A Full Dive Into The 2024-2025 Season for the ESCHL Runner-Ups

By Brooke Killgore, Chloe Martinez and Bella Cucci

Taken by Maria Kaffes / @mariakaffesimages

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — As the lights shut off in Tennity Ice Pavilion and the Zamboni covers extensive scratches on the ice, the sound of achievement still rings in the air. 

In 2023-24, the Syracuse Orange finished with a 12-14-2 record, going 2-9-1 in the ESCHL. This year, a young core combined with seasoned veterans and consistent goaltending helped the program to take a massive step. 

‘Cuse closed out what proved to be a breakout season with a 16-14-2 overall record, and went 3-5-2 in ESCHL play. Alongside celebrating several 100th-game milestones, the program also saw its first trip to the conference playoffs in five years. There the team lived up to the Cardiac ‘Cuse mantra in two come-from-behind matchups that ended in a championship appearance. 

Fresh Prince of Tennity Ice Pavilion

On a team essentially run by veterans, freshman Cam Gaffney didn’t just keep up, he dominated a good portion of his freshman campaign. As the Syracuse University Men’s Ice Hockey team concludes its 2024-25 season, forward Cam Gaffney made his mark on the season.

Gaffney made a smooth transition to collegiate hockey, quickly proving he belonged at the ACHA level. Over 35 games, he recorded 12 goals and added 19 assists, finishing with 31 points. His strong first year earned him a well-deserved spot on the 2024-25 ESCHL All-Rookie Team.

Coming from a strong prep school background at Tabor Academy, where he tallied 28 goals and 37 assists over two seasons, Gaffney entered the ACHA ranks with high expectations. He upheld those standards, finishing second in total points on the team—trailing only captain Sam Hutchison.

Syracuse has had a strong season, and Gaffney’s contributions have played a role in the team’s success. Although the team entered the ECHL playoffs as the fifth seed, they overcame regular-season losses to upset higher-ranked opponents and ultimately secured a runner-up finish. Gaffney continued his tear in the post season scoring two timely goals and notching an assist throughout the weekend.

Distribution of Wealth

Last season, the Orange relied heavily on Hutchinson to spearhead their offense, as the fifth-year recorded 16 goals and 16 assists in 28 games played. While then-freshman Brett Edgren followed close behind with 11 goals and 15 assists of his own, Hutchinson led in every category with no rival.

That all changed this season. Syracuse brandished eight different players with ten or more goals and ten skaters with ten or more assists. Hutchinson returned to the top of the scorecard with 33 (14-19-33) points on the season but Gaffney followed close behind with 31. The freshman phenom tied the fifth year with 19 assists on the season.

Junior forward and alternate captain Jack Alecia left a lasting impression with a team-high 19 goals and 11 assists in just 24 games played. One of the original members of the Hutchinson-Brock Alvers line, his efforts combined with the two produced 90 points throughout the 37-game season.

However, it wasn't just the top unit that contributed to the Syracuse offense. The Orange seemed to get scoring from all 4 lines throughout the 2024-25 season. The line of Duffy-Vassilovski-Wren combined for 12 points in the 3 game conference tournament. Seniors Anthony Larkin and Max Gargurevich, who were staples on the team's so-called fourth line, combined for 31 points during the final seasons in Orange. The duo notched just 7 points the year prior.

On the defensive end, freshman Ryan Thomas solidified his role as one of the top defensemen after a nine-goal and 12-assist performance. The former St. Cloud Norsemen skater kick-started his campaign with an assist at Robert Morris in September before scoring his first goal on the power play against Delaware during Hall of Fame Alumni Weekend. Following Thomas, junior alternate captain Connor Chesner accumulated six goals and 13 assists. 

Crease Lightning

This season, protection between the pipes was nothing short of impressive. Juniors A.J. Finta and John Angelino and senior Chris Spano delivered a number of standout performances. From brilliant saves to helping the team reach playoff hockey, these goalies proved to be instrumental in the team’s success.

Finta had a standout year, earning 13 wins in 21 games with a 3.89 GAA and a .890 SV%. With 1,235 minutes, he played key roles in the team’s success, including a crucial sweep of Delaware during Hall of Fame Weekend and an outstanding performance against a top 10 Niagara team in the final game of the series earning 36 saves in the win. 

Against Delaware, the Connecticut native made forty saves only letting in two goals in game 2 of the weekend. His consistency throughout the season proved him a vital asset for the team. Finta surpassed his win total from last season, showcasing a needed consistency in crucial moments.

Spano, in his final season, posted a 3.39 GAA, 339 saves, and a .874 SV%. He played a crucial role in a road win at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, making 34 saves and allowing just 2 goals. He played a total of 759 minutes, showing significant progress from last season in both performance and stats. Despite a 2-1 loss to Rhode Island in his last regular season appearance, Spano’s impressive saves stood out, marking a memorable moment in his collegiate career.

Finally, John Angelino played 200 minutes and ended with a save percentage of .866. In his start against Kent State, he saved 28 of 33 shots. After five games and two starts, Angelino gave a steady performance ending the season with a GAA of 4.50.

The Orange reached the ESCHL playoffs for the first time in six years, with Finta and Spano leading the way. Both goalies delivered solid performances that helped the team advance to the final. In the quarterfinals against Drexel, Finta started, but was ejected from the game early in the first period. Spano stepped in and helped the Orange earn a comeback win, securing the team’s place in the second round. 

In the second round, Finta made 21 saves on 26 shots. For the final, the junior took his last start of the season, making great saves until overtime. In his final game, he recorded 42 saves on 47 shots, giving it his all in the team's last game.

As the season concludes, Finta and Angelino will return for their senior seasons, looking to provide the same high-level defense between the pipes next season.

THANK YOU

The Syracuse men’s hockey media and operations staff would like to thank the players, coaches and most importantly, the fans for their dedication. We work to provide every person in our community with the most timely, accurate and high-quality products through broadcasting, photography, stats, social media, and beat writing. Your dedication and commitment to our team and program are of the utmost importance, thank you for sticking with us in our coverage of all 37 pre-season, regular season, and playoff games. We can’t wait to get back to it next season.

Contact me:

X: @BKillgore13

Email: bnkillgo@syr.edu

X: @bcucci24

Email: bellacucci242424@gmail.com

X: @Chloemartinez28

Email: cmarti97@syr.edu