by Janet Schultz, NYHOL
The Buffalo State Women’s Ice Hockey Team came out flying at their first practice of the 2022-23 season. Coming off a 1-23-1 season has not but a damper on their enthusiasm, and that is what Head Coach Rachel Grampp is focusing on.
The Bengals have a lot of young players on this team and half of them are new to Buffalo State. Grampp is working on making sure that they are ready for the season and helping them get their feet under them.
“I asked how many were nervous today and over half the hands went up,” said Grampp, after coming off the practice ice. “We need to get them ready for college practices and get the nerves out of the way and then we are ready to go.”
The on-ice session was not their first activity together.
According to Grampp the Captains pulled the team together over the summer in a variety of activities including a summer book club, Zoom sessions and making sure that all the rookies had someone they could go to by assigning a veteran to a rookie.
“They did a lot of team bonding,” said Grampp. “This gave the newbies a familiar face once they stepped on campus.”
“Our energy will be what we will build on this season,” continued Grampp. “The common denominator is that these players want to be here.
“I noticed in the past that some found hockey a chore rather than fun.
“Hockey is supposed to be fun, winning is fun and I want to make sure they are having fun,” she continued.
“This may be the last four years of their hockey career and I want it to be the best four years of their career,” said Grampp.
She expects the team to work hard everyday explaining that if they don’t, it won’t be a fun practice.
Grampp is building the team from the inside out, meaning that she will make sure that the locker room is fantastic and the culture at Buffalo State hockey is great.
“That new energy will be our strength for the year.”
Currently there are two goalies on the team, one was injured in an off-ice session but hopes to return as the season begins.
Looking at the freshman, there is a group from New York State that will be making their collegiate debute.
From Western New York are Maddie Braun, Carissa Buyea and Vanessa Willick. Joining them are native New Yorker’s Erica Greene, Oswego and Layla McDonnell, Glens Falls.
Braun played defense for Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew on defense. Grampp explained that Braun reached out earlier this Summer and just recently saw her on the ice. Braun is a good skater and a good fit in the lockerroom.
Buyea comes from the Kenmore/Grand Island high school hockey team where she racked up 6 goals anbd 10 assists last season. She is a forward. She skates well works hard.
“We need players that show up everyday and work hard and Buyea fits that description,” said Grampp.
Willick played for Williamsville of the WNYGVIH. She was third in scoring last season with 14 goals and 11 assists and is on the All-Time Scoring Leaderboard at #16 with 49 goals and 48 assists.
Erica Green played for the Shoreline Sharks and in two years had 5 goals and 8 assists. She is a forward.
Layla McDonnell was selected to the USA Development Camp and played defense with the Adirondack Northstars.
Grampp has several other familiar faces to WNY returning including Sarah Jackson, Gabby McCrory, Bethany Horvatits and Lilli Adimey.
The Bengals are also returning their five top scorers including Angeline Cruzal, Rylee Garrow, Sage Runningrabbit, Hannah Tingley and Adimey.
The Goaltenders are also returning including Jessica Auge and Valerie Helminen.
According to Grampp the fans will see improvement this season. The energy they bring and the work they put in since last March will have so much to do with their success.
“We are a different team,” said Grampp. “Everyone is involved, everyone wants to be here and we want to compete with everyone in the Conference.
“We’ve set goals and talked about values and it comes down to you have to buy-in now and everyday at practice. You have to want to be here, not just here and going through the motions.”
The Bengals play four exhibition games at home beginning with Alvernia on Friday, October 21 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 22 at 2 p.m. Next week they take on Wilkes on Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m.
The team heads out on the road to face Canton and Potsdam before returning for their home opener on Friday, November 11 against Cortland at 7 p.m. and then again on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Buffalo State women’s team plays in the Northeast Womens Hockey League (NEWHL) made up of Canton, Cortland, Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam. Last season Plattsburgh took the championship.
