CURTIS HENRY
Sports Editor
For the first time since the 2013-14 season, the Fredonia Blue Devils men’s hockey team found themselves back in the SUNYAC tournament this February. Unfortunately for Fredonia, the Feb. 22 matchup with nationally ranked Buffalo State ended with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their opponents.
“It was a good game. You had two good teams with two all-conference goaltenders. We expected a low scoring, tough hockey game, and that’s exactly what we got,” said Head Coach Jeff Meredith.
The defeat capped a season in which the Blue Devils won 13 games, the highest total for the team since the 2010-2011 season. Additionally, the team had two players selected for the all-conference third team. Both junior forward Sam Wilbur and sophomore goalie Eric Bogart were given the honors, which were well deserved in the words of Meredith.
“If you’re looking for a guy that really stepped up this season, the first that comes to mind is Sam Wilbur,” said Meredith. “He took summer and made a 180-degree turnaround physically with his body. He came in this season and was basically a new player. He really stepped it up.
“As for Eric [Bogart], he shared the net a year ago and came back this season as a full-time starter and stepped it up to an all-conference level. He’s done all we could ask,” said Meredith.
All-conference honors have been hard to come by for Fredonia’s hockey team as of late. Wilbur and Bogart are the first to receive the honors — in any estimation — since Steve Rizer made all-conference first team during his senior season of 2011.
With regard to future aspirations for the program, Meredith stressed that there is still work to be done in the 2017-18 season. The program is expecting to return all but five players who are graduating.
“I asked the guys who are coming back after the Buffalo State game, ‘Okay, what do we do now? Are we satisfied with 13 wins?’ I’d really hope not,” said Meredith. “I’d hope we come in next year with sights on improving. Let’s strive to top that 13 win mark, let’s strive to get a home playoff game. Let’s advance in SUNYACs.”
Meredith’s final thoughts on this particular team sang nothing of praise.
“It was a fun team to coach and to be around. I think our strength was in our sense of family, it was a really close-knit group of guys,” said Meredith. “I really couldn’t ask any more out of them. They are great players, great teammates. They’re a great group of student athletes, but really, they’re just great people and they’ve done a good job in returning this program to the high standards of the past.”