Geneseo Hockey: A Division I Program on the Rise

The Geneseo Hockey Program is on the rise, and they are quickly making a name for themselves as a Division I program. Follow their progress and learn more about their success on this blog.

The History of Geneseo Hockey

Geneseo hockey has a long and successful history. The program started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the ice rink on campus was built. The first team was coached by John F. Kennedy, who led the team to its first Division III championship in 1974. In the 1980s, Geneseo hockey became a Division I program and has since made several appearances in the NCAA tournament The team is currently coached by Chris Schultz and is a member of the SUNYAC conference.

The Current State of Geneseo Hockey

Geneseo hockey is currently in a bit of transition. The program has traditionally been very successful at the Division III level, but is in the process of making the jump to Division I. The team has already made great strides in a short amount of time and is poised to become a major player on the D-I scene.

The current state of Geneseo hockey can be best summarized by looking at the team’s recent results. In the past three seasons, the team has compiled an impressive overall record of 67-19-5 (.767). This includes winning seasons in each of those years, as well as an NCAA Division III National Championship in 2016.

As the team prepares for its first season of Division I hockey, there is reason to believe that they will be able to continue their success. The team has brought in a number of highly touted recruits and has a core group of experienced players that should help them compete right away. Additionally, Head Coach Chris Schultz has done an excellent job of building the program and will have them well prepared for the move to D-I.

If all goes according to plan, Geneseo hockey will be a force to be reckoned with on the Division I level for years to come.

The Future of Geneseo Hockey

In recent years Geneseo Hockey has made a significant impact at the Division I level and looks poised to continue its ascent in the coming years.

The program has produced a number of NHL Draft picks in recent years most notably defenseman Jake McCabe, who was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft

With a strong core of young talent in place, Geneseo looks poised to make noise on the national stage for years to come.

The Coaching Staff of Geneseo Hockey

Pat Ferschweiler is in his first season as the head coach of the Geneseo men’s Hockey Team Coach Ferschweiler came to Geneseo after spending the previous four seasons as an Assistant Coach at Clarkson University where he helped the Golden Knights to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Frozen Four in 2014.

Prior to his time at Clarkson, Coach Ferschweiler spent four seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Niagara University At Niagara, he helped the Purple Eagles to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2010.

Coach Ferschweiler is a native of St. Catharines, Ontario and played four years of college hockey at Niagara University from 1999-2003. He was a member of Niagara’s conference championship team in 2000 and was named to the All-Tournament team that year. He graduated from Niagara in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration.

The Players of Geneseo Hockey

Despite the national recognition that Geneseo hockey has received in recent years the team is composed of hardworking student athletes who maintain a strong dedication to the sport, their teammates, and their studies. From the captains to the first-years, each member of the team contributes something unique to Geneseo hockey.

The team’s captain, Jimmy Duval ’18, is a four-year starter who has played a pivotal role in the program’s recent successes. A two-time all-conference player and one-time conference tournament MVP, Duval is a leader on and off the ice. He is joined by fellow seniors Dylan Healey and Joe Serpico, who have also been key contributors to the team throughout their careers.

The junior class is highlighted by goalie Nick Dampf, who posted a .936 save percentage last season, good for second in Division III Forwards Anthony Serie and Tyler Brickler are also key members of the junior class.

The sophomores include forwards Jake Horwath and Austin Gerace, who both saw significant time on the ice last season as first-years. defenseman Will Frattaroli rounds out the sophomore class.

The first-years feature a mix of forwards and defensemen who will look to make an impact this season. Forwards Cam Owens, Drew Hutchison, and Josh Nenadich will try to provide some scoring punch while defensemen Matt Rutigliano, Luke stopainigroDalton Carter will look to solidify the blue line goaltender Gianluca Baggetta will back up Dampf in net.

The Schedule of Geneseo Hockey

Geneseo hockey’s Conference Schedule is very tough this season. They will face some of the best teams in the country, including ranked opponents such as Cornell, Colgate, and Clarkson. Despite the challenges, the team is looking forward to the opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in Division I hockey.

The Rivalries of Geneseo Hockey

In addition to the Lakers’ nt play against in-state foes, they have also had recent success against two of their fiercest rivals: Elmira and Cortland. The Soaring Eagles and Red Dragons are two of the strongest programs in Division III hockey, and both are members of the powerful Eastern collegiate athletic conference (ECAC) West. Elmira has made nine appearances in the NCAA tournament including five consecutive berths from 2013-2017. In that same timespan, Cortland has made seven trips to the tournament.

The Fans of Geneseo Hockey

The fans of Geneseo Hockey are some of the most dedicated and passionate supporters of any college hockey program in the country. The program has seen a dramatic rise in popularity over the past few years, and the fans have been a big part of that success.

The team has seen a tremendous amount of success on the ice in recent years, which has only added to the fan frenzy. Geneseo Hockey is now one of the premier Division I college hockey programs in the country, and the fans have played a huge role in that success.

The future is bright for Geneseo Hockey, and the fans will surely be a big part of that bright future

The Media Coverage of Geneseo Hockey

In recent years, the Geneseo hockey program has received increased media coverage. This is due in part to the team’s on-ice success, as well as the school’s commitment to Division I hockey.

The coverage has been very positive, highlighting the team’s achievements and the bright future of the program. This has helped Geneseo to recruit Top Players and build a strong fan base.

The Division I Path

In 2017, the Geneseo men’s Hockey Team made the jump to Division I, becoming the newest and smallest school in the NCAA’s top tier.

The move had been years in the making. As early as 2013, then-athletic director Mike Hutnick began publicly expressing interest in joining Division I. The college had recently completed a $5 million renovation of its on-campus arena, and Hutnick saw an opportunity to raise Geneseo’s profile by playing against some of the nation’s best teams.

After several years of deliberations, Geneseo made the official announcement in March of 2017. The move came with some challenges – most notably, finding a conference to join. In the end, Geneseo landed in the Atlantic Hockey Association, where it has quickly established itself as a competitive program.

In its first season at the Division I level, Geneseo finished with a record of 17-11-4. The team made it to the conference semifinals before losing to eventual National Champion Minnesota Duluth

Since then, the team has continued to improve. In 2018-19, Geneseo won 21 games and made it to the conference tournament semifinals for the second straight year. The 2019-20 season was even better – Geneseo won 23 games and reached the Conference Championship game for the first time in program history before ultimately falling to Air Force

With each passing season, Geneseo is proving that it belongs at Division I – and that it is a program on the rise.