Article by: Mark Jagord
The 2016 National Champion runner-up Erie Community College hockey team opened its 2016-17 campaign by winning two of its first three contests. The Kats beat the Big Red 5-3, Oct. 22 for their second road win in as many attempts. Bill Shaffer’s pair of third-period goals proved to be the difference as four Kats registered multi-point performances.
Joining Shaffer with a pair of points were Nick Schuler (1 goal, 1 assist), Ryan Piniewski (2 assists) and Brendan McFall (2 assists). Jeffrey Gardner earned the win in goal with 34 saves.
In the team’s opening weekend, they split against a pair of SUNY opponents. In the team’s season-opening game, they beat Oswego, 6-4, Oct. 14 before falling in overtime to Fredonia, 6-5, Oct. 15.
The first game saw eight players finding the scoresheet. Three players had multi-point games, while NJCAA Region III rookie-of-the-year, Christian Nati, led all Kat scorers with a three-points. Last year’s playoff-scoring leader had one assist and a pair of goals – including the game-winner. The veterans stepped up on opening night, with six of the eight players registering points, being returnees starting with Nati.
Sophomore Alex Suchan had a goal and an assist, while single points came from fellow sophomores Brian Losel, Evan Domiano, Taiki Satoh and Jeret Werner, with the latter two scoring. Notching their first multi-point collegiate games were freshman Shaffer and McFall. Shaffer had a game-high pair of assists, while McFall recorded a goal and an assist. Sophomore Kyle Fallon got the win in the net with 31 saves.
In the Oswego win, the team trailed twice before scoring the game’s last three goals for the 6-4 win. All six Erie goals were at even-strength. Fredonia took a page out of Erie’s book when it scored the last three goals in regulation to force overtime in the team’s home opener at HarborCenter.
Against Fredonia, 11 different players registered one point. Seven of the 11 were freshman with six of them recording their first-ever collegiate points. Of the six, three recorded their first goals that included Sean Goodspeed, Joshua Dake and Anthony Cybulski, with the latter notching a short-handed tally. The three other freshman to earn their first assists included Tyler Donahue, Luke Myer and Schuler. Shaffer was the lone freshman to record points in all three contests this season.
Sophomore Mitch Wartinger collected a power-play goal, while Suchan got his second of the campaign. Nati and Satoh added assists – and like Suchan – had points in both opening-weekend contests. Freshman Brett Fordham made 36 saves, but took the loss in net. The Kats took a 2-1 lead into the final period before the Blue Devils rallied.
Erie returns home to the HarborCenter for a 3:30 p.m. game against Mercyhurst, Sunday, Oct. 30, before hosting its first region opponent – Broome CC, Nov. 5.
