The 2023-24 hockey season marks the start of a new era in KenGIPort girls varsity ice hockey.
For 13 seasons Jeff Orlowski was head coach of the team. During that time the team won seven Section VI Championships, appeared in the championship game nine times and are the current defending Section VI champions.
This year a familiar face replaces Orlowski behind the bench. Matt Miller has taken over as the new head coach of the KenGIPort team.
Miller is very familiar with his team because for the past 13 seasons he was an assistant coach under Orlowski.
“I’ve been a part of the team since its beginnings for a lot of the things that happen at the rink” recalled Miller. “But there is so much more to do behind the scenes.
“I’ve found that it’s trickier being the head guy because you have to make every little decision. I’ve been learning on the fly that there is a little more to being a head coach than what most people think.”
Miller has already found the 2023-24 hockey campaign to be quite interesting, to say the least.
“We were lucky to have very competitive tryouts,” said Miller. “The unfortunate side is that you have to make cuts.
“We’ve got a lot of depth this year. We can roll four lines. We can put a lot of pressure on teams with four lines. Plus, we don’t have to wear down and depend on just two lines.
“We try to spread the lines out and keep a quicker pace to our game. And we have lots of talent on the team.”
Miller also pointed out some of the key players on the team.
“Our top end is good with players like Isabelle Bourgeault (Kenmore West), Isabella Jayme (Grand Island) and Teegan Willats (Grand Island) and all the other girls that are back from last year.
“We have six returning players on defense too (including Savannah Samplinkski (Grand Island), Madeline Marzec (Kenmore West), Savanna Shaft (Lockport), Mylie Philbrick (Kenmore West), Natalie Kopf (Grand Island) and Alexa Denning (Kenmore West)).”
Miller also spoke of his goaltending.
“Sam (Samantha) Horne unfortunately played in the shadow of Carolyn Bourgeault for the past few seasons,” commented Miller. “Now she the girl. She’s solid in goal for us.”
“I think we’re strong at all six positions on the ice at any time. I think we’re pretty lucky to have such a deep team.”
How does Miller see the girls high school league shaking out this year?
“The Niagara County team is always a threat,” remarked Miller. “FLOP is another team that is deep and always comes at you with a lot of energy.
“HEWS was a team that took it to us last year. They have a lot of young talent.
“We know that we have our work cut out for us. We look forward to it.”
(Photos by Janet Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)
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by Janet Schultz, as submitted by Coach Phil Basinski
The University of Buffalo women are in a transitional year after losing several key seniors, including WNYGVIH Monsignor Martin’s outstanding goalie Izzy Battaglia. Battaglia broke her foot last season just as UB was heading into the ACHA playoffs.
With that said, Juniors Sierra Dominik and Rochester native Abbie Wisenberg have the leadership ability to take this team into the playoffs. Dominik led the team in scoring last season and Wisenberg is a fast, nimble, smooth skating defenseperson who is an anchor on the back end. She replaces Emily Matthews who will be graduating this month (December).
“Emily will be a big loss for us,” said Head Coach Phil Basinski. “She was our best on and off ice leader bringing a good work ethic along with the smarts, skill and determination that delivers in the big moments you hope you get from your best players.”
“She was also her teammates best cheerleader.”
This year’s freshmen feature a standout goaltender from Southern Ontario in Franka Piluso.
“She is another skilled and smart player,” said Basinksi. “She understands the game very well.”
The other freshmen are still fairly raw at this point of the season, including one that has never played hockey before, and just learning to skate.
Basinski went on to say that this year’s team is doing very well in implementing the team play concepts that they work extensively on in practice and translating that to game situations. They understand that with only one puck and 12 players that much of the game is played without the puck.
“We’re now seeing that translate into more instinctive play away from the puck which creates better puck movement, more speed, more scoring, better defense and, most important, more fun!”
It should be an exciting season for fans because it is entertaining hockey. Dominik can get the puck through tiny spaces between defenders sticks and feet then bury the puck behind the goaltender. Ava Tower (formerly with Monsignor Martin of the WNYGVIH Federation) has great chemistry with Lizzy Sachar making exciting hockey as they execute fantastic passing and scoring plays.
Matthew’s is an incredible skater who is fearless as she plays with or without the puck. Abbie Wiesenberg’s ability to break up plays defensively, then charges up the ice with the newly stolen puck is something to witness in person.
“It might not be easy, but if you watch closely, what you will see is a group of really, really good friends having a blast playing a game they love,” concluded Basinski.
“What’s truly amazing is how this group includes, encourages and mentors all of the underclassmen,” said Basinski.
UB plays in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, College Hockey East. They are currently in fifth place. Niagara University’s D2 team is in first, followed by The Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh and Mercyhurst.
Dominik is first on the team in scoring with 15 goals and 6 assists in 7 games and she sits third in the CHE. Just in front of her are WNYer’s Ellie Schau of Mercyhurst with 12 goals and 10 assists and Niagara University’s and Buffalo’s Katelyn Koester with 11 goals and 11 assists.
UB has a very active December with Brockport and the University of Pittsburgh coming to Northtowns December 2 and 3; UB heading to Cortland on December 8 and Brockport on December 9. Their last 2023 game will be December 10 facing cross-town rival Niagara University D2.
Following a winter break they return to the ice against the University of Pittsburgh at Northtowns on January 27.
If there is one thing that head coach Bob Klimowicz and fans of the girl’s high school hockey team representing Frontier, Franklinville, Orchard Park and Lake Shore High Schools they have not been what their nickname spells out: FLOP.
Historically speaking, they have been anything but that. And this season should be no different.
“We’ve got a young squad mixed in with some veterans on the team,” said Klimowicz. “It’s going to take some time to grow together.”
As many coaches do, Klimowicz is looking to leadership on this team to come from returning players, especially the seniors.
“We’re looking at the players like Mya Dalton (Senior, Lake Shore), Emily Patton ((Senior, Frontier), Lilah Cudney (Junior, Franklinville), Maya Griffin (Junior, Orchard Park), Jocelyn Smaczniak (Sophomore, Frontier), Kerrigan McCarthy (Senior, goaltender, Orchard Park) and Lauren Draszkiewicz (Senior, Frontier) for their leadership and experience.
“But the young girls I’m excited about are the seventh graders who have made the team this year. They are going to get some good ice time this year.
“They may struggle with the physical part of the game. But they’ve got the skating part, the head part and they can shoot the puck well. It’s exciting to see these players come in.”
Those players include Brooklyn Forcucci (Orchard Park), Chloe Gearhart ((Frontier), Peyton Forcucci (Orchard Park), Campbell Rutz (Frontier) and Gabby Sojda (Orchard Park).
“I’m hoping that some of our seniors will take those seventh grade players under their wing and show them that they can be a part of this team.”
While this team may have finished last season with a 7-8-1 record, he has seen some growth in that team this year.
“I’ve seen improvement in several of the players from last year to this year,” commented Klimowicz. “It’s what you hope happens every year.”
When it came time to talk about other teams in the league who might be considered favorites to win it all this season, FLOP’s head coach had one team in mind.
“NiCo (Niagara County) I think sticks out,” said Klimowicz. “They have probably the most veteran leadership and veteran team in the league this year.
“There’s a lot of youth in the league this year. But it’s always a tight league. You can’t go by the scores at the beginning of the year.
“I think as the season goes on the league will tighten up. There will be three or four teams that will be in the mix at the end of the year.
“I hope we will be one of them.”
(Photos by Janet Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)
Gregg Grosskopf, head coach of the Niagara County Lady Warriors girls high school hockey team, will be the first to admit that his team has come a long way since their inaugural season back in 2018-19.
Following that winless first campaign, the Lady Warriors have improved every season. Last year saw them finish with an overall record of 13-5-0.
The team is made up of players from Starpoint, Niagara Wheatfield and Lewiston-Port.
So what can we expect from this Niagara County team this year?
“Hopefully we will keep building on what we just did,” commented Grosskopf. “We’re hoping for even more success this season.”
Leadership is one thing that Grosskopf feels the team does not have a problem with.
“We’re rolling the role of captain this year,” responded Grosskopf, who has coached this team since its inception. “We have so many seniors on the team (seven) this year.
“Some of these seniors have been on the team since seventh grade when we began. Now they are seniors.
“So we’re just going to keep rolling captains. We felt that we had so much leadership on the team that we couldn’t name just one.”
Those seniors include: Sophia Bochicchio (Niagara Wheatfield), Faith O’Connor (Starpoint), Marina Mansfield (Starpoint), Frankie Williamson (Niagara Wheatfield), Lily Bessel (Niagara Wheatfield), Julia Hoffman (Lewiston-Porter) and Madison Mallone (Starpoint).
Interestingly, Mallone is one of the players Grosskopf referred to as being with the team since seventh grade. She also has the distinction of scoring the first goal in team history.
“Many of these girls know what it’s like to be on the losing side of things. Now they’ve experienced winning.
“Hopefully we can keep working and building on that and become a top team in this league.”
One other player that will be looked to for leadership will be goaltender Kennedy Ruest (Lewiston-Porter), a 10th grader.
“She’s a good goaltender to have,” said Grosskopf. “We will be rolling with her this year.”
Another interesting point is that Grosskopf doesn’t see any one team as being the team to beat or a powerhouse in the league.
“I think every team has a good shot at winning it all,” commented Grosskopf. “You can’t take any of these teams lightly.”
(Photos by Janet Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)
Skills event, three games, community events scheduled for Jan. 12 and 13
Mississauga, ON – The Ontario Junior Hockey League announced the schedule of events for the third annual 2023-24 OJHL All-Star Celebration presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario.
The weekend festivities are scheduled for January 12 and 13, 2024 in beautiful Collingwood, Ont. It’s a celebration of hockey including games, a skills competition and community activities with a theme of “past, present and future”.
The event’s centrepiece is the OJHL All-star Game. The game will feature the best players from across the 24-team OJHL, as selected by the league’s competition committee, facing off in historic Eddie Bush Memorial Arena.
“We are so excited to bring back the OJHL All Star Celebration to Collingwood in January,” said Marty Savoy, Commissioner of the OJHL. “Great community support, amazing organization hosting the top talent from across the OJHL. Should be a fantastic weekend for all”.
The event kicks off on the evening of Friday, Jan. 12, with the second annual 2024 OJHL Skills Competition.
Saturday’s schedule will kick off with the OJHL Alumni Game at 10:30 am, followed by the Hudl-Instat OJHL Prospects Game at 1:00 pm, which will feature the league’s top players born in 2006 and 2007.
The main attraction, the OJHL All-Star Game, will start after the Prospects Game at 5 p.m. and feature the top players from around the league participating in a very competitive game.
Last year, Lucas Buzziol of the Milton Menace fired home a wrist shot at 2:30 of three-on-three overtime to lift Team Hyman (North-West) to a 9-8 win over Team Giordano (South-East) in the All-Star Game in front of a crowd of 1,206 in Collingwood.
In 2019, Jack Ricketts of the host Oakville Blades scored two goals and assisted on a third to lead Team Giordano to a 6-4 win over Team Burns.
Buzziol is committed to NCAA Division I Union College. Ricketts is team captain at DI Holy Cross this year.
The event comes to life in Collingwood with prizes, giveaways and community involvement and is supported by the Town of Collingwood, the Collingwood Blues organization and the many volunteers in the community.
“It is a privilege and an honor to have the opportunity to host the OJHL All Star Celebration for a second consecutive year in Collingwood,” said Dave Steele, Governor of the Collingwood Blues. “We are looking forward to welcoming the new and returning OJHL participants to this memorable event.”
The inaugural All-Star Celebration was a one-day affair held in Oakville in November 2019. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 event expanded to two days and was presented in Collingwood by Dairy Farmers of Ontario.
More information on the event, including rosters, coaches, community events and ticket availability, will be released in the coming weeks.
The 14th season of the WNYGVIH Federation faced off at Cheektowaga with St. Mary’s of Lancaster hosting Hamburg/Eden/West Seneca/Holland. Just 55 seconds into the game and St. Mary’s Avery Szczesek got one past HEWS goaltender Ella Buczynski, assisted by Alana Pagano. It remained that way for two periods, with the only thing on the scoreboard in the second were penalties.
In the third HEWS Sophia Phillips scored to tie the game. Assisting were Samantha Miller and Brynn Holland with just over two minutes left in regulation. Tied and we go into the first overtime of the 2023-24 season. However, the game remained that way and the first game of the season ends in a 1-1 tie.
Buczynski stopped 10 of 11 sog and Avery Hall stopped 26 of 27 for St. Mary’s.
Reece Gall is wearing the “C” for St.Mary’s, assisted by Gabe Lowell and Riley Kumrow.
NYHOL headed to Dwyer Arena on Tuesday for the match-up between Niagara County and Williamsville. Three goals to start off the first period by Niagara County’s Madison Mallone, Marina Mansfield and Sam Draper. They added six more in the second and topped their score with two more in the third. The League has their first shut-out of the season, an 11-0 victory for Niagara County over Williamsville. Scoring for NiCo were Sam Latini, both her and Mallone had the first hat-tricks of the season; Mansfield with two goals, a goal each for Ashley Mainstone and Natalee Lawrence. Assists were credited to Mallone, Latini, Mainstone (2), Lawrence, Faith O’Connor, and Julia Hoffman.
Williamsville’s goaltender Olivia Lookman, a first-year seventh grader from Transit Middle stopped 45 SOG and NiCo’s Kennedy Ruest stopped 6 for the shutout.
Across town Kenmore/Grand Island/Lockport hosted Monsignor Martin at their new, but temporary facility at Brighton. It ended 6-4 for Monsignor Martin. Putting the goals in the net for MMAA were Alexandria Franke with a hattrick, an empty netter and the winning goal; Ryan Honadle and Avery McDonald. Assisting were McDonald on the first, along with Lena Hurley; Gabby Kasmark on the third with McDonald. The final two goals by Franke were unassisted. In goal Kate Kelley stopped 22 of 26 for the win.
For KGIPort it was Isabella Bourgeault, assisted by Isabella Burt; Burt from Isabella Jayme; then Jayme with two goals assisted by Burt and Bourgeault. Looks like we have a power line in Burt, Jayme and Bourgeault. Ella Johnston stopped 17 of 22 sog.
Frontier/Lakeshore/Orchard Park/Franklinville (FFLOP) headed to Northtowns on Tuesday to take on Clarence/Amherst/Sweet Home (CASH). FFLOP opened the scoring at 5:35 of the first with a goal off the stick of Maya Griffin, assisted by Lilah Cudney and Emily Patton. First ends 1-0. Second period, CASH opens the scoring when Jenny Wild scores to tie the game at 1-1. FFLOP answers back when Sophia Lestingi scores to goals to end the second 3-1 in favor of FFLOP. Cudney assisted on the first and Sara Himelein on the second, which turned out to be the game-winner.
FFLOP’s Patton drops in the first in the third, but CASH answers back with a goal off EllaVanDuuren, assisted by Tessa Kwiatowski. However at 6:51 FFLOP seals the game with a goal by Cudney, unassisted. The game ends 5-2 FFLOP. In goal for FFLOP, Kerrigan McCarthy, stopping 10 of 12 for the win and CASH’s Ella Celej, a rookie, stopping 49 of 54.
Williamsville headed to play Skaneateles on Wednesday evening. NYHOL has no stats but Skaneateles beat Williamsville 7-0. To jog everyone’s memory, Skaneateles is a NYS Champion and WNYGVIH has been at the opposite end of those wins.
Thursday’s will be busy for all of us involved with WNYGVIH with four games on tap this opening week. NYHOL headed to Northtown for the KGIport at Williamsville game.
KGIport opens the scoring just 16 seconds in with a goal by Isabella Jayme, assisted by Madeline Marzec. The close out the second with one more goal by Alexa Denning, assisted by Alberalla and Isabella Shaft. This turns out to be the game-winner. It is 2-0 as the games heads into not only the second period but the third as well. In the third it’s Bourgeault, assisted by Jayme and Samatha Horne; I. Shaft, assisted by Teagan Willats and Madelyn Jagow. (Yes, she is with KENGIport after moving to Grand Island this summer) and finally a Willats goal, assisted by Jagow for a 5-1 KENGIport victory over Williamsville.
Scoring on the power-play for Williamsville in the third was Scarlet Canna, assisted by Captain Shannon Pogorzala.
S. Horne stopped 14 of 15 for KENGIport and Olivia Lookman stopped 39 of 44 for Williamsville.
It was HHEWS topping CASH 5-0 with scoring from Kayla Pelc, H. Barrett (2), Phillips and Meghan Waszkielewicz. Assisting Barrett on her two goals were Pelc and Phillips. MacKenzie Benker and Holland assisted Waszkielewicz on hers. In goal stopping 3/3 sog was Gigi Rakoski and Buczynski 8 of 8 for the win.
In goal for CASH was Ella Celej who stopped 45 of 50.
FFLOP continued on a winning path with a 2-0 shutout over Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew/Alden (LIDA) at Hamburg. Griffin and Brooklyn Forcucci had unassisted goals and McCarthy stopped 29 SOG for the shutout win. LIDA’s Carly Irzycki stopped 21 of 23 sog.
It was a shutout victory for St. Mary’s of Lancaster when they beat Monsignor Martin 1-0 on Thursday. The winning goal shot in by Gabby Bellacose, assisted by Lauren Gilano. Avery Hall stopped 18 shots on goal for the shutout. In net for MMAA was Kate Kelly who stopped 20 of 21.
Leading the scoring in the League is Isabella Jayme with two games played and 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points. Tallying four points were Madison Mallone, Sam Latini, Isabella Burt and Isabelle Bourgeault. Alex Franke has four goals in two games.
Kennedy Ruest and Avery Hall have each logged a shut out, with Hall leading the number of minutes in net a 95. Lookout and McCarthy have been in net for 90 minutes each.
FFLOP leads the League with two games played and a 2-0 record. They are followed by HHEWS and St. Mary’s each having a win and a tie.
Week 2 coming up.
Monday, December 4: Williamsville at St. Mary’s at Cheektowaga, 4 pm
Tuesday, December 5: St. Mary’s at NiCo, NU’s Dwyer Arena, 5:05 pm
Tuesday, December 5: HHEWS at LIDA at Holiday, 4:15 pm
Wednesday, December 6: Monsignor Martin at Williamsville, Northtowns Center, 4:30 pm
Thursday, December 7: NiCo at CASH, Northtowns, 4:30 pm
Thursday, December 7: LIDA at Monsignor Martin,North Buffalo, 4:40 pm
Thursday, December 7: St. Mary’s at FFLOP, Hamburg, 4:30 pm
Thursday, December 7: KENGIport at HHEWS, West Seneca, 8:40 pm
Remember, there is no admission charge to these games.
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The Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey 14th Season started off with a 1-1 Overtime tie between St. Mary’s of Lancaster (STM), the host, and Hamburg/Eden/West Seneca/Holland (HHEWS).
St. Mary’s Avery Szczewsek scored not only the opening goal, but the first goal of the WNYGVIH season, with just 55.2 seconds left in the first period. She was assisted by Alana Pagano.
The second period only showed penalties on the scoreboard with no scoring.
It looked like the third was going to be a no scoring period when at 12:14 HHEWS Sophia Phillips got one past Avery Hall to tie the game. Samathana Miller and Brynn Holland had the assists. The game now heads to overtime at 1-1.
A five minute OT and no score sends the first game of 2023-24 into the record books with an overtime tie.
HHEWS Ella Buczynski, an eighth grader from West Seneca, stopped 10 of 11 shots and St. Mary’s Avery Hall, a junior, stopped 26 of 27 SOG.
Mercyhurst menÕs hockey vs. Air Force, Nov. 25, 2022. Photo by Ed Mailliard.
By Warren Kozireski —
To say that Kyler Head’s hockey career has taken some unexpected turns would be a gross understatement. The Mercyhurst University senior (with one more season of eligibility after this one) is just six games into his return from a January 2023 shoulder injury and surgery.
“It’s been good; started out against Notre Dame so it’s been getting easier as we go,” Head said. “Just trying to stay positive. I think I’m back to normal now. I’ve been practicing all year, just been waiting for contact in games.”
In 2017-18, Head jumped between three junior teams playing four games with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, ten with the Central Illinois Flying Aces and 32 back with the New Jersey Jr. Titans in the NAHL.
“It was a mental year just trying to figure out where I could play and what I could do. I got cut from Green Bay and got picked up in the trade block by Central Illinois and did alright. But then I just wanted to back to the North American League where the coaches were good to me and a spectacular program with the Titans.
He committed to Robert Morris in December as a 21-year-old and played 23 games there as a freshman when the school announced that it would discontinue the hockey program at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.
“It was terrible what happened to us,” Head said. “I was basically going to quit hockey, but a door opened here (Mercyhurst), and I took it. Started here two weeks after school started (in 2021-22), so I was pretty behind, but I made it work.
“The portal is so (messed up) with covid, so I just had to wait for an opportunity, and I got it.”
Head had six points in 18 games his first season with the Lakers after the late start and had eight goals and 13 points in 28 games last season before getting hurt.
“What he possesses, the way he’s built; he’s just a big human being, he skates, he has good hands—there’s not a lot of guys like that in Atlantic Hockey,” Mercyhurst head coach Rick Gotkin said.
“He can be an absolute force. He got hurt last January and just played his first game at Notre Dame (end of October) and we haven’t seen Kyler Head yet. He is a big-time player and we’re confident he’s going to find that again, and when he does, he’s going to help us a ton.”
Now 6’4” and 210 lb., the now 24-year-old played for Franklin Academy in Malone before spending the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons largely with the Northern Cyclones program as a 16- and 17-year-old prior to his USHL and NAHL days.
Mercyhurst men’s hockey vs. Air Force, Nov. 25, 2022. Photo by Ed Mailliard.
Head is building back after not seeing game action from January to mid-October in his rebound from shoulder surgery, but he still isn’t looking ahead beyond the next practice or game.
“I don’t really like to think too far in the future, I just like to live in the present; life is real quick.”
Canisius scored the final three goals of the game to erase a 1-0 deficit and defeat Air Force, 3-1, in Atlantic Hockey Association action Friday at LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo.
Freshman Jack Budd, junior Matt Vermaetenand freshman Matteo Giampaall scored for the Golden Griffins (4-7-1, 4-3-1 AHA), who picked up their third win in their last four outings with Friday’s triumph. Senior goaltender David Fessenden finished with 24 saves to record his third victory of the season in goal for Canisius.
Will Gavin tallied the lone goal for the visiting Falcons (7-8-0, 4-3-0 AHA) while Guy Blessing made 17 saves between the pipes.
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL) TO HOST PRE-SEASON EVALUATION CAMP IN UTICA, NEW YORK
December 3-7 camp features all six teams, nine scrimmages, exclusive Fan Fest
TORONTO, ON – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced details for a pre-season evaluation camp taking place December 3-7 in Utica, New York. Over the five-day schedule, all six PWHL teams will assemble for a series of information and training sessions, practices, and scrimmages at the Utica University Nexus Center in preparation for the league’s inaugural season.
“The PWHL Pre-Season Evaluation Camp is a unique opportunity to bring all six teams together to build towards final roster selections and preparation for our inaugural season,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. “We are excited to partner with the Utica University Nexus Center and share part of this special experience with hockey fans in upstate New York. The world-class facility and host of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship makes Utica a great fit to showcase the best women’s hockey players in the world.”
A Fan Fest event on Tuesday, December 5, is the highlight of the camp schedule with an exclusive sneak peek at the PWHL. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, the event offers free limited edition PWHL giveaways, an autograph signing and meet and greets with members of each team, and a full scrimmage between New York and Ottawa. This online form must be completed to reserve attendance at Fan Fest.
“It is an honor to host the PWHL at the Utica University Nexus Center,” said Nicole Kirnan Kelly, General Manager of the Utica University Nexus Center. “The excitement surrounding this league, and the opportunity to have the very best women’s hockey players, coaches, and administrators all under our roof is an amazing opportunity for our community and facility. As the PWHL continues to establish itself as an unprecedented and groundbreaking opportunity for women and girls in this sport, we are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to host all six professional teams for five days. Many of the players and coaches of the PWHL will be involved in the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, so we are excited to give a welcoming first look at what our facility and region has to offer.”
Opened in November of 2022, the Utica University Nexus Center features three ice sheets and state of the art amenities. It is home to the Utica University Women’s hockey team, the Utica Jr. Comets’ Junior teams, and the Utica Yeti. The 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship is scheduled for April 3-14 and will include 10 competing countries and 29 tournament games played between the Nexus Center and the adjacent Adirondack Bank Center.
It may have taken four seasons, but RIT senior forward, Emma Roland, received her first College Hockey America (CHA) weekly honor when she recently was named CHA Forward of the Week. It was an honor well deserved.
In their recent two-game series at Robert Morris University, Roland tallied a CHA-leading six points, with two goals and four assists in the Tigers’ split with the Colonials. That included the first game which saw the Williamsville native score five points on two power play goals and three assists.
Add to that two blocked shots and eight shots on goal. Not a bad weekend.
Roland has come a long way since her freshman season which saw her score just s single point (an assist) in 12 games for RIT. Now a senior and in, what could be, her final season with the Tigers, Roland has seen just how quickly time can fly.
“It is really hard to believe that I’m in my senior year,” remarked Roland, the daughter of James and Traci Roland. “It’s been such an awesome experience.
“I’ve always say how happy I am that I chose to come to RIT. I’ve made a lot of friendships here and I think I’ve really grown as a person at RIT.
“It’s been a really fun four years.”
But these four years came after and exciting two years as a high scoring forward for the Williamsville girl’s High School varsity hockey team. Roland helped lead her team to back-to-back Section VI Girls Varsity High School Hockey Championships in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
On top of that the Williamsville girls varsity hockey team won the New York State Girls Varsity Championship for the 2018-19 season, but lost in the championship game the following campaign.
Individually, Roland had two outstanding seasons scoring 36 goals, 26 assists for 62 points in 24 games in 2018-19. She followed that with 31 goals, 14 assists for 45 points in 21 games in 2019-20.
With her high school success behind her, how difficult was it for Roland to make the jump to DI Women’s College Hockey?
“There was definitely an adjustment,” responded Roland, who has one sibling, a twin sister, Erin. “It is much quicker than high school hockey.”
In her sophomore year at RIT, Roland played in 33 game and led the Tigers in scoring with nine goals, nine assists for 18 points. Last season the 21 year-old Roland saw action in 29 game, but scored only five goal and an assist for six points.
Unfortunately, the RIT Women’s hockey team has struggled in all three of Roland’s seasons with the Tigers, winning just a single game each season for a total of three wins over the past three campaigns.
But this season seems to be different with the Tigers, who currently have a record of 7-6-2.
“We’ve been rebuilding the past three years, but our desire to win has never changed,” commented Roland. “We now have some experience under our belts, growing with those players I came in with as a freshman.
“We now have an older, experienced, veteran team that is winning some games. We seem to be coming together this year.”
Roland also admits that she has some great and wonderful memories of her high school hockey career.
“I think one of my fondest memory was playing for the State championship in Lake Placid,” remembered Roland, a graduate of Williamsville North High School. “That is a place that has a lot of hockey history.”
She also remembered her Williamsville hockey coach, Rick Hopkins.
“He played a huge role in my hockey career,” remarked Roland. “I still keep in touch with him.
“He’s awesome. I’m always excited for the Williamsville girls hockey team and I hope they have a good year again this year.”
One honor that Roland is proud of is being named to the CHA All-Academic Team for the past two seasons. Playing hockey and majoring in the Physician Assistant program would appear to be a difficult combination.
“That’s been the biggest challenge for me so far,” commented Roland. “My teammate, Lindsay Maloney, are both in the same Physician Assistant program which is a very tough program.
“Having each other has been very helpful. Our professors have been great.”
Roland has the upcoming spring semester to complete her studies which will be followed by next summer and the next academic year being spent in a hospital.
And, believe it or not, Roland could still play another year of hockey if she wanted thanks to her COVID year. Would she try and balance a hospital schedule with hockey?
“We’re trying to work through that right now,” answered Roland. “I don’t want this to be my last season of hockey, but if a next season is possible is to be decided.”
Roland concluded with some advice to those hockey players now playing for the Williamsville High School girl’s team.
“Time flies,” she said. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself because hockey is supposed to be fun.
“If you play that way you will have some great memories like I do.”
(Photos by Janet Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)
MERCYHURST’S ENA NYSTRØM AND SYDNEY PEDERSEN; RIT’S EMMA ROLAND
AND PENN STATE’S STELLA RETRUM EARN CHA WEEKLY HONORS
Quartet recognized for performances during games of Nov. 17-18
BOSTON, Mass. – Nov. 20, 2023 – College Hockey America is proud to honor four student-athletes as its CHA Players of the Week for their outstanding on-ice performances in games of Nov. 17-18. The Mercyhurst duo of graduate student Ena Nystrøm (Goaltender), and junior Sydney Pedersen (Defensemen) are joined by RIT’s senior Emma Roland (Forward) and Penn State freshman forward Stella Retrum (Rookie) as this week’s honors.
CHA FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Emma Roland, Sr., F, RIT (Williamsville, N.Y.)
RIT forward Emma Roland tallied a CHA-leading six points on the weekend with two goals and four assists in the Tigers’ split at Robert Morris. The Williamsville, N.Y. native registered a career-high five points on two goals and three assists to lead RIT to a 7-3 win over the Colonials in the series opener on Friday. She scored two power play goals and finished +3 in the contest. ON Saturday, Roland picked up her fourth assist of the weekend and was +1 in a 3-2 loss. Roland also added two blocks and eight shots on goal to her weekend totals. This is her first career CHA weekly honor.
Honorable Mention: Brianna Brooks, Sr., F, Penn State: Tallied two assists and won 26-of-38 faceoffs in Penn State’s road split at Mercyhurst.Jersey Phillips, Gr., F, Robert Morris: Scored her first career game-winning goal shorthanded to beat RIT on Saturday.
CHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Sydney Pedersen, Jr., D, Mercyhurst (Milestone, Sask.)
Mercyhurst defenseman Sydney Pedersen registered a goal and an assist in the Lakers’ 4-0 win over Penn State on Friday. The Milestone, Sask., native finished the series with eight shots on goal and three blocked shots. Pedersen leads the Lakers with 14 assists and shares the team scoring lead with 18 points, which leads all CHA blueliners. This is her eighth career CHA weekly honor and second this season.
Honorable Mention: Sarah Davies, So., D, Lindenwood: Contributed two power-play goals to the Lion attack as LU came away with a win and a tie at Syracuse. Lyndie Lobdell, Sr., D, Penn State: Led the Nittany Lions in blocked shots with four at Mercyhurst to raise her team-leading total to 24. Emma Pickering, Fr., D, RIT: Recorded five blocks, six shots on goal and an assist in the Tigers’ road split at Robert Morris.
CHA GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Ena Nystrøm, Gr., G, Mercyhurst (Stavanger, Norway)
Mercyhurst goaltender Ena Nystrøm, stopped 16-of-16 shots to earn her fourth shutout of the year against Penn State on Friday. The whitewash was the 12th of the Stavanger, Norway, native’s Laker career. On Saturday, Nystrøm equaled her season high with a 44-save performance for her fourth game of 40 or more saves this season. In all, Nystrøm turned away a CHA weekend-high 60-of-63 shots for a save percentage of .877. This is her 10th career CHA weekly honor and second this season.
Honorable Mention: Natalie Ferenc, Sr., G, Lindenwood: Backstopped the Lions’ first win at Syracuse, since the 2017-18 season with a 37-save performance on Friday. Sophia Bellina, So., G, RIT: Made 32 saves in RIT’s 7-3 win at Robert Morris, Friday, including a 19-save effort in the third period to preserve the win.
CHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Stella Retrum, Fr., F, Penn State (Maple Grove, Minn.)
Penn State forward Stella Retrum tallied one goal and one assist in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Mercyhurst. The Maple Grove, Minn., native assisted on the Nittany Lions’ opening goal then potted her third goal of the season in the third period to give PSU a 3-1 lead. Both points came on the power-play. It was her third multi-point game of the season. Retrum finished the weekend with five shots on goal and a pair of blocked shots. This is her second career CHA weekly honor.
Honorable Mention: Sofia Nuutinen, Fr., F, Mercyhurst: Scored the Lakers’ second goal on her only shot of the game and added an assist on MU’s final goal in a 4-0 win over Penn State on Friday. Addie Alvarez, Fr., F, RIT: Tallied three points on two goals and an assist in the Tigers’ road split at Robert Morris.
Junior forward Orr had an excellent offensive week for Plattsburgh, scoring twice against No. 13 Norwich in a 2-2 tie, and then adding an assist against Potsdam in a 4-1 win. Orr tallied twice against the Cadets, finishing a +/- mark of +1 while putting three shots on goal. Against the Bears, she assisted on the third goal of the game, helping the Cardinals to build a cushion on the road for an eventual SUNYAC win.
Levy had 38 saves against #11 Cortland to help lead to a shutout draw for Oswego. Her performance on Friday marked her second consecutive shutout against Cortland.
Pazmandi continued her strong rookie campaign over the weekend, as she put up her second two-goal game of the season against Potsdam on Friday. Pazmandi registered the eventual game-winner late in the first period on a five-on-three power play and scored an empty netter to seal the win toward the end of the third period. On the week, she put 13 shots on goal and was +2 over two games played.
