By Brandon Wood
@Brandonwood27
As the College at Brockport's ice hockey team's season has dwindled down to just six games remaining, it finds itself in a familiar place in the standings: close but not in the playoffs.
Brockport (6-10-3 overall, 3-6-1 SUNYAC) hasn't made the playoffs since the 2009-10 season, and has missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons on the season's last day.
In 2011-12, the Golden Eagles lost at SUNY Morrisville on the season's final day when a tie or a win would've put them in the playoffs. Last season, Brockport played a non-conference game to end its season as SUNY Potsdam took the final playoff spot from the Golden Eagles by defeating SUNY Cortland. Brockport finished seventh in the SUNYAC in both seasons.
This season, the Golden Eagles currently sit in seventh place in the SUNYAC just one conference point behind Cortland. Brockport's only remaining games this season are a home-and-home with SUNY Geneseo, at Cortland, at SUNY Oswego, home against SUNY Fredonia and home against Buffalo State College.
Brockport's record against teams remaining on its schedule since it last made the playoffs is 6-23-5. The Golden Eagles haven't defeated Fredonia (0-3-4) or Oswego (0-7) in that time. In fact, the last time Brockport defeated Fredonia was Jan. 29, 2005 and the last time the Golden Eagles defeated Oswego was Feb. 14, 2003.
"It's the final stretch for us," senior captain Matt DeLuca said. "This is what we've been talking about, this is why we've been working hard since September. It's all for these next six games."
The Golden Eagles play nearest conference rival Geneseo at home Friday, Feb. 7 and then at Geneseo the following night. For DeLuca, it's not hard to get motivated to play the Knights.
"Ever since freshman year, it's always been the biggest games are the ones against Geneseo," DeLuca said.
Friday's game is also Brockport's annual Saves-for-a-Cure game where the player's jerseys are auctioned online to benefit Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital in downtown Rochester. Brockport Head Coach Brian Dickinson stressed the importance of earning points this weekend as the season comes down to the wire.
"This weekend is going to be unbelievable, but unbelievably hard at the same time," Dickinson said. "I'm glad we get them here at home first, I think that plays to our advantage with a big crowd and a big night with Saves-for-a-Cure. Hopefully we can play well and if we play like we have been we can get a point or two."
DeLuca, who along with the rest of the team hasn't played in a SUNYAC playoff game, said he thinks the team needs at least three more wins this season to make the playoffs.
"We need to at least steal one from Geneseo, at least beat Cortland and beat Fredonia. At a bare minimum we need to go 3-3," DeLuca said. "To be honest, we need to and we will steal one or two from Geneseo, maybe surprise Oswego and we owe Buffalo State big time for what they did to us earlier this season. If we win three games we should be in. If we get an extra one, we will be set."
Dickinson said many times that Brockport needs to view every SUNYAC game as a playoff game when the second half of its conference play began at Morrisville. He's used the same forward lines and defensive pairings in each of the past seven games, and he said he likes how his team is playing right now.
"I think if we continue to play like we did last weekend for 120 minutes then we will take our chances against anyone," Dickinson said.
For DeLuca, he said he's just fighting to play one more game.
"Getting to the playoffs is everything," DeLuca said. "It means more than it ever has for me because this is it. I'm fighting for one more game not just for me but for everyone."
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Sophomore defenseman Chris Luker was named Player of the Week by SUNYAC. Here's a transcript of the conversation I had with him after practice today:
On being named Player of the Week:
"It's a nice feeling. I didn't really expect it but it's nice to see our team making progress in the second half. We put a string of good games together, so hopefully we can keep it going this weekend."
On Coach Dickinson comparing him to former Golden Eagles captain Mike Hayward:
"It's an honor [to be compared to Mike Hayward]. Mike's playing professionally right now and he was the leader of our team last year, a real offensive weapon so it's nice to be compared to him. I'm just trying to step into his footsteps a little. Obviously that's not easy, but it's working out a bit this year and I'm getting some good bounces so that's nice."
On what he did last offseason to become more of an offensive player (leads the team with 17 points, had just four points last season):
"I started hitting the gym a little bit more this year to get a little stronger. I think it's just all confidence. I got comfortable right when last season ended and I was waiting a long time for this season to come. I think it's just confidence with the puck and being able to get the puck on net."
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Dickinson confirmed that sophomore goalie Jared Lockhurst wasn't able to play Saturday night against Plattsburgh because he aggravated a groin injury he sustained earlier in the season, and that was the reason Brockport decided to go with junior Aaron Green instead.
Lockhurst was a full participant in practice today and said his groin felt alright after practice.
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