By Anthony Candelaria
Staff Writer
The St.Bonaventure’s men’s hockey team is 3-14 on the year, but some good can be taken away from the season so far, according to senior captain defenseman Nate Parker.
“We just need to continue to work hard,” said Parker. “We have found what works we just need to execute.”
He added the Bonnies are known as a ‘second half team,’ so he believes this season will not be any different. The team loses a bit of its conditioning, but the second half always leads to stronger play, according to Parker.
Junior defenseman Evan Wohlabaugh agreed and said playing three periods of hockey is key to the Bonnies success.
“We really need to focus on finishing off games,” Wohlabaugh said. “A lot of times we find ourselves with a ton of momentum but we lose that pace for a couple minutes, and the competition we are up against can capitalize on it.”
With just two games left, the team looks to end the season on a high note, according to Wohlabaugh. He said there is a lot of talent and team comradery that makes the group dynamic great. Wohlabaugh said the team has an opportunity to bear down for the remainder of the season and finish strong.
Parker added senior leadership was key for this team to head in the right direction.
“It was a developmental year. We knew that from the beginning. We are a very young team that is looking to improve the program as a whole,” Parker said. “Our seniors understood the situation and wanted to be the catalyst of the change.”
Wohlabaugh agreed the seniors greatly affected the team’s playing and added the season has been a roller coaster, but the program is advancing.
With the last couple of games coming up, Wohlabaugh said the team needs to improve and come away from these games with a win.
“I’m always looking forward to the next game, and I know the rest of the team is too,” said Wohlabaugh. “If we come into it with the right mindset and we’re ready to grind for three whole periods, then we’ll come out on top.”
The men’s hockey team plays its last away game in Rochester against the Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T.). They look for a win on the road before finishing up their season at home.
There are six players on the team from the Rochester area so for those players, it will be like a homecoming of sorts.
Among those six players are seniors John Rogers and Andrew Chadwick. Both Rogers and Chadwick are tied for the team lead in points on the season (19).
The Bonnies final home game will come on Friday Feb. 12 at the William O. Smith Center against Ithaca college. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8 p.m.
For Parker, it will be one of his last times playing in Rochester as a Bonnie.
“I am excited for it. I personally have a lot of family and friends that are coming. Overall, we get a good crowd of family and friends for the entire team,” Parker said. “It will be very bittersweet, but it is one more reason to come away with a win.”
candelar13@bonaventure.edu
