New Yorkers Named to National Team/Camp

Pearl River native Josephine Pucci has been selected as one of the first 20 players named to the U.S.Women's National Team that will compete at the 2011 Four Nations Cup November 9 through 13 in Sweden.

Pucci was a member of the U.S.Women's National Team that took the gold medal at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship last April.

In preparation for the Four Nations Cup a training camp will be held November 1 through 6 in Connecticut. Two New York State hockey players will be among those practicing, testing and receiving off-ice training in preparation for the final selection of the team.

Courtney Blake of Albany and Dana Trivigno of Setauket have been invited to attend the Training Camp.

Katey Stone, head women's ice hockey coach at Harvard, will serve as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2011-12 season.

Team USA opens the Four Nations Cup with a game against Sweden n Nyköping, Sweden on November 9. They then face Canada and Finland with the champion game on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Clarence (NY) Looks at Building Rink

The Clarence Community Recreation Corporation and the Clarence Rinks at Eastern Hills Mall are focused on a mission to build and operate a two-pad ice facility in the Town of Clarence (NY).

They are working on a plan to design, build, finance and operate the state-of-the-art facility with no tax payer subsidies. 

If you would like to help by volunteering or donating; or just signing to let people know you support it, go to their website, www.clarencerinks.com

This is another boost for hockey in New York State!

Empire State Games Information Posted

I've posted instructions and registration information on www.wnyhockeyreport.com. Please check it out.

CLARKSON SWEEPS SYRACUSE WITH 4-2 WIN ON SATURDAY

With the score tied at one through 40 minutes of play, Clarkson scored three goals in 7:30 to open the third period and sweep the Syracuse ice hockey team (2-4-0) on Saturday afternoon at Cheel Arena, 4-2. Holly Carrie-Mattimoe scored both goals for the Orange, while Jenesica Drinkwater made 27 saves in goal for SU, which will begin a five-game home stand beginning on Wednesday against Colgate at 7:00 p.m.

The Orange had two power play tallies on the day (2-of-5), while Clarkson was 1-of-4 on the man advantage. Clarkson held a 31-22 edge in shots.

The Golden Knights came at the Orange in the first period, outshooting SU 14-7 and taking a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game on a power play goal from Carly Mercer. With Syracuse in the box for tripping, Drinkwater made back-to-back stops on Jamie Lee Rattray on the doorstep. Mercer then grabbed the loose puck along the boards, circled towards the net and fired a shot that beat Drinkwater over the right shoulder.

SU had two chances on the power play during the opening frame, and had its best chance of the stanza with 1:45 to go when Caitlin Roach found Jordyn Burns in between the hashmarks for a one-timer that was stopped by Howe.

Syracuse quickly responded to the game at one as Carrie-Mattimoe scored just 52 seconds into the second period off a faceoff in the Clarkson defensive zone.Nicole Ferrara gathered a loose puck in the corner and fed Carrie-Mattimoe behind the goal, who then skated out and stuffed the puck between the post and the pad of Howe for her second goal of the season.

The Orange nearly took a 2-1 lead with less than five minutes left in the period when freshman Julie Knerr took a pass from out of the right corner and flung a backhand from atop the crease that just sailed over the crossbar.

Clarkson reestablished its lead with three goals in the first 7:30 of the third period. Gabrielle Kosziwka scored her third goal of the weekend after taking a feed from Kali Gillanders following a failed clearing attempt by the Orange and beating Drinkwater with a low shot.

The Golden Knights extended their lead to two on the power play three minutes later when Shelby Nisbet fired a shot through traffic and past the pad of Drinkwater for her second goal of the year. Clarkson made it 4-1 with 12:30 left in regulation as Rattray beat Drinkwater with a wrist shot under the glove.

SU continued to battle, and cut the Clarkson lead down to two midway through the frame as Carrie-Mattimoe got her second of the afternoon, capitalizing on a rebound off a Shiann Darkangelo shot from the opposite post with the Orange on the power play.

(Press release sent by Syracuse University)

Hockey New York State Girls/Womens Hockey

To share your information state-wide, please forward all girls/women's ice hockey information to Janet Schultz at janetschultz@yahoo.com. Hockey New York State will be publishing it's second issue the first week of November. Material must be submitted by Sunday, October 23 in order to be included.

Encourage your players to sign up and see their stories in print and on-line. Just log on to Hockeynys.com and sign in.

Watch for some exciting things for even the youngest player!

Cornell University Preview

Two consecutive Frozen Fours. Two consecutive ECAC Hockey regular-season championships. Two consecutive ECAC Hockey Tournament championships. At least one All-America first-team athlete each of the last two years. Back-to-back 20-win seasons.

                  It's safe to say Cornell women's hockey is on a roll.

                  With expectations as high as ever, the Big Red opened their 2011-12 season exhibition against Brampton, returning a strong group of 14 skaters and bringing in four freshmen and a transfer to help replace a talented departed senior class. The team is filled with big names, former Olympians, current Canadian National Team members and ECAC Preseason First-Team members.

                  Six of the players even have their own Wikipedia pages.

                  A difficult schedule in a quality conference awaits Cornell, but the team is ready for the challenge.

GOALTENDERS

                  Calling senior Amanda Mazzotta and sophomore Lauren Slebodnick the best goaltending tandem in the country last season is not a stretch. There are stats to back it up. Mazzotta, during her fantastic junior campaign, recorded the country's lowest goals against average of 1.12. Right behind her?

                  Slebodnick, who rocketed onto the scene as a freshman with a 1.15 goals against average.

                  Both are back this year, and Cornell should have a solid netminder every night. Slebodnick and Mazzotta were also 2-3 in the country for winning percentage (.893 and .889, respectively) and Mazzotta's .945 save percentage put her second in the nation. Slebodnick wasn't far behind with a .942 save percentage.

                  Joining them this year is freshman Katelyn Pippy, a young goalkeeper who has competed at the USA National Hockey Selection Camps multiple times. Pippy's presence will add depth to an already stacked position for the Big Red. Pippy can make the big save when needed.

                  “She was somebody that never gave up on the puck,” Derraugh said.

DEFENDERS

                  Cornell's blue liners are an experienced group, and all six are back from last season. Two seniors, two juniors and two sophomores make for a talented squad that will protect the Cornell net and do plenty of scoring, too.

                  Amanda Young and Jenna Paulson make up the senior class. Young, an Alberta native and team captain, scored two goals, notched 14 assists and earned a +22 rating last season. Young competes hard on both ends of the ice, has a deadly shot and finished the 2010-11 campaign on a five-game scoring streak. She was named to the ECAC Hockey all-tournament team for scoring three points and playing excellent defense.

                  Paulson was one of just four players to dress for all 35 games last year and scored her first career point early in the season against Robert Morris. She finished the year with a +10 rating.

                  The Big Red's two junior defensemen are All-American players with talent to spare. Lauriane Rougeau and Laura Fortino not only play excellent defense, but the two were in the top seven of Cornell's scorers last year.

                  Rougeau, who was named to Hockey Canada's national team in late September, is one of the team's quarterbacks on defense. She excels on the penalty kill and is willing to give up her body to block shots. She made the preseason ECAC Hockey All-League team and scored 31 points for Cornell last year.

                  “That's why she's an All-American and also recognized by Hockey Canada by being selected to the Canadian National Team,” Derraugh said.

                  Her defensive partner, Fortino, shares many of the same honors. Fortino was also named to Canada's national team in September, and she joined Rougeau in making up an all-Cornell blue line on the preseason ECAC Hockey All-League team. Fortino, who plays a little more offense than Rougeau, had nine goals and 32 assists last year to go along with her +44 and earned first-team All-America honors. She was the top scoring defenseman in the country last year and the only defenseman to be a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.

                  “When Fortino and Rougeau came in, I was excited about them, but I didn't know just how much of an impact they were going to have,” Derraugh said. “I didn't anticipate that. I knew they were going to be good, but I didn't realize they were going to be that good right away.”

                  Rounding out the defensemen are sophomores Alyssa Gagliardi and Hayleigh Cudmore. Gagliardi finished her freshman campaign with 19 points and a +32 rating. She is a passionate player and sacrifices herself whenever a shot needs to be blocked.

                  “It's funny because she's the nicest person in the world, and when she gets on the ice, just competes, competes, competes,” Derraugh said.

                  Cudmore notched nine assists and had a +15 rating in her freshman season. She is smart on the ice and has excellent vision.

                  “She was good to begin with, but, I'm really excited to see how she's going to do her sophomore year,” Derraugh said.

FORWARDS

                  As deep as the Big Red are at the goaltending position, the team might have even more strength at forward. With a total of 12 forwards – some of who boast Olympic backgrounds and ECAC Hockey honors from years past, this season's corps of attackers is strong top to bottom. Three new freshman forwards and a transfer player add to the depth and look promising for years to come.

                  The four senior forwards on the Cornell roster make up a stellar group with scoring power. Rebecca Johnston, one of the team's four captains, has the experience of winning a gold medal with Canada in the 2010 Olympics. She is a preseason All-ECAC First Team selection, was a second-team All-American last year and was second in the ECAC with 50 points. Johnston led the nation with four hat tricks last year and was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.

                  “She is one of the most dangerous players when she gets on the ice,” Derraugh said. “Sometimes you've got to catch yourself as a coach – and that's for a quite a few of my players now – you've got to remember that you are not a spectator, but the coach. Sometimes I am in awe of their skills.”

                  Joining Johnston as a senior captain is Chelsea Karpenko. The Winnipeg native has a hard shot, strong hands and loves being around the rink. She finished last season second in the NCAA with 11 power play goals, and she had 48 total points on the year to go with her +34 rating.

                  Catherine White is the third senior captain on this team, and she's coming off a phenomenal 2010-11 campaign during which she scored 45 points. White, a playmaker with deceptive moves and excellent range, will be looking to close out her Cornell career in style after winning the ECAC Player of the Year award her sophomore season.

                  Kendice Ogilvie rounds out the senior class of forwards, and her reliable play at center has been a staple of the Big Red for years. Her overtime game-winning goal against Clarkson in the ECAC Tournament Championship Game two years ago sparked the team through the postseason, and she will be relied on again for energy this year. She will be relied upon once again for her energy and big goals.

                  Xandra Hompe is the lone junior playing forward this year, and though she splits the early part of the season with soccer, he contributions when called up earned her a goal and three assists last year.

                  Brianne Jenner, a member of Team Canada, heads the sophomore class of forwards this year. Her 23 goals and 27 assists in 2010-11 tied her with Johnston for second in the ECAC in points. She had high expectations coming in as a freshman, met them, and will face strong expectations once more.

                  Jessica Campbell also returns for her sophomore campaign, and defenders should watch out the speed that helped earn her 11 goals and 15 helpers last season.

                  Olivia Cook, known for her energy and drive that lifts the team emotionally, scored eight points last year and had a +11 rating. She looks to improve on that effort in her sophomore season.

                  Finally, three new freshman forwards and a transfer will look to make a big impact immediately. Emily Fulton and Jillian Saulnier have competed on national Under-18 teams, and they will bring their rich experiences into Ithaca. Monika Leck, a freshman with great vision and a scoring touch, also joins

                  Fulton and Saulnier as part of the freshman class. Erin Barley-Maloney, who transferred to Cornell two years ago from the University of Vermont, is also expected to be a great addition for the Big Red and will get the chance to make her Cornell debut.

SCHEDULE

                  Cornell comes into this season ranked No. 2 in the country in the USCHO.com poll, but they know that a preseason poll means very little and the NCAA is full of great teams this year. Besides the always-difficult ECAC schedule, the Big Red has scheduled tough out-of-conference opponents.

                  The biggest challenge may come on the weekend following Thanksgiving when Boston University comes to Ithaca for two games. The Terriers, ranked No. 4 in the country, knocked the Big Red out of the NCAA Tournament last season.

                  Cornell will also play three games – two away, one home – against No. 10 Mercyhurst. The teams split two games last year with both sides winning on the road. Cornell heads to Erie, Pa., in early December for two contests before winter break.

                  Syracuse, who played Cornell tough despite a 4-1 Big Red win last year, is also part of the out-of-conference schedule this year. The teams will play in Ithaca in early November and in Syracuse in mid-January.

                  In the ECAC, Cornell will have to deal with No. 9 Dartmouth twice as well as two meetings against four teams currently receiving votes in the national polls: Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Harvard and Clarkson. Quinnipiac was also ranked No. 9 in the preseason poll.

                  One other quirk in the schedule will come when Cornell loses Johnston, Jenner, Fortino and Rougeau to Team Canada for a week early in the year. While they are competing at the 4 Nations Cup in Sweden from Nov. 9-14, the Big Red will host ECAC Hockey games against Harvard and Dartmouth.

The team is used to missing some of its stars, though. In one stretch of January last season, Cornell played with just 11 skaters.

                  Derraugh chooses to view the absence of those four as a chance for others.

                  “It's an opportunity for some players,” Derraugh said. “Maybe they're in a different role at the start of the year, and it's a chance for them to show coaches and teammates that they can take on other roles and work through some tough circumstances, but become a better team for it."#

Coaches: If you want your preview included on our website or in Hockey New York State the e-magazine, please forward it to me at janetschultz@yahoo.com.

Empire State Games Add Day

Organizers of the 2012 Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) have added February 2 as the first day of the 2012 Winter Games in Lake Placid.

Nearly one year ago, New York State dropped the Games after 30 years in a cost-cutting measure. Virtually overnight, a group was formed that raised nearly $100,000 and kept the event alive for the 2011 games.

The tradition will continue February 2 through 5 with women's ice hockey being one of the major events.

For sections considering sending a team, the Women's Ice Hockey Coordinators Information is currently available through Sport Chairperson Nancy Legacy. She can be reached at northice68@yahoo.com. Also check the ESWG web site for updated information and registration materials www.empirestatewintergames.com.