ALEX KALUZNY
Social Media Intern
In Disney’s version of the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team, in the movie “Miracle,” forward Mark Johnson only needed four words to explain to head coach Herb Brooks why the team shouldn’t allow another person to try out before the final cut.
“Because we’re a family,” he said.
When it comes to Fredonia, head coach Jeff Meredith is the one with his own meaning of that line. The central theme when it comes to Fredonia’s hockey program is that the team, no matter the graduating class, becomes a family.
“What makes the program special are the people, the guys. God makes hockey players every day. What makes these guys special is whether they are in their 40s or 50s or the guys here now, it’s the quality of people that makes this program special. Our recruiting specializes around getting good people before anything,” Meredith said. “I get calls daily from alumni looking for recommendations for jobs. There is a network between past players for jobs, which I believe to be the strength of the program.”
The players that Meredith and his coaching staffs have brought in over the years have found a lot of importance in how they relate to the community. He has had families come to meet up with former players from years past that reunite, simply because those teams had such an impact on those families.
“As a visible sport on campus and in the community, it is important [that] we are giving back to the community and being positive role models. It’s important we are not taking; that we give back because you are welcomed here. It’s important we integrate our players with the community,” he said.
Meredith has been behind the Blue Devils bench for 27 seasons and all but their first. In that first season, the Blue Devils went winless. As a head coach, Meredith holds every win in the program’s history. How do you help start a program from that?
“Work hard, do things the right way,” he said, “I got here in 1988 and even when they went through that 0-22 year Fredonia got good crowds that just didn’t stick around long [because of the score.] Five years later we made the Division III Final Four, and for two years straight, as the number one team.”
Speaking of those crowds, the loyal following appears to have been there from the start.
“We had a great atmosphere and, like anyone else, they want to see their team win. We’re fortunate to have a good following from both community and campus. It’s about 50/50 between the two,” he said.
The crowds at Fredonia have made the school a special place for hockey. In addition to the people, home ice advantage is given based on where you play as well. Steele Hall is a small, more unique venue in the SUNYAC. The arena also has become much more polished with the recent seating renovations. Like all “barns” in hockey, even Steele has its quirks that Meredith loves.
“The people are right on top of the action [in Steele.] We were able to make it our place. The people of this campus keep the facility well kept. We have the team pictures, all american plaques and pro players section on the back wall that make the arena feel like such a comfortable place to play.”
Even though the arena is comfortable, that doesn’t mean that the play style of the teams in the conference are.
The SUNYAC conference is competitive on any given night. Some games can go from blowout to overtime in the blink of an eye. When it comes to playing Fredonia, there is one person within the program who currently knows just what it is like to play the Blue Devils.
Ask the newly appointed assistant coach, Michael Lysyj, a former opponent, about when he played at Cortland for four years before graduating in 2013. “You’re gonna get hit, you’re life won’t be easy, you won’t have a lot of room and you’re going to play a full 60 minutes, maybe more against this [Fredonia] team,” Lysyj said.
“I think they know our team is going to work hard,” Meredith replied.
Part of that attitude is the players the team recruits. Division III hockey, and the SUNYAC conference as well, has become highly competitive off the ice as well as on it.
“The skill level, organization of teams and the preparation is at an all time high. You used to recruit in your general geographic area. Now if you aren’t in British Columbia, you’re missing the boat. We were at a showcase recently in BC and about half of the teams in our conference were there,” Meredith said.
As for the program itself and where it stands, you do not need to remind Meredith where that rests. After all, the past couple seasons for the Blue Devils haven’t exactly been pleasing in the record books.
“We had a couple down years here. We only won seven games in each of the last two years. Two of the worst records in Fredonia hockey history. We have a pretty big job of turning that around. There’s a lot of things that go into being successful in a sport in college,” he said.
How can that be turned around?
“One of the biggest is how you balance your on-ice habits and off-ice habits,” Meredith said. “If you’re out three nights a week, you can’t be a successful college hockey player in the SUNYAC or Fredonia. I think, through conversation with players last Spring, that was an issue and in some way responsible for the lack of success. We have a big job to do and a lot of focus is needed to start this season.”
Now mix together the competitive nature of the SUNYAC conference — what do you get?
“The talent level is so close that [it is] the little things separate the top and bottom teams. We talk about habits and specifically off-ice habits are a huge thing that separates teams. You go into a Friday night with similar ability level and it’s what Team A did Sunday through Thursday vs. what Team B did Sunday through Thursday,” he said.
At the end of the day, Meredith returns to his home, which has been Fredonia for all these years he has coached here. Why did he decide to plant his roots here in this small town?
“Fredonia is a very friendly place, a great community, there’s fantastic people on and off campus, and it’s a very comfortable and welcoming place,” Meredith said.
Now that’s not to say a few changes had not occurred along the way.
“I came here single, thin and with dark hair,” he said. “Now I have been married 23 years with three boys, not so thin and with grey hair and loving every minute of it.”
As Meredith has learned, with a family of his own, one of the unique aspects of Fredonia hockey comes back to his family of players.
“The family atmosphere here is our biggest tradition. The older I get the more value I place on that. There is a board in my office of former player’s kids and Christmas cards. I can tell you the names of all the kids. Personally, that’s a nice thing to show they had a great experience while they were here,” he said.
At the end of the day, each player that passes through the program has a sense of family with their teammates and the past and future of the team. That family carries them through games, practices, seasons, workouts, studies, careers and much more.
This season, Fredonia has a lot of work ahead of them as they look to turn the past two seasons around. If they are to succeed, they will need the help of their family within that locker room — their teammates — and come together.
“We are fortunate to get great kids here and tremendous alumni that are always part of the program,” Meredith said. “When you’re a hockey player at Fredonia, you’re always a hockey player and always a part of the family.”