2023-24 Wilkes Men's Ice Hockey Season Preview
 
WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's ice hockey program enters their sixth season of operation when they hit the ice on Saturday, October 28 with a new energy around the program and lofty expectations. Tyler Hynes returns for his fifth season behind the Colonels' bench and looks to build on the 13-10-3 record his team posted last season. The head coach noted that the team has had more time than usual to prepare for the upcoming season.
 
"It's a unique year in that we got eight practices in September." He went on to explain that "in the past, you couldn't practice until the first week of October… now we got eight practices in before we really got into what we think of as our season."
 
The extra practices are particularly helpful for the incoming class of six first-year student athletes who join the Colonels this season. Hynes praised the group for their efforts integrating into the team.
 
"We're pumped about how they're doing." He commended the first years, saying "they've come in quickly and really adjusted. I think they're doing a nice job on the ice."
 
Joining the forward group are Miles Harrington (McDonough, GA), Daniel Nau (Wake Forest, NC), Teague Porter (Anchorage, AK) and Leyton Pettypiece (Rochester, MI). They hope to immediately impact goal production for a team that lit the lamp 77 times in 2022-23. Coach Hynes reiterated that feeling in his preseason interview.
 
"They were recruited for a reason. We needed to enhance our scoring a bit." The Colonel's bench boss  shared that "we wanted to bring in some guys that can shoot the puck. I think early on they've shown that."
 
Also entering the mix for the Colonels are defenseman Nate Terski (North Grafton, MA) and goaltender Duncan Rolleman (New Hamburg, ON). They will help the defensive core protect the crease and keep their opponents' attacks at bay.
 
The sophomore class is heavily represented amongst the 13 returning forwards, as Christopher Paige (Massena, NY/), Matt Carlson (Delmar, NY/), Cam Lowe (Lancaster, MA/), Carter Jordan (Fort Collins, CO/), Christian Blomquist (Wauwatosa, WI/), Kyle Mandleur (East Brunswick, NJ/) and Patrick Roginski (Shelby Twp., MI/) all return for their second season with the Colonels. Juniors Lorenzo Marcolin (Saratoga Springs, NY/), Nick Swain (Jackson, NJ/) and Max Cocchi (Ludlow, MA/) join seniors Jimmy O'Kane (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame Prep) and John Barrett (Charlotte, NC/) along with graduate student Billy Berry (Redding, CT) in rounding out the Wilkes offense.
 
Carlson led all returning players in goals (11), points (21) and shots (77) last season. He was also selected as the UCHC Rookie of the Week and UCHC Player of the Week. O'Kane tallied 20 points with six goals and 14 assists, while Lowe recorded 74 shots last season and put up a total of 17 points. Berry notched seven goals for the Colonels with 21 blocked shots as Blomquist and Cocchi each potted four goals of their own during the 2022-23 campaign.
 
The Colonels blue line will retain sophomores Mason Vonk (West Olive, MI/) and Steven Spetz (Oak Ridge, NJ/), as well as juniors Joe Johnson (Midland, MI/), Luke Dobles (Spencerport, NY/), Cole Jungwirth (Bloomington, MN/) and Judson McGrath (Dallas, TX/).
 
Last season, Jungwirth blocked 28 shots and split the team lead for assists (14) with O'Kane. Johnson was close behind with 13 assists and the highest plus/minus on the team (+10).
 
Junior Jack Perna (Sykesville, MD/), senior Luc Fox (Valencia, CA/) and graduate student Michael Paterson-Jones (Baldwinsville, NY/) will all share the responsibility of stopping pucks for Wilkes this season between the pipes.
 
Paterson-Jones brings the most game experience with him, appearing in 16 contests in 2022-23. He posted a .902 save percentage, making 303 saves throughout the season. The graduate student was also recognized as the UCHC goaltender of the week in November of 2022. Perna and Fox bring a combined 7 games of experience to the crease.
 
Coach Hynes recognizes the strong presence of youth in the locker room and has worked hard to assimilate them onto the team.
 
"We have a pretty young group overall… we have a group that we're still trying to get to come together." He added that the team has "been doing a lot of fun stuff off the ice" to develop chemistry amongst the players.
 
The leadership group will play a crucial role in building and maintaining a positive culture around the rink this season. Hynes expressed confidence in the returners to get that job done, particularly Berry, Johnson, O'Kane and Paterson-Jones; all of whom were recently named captains.
 
"We've really asked a lot of them. I think we have the right guys to do it. We named four captains and I think those guys… really have an identity of the program because they embody it. It starts with them and it trickles down"
 
 He also hopes to leave a lasting impression in the Blue and Gold's final season competing in the UCHC before they move to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) next year.
 
"We want to win it. It's the goal of ten other teams that are in this league," he added that "if we can pick up where we left off… I think this team could be special."
 
As the first faceoff draws closer and closer, the Colonels coach voiced his anticipation to get the season underway.
 
"It's just been fun. It's a great time of year, it's a great time in the academic calendar. I know our guys are excited and energized, so we're ready to get started."
 
The Wilkes men's ice hockey team will open the season on Saturday, October 28 when they make a trip to SUNY Cortland for a tilt with the Red Dragons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.