By Warren Kozireski —
All Colby Seitz did as a freshman was score nine goals with 23 points, help SUNY Cortland set a program record with 11 conference wins and win SUNYAC Rookie of the Year honors—the first from the Red Dragons since Dan Broderick in 2014-15 and the second in school history.
And of late, Seitz has been playing on an all-New York line with Williamsville’s Nate Berke and Long Island’s Stephen Kyrkostas.
“He came out of the gate really hard, which was fun to see,” Cortland head coach Joe Cardarelli said. “Playing with (senior) Nate Berke has kind of mentored him on the ice and pointwise, he’s on pace from last year. We look for continual improvement and that’s been a high bar for him.
“As a sophomore he’s still a leader on the ice in the way he approaches the game and I’m real proud of the effort that he puts in. More importantly he penalty-kills for us, he’s a 200-foot player that is a possess and create guy, so it’s the best of both worlds.”
The 6’0”, 181 lb. right wing stood second on the team with two weekends remaining in the regular season with 14 points while playing in every game. He was also tied for first in plus/minus at +12 and second in shots on goal.
“Just working hard and my linemates have been playing together for a lot of years,” Seitz said in early February. “Things have been going well. I really didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. It’s just hockey; it’s a game every single day, so just go out there and do what you can and hope the bounces go your way.
“My older brothers all played, and I just looked up to them. Three brothers and we all played hockey, so it was an easy choice watching my older brothers.
Oldest brother Gary played junior hockey with the Buffalo Regals, Jr. Sabres and Jr. Blades, Dylan played in the QMJHL (Moncton) and the OHL (Kitchener) after going through Nichols School and the Jr. Sabres. Younger brother, Brody, is with the Jr. Sabres in the OJHL this season.
And Colby Seitz spent five seasons with the Jr. Sabres organization before jumping to Corpus Christie in the NAHL for his final season of junior hockey.
“My parents loved being able to catch as many games as they can, so it worked out. (Corpus Christie) reached out to me the year prior. Actually, got drafted by Lone Star and then they traded me and once I got there, I found my role and things worked out from there.”
The Red Dragons made the playoffs one year prior to Seitz and his classmates arrived and have been a solid top-four team in their SUNYAC conference since.
“Last year we all came in and knew we could make a difference. We knew we could come in and do a lot. It (last year) didn’t end the way we wanted (losing in the first round on home ice), but I think we have a pretty good chance to make a nice run this year.
“Every year I think we’re trying to build on what we did last year and hopefully this year we can get by that first round and who knows after that. Anything can happen in this league, it’s crazy.’
(Photos provided by Cortland Athletics/Men’s Hockey Departments)
