Hockey season may have ended early for some area teams, but that didn’t stop players from making commitments for next season. A number of local players and/or players who played locally are moving to new organizations next season.
NCAA Division I
Kevin Sadovski – Merrimack College (Hockey East)
Speaking of the Utica Jr. Comets, a handful of NCDC players have found new homes for next season as well. The most notable transaction is Kevin Sadvoski committing to NCAA Division I Merrimack College. The Palm Coasat, Florida native spent the past five seasons in the USPHL, the last with Utica. The 6’1″ defenseman recorded 10 goals and 30 assists last season on a bottom of the pack NCDC team. In his 81 game NCDC career Sadovski finished with 51 points.
“I’ve played in the USPHL for five seasons and I have seen my game develop a lot throughout my time. I had a great experience in Utica and the coaches really pushed me every day to be better. If you want to make it to the next level and develop your game, Utica is the perfect place for that. We had two hours on the ice every day and (the coaches) pushed us hard to compete. The facility is top notch and with the brand-new Nexus Center coming. Players will have everything they need to make themselves better”. Sadvoski said.
Merrimack plays in the Hockey East Conference. They finished last season in the second from last spot with a 7-14-3 conference record. They were 9-22-3 overall.
NCAA Division III
Donald Borgula – Lake Forest College (NCHA)
The Canton, Michigan native spent the past two seasons playing for the Utica Jr. Comets NCDC team. He played a total of 98 games and ammassed 25 goals and 45 assists. His 46 points led the team this season. The Assistant Captain will be taking his talents to Lake Forest, Illinois where he will join old NCDC teammates Nick Wiencek (G) and Sam Lau (D).
Lake Forest finished the regular season with an 18-3-6 record. They won the NCHA Tournament and were ranked 10th in the nation as they were preapring to play St. Thomas in the first round of the NCAA tournament when the season was cancelled.
Colin Mehren – Bethel University (MIAC)
Colin is 6’3″ defenseman from Lakeville, Minnesota who spent all of last season with the NCDC team. The 19 year old recorded 6 points and 66 penalty minutes in 50 games. Mehren will be returning to Minnesota next season following his commitment to NCAA Division III Bethel University. The Royals finished last season with 7-14-4 (6-6-4-1 in the MIAC) overall record.
Michael Herrera – Nazareth College (UCHC)
Michael Herrera is a 17 year old from Syracuse who spent almost the entire season with the Jr. Comets Premier program. While there he played 35 games and put up 10 goals, 8 assists, and 48 penalty minutes. He was promoted to the NCDC team for two games where he was pointless. Herrera has committed to play college hockey at NCAA DIII Nazareth College out of Rochester. Nazareth plays in the UCHC and is a familiar foe at the Adirondack Bank Center. Nazareth finished fifth in the conference last season with a 8-10-0 record. They were 12-13-3 overall on the year.
Mike Kocsis – Arcadia University 2020-21 (UCHC)
Although he didn’t finish the season in Utica, Kocsis played 12 games with the Comets before moving on to the Sheridan Hawks of the NA3HL. While in Utica he scored 1 goal and had 3 assists. Kocsis has committed to Arcadia University for the 2021-22 season. Arcadia is a new program the will begin play in 2021-22. It is unclear where Kocsis will be playing in 2020-21.
Jeremy Gabriele – Endicott College (CCC)
Gabriele didn’t play for Utica last season, but was a member of the team in 2018-19. During that year he put up 18 points in 28 games. He played all of last season for the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL scoring 3 goals and recording 13 assists in 53 games. Gabriele will be attending, and playing hockey, at Endicott College next season. The Gulls are a Division III program who play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Endicott finished 16-2-0 in the conference last season. They won the CCC Championship, were ranked 12th in the nation, and were set to play Plymouth St. in the NCAA First Round before the season was canceled.
Troy Chamberlain – Boston Jr. Rangers (EHL)
Back on April 7th the Boston Jr. Rangers of the Eastern Hockey League announced the signing of Troy Chamberlain. Chamberlain was a vital part of the Whitesboro Warriors success last season. Unfortunately, that season was cut short and the Warriors were denied the opportunity to play in a state semi-final game due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chamberlain put up 17 goals and 19 assists in 23 games.
The Boston Jr. Rangers finished first in the EHL’s New England Conference last season with a 39-5-2 record. The EHL focuses on advancing players to college hockey and currently has over 1,100 NCAA commitments and counting. Players who advance are most likely to play at the NCAA Division III level.
Andrew Manley – Utica Jr. Comets Premier (USPHL)
Another Warrior will also be wearing new colors next season, but in a familiar place. Defenseman Andrew Manley will be joining the Utica Jr. Comets Premier squad for the 2020-21 season. Manley finished the season with 2 goals and 11 assists. The Jr. Comets Premier team had their phenomenal season cut short during playoffs. They finished the season 13th overall (out of 52 teams) in the entire Premier Division with a 30-11-2 record.
Jadon Lee – Richmond Generals (USPHL)
Jadon Lee will be moving on to the USPHL after graduating from Fulton High School. He will be joining the Generals in Richmond, Virginia. Lee posted a .942 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average with 3 shutouts in 21 games last season. Jadon broke the Fulton High School record for most saves in a career and was named to the Division I First-Team All-Stars last season.
Zach Bookman – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
The Syracuse native spent last season playing for Millbrook Prep where he put up 6 goals and 27 assists in 32 games. Bookman also played for the Syracuse Nationals, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Rochester Coalition, and Rochester Selects during his youth hockey career. The 2022-23 Merrimack College commit will be heading to Brooks, Alberta, Canada to join the Bandits this season. The Bandits finished second in the South Division with a record of 46-10-2 last season and were looking to defend their 2019 League Championship before the season was cancelled.
Daniel Colabufo – Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
Colabufo will be moving from The Northwood School to the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL for his last season before beginning his career at NCAA DI Holy Cross in 2021-22. The Bonnyville Pontiacs play in the AJHL. They finished 4th in the North division with a 33-21-4 record.
Colabufo spent the last two seasons playing for the Northwood Prep and 18U team. In those two seasons Colabufo scored 32 goals and 31 assists in 68 Prep games. He also recorded 14 goals and 16 assists in 28 USPHL 18U games. Prior to his time at Northwood he played for West Genesee High School where he scored 156 points in three seasons.
Bauer Morrissey – Cranbrook (BCHL)
Morrissey played last season at Millbrook School as well. He scored 10 goals and 19 assists in 32 games which topped all other Milbrook defenseman. Prior to Millbrook he played two seasons at Skaneateles High School. Cranbrook is a newly formed team entering their first season of play.
Mark Meinecke – Boston Jr. Rangers (EHL)
Meinecke will also be joining the Boston Jr. Rangers next season. The 19 year old played for three different NCDC teams last season, finishing up the year with 27 games in Utica. He recorded 2 assists and 16 penalty minutes in that time. Prior to Utica he appeared in 5 games for the New Jersey Hitmen and 13 for the South Shore Kings.
Prep School
Charlie Russell – The Northwood School
The Skaneateles junior recorded 20 goals and 32 assists in 23 games with the Lakers last season. Russell played the last two seasons with the Rochester Coalition in Rochester who is a member of the BEAST League. Northwood School is a private high school located in Lake Placid, NY
Garrett Krieger – The Northwood School
Joining Russell at Northwood is Kreiger who just wrapped up his sophomore year with Skaneateles High School. He potted 27 goals and 26 assists last season. Krieger also played for the Coalition.
Cam Lowe – Millbrook School
Another Lakers member is off to prep school next season. Defenseman Cam Lowe will be moving on to the Millbrook School. Lowe recorded 9 goals and 17 assists in his sopohmore season. Lowe was also a member of the Coalition. Millbrook School is located in Millbrook, NY
Jack Henry – Selects Academy at Bishop Kearney
After scoring 11 goals and 19 assists as a sophomore, Henry will be taking his talents to Bishop Kearney for the 2021-22 season. Henry also spent time playing for the Syracuse Nationals 14U and Rochester Selects 15U. Bishop Kearney is located in Rochester, NY.
Ryan Durand – Albany Academy
Durand completed his senior season with 11 goals and 36 assists. Durand was on the NYSPHSAA Division I State Championship team one year ago.
Matt Gagnon – The Gunnery
Gagnon played the past few seasons with the Rochester Monarchs and Rochester Selects. The 17 year old did play a season for Liverpool High school back in 2018-19 where he recorded 11 goals and 26 assists.
Other
Christopher-Robin Ericson – Koping HC (HockeyEttan DI)
The 20 year old native of Sweden came over to North America for the 2019-20 season and played in 48 games with Utica. He tallied 6 goals and 18 assists to go along with 24 penalty minutes. Ericson is returning to Sweden to play for Koping HC of HockeyEttan Division I. They finished in 10th place out of 12 teams in the Vastra Division last season with a 5-16-1 record. HockeyEttan is the third-tier league of professional hockey in Sweden.
Spencer Sasenbury – Boston Hockey Academy (Tier 1 AAA)
Sasenbury is a Fayetteville native who recorded 48 points in 25 USPHL games last season with the Comets. He will be attending the Boston Hockey Academy next season. The Boston Imperials are a Tier 1 AAA program that plays roughly 50 games a year.
Do you know of any other players who are moving to new teams next season? Please let me know!
