Game of the Week
Since I picked the first game of the season as Morrisville’s mark your calendar game, naturally I have to select it as this opening game of the week.
It is, of course, the dawn of the post-Caylin Relkoff era. How Morrisville performs early could set the stage for the season.
“He’s been a mainstay for us for four years,” Morrisville coach Brian Grady said. “We’re very confident with the three goaltenders we have.”
There is also another intriguing aspect to this game: The transfer of Todd Hosmer from Potsdam to Morrisville for his senior year. Hosmer put up some pretty good numbers his first two years (8-12-20 and 16-15-31, respectively). Many goalies will admit in private they fear his shot.
However, he had a falling out in his junior year, was benched for a few games, and his production fell off (3-9-12). Seeing no future in the North Country, Hosmer went to play for the Mustangs. And, wouldn’t you know it, in his first game for them, he gets to face his former team.
“He’s certainly going to be fired up and ready to go,” Grady said. “It’s also an opportunity for a fresh start for him.”
It’s match-ups like this one which makes my job so easy. The stories write themselves.
“Always expect Morrisville to have a discipline forecheck,” Potsdam coach Chris Bernard said. “A team that plays with a lot of physical presence.”
The Bears also have a goaltender turnaround, with Trevor O’Neill not returning, as well as 13 new players on the roster.
Lots of question marks and lots of intrigue heading into this Friday night game. I’ll take Morrisville to win it.
Other Picks
A whole slate of conference games begin right from the start. Oswego heads down to its travel partner, Cortland. Expect an easy win for the Lakers. Fredonia will get its first conference win at Brockport. Buffalo State goes to Geneseo, and the home team will get off to a grand start, but the Bengals will keep it tough.
“We want to get out there and line ourselves up against Geneseo,” Buffalo State coach Nick Carriere said.
Saturday night sees three conference games and three nonconferences match-ups. Buffalo State will rebound at Brockport for its first win. Geneseo will sweep the weekend with a victory over visiting Fredonia. Plattsburgh will beat Morrisville.
“They played us tough every game last year,” Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said. “They’re very emotional, very physical.”
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” Grady said of the upcoming weekend.
Also on Saturday, Hobart will win at Cortland, Potsdam returns home and will beat Southern New Hampshire, while Oswego stays in Central New York to win against Utica.
