SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Orange Men’s Hockey team (0-0-0) will host the Stony Brook Seawolves (0-0-0) at Tennity Ice Pavilion this weekend to open the 2021-22 season.
It has been 18 months since the Orange last suited up and took the ice and a lot has changed. Since we last saw the Syracuse team, a whopping 13 people have graduated, including former captains, alternate captains, and the starting goaltender.
Not only has there been a loss of veteran leadership on the ice, but also behind the bench, there is a new staff as well. Chris Timmons, who spent five years coaching ACHA Division I hockey at Oswego State has taken over the head coaching duties while Jordan Alhart joins the team as his assistant coach. The pair worked together in Oswego before making the move to Syracuse.
Coach Timmons said he can’t wait to get into the action this weekend.
“First off, I’m excited,” he began. “We have a very young group and after these past couple of weeks we’ve had a chance to grow as a group and have them adjust to me and I adjust [to them], but overall it’s just been an exciting process.”
Excitement seemed to be the buzzword around the locker room ahead of the home opener. Junior Mackenzie Murphy - who enters just his second season with the team as the veteran presence on defense - compared opening weekend to a child-like giddiness.
“Normally the day before a season everything’s really exciting, but this year It’s completely different,” said Murphy. “This year it’s like being a kid the night before Christmas! We’ve waited [more than a] year for this.”
Senior forward, Colin “Slim” Morrow added, “a home opener is always exciting, but especially when we’ve had to wait so long and sacrifice so much for this, it’s even better.”
Now, nerves are definitely creeping into the heads of some athletes. Senior forward Tim Kalinowski was candid about the unknown that lies ahead.
“I'm a little nervous, to be honest! Who really knows what to expect?” He said. “It’s really, really weird the situation we’ve been in, the last time we played our [team] was different, and the world was different… but we get to be pretty damn [thrilled] to play a hockey game.”
Kalinowski added that although familiar with the stark red Stony Brook jerseys that will be across the ice from them this weekend, they have no idea what truly faces them.
“This Stony Brook team could be completely different than anything we have seen [before] because we haven’t seen them in two years,” said the senior. “It is encouraging [though] to play a team that’s been in the same boat as us.”
Stony Brook also faced the same regulations the past year including having their season canceled just weeks before the first game and only being able to practice in small groups.
While this season does promise a lot of new beginnings, opening night also marks the beginning of the end for our seniors.
“This is [our] last ever opening night,” said Kalinowski. “There’s going to be a lot of emotions… I have one year left in a career that's been 16 years, something that’s been a part of my life for my entire existence,” he shared.
Regardless if it’s their first or last home opener with the team, one thing for certain is this Syracuse team is coming to play.
Murphy said although they haven't faced an outside opponent in 18 months, their competitive spirit is at an all-time high.
“You can tell in practice this team has a will to compete and a certain standard they want to hold themselves to,” said the junior.
Senior Center Lucas Prestamo reiterated that sentiment and said it comes from the top down.
“The standards and the expectations [Coach] Timmons has for us are high just like [our] previous coaches,” he said. “The bar is set high for us and everyone's really excited to impress.”
Off the ice, Syracuse has been making noise on social media. First, the team pushed back against a mandate that tried to limit fan attendance and would not allow for any family to attend games. The Orange expressed their frustration with the new mandate and are proud to welcome their friends, family, and fans back to Tennity this season.
Additionally, Syracuse University’s trademark office tried to ban the use of the infamous ‘block S’ for clubs and club sports teams, which began a social media movement, #FreeSyracuseHockey. After gaining public support, from beyond just the Orange community, they were granted permission to continue to use the logo they have used their entire history.
While things may look different, including masks being required at all times while inside the Tennity Ice Pavilion, the boys are finally back, and man doesn’t it feel good to say that. Bring in the 2021 season with the Orange on Friday, October 1st at 7 pm, where the game will begin with a ceremonial first puck by none other than Syracuse Men’s Basketball star Buddy Boeheim.
Contact me:
By e-mail: iengelha@syr.edu
By twitter: @isabella_skye23
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