By Owen Sienko
SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- After the departure of seventeen of its players last season, the Syracuse University Men’s Club Ice Hockey team knew it needed to reload its roster with new, promising talent. The club did just that during the offseason, welcoming twelve new players into its ranks for the 2019-2020 season.
This year’s rookie class is an accomplished group consisting of five forwards, five defensemen, and two goaltenders, all of whom will be given ample opportunity to make an immediate impact on the squad.
FORWARDS
#19 Vincent Barone | Left Wing | Staten Island, N.Y.
There is a strong positive correlation between freshman Vinnie Barone’s ice time and hit totals. “If I had to describe my own game with one word, I’d say physical,” he said. Barone has more to offer than just pure grit and tenacity. Last season, he served as an alternate captain for the Greater New York Stars, scoring 14 goals and 8 assists in 38 games. Barone says he is most excited for Syracuse’s home matchup against the Liberty University Flames, which he anticipates will be a heated tilt.
#5 Johnny Coggiola | Forward | Liverpool, N.Y.
Freshman Johnny Coggiola is a hard-working playmaker who will work hard to hustle his way onto the scoresheet every night. Last season, Coggiola spent time playing with the Lysander Lightning and his high school’s varsity team, the Liverpool Warriors. He says he’s most excited for road trips with the team. “I’ve never been to most of the places we are going to play games at, so I am definitely looking forward to traveling around this season,” Caggiola said.
#20 Ryan Dailey | Forward | Avon, C.T.
Junior Ryan Dailey brings grit and a strong net-front presence to Syracuse this season. Specializing in shot-blocking and body checking, Dailey says he’s prepared to do anything it takes to win. “I’m an energy guy, so I go out and do whatever I can to give my team a spark,” he said. With his eyes set on the upcoming season, Dailey says he’s only focused on one thing: winning. “I think we got a great group of guys with a lot of talent, and I’m really looking forward to winning games with them,” he said.
#24 Tommy Flynn | Forward | Fairfield, C.T.
Sophomore Tommy Flynn brings leadership experience and offensive playmaking vision to the table this season. Flynn served as the captain of the St. Joseph’s High School Cadets and received All-FCIAC honors. He also spent time playing for the Wonderland Wizards of the Connecticut Hockey Conference with Ryan Dowd. Flynn says he is most excited to watch the team progress as a unit throughout the season.
#9 Patrick Major | Center | Skaneateles, N.Y.
Junior Patrick Major will bring dynamic playmaking ability and a defensively responsible game to the Orange this season. The Onondaga County native scored at a pace of two points per game during his time with the Skaneateles High School Lakers, posting a total of 30 goals and 54 assists in 43 games. Major was a member of the NCAA Division 1 lacrosse team during his freshman year at Syracuse, but he quit before his sophomore year. Now, Major says he looks forward to getting back on the ice with his new teammates.
DEFENSEMEN
#25 Caleb Decker | Defense | Wilmette, I.L.
Freshman Caleb Decker brings a championship-winning pedigree to Syracuse this season, boasting three state championships with New Trier High School and a Bauer Selects World Championship title with the Chicago Young Americans. Last season, Decker posted three goals and 22 assists in 56 games with the Young Americans. He hopes that two-way talent translates well to the collegiate ice this season with the Orange.
#2 Ryan Dowd | Defense | Fairfield, C.T.
Sophomore Ryan Dowd is a puck-moving defenseman who is capable of bringing a physical presence to the ice. He says his most significant asset to the team is his ability to force neutral-zone turnovers and create scoring chances. Dowd last played hockey with the Fairfield Prep Jesuits, helping the team earn a state championship title in 2018. He says he is most excited for Syracuse’s highly-anticipated home game against Liberty University. Dowd is joined on the team by fellow Fairfield native Tommy Flynn, who he says he’s played with his whole life. “Every few years it seems like Tommy and I just happen to be on the same team. So in a way, it’s kind of funny that it still happens even now when we’re playing in college,” Dowd said.
#7 Mackenzie Murphy | Defense | North Conway, N.H.
Freshman Mackenzie Murphy is another highly decorated defenseman joining the team this season, bringing with him leadership experience and a well-rounded two-way game. In 2017, Murphy captained the Kennett High School Eagles to a state championship title, earning Player of the Year and First Team All-State Defenseman honors in the process. He would go on to receive First Team honors the following season before graduating and moving to Maine for one last season of high school hockey. He captained the Bridgton Academy Wolverines for one year before moving on to Syracuse, where he says he’s excited to travel with the team.
#4 Austin Ricker | Defense | Mansfield, M.A.
Freshman Austin Ricker adds leadership experience and solid, stay-at-home defense to the Orange this season. Last season, Ricker served as the captain of the Mansfield High School Hornets, scoring three goals and four assists for seven points in twenty games. He says his greatest asset to the team is neither his defensive play nor his leadership, but rather his positive attitude in the locker room and on the bench. Ricker says he is excited to compete with his new teammates this season. “They set the bar high last year, winning the league title, and we don’t expect anything less this season,” he said.
#11 Matt Zarb | Defense | Avon, C.T.
Freshman Matt Zarb is a solid defensive defenseman who thrives in his own zone and will bring a strong, physical, and sacrificial game with him every time he steps on the ice. “I try my best to be as aggressive as possible in our defensive zone and rely on my long reach to poke check and disrupt the other team when they have possession,” Zarb said of his game. He says he’s most excited for the Pink the Rink game, Syracuse’s matchup against NYU, or the game against Stonybrook University.
GOALIES
#35 Jordan Edelstein | Goalie | New York, N.Y.
Freshman Jordan Edelstein is a well-traveled goaltender, having played for five different teams before joining the Orange. Most recently, he played for the North Jersey Avalanche, posting a .863 save percentage in four games. Edelstein says he is most excited to return home to New York City to take on NYU in front of his family.
#37 Nik Manousos | Goalie | Lincoln, R.I.
Freshman Nik Manousos took a break from hockey last season to fall back in love with the sport and recondition his game. He worked with goalie coaches in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, went to the gym six times a week, and even practiced meditation and yoga. Manousos last played competitive hockey in the 2017-2018 season, when he split time between the Dells Ducks of the USPHL Premier League in Wisconsin and the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the CCHL in Ontario. He posted a .869 save percentage in four games with the Ducks and a .841 save percentage in five games with the Lumber Kings. This season, he looks forward to road trips, winning games, and spending time with the team.
Stay tuned this season to see live what these rookie players have to offer to Men's Hockey Club at Syracuse University.
Contact me:
By email: oasienko@syr.edu
On Twitter: @OsienkO