2004-05 Record:   12-13 overall, 7-6 Region III.
Head Coach:       Pat Martin (6th year, 61-61-5).
Assistant Coaches:   Ed Palmer (5th year). Bill Palmer (3rd year).

Returners: Kyle Laurie (Sr., forward, 5’10”, 180, Canton, N.Y.), Spencer Utman (Sr., goal, 6’0”, 180, Brockville, Ontario), Maik Tatavosian (Sr., forward, 5’7”, 160, Irvine, Calif.), Tony Natoli ( Sr., goal, 5’7”, 145, Cortland, N.Y.), Shane Maher (Sr., defense, 5’11”, 210, Victor, N.Y.), Matt Nadeau (Sr., defense, 6’7”, 243, Waterbury, Vt.).

Newcomers: Nick Emmick (Fr., forward, 5’9”, 155, Richford, N.Y.), Matt Bailey (Fr., forward, 5’8”, 191, Parishville, N.Y.), Jeremy Kolb (Fr., forward, 5’4”, 170, Rush, N.Y.), Dustin Deleel (Fr., goal, 5’9”, Massena, N.Y.), Matt Battaglini (Fr., forward/defense, 6’0”, 210, Endicott, N.Y.), Josh Gilson (Fr., forward, 5’8”, 173, Canton, N.Y.), Adam Levy (Fr., forward, 5’8”, 155, Penfield, N.Y.), Jeff Kasprzak (Fr., defense, 6’0”, 188, Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Ian Vanier (Fr., defense, 6’0”, 180, Malone, N.Y.), Anthony Gruppo (Fr., defense, 5’11”, 180, Williamsville, N.Y.), Andrew Rak (Fr., defense, 6’1”, 175, North Tonawanda, N.Y.), Chris Beardsley (Fr., goal, 6’0”, 170, Skaneateles, N.Y.), Patrick Semeraro (Fr., forward, 5’8”, 150, Cortland, N.Y.), Kyle Gadway (Fr., forward, 5’10”, 160, Champlain, N.Y.), Rick Simone (Fr., forward, 5’7”, 140, Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Jacque DeMars (Fr., defense, 6’1”, 187, Vermontville, N.Y.), Brandon MacDonald (Fr., defense/forward, 6’2”, 210, Richville, N.Y.), Matt Duquette (Fr., forward, 6’0”, 150, Peru, N.Y.), Austin Chase (Fr., forward/defense, 5’9”, 143, Newport Beach, Calif.), Joe Wilkins (Fr., goal, 6’0”, 190, Henrietta, N.Y.).

2005-06 Outlook: SUNY Canton returns six players from last year’s team that went 12-13 and advanced to the NJCAA Ice Hockey Championship for the fourth time in the last five years. Senior forward Kyle Laurie returns to lead an offense that loses All-American and Region III Player of the Year Andrew DeCristoforo who had 44 goals and 44 assists last season. Laurie was third on the team in scoring last season with 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points. Six of his goals were on the power play and he finished at +23 in 23 games. Senior forward Maik Tatovosian joins Laurie as the only other returner on offense. The California native had three goals and three assists in 17 games as a freshman.

“Kyle is a very talented scorer and a scrappy player,” said sixth-year head coach Pat Martin. “He’s become a real team leader and a positive presence on the ice and in the locker room. Mike’s got great hands and I’m looking for him to score some goals for us this season."

Although the Northstars have many new faces on offense youth won’t be a factor as many of them have played junior hockey for several years. Martin points to five of those players that he’ll look to for immediate impact including two North Country natives, Josh Gilson of Canton and Matt Bailey of Parishville. Gilson played with the Akwesasne Wolves and Bailey played with South Grenville.

Other freshmen include Nick Emmick (Syracuse Stars), Jeremy Kolb (Rochester Americans), and Matt Battaglini, who was a team captain with the Binghamton Senators.

“The guys that have played juniors all have a ton of experience playing at a higher level which will be a big key for us this year,” said Martin.

Other players looking to crack the lineup on offense are Adam Levy, Rick Simone, Patrick Semeraro, Kyle Gadway, and Matt Duquette.

The Northstars return just two players on defense, Shane Maher and Matt Nadeau. Maher had two assists in 12 games and Nadeua saw action in nine games finishing +2.

“Shane and Matt have experience from last year and we’ll be looking for them to push to be in the lineup,” Martin said.

Freshmen that will play significant roles on defense include Austin Chase, Jeff Kasprzak, Ian Vanier and Brandon MacDonald.

Chase was a top defenseman for the Bay City Bombers Jr. B team in California. Kasprzak was a standout at Baker High School and Vanier was a top player at Franklin Academy. MacDonald, an All-Northern at Indian River High School, could play both defense and forward.

Several other freshmen on the blue line include Jacques DeMars, Anthony Gruppo, and Andrew Rak.

SUNY Canton returns two senior goalies, Spencer Utman and Tony Natoli. Utman played in 19 games finishing with a 4.95 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage and Natoli appeared in one game making 11 saves and allowing just one goal.

“Spencer was our go-to guy last year and he gave us some great opportunities to win games. We’d like to get Tony some more ice time this year and have him develop,” Martin said.

Freshmen Dustin Deleel, Joe Wilkins and Chris Beardsley will challenge for time in goal. Deleel, a standout hockey, soccer and baseball player at Massena Central School, has played junior hockey with Clarence Creek, Akwesasne, and the Connecticut Bulls. Wilkins, a transfer from Monroe Community College, was an all-county goalie at Rush-Henrietta and Beardsley played at Skaneateles High School.

As they enter the 2005-06 season SUNY Canton welcomes the re-opening of the Canton Pavilion which was shut down last winter for repairs. The Northstars played all their home games at rinks around St. Lawrence County and look forward to the stability of having a home rink this season.

“It is tremendous to have a home rink again,” Martin said. “The guys have a place to leave their equipment and the staff at the Pavilion has been terrific. Some of our players have taken advantage of some open ice time to work on various things outside of practice and that goes a long way towards player improvement.”

Martin will be joined on the bench once again by former SUNY Canton standouts Ed and Bill Palmer.

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