Club Hockey Team Completes Chase for the Cup
St. John Fisher University’s club hockey team made the journey to suburban Philadelphia to compete in the first AAU College Hockey national tournament, with Fisher’s team winning the American Division Championship. Transitioning from the Collegiate Hockey Federation (CHF) over the past year, the tournament showcases teams from across the country, competing in various divisions. Several teams from the Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League (UNYCHL) took part in the tournament.
Beginning on March 10, team members traveled to Philadelphia for the start of the tournament, which ran over the course of the next week. The team won five games in five days, capping off their experience with a strong 8-1 victory over Farmingdale State College in the American Division Championship final. One of the most impressive points of their performance was the chemistry between teammates, with eight different players recording a goal for the team in their championship matchup. The Cardinal victory in the final match brought their impressive season record to 24-8-1.
The tournament MVP Award for the Cardinals was given to defenseman Collin Mesick, who was an integral part of the defense (which allowed only nine points in five games), and recorded three goals over the course of the tournament.
The championship did not come easily to the team as the Cardinals won several hard-fought victories on their way to the final match. Team members pointed to a prior 7-5 victory over last year’s champions, Niagara County Community College, as an important win to give them momentum leading to the AAU national tournament. The team also secured a UNYCHL Championship earlier in the season, the first for the University since 2009. One game that helped swing the momentum to eventually win the AAU national tournament came in the quarter finals match against University of New Haven. The Cardinals trailed 2-1 heading into the final period of the match, with team captains Ryan Licursi and Drew Allaire capturing a goal each in the final minutes to complete the comeback and advance the team to the semifinals with a 3-2 victory.
“We got to spend a lot of time together doing things that we don’t always have the luxury of doing. We built memories that will last a lifetime, and created an unforgettable experience,” said Club President Brandon Makowski. “Being able to experience this past week with the group of guys and all our family members who came from all over the state to join us in Philadelphia made the trip even more special.”
Makowski remarked on the significance of club hockey to his time here at Fisher, being one of his deciding factors in ultimately attending Fisher. He cited the close atmosphere of the team, which has given him the opportunity to create lifelong relationships with his teammates and coaches. “To me, the club president role extends beyond the title. As the president I act as the liaison between the team, the league, and the school. I am working every week to make sure all of our purchases, reservations, bookings, etc., are being sent to the right people, communicated properly, and then put through the course of action,” he explained. “But, I think there's more to it than just the logistical side. This team - they're my second family. Club hockey means everything to me, and all the guys on the team. We're on the ice twice a week for practices, and then up to three times for games, so being a part of club hockey means that you are a part of the family, and that you know you always have something to look forward to day in and day out.”
This article was written by Tyler Cole ’23, a cybersecurity major and PR Writing Intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications.