By Warren Kozireski–
SUNY Cortland forward Mike Crowley is wearing one of the C’s this season for the Red Dragons and it is more than because he is the only senior remaining on the roster. The results on the ice—leading the team in scoring heading into the final two weekends of his collegiate career—and being an example off the ice make him a role model for what is now a full-fledged rebuild of the roster.
Nine freshmen and nine sophomores outnumber the upperclassmen and Crowley is one of the main players the coaching staff is turning toward to set the tone. Dressing for every single game over the last three seasons (he had three games remaining in 2018-19 when this was written) in just one indicator of his character.
“Some kids didn’t want to come back and play and a couple didn’t do so well academically, but I’m just happy to be here still,” Crowley said in early February. “I hope guys look at me bring a lot of energy, come to the rink every day happy to be here and just strive to get better every day.”
His three goals and 13 assists through the first 21 games this season is back to the pace he set during his sophomore year when he finished with 23 points including 18 assists. Part of that is playing major minutes in all three situations.
After staying home to play for the Buffalo Regals/West Seneca and Jr. Sabres programs from 2009-10 to 2011-12 with one season with Bishop Timon High School, the now 24-year old Crowley jumped to the NAHL first with Soo, then Lone Star and one final season in Springfield before beginning his collegiate career. In total he tallied 57 points in 164 NAHL games.
Crowley will finish with over 90 games played with the Red Dragons over his four seasons and earlier this season surpassed the 50 point mark in his career.
As for a favorite memory during his collegiate career, the son of Peggy and Pat points to a game last season when Cortland defeated a nationally ranked Geneseo team in overtime Dec. 2, 2017.
“That was pretty cool and my freshman year I scored my first college goal against Oswego (the first goal of the game Nov. 6, 2014); they were ranked, so that was pretty cool for me.”
