseman Michael Anthony Guerrera (Montreal, QC/OHA) leads all scorers in the SUNYAC and is tied for first in the nation for scoring by a defenseman with 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists. Seven Bengals have at least 10 points, including Anthony Passero (Fort Erie, ON/Lakeshore) who is second on the team with 18 points (four goals and 14 assists). Zach Nieminen (Ajax, ON/Notre Dame CSS) is tied for the team-lead with eight goals. Senior Ian Sylves (Sloan, NY/JFK) has been strong in goal with a 1.70 goals against average and a .929 save percentage in 10 games played, and senior defenseman Brody Power (Halifax, NS/Upper Canada College) leads the team with a plus-12 rating.
Buffalo State will return to action after the New Year, beginning with a two-game non-conference home set against Neumann on Jan. 5 and 6.