2016 Shattuck St. Mary's Showcase Schedule

The weekend schedule is set for the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Showcase in Faribault, MN.  The field consists of the 5 teams of the Interscholastic Hockey League, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (MN), Nichols School (NY), Culver Academy (IN), Northwood School (NY), and St. Andrew’s College (ON).  There will be a sixth guest team, Sioux Falls Stampede 18U to round out the field.  The 5 teams will meet again Jan 13-15 in Lake Placid, NY adding CEGEP St. Foye to the group as the guest team.  The weekend schedule is below.

Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep Showcase

December 2-4, 2016

Friday – December 2

2:00 PM New Rink – Northwood vs. Nichols

5:00 PM New Rink – Sioux Falls vs. Culver

8:00 PM New Rink – SSM vs. St. Andrews

Saturday – December 3

10:00 AM New Rink – Nichols vs. Sioux Falls

1:00 PM New Rink – Northwood vs. St. Andrews

4:00 PM New Rink – SSM vs. Culver

Sunday – December 14

8:00 AM New Rink – St. Andrews vs. Sioux Falls

10:00 AM Old Rink – Culver vs. Northwood

11:00 AM New Rink – SSM vs. Nichols

***Team listed first will be the home team and wear light colored jerseys.

****Games will be 20 minute periods with a cut after the 1^st and 2^nd period of each game.

Weekend Recap: Berkshire Showcase

The Nichols Boys Prep traveled to Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA to play a two game set in front of dozens of college and junior coaches to showcase their talents and compete with some of the best prep school in New England.  The field consisted of Berkshire, Brunswick, Northwood, Gunnery, Kent, Pomfret, and Canterbury with Nichols taking on the host Berkshire School, and Brunswick School from Greenwich, CT.  Overall it was a positive day finishing with a 3-3 tie against Berkshire and a 2-0 win over Brunswick.

Nichols 3, Berkshire 3 – In the first game of the Berkshire Showcase, Nichols took on the host team and settled for a 3-3 tie.  The Big Green jumped on the board quickly when Chris Morrison (99/Jr/Ridgefield, CT) netted his second in as many games off an Andrew Fromen (99/Jr/Amherst) rebound set up by Dylan Lugris (01/Fr/Buffalo).  Berkshire would answer back with two quick goals and take the 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first half.  Although Berkshire would score a third goal in the first shift of the second half, Nichols would show its character and got to work.  Matt Gasuik (99/Sr/South Buffalo) netted a power play goal to even the score with assists coming from Cole Donhauser (99/Jr/Kenmore) and Jack Millar (99/Sr/Hamburg).  Nichols continued to apply the pressure, and Dylan Lugris found the back of the net on a shot from the top of the circles to even the score.  Robbie Nichereno (01/So/Williamsville)  played the first 30 minutes making 12 saves on 14 shots.  Josh Graziano (00/Jr/Williamsville) made 12 saves on 13 shots in his 30 minutes of action.

Nichols 2, Brunswick 0 – With only an hour to regroup and take on its next opponent, Nichols showed it’s grit with a strong effort against Brunswick School earning a 2-0 win.  Although the first half ended in a scoreless tie, Nichols put on great pressure as it pumped 18 shots on the Brunswick net.  The group was determined to pick up where they left off, and Matt Gasuik (99/Sr/South Buffalo) cashed in on a rebound set up by Bryan Bylsma (99/Sr/Buffalo) and Cole Donhauser (99/Jr/Kenmore).  The pressure continued and Dylan Lugris (01/Fr/Buffalo) buried a rebound as the power play expired with assists going to Steve Senese (99/Sr/Niagara Falls) and Lucas Herrmann (00/Jr/Lancaster).  In net, Josh Graziano (00/Jr/Williamsville)  and Robbie Nuchereno (01/So/Williamsville) each made 7 saves splitting the game as Nichols held a 39-14 shot advantage.  

Weekend Recap: Boys' Prep Defeats Blyth-South at Home

The Boys' Prep team took the home ice of Dann Memorial Arena for a Saturday night tilt and cruised to a 5-0 victory over Blyth Academy (South) of Burlington, ON.  It was the first time in the history of the program that these two teams met.  After a scoreless first period where teams were feeling each other out, Jeffrey Kopek (So/Camillus, NY) finally broke the tie with a shorthanded goal midway through the second period.  Brandon Hausler (Sr/Montgomery, TX) extended the lead before the close of the period.  The big Green came out and put the game away with a dominating third period out shooting Blyth 22-2 in the final frame.  Cole Donhauser (Jr/Kenmore) scored the third goal of the game on the power play.  Chris Morrison (Jr/Ridgefield, CT) added to the lead with the fourth goal of the game on a nice tic-tac-toe play around the net, and Dylan Lugris (Fr/Buffalo) finished the scoring with the teams' second power play goal of the evening.  Josh Graziano (Jr/Clarence) and Robbie Nuchereno (So/Clarence) combined to make 14 saves and earn the shutout as Nichols out shot Blyth 39-14 on the day.  Next up for the Big Green is a trip to the Harborcenter Cup in downtown Buffalo.

Harborcenter Cup Schedule Released

The schedule is out and the Boys' Prep team could not be more excited to see the list of opponents heading in to the Harborcenter Cup held in downtown Buffalo from October 28-30.  The tournament opens on Friday with a 9:15am game against defending 18U National Champions Pittsburgh Pens Elite 18U.  Later in the evening, the Boys' Prep will face the Chicago Mission 18U at 6:00pm.  On Saturday, the opponent will be the Boston Junior Bruins at 1:00pm.  Game 4 of the weekend will be determined based on performance in the first three games.

Boys' Prep to Host Blyth Academy This Weekend

The Boys' Prep team will host Blyth Academy-South this Saturday, October 22 at Dann Memorial Arena.  This will be the first time Nichols has played the Blyth Academy-South team in its' history.  Last winter, Nichols hosted Blyth Academy-Central during Winter Sports Weekend.  The Prep team has been off since it's semifinal loss at the Compuware-Honeybaked Invite on October 9.  Puck drops at 6:30pm.  We hope to see you there.

Weekend Recap: Compuware Honeybaked Invite

HC Dallas 1, Nichols Prep 0 – It was a tough start for the Big Green in Detroit as they fell to a hard-nosed team from Dallas, TX.  Members of the NAPHL, Dallas played a tight checking game and received strong goaltending as the Vikings were unable to find the back of the net.  A second period goal from Dallas proved to be the game  winner as Josh Graziano (00/Clarence) was strong in the loss making 18 saves.

Nichols 4, Chicago Young Americans 1 – No rest for the weary as Nichols turned around six hours later to face a speedy and creative Chicago Young Americans team.  Tom Elia (99/Lewiston) put Nichols on the board in the first shift with a shot that found it’s way through traffic in front.  Cole Donhauser (99/Kenmore) gave the Vikings some breathing room a few minutes later.  However, Chicago would find the net before the end of the first period keeping the game within reach.  A scoreless second period saw both teams trading chances, but neither was able to break through.  Steve Senese (99/Niagara Falls) added two third period goals to put the game away.  Robbie Nuchereno (01/Williamsville)  was strong in net making 21 saves for the win. 

Nichols 2, MDHL Green 2 – Nichols came out on Saturday with a strong effort only to see a lead disappear in the last three minutes.  Once again, the Big Green scored in the first shift with a nice wraparound goal from Cole Donhaiser (99/Kenmore).  Mid way through the first, Donhauser  scored his second of the game to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.  This lead held up until MDHL was able to spring a player free with three minutes to play and added a goal in the final minute with the extra attacker on the ice.  Josh Graziano (00/Clarence) was strong in nets again making 22 saves. 

Nichols 4, Esmark 2 – Although it was game 4 in 2 days, Nichols needed a win to place first in their bracket and earn a birth in the Gold semifinals, and the boys delivered.  Although it was a scoreless first period, Nichols was establishing their game, and Cole Donhauser (99/Kenmore) broke through in the second period with a power play tally.  The power play came through again when Bryan Bylsma (99/Buffalo) defelected a point shot past the Esmark goaltender for a 2-0 lead after two periods.  Esmark scored early to cut the lead in half, but Nichols continued to play their game.  Brandon Hausler (99/Montgomery, TX) responded quickly to re-establish the 2 goal lead.  Dylan Lugris (01/Buffalo) extended the lead to three goals.  Esmark would score late in the game, but Nichols held on for the win.  Robbie Nuchereno (01/Williamsville) put together another strong performance making 22 saves for the win.

Michigan Hockey Advancement 2, Nichols 1 – The run for the title came to an end as Nichols fell to a very good Michigan Hockey Advancement team in the Gold Semifinals.  Both teams traded opportunities all game long, but Michigan was able to strike first in the second period.  Cole Donhauser (99/Kenmore) would even the score before the second period came to a close.  A bounce off of a skate with five minutes to play would prove to be the game winner for Michigan despite some great opportunities for Nichols down the stretch.  Josh Graziano (00/Clarence) was outstanding making 31 saves in the loss.

Compuware Honeybaked Invitational Schedule Released

The schedule for the Compuware/Honeybaked AAA Invitational has been released and the Vikings are looking forwards to the challenges that lie ahead.  The tournament is held in the Detroit, MI area with the 18U division primarily focused in the Dearborn/Farmington/Plymouth Area.  Nichols will play it's round robin games at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center. The tournament is held from October 7 to October 9.

The weekend kicks off with a game against #54 ranked HC Dallas at 8:00am on Friday.  In game 2, the Vikings take on #59 ranked Chicago Young Americans at 3:40pm.  On Saturday, Game 3 will be against MDHL Green, currently ranked #21.  The round robin concludes with a game against familiar foe Pittsburgh Esmark Stars, currently ranked #71.

A full schedule can be found at the tournament website  by clicking here.

Weekend Recap: Jr. Bruins Shootout

Although it was a disappointing result, the weekend in Marlborough, MA was still a success in many ways.  There were long stritches of quality play from the Big Green, and the team is beginning to find it's identity as a group.  A 2-1 finish in round robin play was not enough to advance, the team battled through adversity and left the weekend in a better place than where they started.

Skipjacks 4, Nichols 1 - Game 1 of the weekend put the Big Green up against a 4-0 York Skipjacks team of teh USPHL.  The skipjacks built a 2-0 lead just before the half despite some quality play from the Vinkings squad.  Penalties in the final third of the game found Nichols falling behind at 4-0 before Tom Elia (Sr/99, Lewiston) would find the back of the net on the power play for his first goal of the season.  Josh Graziano (Jr/00, Clarence) made 18 saves on the day.

Nichols 6, Rochester 1 - Nichols would rebound later in the day with an improved effort against another USPHL team walking away with a 6-1 victory.  Cole Donhauser (Jr/99, Kenmore) opened the scoring with one of his two goals on the evening. Bryan Bylsma (Sr/99, Buffalo) extended the lead to 2-0 shortly after.  The game would open up in the finals third of the game.  Rochester found the net to close the gap to 2-1, but Steve Senese (Sr/99, Niagara Falls) and Dylan Lugris (Fr/01, Buffalo) scored goals 40 seconds apart to take control of the scoreboard.  Donhauser would add his second of the game and Charlie Carlson (Sr/98, Orchard Park) would complete the scoring with a shorthanded tally.  Robbie Nuchereno (So/01, Clarence) made 17 saves on the day.

Nichols 5, Ct. Jr Rangers 4 - Although the play was not indicative of the score, the Vikings pulled out a tight 5-4 victory against their third USPHL opponent of the weekend.  It was all Nichols early as Lucas Herrmann (Jr/00, Lancaster) opened the scoring in the first shift followed by a Steve Senese (Sr/99, Niagara Falls) strike in the third shift.  Cole Donhauser (Jr/99, Kenmore) would quickly extend the lead to 3-0 follwed by another by Dylan Lugris (Fr/01, Buffalo) to make it 4-0.  The Rangers would battle back amd make it a 4-3 game but Senese would add his second of the game to take control once again.  The Rangers would adda late goal to make it interesting but the defense held up and Nichols claimed victory for the third time this season.  Josh Graziano (Jr/00, Clarence) made 8 saves and Robbie Nuchereno (So/01, Clarence) made 9 saves as they split duties
in the win.

The Vikings take the weekend off before heading to the Compuware/Honeybaked Invitational in Detroit, MI over Columbus Day Weekend.

Weekend Off Sets Stage for First Tournament

The Big Green took the weekend off after a hard week of practice as they prepare for the 2016 Junior Bruins Shootout.  This tournament is one of the premier events in New England. The Shootout is a tournament format for the 18U and 16U levels but also has USPHL games played in a showcase format at the Premier, Elite and Empire levels. The Shootout consistently draws well over 100 college, junior, and pro coaches and scouts,  and it is one of best attended tournaments/showcases in New England.  Last season, Nichols went 2-1 in the round robin play ultimately losing out in a three way tie-breaker to advance to the playoffs.  The team is determined to find themselves in a different position in 2016.

2016 Jr. Bruins Shootout Schedule Released

The schedule is out for the Jr Bruins Shootout held in Marlborough, MA from September 23-25.  Game 1 starts on Friday with the York Skipjacks 18U, followed by a game with in-state rival, the Rochester Monarchs 18U.  Saturday brings a game against the Connecticut Jr Rangers.  All three opponents compete in the US Premier Hockey League 18U Division.  All games will be played at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, MA


9/23  v York Skipjacks 18U           12:30pm  Rink 4
9/23  v  Rochester Monarchs 18U   8:10pm  Rink 5
9/24  v  Ct. Jr Rangers 18U            11:00am  Rink 3    

Weekend Recap: Boys' Prep Earns Opening Weekend Split

The Boys’ Prep team opened their season with a home and home series against the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 18U.  In game 1, Matt Gasuik (Sr/1999) and Bryan Bylsma (Sr/1999) found the back of the net, but it wasn’t enough in the 5-2 loss to open the season.  Josh Graziano (Jr/2000) played well in his first action of the season stopping 27 of the 32 shots he faced in the game.  It was a different team that took the ice at the Harbor Center in game 2 as Nichols exploded for 3 goals in the first period to propel the Vikings to a 5-2 victory.  Matt Gasuik continued his strong play scoring 2 more and adding an assist.  Linemates Connor Zak (Sr/1998) and Steven Senese (Sr/1999) each added a tally while Jeffrey Kopek (So/2001) scored his first goal of his Nichols career.  Robbie Nuchereno (So/2001) made 24 saves for the win.  Nichols will take some time off as they prepare for the Jr Bruins Shootout in Marlbourough, MA from September 23-25.

Strong Start Gives Boys' Prep Weekend Split

Jeffrey Kopek makes it 2-0.

The Big Green got back to work for game 2 of the weekend series with the Buffalo Jr, Sabres 18U and earned the split with a 5-2 victory.  Nichols found the net 3 times in the first period with goals coming from Matt Gasuik, Jeffrey Kopek, and Steven Senese.  The lead would be cut to 3-1 in the second period, but Matt Gasuik responded with his second of the night to extend the lead to 4-1.  The Jr Sabres would put up a strong fight and cut the lead again to 4-2 midway through the period, but Connor Zak sealed the game with an empty netter in the last minute.  Robbie Nuchereno earned his first career victory making 24 saves in the game.  The Prep team will be back in action when they head to Boston for the Jr. Bruins Shootout on September 23rd.

Prep Boys Drop Game 1

The Prep Boys opened the season at home with a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Jr Sabres 18U. Matt Gausik and Bryan Bylsma both lit the lamp but it wasn't enough to counter the Jr Sabres attack. Josh Graziano made 27 saves in net. The same teams take the ice Sunday morning  at the Harbor Center. The puck drops at 8:30am. 

Home Opener This Saturday

The Prep team embarks on its' 108^th season with a home and home series against cross town rival, the Buffalo Jr Sabres 18U.  Game 1 takes place at the Dann on Saturday, Sept 10 at 6:30pm.  Game 2 shifts downtown to the Harborcenter at 8:30am on September 11.  This should be an early preview to two of the top contenders in NYSAHA at the 18U level.  

2016-17 Prep Schedule Highlights

The 2016-17 schedule has been released.  As always, the schedule is filled with high level competition and great opportunities for exposure.  The season will be heavy in tournaments and showcases.  In the fall, the Prep team will head to the Jr Bruins Shootout and the Compuware/Honeybaked Invite.  They will also participate locally in the Harborcenter Cup at the end of October.  In the winter, they continue to travel to the Berkshire School Prep Showcase, the Lawrenceville Tournament, and host the Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament.  An addition to the schedule is a showcase series with Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, MN), Culver Academy (Culver, IN), Northwood School (Lake Placid, NY), and St. Andrew’s College (Aurora, ON).  This year, the showcases will take place at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and Northwood School.  They will continue our participation in the CISAA Sr. Division 1 with playoffs starting at the end of February, and they will compete for an opportunity at the USA Hockey Nationals at the 18U level. 

SHOWCASES AND TOURNAMENTS

9/23-25                Jr Bruins Shootout (Marlborough, MA)

10/7-9                  Compuware/Honeybaked Invitational (Detroit, MI)

10/28-30              Harborcenter Cup (Buffalo, NY)

11/5-7                  WNY Regional Qualifier (Amherst, NY)

11/18-20              CISAA League Weekend (Toronto, ON)

11/28                   Berkshire School Prep Showcase (Sheffield, MA)

12/2-4                  Shattuck St. Mary’s Showcase (Faribault, MN)

12/16-18              Lawrenceville Tournament (Lawrenceville, NY)

12/28-30              Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament (Buffalo, NY)

1/13-15                Northwood Showcase (Lake Placid, NY)

2/3-5                    CISAA League Weekend (Oakville, ON/Buffalo, NY/St. Catherine’s, ON)

3/17-19                NY State Tournament

4/6-9                    USA Hockey Nationals

2016-17 Roster Preview: New Faces Bring Talent and Depth

Eight new faces to the Prep Team will bring depth, talent, and energy to the 2016-17 squad.  Although they are new to the team, they are not all new to the school.  Up front, we add 4 new forwards to an already impressive lineup.  Senior forward Bryan Bylsma (Buffalo) joins the group after a strong campaign with the Buffalo Jr Sabres 16U.  Bryan is in his second year at Nichols. Adding to the forward group is junior Andrew Fromen (Amherst) who has been at Nichols since 5^th grade and played the last two seasons on our Prep B squad.  Freshman Dylan Lugris (Buffalo), entering his fifth year at Nichols, will join the forward group.  Dylan spent last season with the Buffalo Jr Sabres 14U.  Sophomore Jeffrey Kopek (Camillus, NY) will be new to the school.  Jeffrey played for West Genesee HS as a freshman and helped lead them to a state final appearance.  Both Lugris and Kopek represented NY at the USA Hockey Player Development Camp for the 2001 age group.  On defense, senior Aaron Partridge (Clarence) will be new to the program and to the school.  He played for Clarence HS and the Wheatfield Blades 16U last season.  He will be joined on the back end by freshman Patrick Brady (Amherst) who played for the Buffalo Jr Sabres 14U.  Robbie Maulucci (Buffalo) will add to the depth on the blue line in his second year at Nichols School.  In net, we add sophomore Robbie Nuchereno (Clarence) from the Buffalo Jr Sabres 14U.  Robbie has been at Nichols since 5^th grade.  Nuchereno also represented NY at the USA Hockey Player Development Camp for the 2001 age group.  

Training Camp Starts Tuesday

The 2016-17 is about to begin as the Prep Boys will start with a training camp this week.  There is a lot of excitement around Dann Arena this season.  Not only has the building seen a few upgrades, the team is poised for a special season.  The work starts Tuesday.  Players will participate in on ice practices all week as well as meetings to acclimate them to their new team.  Thirteen players return from a strong 2015-16 team.  The home opener is around the corner with a 6:30pm faceoff on September 10 against cross town rival, the Buffalo Jr Sabres 18U.  Practices are free and open to the public.   

Tuesday 3:45 - 5:00p

Wednesday 5:00-6:00p

Thursday 3:45 - 5:00p

Friday 3:45 - 5:00p

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Dann sometime soon.

2016-17 Roster Preview: Returning Players Bring Experience

The 2016-17 edition of the Nichols Prep Boys’ Hockey Team is highlighted by 13 returning players from a successful team last season.  This experience should bode well for this year’s group.  At forward, senior co-captain Matt Gasuik (South Buffalo) returns for his third year on the team and should bring a level of leadership and understanding of the work that lays ahead.  Senior forwards Steve Senese (Niagara Falls, NY), Brandon Hausler (Mongomery, TX), Connor Zak (Amherst), and Charlie Carlson (Orchard Park) return for their second season and will be counted on for production.  Junior forwards Lucas Herrmann (Lancaster), Chris Morrison (Ridgefield, CT) and Cole Donhauser (Kenmore) will be key members of the success in their second season.  On defense, senior co-captain Tom Elia (Buffalo) brings leadership in his third season with the Big Green and his 8^th year with the school.  Another 8-year student is senior defenseman Jack Millar (Hamburg) who will compete in his second season on the Prep Team along with senior defenseman Zach Gannon (Amherst).  Another defenseman in his second season is junior Adam Hawkins (Morrisvile, NC).  These four will bring stability to the back end.  Junior goaltender Josh Graziano (Clarence) will be back for his second season after seeing time in 31 games last year. 

Three returners spent part of their summer at the USA Hockey Player Development Camp.  Cole Donhauser, Tom Elia, and Josh Graziano represented the NY District at the National Festival and each represented themselves, their families, and Nichols School hockey at the highest level.  

Check back soon for updates on the newcomers in 2016-17.

Development Camp Begins Next Week

Players from the Prep Team and former Nichols players will participate in our annual Development Camp held at Nichols from August 8-11. Development Coach Dave Smith as well as BarrySmith  (Chicago Blackhawks) will lead the 4 day camp designed to give players a jump start on the season with a focus on skills and skating. It's not only a great training opportunity for our players, but it's a great chance to re-connect with some former players. Camp runs from 6-8pm each night, and it is open to the public.

45 Days and Counting

We are just 45 days away from our opening weekend!  Training Camp will begin in late August and we open with a home and home series with cross town rivals Buffalo Jr Sabres 18U.  Game 1 will be at 6:30pm at Nichols on Sept 10.  Game 2 is down at the HarborCenter on Sept 11 at 9:00am.  We aren't looking to dismiss the summer break, but the excitement of Nichols Hockey is just around the corner.  Looking forward to seeing you all at the rink this winter.  A full schedule will be released soon.