By Janet Schultz, NYHOL
The season has begun at the Collegiate Level with the high school and professional schedules just days away.
Buffalo State opened their season November 1 and 2 at Neumann before returning home on November 8 and 9 to face SUNY Canton. This is Head Coach Rachel Grampp’s fourth season and the final season for WNY’er Lilli Adimey.
They took their first win of the season 5-1 over Neumann with scoring coming from five different players including three well-known to the WNY hockey scene. Lilli Adimey, Buffalo; Alex Groh, Elma and Sydney Radecki, Lancaster added to the scoring. In goal Jessie Auge stopped 13/14 shots for the W.
Niagara University has two teams in the ACHA including a D1 team that is 4-5 on the season. They are at Indiana Tech this weekend and then return to Dwyer for a four game home stand beginning with Sault on November 16 and 17.
The D2 team had a 5-3 victory over Adrian and is 4-3 overall with a game against Brockport Sunday, Nov. 3 at home.
Hilbert will opened their season with two losses to Hood College. It was a 2-3 loss on November 1 and a 3-4 overtime loss the following day. The Hawks will open at home against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on November 9 and 10 at Northtowns.
The Hawks welcome a new Head Coach this season with Emma Knoll taking the helm. Knoll played three years at Kings College and worked as a scout for Mora IK in Sweden.
This will be Hilbert’s last season as an independent as they will become part of the UCHC in 2025-26.
Looking back at last season, Kaitlin Cowie of Henrietta lead the team in goals with 4 and in assists with 10. She scored the game winner in their Inaugural game against Kings College. Kelsey Fuller of Rome (NY) is a freshman goalie that will have an instant impact on the team this season. She was named to All Section Team III First Team in 2022-23.
AT 5-3-3, RIT seems to likes tied up games that take them to a shoot-out, which unfortunately they have not been able to capitalize on. Most recently they tied St. Lawrence University 2-2 but St. Lawrence won in the shootout and then it was a Robert Morris 2-2 tie and RM beating them in the shootout. They face-off against Robert Morris as their article is being published. Next up is Syracuse at home on November 15 and 16. Kylie Aquaro leads the team in points with 4 goals and 4 assists. Addie Alvarez has 4 goals and 2 assists followed by Brie Kelley (2-4=6) and Kyla Bear with 6 assists. Goaltender Sophia Bellina was named Goaltender of the Week after having a career high 40 saves in a 2-2 tie against St. Lawrence. It’s her sixth career game with 40 saves and first this season in five starts.
Nazareth opened their season with a 4-1 win in an exhibition game over Elmira but then continued with a season opener win over Rivier University, 5-0. They will face off against Morrisville on November 9.
Allie Zack had the first goal of the regular season, unassisted in the first period. Alexis Kindred and Kate Cascio had goals in the second and in the third it was Nikki Sharp and Brook Terry. In Goal, McKinley Hoff had the shutout.
WNYGVIH
The 15th Season Anniversary Celebration Banquet has been canceled due to personal reasons for a couple of committee members and due to the low response for reservations. The Committee will regroup and look at celebration options for later in the season.
The puck will drop on the 15th Season of girls varsity hockey in Western New York on November 216 when FFLOP will take on LIDA at 4 p.m. at Holiday Twin; HHEWS will face Williamsville at 4 p.m. at Northtowns, St. Marys of Lancaster will battle Niagara County at 4:45 at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena and CASH will take on KENGIL at the new Paddock Ice Arena at Brighton at 7:30 p.m. A full day for sure and the regular season schedule will continue on Monday, December 2.
KENGIL and St. Mary’s will be looking to keep their Section VI/Western and Private championships, respectively.
PWHL News
The new Professional Womens Hockey League will hit the ice on November 30 when the Boston Fleet take on the Toronto Sceptres at 2 p.m. at Coca Cola Coliseum. Also playing that day are the Montreal Victorie against the Ottawa Charge at Place Bell at 5 p.m.
The NY Sirens will open on December 1 at the Minnesota Frost.
The Sirens staff includes two coaches known to New York collegiate hockey in Head Coach Greg Fargo,formerly of Colgate and Assistant Coach Josh Sciba, formerly of Union and also Niagara University’s women’s D1 program.
The former Head Coach, Howie Draper, has stepped down as HC but will serve as a special advisor to the team as he returns to the University of Alberta’s women’s ice hockey team.
The Prudential Center is home ice to the Sirens and the Essex County Cody Arena will be the site of Training Camp.
