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Your Siena Saints opened the season strong, finishing the first semester with an impressive 13–5–1 record, good for 3rd place in the SECHL and 13th in the Northeast. Now, let’s take a look at how the second semester and the final stretch of the season unfolded;

The Saints wrapped up regular season play with a 3-2 shootout loss versus the Westfield State Owls. Although that final regular season loss left a sour taste in the team’s mouth they still finished out the second semester with a 3-2-1 record. Final scores include: FARMINGDALE 5 – 4 SIENA(L), MONTCLAIR 2- 5 SIENA (W), BINGHAMTON 2 – 5 SIENA (W), MARIST 2 – SIENA 3 (W), SACRED HEART 7 – 5 SIENA (L), WESTFIELD 3 – 2 SIENA (SOL). Senior netminder Matthew Witkop was able to get his first start of the season in the shootout loss versus Westfield State University. Despite the loss, Witkop posted 22 saves, and a .909 save percentage. After the game Witkop reflected on his final start with Siena saying;

“It meant so much to me. The road hasn’t been smooth for me the last few years but this team has always been there for me so getting on the ice one last time with them was special. I wanted to put my last couple starts in the past and just get back to having fun and that’s what the team allowed me to do. Having my team, friends and family all by my side was so great and it brought me back to the love of the game so for that I’m just so thankful.”

The final stretch was highlighted by Freshman Dominick Oppedisano with 2 Goals and 7 Assists, Sophomore Daalten DeMarsh with 4 Goals and 7 Assists, Senior TJ Pierce with 2 Goals and 4 Assists, and Senior Jay Kelleher with 5 Goals and 1 Assist.

Ending the season with a 2-1 SECHL record, the Saints were able to clinch 3rd place in the Super East. This gave them a favorable matchup versus Marist University at home for the quarter final round. Siena went 3-0 with a plus 6 goal differential taking its 5th consecutive I-87 Cup versus Marist in the regular season. Given the team’s regular season success against the Red Foxes, Assistant Coach Dave Hunter had this to say about the teams playoff preparation;

“Our team’s preparation changed for postseason games altogether, not specifically for one opponent but for what a weekend full of playoff hockey looks, and feels like. We spent more time focusing inside our locker room on what makes us successful regardless of what team we’re playing.” 

Siena opened up the quarter final matchup with a three goal first period with goals from Freshman Kaeden Wood and Luke Kurdziolek as well as Sophomore Patrick Temple. Marist would strike back with two early goals in the second but it would be Freshman Dominick Oppedisano who would put the Saints back on the board giving them a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. Marist would find a way to tie the game at four a piece with just 6:20 to go in the third. Twenty seconds later Senior Jay Kelleher would end all Red Fox hopes, putting the Saints back up by a goal. Oppedisano would add an empty net goal to seal the Saints 6-4 Victory over Marist. After netting the game winning goal Kelleher talked about what it meant to him to help propel his team to victory. 

“It felt great to be able to help out the team and beat Marist, especially in front of our home fans.” 

This Victory earned the Saints a spot in the SECHL semi final matchup versus #2 Sacred Heart University. The team would have a quick turnaround as the puck dropped for the semi final matchup the next day at 7:30 P.M. giving the Saints just over twenty four hours of rest. Usually when these two rivals face off you can count on two things, a high scoring affair and a lot of time in the sin bin but this was playoff hockey, where every shift tightens and goals are earned, not given. Sacred Heart ended the first period up 1-0 after a breakaway goal from Jackson Cantalupo but from there on out it was the Saints’ show to run. Sophomore Alex Hart would net his first career post season goal with five minutes left in the second to tie the game at one a piece and Senior TJ Pierce would help push the Saints to victory scoring the game winner with just two minutes left in the third. The Saints would go on to secure the 2-1 win with Senior goaltender Matthew McCarthy stopping 38 of 39 shots thrown his way. Postgame, McCarthy touched on his efforts to help advance his team saying;

“It was a blessing to be able to go out there and give it my all just one more time for the boys. I felt great, I was moving great and tracking great before the game which helped me get the job done. It feels so good to get the win and help move this program in a position that it has not been for a long time. Especially versus a rough opponent in Sacred Heart.” 

This victory gave Siena University its first crack at the SECHL title in nearly 15 years against the #1 seed Army West Point. The Saints took the ice for the SECHL Championship with less rest than the day before with just around twelve hours of rest. Siena fought hard until the final whistle but ended up coming up short with a 8-2 loss crowning Army West point as the 2025-2026 SECHL Champions. Here’s what Assistant Captain Daalten Demarsh had to say about the teams push to the SECHL finals; 

“The boys refused to give up, the team easily could have made excuses and given up, but that wasn’t an option. Playing 3 games in 36 hours is no easy feat and doing it while battling injury, missing guys, and still choosing to give it your all is a testament to this team. Being down 1-0 to Sacred Heart with the season on the line the boys kept the energy up and came together as a team to reach our goal of making it to the SECHL finals.”

Despite Siena’s result in the league finals, the SECHL awards were decorated with Siena’s Green and YELLOW. 16 Saints were named to the SECHL All Academic Team with a cumulative GPA above 3.3; Freshmen Jack Hogan, Brian Tonkovich, Luke Kurdziolek, Kaeden Wood, Dominick Oppedisano, Klaidi Gjini, Will Pipher, Sophomores Caleb Murray, Hayden McGuigan, Daalten DeMarsh, Alex Hart, Neil Roarty, Junior Braden King, and Seniors Anthony Zappala, Jay Kelleher and Matthew McCarthy were all named to the team. The Saints recruiting efforts paid off as they sent Freshman Kaeden Wood and Dominick Oppedisano to the SECHL All Rookie Team. Senior forward TJ Pierce and Senior defenseman Jay Kelleher’s efforts throughout the season were enough to earn them spots on the 2nd SECHL All Conference Team and Senior goaltender Matthew McCarthy along with Freshman forward Dominick Oppedisano were named to the 1st SECHL All Conference Team. To top off the Saints individual accolades Oppedisano was named the SECHL Rookie Of The Year. The 18 year old freshman finished the season with 13 Goals, 26 Assists for 39 points in 25 games played. After an accolade filled year finishing with All Academic Team, SECHL All Rookie Team, 1st SECHL All Conference Team, and Rookie of the Year honors, here’s what Oppedisano had to say about his breakthrough season; 

“This season has been very successful both individually and as a team. It’s been an honor being acknowledged like I have this year and my success is all rooted from my coaches and teammates. The ultimate goal is making it to nationals which we as a team are working on every day.”

Finishing ranked 13th in the Northeast, the Saints’ season wasn’t over yet as they headed down to Simsbury Connecticut to take on the 4th seeded UMass-Amherst Minutemen. Despite a lackluster first two periods, the Saints continued to fight, scoring the only two goals of the third period from Kurdziolek and DeMarsh. Siena would fall 5-2 and come up two wins short of heading to the ACHA M2 Nationals.

A special “Thank You” is in order for all of you, our family, friends, and fans who have been by our side every step of the way!

This weekend Siena Hockey was back in action for a home two game showdown versus the defending SECHL Champions in Clarkson University. Coming into this game, the Saints were looking to bounce back strongly in the SECHL standings after ending their last league matchup with a 4-1 loss to Army.

Both teams were set and the puck was dropped at the Albany County Hockey Facility. It would be Assistant Captain Daalten DeMarsh that would find the back of the net to break open the scoring in the first. Clarkson would answer with just five minutes left in the first with a goal from Harrison Allen to even the score at one goal a piece heading into the second period. The Saints would take the ice strong in the second period as Sophomore Patrick Temple would light the lamp for the fifth time this season giving the Saints a 2-1 lead. The game would follow the back and forth trend as Clarkson would tie the game at two a piece late in the second, but this time Siena had an answer before the period ended. Junior Defenseman Tim Robinson found the back of the net after joining the rush to make it 3-2 Saints at the end of the second period. Senior Patrick Rowan would bury his fourth of the season six minutes into the third to increase the Saints lead to two. The rest of the game would remain silent thanks to a few late game heroics from Senior Goaltender Matthew McCarthy and the Saints would come out on top by a score of 4-2. McCarthy would earn the win stopping 34 of thirty 36 thrown his way and Patrick Temple would take home the Player Of The Game with a big goal on the night.

Clarkson is notorious for splitting the majority of their series with league opponents, doing so with Marist University and Army so far this season. On top of that, the second matchup this weekend brought more than just a game, Siena Hockey was celebrating Senior Night. Senior Goaltenders Matthew McCarthy & Matthew Witkop, Senior Defenseman Patrick Rowan & Jay Kelleher and Senior Forwards Dominic Rosone, Anthony Zappala, TJ Pierce & Alex Stone were all celebrated for their accomplishments on and off the ice with the program. The stakes were high, league points were on the line and both teams were ready to go from puck drop. The first period would stay quiet ending how it started, 0-0. Clarkson would open up the scoring just eleven seconds into the second period with a goal from Evan Collette. Ultimately this game was shaping up to be a goaltenders battle between Siena’s Matthew McCarthy and Clarkson’s Ryan Hurwitz as Collette’s goal would be the only marker of the period, ending the second period 1-0 Clarkson. Five minutes into the third, Freshman Dominick Oppedisano and the Siena Powerplay would strike to tie the game at one. This score would stick until the end of regulation, and Siena was set for their first overtime matchup of the season. Last season the Saints led all of ACHA in overtime losses with five, so they were poised for a true test this evening. The Overtime period would go back and forth featuring game saving stops at both ends until Oppedisano sealed the deal with thirty seconds left for his second tally of the night. Assistant Coach Dave Hunter had this to say about the change in approach to overtime;

“Dropping five games in overtime last year certainly left a bad taste in our mouths so we decided this year to spend about half of our practice time working on man-on-man situations. It’s become a staple of how we get ready for the weekend ahead, but most importantly, our guys are doing a great job at executing our strategies at a high speed.” 

Oppedisano’s goal gave him the team lead in goals but more importantly tied him for first in points in the SECHL. McCarthy would stand as a brick wall stopping 28 of 29 shots thrown his way, earning his eleventh win of the season, moving him to number one in the ACHA M2 in wins. Oppedisano’s efforts would earn him the Player Of The Game. Post game Oppedisano had this to say about his game winner;

“It felt great to get the victory against a strong league opponent and on senior night. Playing for all the seniors was special and I’m glad we got the win on their night of celebration.” 

The Saints will have the weekend of Thanksgiving off, and their next puck drops will take place December 6th and 7th as they take on RPI in their annual home-and-home matchup. December 6th’s game will be held at the Albany County Hockey Facility and December 7th’s game will be held at RPI’s Houston Field House.

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This past weekend the Saints had their highly anticipated rematch versus Marist University in game two of the I-87 cup. The game also marked Siena’s third annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night in partnership with the American Cancer Society. The event featured raffles, prizes, shirt sales and a ceremonial puck drop. Aside from all of the festivities, Siena’s mission was clear: “Keep the sign home”. The Saints were out to make a statement from puck drop as they scored three unanswered goals in the first period. Freshman Luke Kurdziolek found the back of the net on the powerplay just three minutes into the game, Sophomore Daalten DeMarsh would add his fifth of the year minutes later, and Assistant Captain Dominic Rosone capped off the period. In the second period the Saints would add a shorthanded goal from Senior TJ Pierce. Pierce would find the back of the net again for his tenth of the year just thirty seconds into the third period. Marist would then answer with two quick goals, but it would be Saints Sophomore Patrick Temple who would put the nail in the coffin giving the Saints a 6-2 lead. This score would hold to the end of the game and the Siena Saints would be crowned champions of the I-87 Cup for a fifth consecutive season. Looking into the numbers of Siena’s I-87 latest dynasty, the Saints have a record of 12-2-0 from 2021-2025. Rosone would end up with the game winner and the Player Of The Game. After Siena’s triumphant victory Captain Matthew McCarthy said:

“It feels great to take this home all for years. I’m so happy I got to do it with this group of guys. We know we have something special here and this is just the first step for us.”

Siena would travel down to Newburgh, New York for their second SECHL matchup against a familiar foe in Army. Last time these two played a back and fourth game ultimately ending in a 5-3 loss for the Saints. Brendan Connor would start the scoring for Army as he found the back of the net in the first minute of the game. Despite their slow start, Siena would be able to hold down and exit the first period down 1-0. The Saints looked to get on the board to start the second following a five minute misconduct from Army forward James Delia, but Army stymied their attempts to keep the game at 1-0. The Saints would then find themselves in a 2-0 hole after allowing a goal on a 5v3 penalty kill. 2-0 would hold until the end of the second period. Army capitalized yet again to start the third but this time Daalten DeMarsh and the Saints powerplay had the answer to move the score to 3-1. Army would tally on one more late in third to seal the door shut on a 4-1 victory.

The Saints look to bounce back next weekend with a home double header versus Clarkson University. Both of these matchups are SECHL league games, and Saturday’s matchup is Senior Night. This year Siena Hockey would like to congratulate Senior Goaltenders Matthew McCarthy and Matthew Witkop, Senior Defensemen Patrick Rowan and Jay Kelleher, as well as Senior Forwards Dominic Rosone, Anthony Zappala, TJ Pierce and Alex Stone for all of their hard work and dedication to the program.

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Three Stars of the Weekend:

1st Star – TJ Pierce

2GP – 2G – 3A

2nd Star – Daalten DeMarsh

2GP – 2G – 0A

3rd Star – Dominic Rosone

2GP – 1G – 0A (1x POTG)

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This past weekend the Saints took on Westfield State University at home for their 12th matchup of the season. Siena’s third annual Hockey Fights Cancer game, which was originally scheduled for this game, was previously moved back to Friday, November 14th versus Marist.

The Saints would open the scoring early as Senior Anthony Zappala would find the back of the net for his third goal of the year giving the Saints the opening lead. Westfield would strike halfway through the first tying the game at one, but from here on out the Saints would find that statement they have been searching for all season. Siena would go on to score seven unanswered goals, giving them a whopping 8-1 lead. Goal scorers for the Saints were Freshman Defenseman Kaden Wood, Freshman Forward Will Pipher, Senior forwards TJ Pierce and Alex Stone, and Senior Defenseman Jay Kelleher (2). Westfield would answer with one more tally late in the third, but It would be the Saints walking away with a monster 8-2 win. Wood’s goal marked the first of his ACHA career, Sophomore Goaltender Caleb Murray logged his first career ACHA point with a breakout pass assist on the Saints 7th goal, both of Kelleher’s goals came on the powerplay, Stone took home the Player of the Game and there was a total of 14 Saints that logged a point.

The weekend was far from over as the Saints took on the Sacred Heart Pioneers for their third SECHL league game of the year. There is no good blood between these two teams as past playoff matches and in game drama has built up to a hard matchup. It would be Siena finding the back of the net early again, this time on the power play from Tj Pierce. Sacred Heart would answer with a goal of their own very late in the first tying the game at one going into the second. The second would stay quiet until the dying twenty seconds when Star Freshman Forward Dominick Oppedisano would score a goal off of a giveaway to give the Saints a 2-1 lead. The third would also stay quiet until Sophomore Assistant Captain Daalten Demarsh would bury an empty net goal giving the Saints the dagger they needed to finish the game with a 3-1 victory. Senior Goaltender Matthew McCarthy was lights out, stopping 36 of 37 shots thrown his way and taking home the Player of the Game.

Next weekend the Saints have a familiar weekend, taking on Marist and Army. Friday’s game versus Marist will mark game two of the i-87 cup (Saints 1-0) and Siena’s third annual Hockey Fights Cancer game. Saturday’s match versus Army marks their second and final SECHL league game against each other.

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Three Stars of the Weekend:

1st Star – Matthew McCarthy

1GP – 36SVS – 0.973 SV% (1X POTG)

2nd Star – Dominick Oppedisano

2GP – 1G – 3A

3rd Star – TJ Pierce

2GP – 2G – 2A

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This past weekend the Saints traveled 90 miles down Interstate-87 for game one of the I-87 cup versus longtime rival, the Marist Red Foxes. The Saints are currently four time defending champions of the I-87 Cup with a 10-2-0 record in that span. Tensions were high and the standard was set as the puck dropped at 4:15 p.m. at McCann Ice Arena. Freshman Will Pipher wasted no time getting the Saints on the board, finding the back of the net two minutes into the game assisted by Sophomore Patrick Temple. This score would hold until the third period despite both teams threatening with power plays as the teams split twelve penalties between the two periods.

Marist’s Declan Bayne found the back of the net early in the second period to tie the game at one goal a piece. Minutes later, Siena would take the lead back as Freshman Luke Kurdziolek scored his fifth goal of the year as the puck slowly crossed the line, giving the Saints their second lead of the game. Less than one minute later, Assistant Captain Dominic Rosone would get his stick on a shot from the point from Braden King, doubling the Saints lead. Marist would find the back of the net one more time but their efforts would prove to not be enough as Siena would storm into Poughkeepsie and take game one of the I-87 Cup. Pipher’s and Kurdziolek’s goals mark their firsts ever in the I-87 series and Senior Matthew McCarthy continues to dominate Marist taking home the Player Of The Game stopping 23 of 25 shots thrown his way. When asked about the importance of winning game one of the I87 Cup, Coach Hunter had this to say;

It’s always important to start on the right foot and win game one. We’ve played from behind and chased the Cup in years past, as a coach, it’s obviously more enjoyable to be in the driver’s seat. We need to make sure we take this momentum and continue to build on it.

The Saints would have a quick 2:00 p.m. turnaround the next day with a road trip down to Tate Rink to take on the Army (West Point) Black Knights. Tensions sparked between these two teams last season as they split in the regular season with both games needing extra time. Army would take one game in overtime, while the Saints would claim their own win in the matchup with a shootout win over the Black Knights. Additionally, Army took down Siena in the SECHL semi-final matchup. Army carries a style of hockey that not many teams are able to match, making them a very fierce and competitive team to play against, as well as a National Championship contender. Army came out strong, holding a 3-0 lead after the first period. With their backs against the wall, the Saints delivered. Senior TJ Pierce and Assistant Captain Daalten DeMarsh both cashed in on the red-hot Saints powerplay. Freshman Dominick Oppedisano added his 6th of the year, tying the game at three a piece heading into the third period. Army would prevail in the third period, finding the back of the net twice and taking home a 5-3 victory.

After a long Halloween weekend road trip, the Saints are back home next Friday against Westfield State University. Saturday, the Saints will play their third SECHL league game of the year against a familiar foe in Sacred Heart University.

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Three Stars of the Weekend:

1st Star – Dominick Oppedisano
2GP – 1G – 2A – 3PTS

2nd Star – Matthew McCarthy
2GP – 65SA – 58SVS – 0.892SV% (1X POTG)

3rd Star – Luke Kurdziolek
2GP – 1G – 1A – 2PTS

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This past weekend the Siena Saints looked to keep their momentum going with a home game against the Rowan University Profs. This matchup marked the only game for Siena on the weekend, while it was the middle of a three game road trip for their opponent. The stage was set at the Albany County Hockey Facility on a crisp Saturday afternoon.

The Profs came out strong as Evan Shuster found the back of the net for his first of the year to make it 1-0 Rowan. Yet again, The Saints powerplay found the answer, as Senior forwards Nate Scarincio and TJ Pierce would each find the back of the net before the end of the first period, making it 2-1 Saints at the end of the first.

The second period was quiet all around, until halfway through the period when Pierce found himself on a 1-on-1 rush with a Rowan defender. Pierce would take a shot that found the back of the net again to make it 3-1 Saints. 

This score would only hold 50 seconds into the third period as Pierce would net his third goal of the game on a rush with fellow line-mate, Patrick Temple, marking his first career ACHA hat trick, and a 4-1 Saints lead. Fifteen seconds later, Freshman forward Dominick Oppedisano would net his fifth goal of the year, with a silky move entering the zone toe dragging around the Rowan defender, and making a cross crease deke on the Prof’s goalie. This would extend Siena’s lead to four. Rowan was able to strike with two of their own goals, but it proved not enough as the Saints would take down the Profs by a score of 5-3. 

Senior Goaltender Matthew McCarthy earned his sixth win of the year stopping 32 of 35 shots, Freshman forward Dominick Oppedisano set a career high with four points in a single game, and TJ Pierce scored his first career hat trick and took home the Player Of The Game.

Postgame, the Saints were greeted to a tailgate outside their home arena hosted by the team’s parents. Plenty of food, drinks, and deserts were served by various family members of the team.

Siena Hockey would like to thank the Rosone family and everyone involved in setting this wonderful event up!

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Three Stars of the Weekend:

1st Star – TJ Pierce

1GP – 3G – 0A (1X POTG)

2nd Star – Dominick Oppedisano

1GP – 1G – 3A

3rd Star – Matthew McCarthy

1GP – 32SV – 0.914 SV%

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This past weekend the Saints hit the road out to Western New York to face Niagara University and Saint Bonaventure University. This road trip marks the first of the year for Siena, and they had a big test ahead of them Friday night versus the undefeated Niagara Purple Eagles.

The puck dropped at 7:30 in Dwyer Arena. Purple Eagle forward Ben Macrobbie found a tricky angel on net to open the scoring, making it 1-0 Niagara. This lead would carry into the second before Freshman forward Dominick Oppedisano would tie the game at one a piece with his fourth goal of the year. Niagara would then answer with two more goals before the end of the period to make it 3-1, Niagara. Halfway through the third period, Senior defenseman Jay Kelleher and the Saints power play connected to cut the lead down to one goal. The Purple Eagles would strike two more times before the end of the game claiming the 5-2 victory, and handing the Saints their second loss of the year.

There was no time to dwell on the past as Siena had a mid-day puck drop in St. Bonaventure, New York versus the Bonnies. Sophomore goaltender Caleb Murray would get his first start of the year, looking to back up his SECHL All Rookie-Team freshman season. The game stayed quiet until early in the second period when Assistant Captain Daalten DeMarsh found himself on a short handed breakaway to open the scoring, making it 1-0 Siena. The Bonnies would answer with two goals of their own before the end of the period, giving them a 2-1 lead heading into the third period. The well conditioned Siena Saints would close out the game scoring three unanswered goals from forwards Tj Pierce, Luke Kurdziolek and Nate Scarincio (EN). Siena won this game 4-2, and improved to 6-2-0 on the season. After netting the game winner on Saturday, Kurdziolek had this to say; 

“It felt good to get that win after the loss in the last game, and help Murray get his first win of the year”.

 Caleb Murray stopped 28 of 30 shots against, and was named the Player Of The Game by his teammates.

Although it may seem like it, this weekend was not all about hockey. Sunday morning in Albany, New York the American Cancer Society hosted the 30th annual Making Strides Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. Despite a weekend full of competition and traveling, the Saints spent their Sunday volunteering with smiles on their faces. Whether it was helping walkers register for the event, helping to coordinate walkers’ experience before, during, and after the event, or even helping to collect signatures on petitions to enact change, the Saints were busy dressed in pink. Volunteering at this event is just the start of the Saints’ charitable endeavors, as they also host the Westfield Owls on November 11th for their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Fundraising Game.

The Saints will take on Rowan University at home this Saturday, 10/25  at 4:30 p.m.

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Three Stars of the Weekend

1st Star – Luke Kurdziolek

2GP – 2G – 1A

2nd Star – Caleb Murray

1GP – 28SVS – 0.933 SV% (1x POTG)

3rd Star – Daalten DeMarsh

2GP – 1G – 2A

This past weekend the Saints kicked off the final leg of their six game homestand with a Friday night matchup versus Quinnipiac University and a Saturday afternoon appearance versus Montclair State University.

Friday was the team’s annual Pink At The Rink game. The Pink at the Rink game is hosted each year by Siena Men’s Ice Hockey in collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to help raise awareness for breast cancer research and to show support for anyone affected by breast cancer. The Saints’ Pink at the Rink game offers a unique experience for fans and family members to support the team and ACS through shirt sales, raffle sales, and an honorary puck drop. This year with YOUR help the Saints were able to raise over twelve hundred dollars for the American Cancer Society! The Saints will also volunteer their time next Sunday at the annual Making Strides of Albany event to help do their part in supporting breast cancer awareness. 

Pink jerseys or not, the Saints had an important game against a new opponent. With the separation of the AAU conference Quinnipiac is just one of many teams to transfer from AAU to ACHA Division 2 for the 2025-26 season. The Saints would come out on fire getting early markers from Senior forward TJ Pierce and Freshman forward Will Pipher, giving them a 2-1 lead heading into the second.  Quinnipiac would fight back scoring the next two goals to open up the second period, giving Quinnipiac a 3-2 lead, but you can never count this Saints out. Freshman Dominick Oppedisano and Senior Alex Stone would strike next giving the Saints a 4-3 lead heading into the third. From here on out was pure Saints dominance. Pipher would net his second of the game, and Freshman Dom Waters would net his first career ACHA goal to give Siena a 6-3 lead. The lead would hold until the end of the game, Saints win 6-3 and improve to 4-1-0 on the season. Senior goaltender Matthew McCarthy earned the win with 29 saves and Will Pipher took home the Player Of The Game. 

Siena couldn’t celebrate for long as puck drop followed the next day at 4:30 versus Montclair State University. This game marked the first SECHL conference matchup of the year for the Saints. Siena would carry over the momentum from the night before as Senior forward Anthony Zappala and Freshman forward Dominick Oppedisano would both score, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead after the first period. In the second Montclair would show life with a breakaway goal from Braden Ryan but Senior forward Nate Scarinicio would get his first of the year keeping the Saints lead at two goals after two periods. Montclair would add a goal courtesy of the powerplay late in third period, but freshman forward Luke Kurdziolek would answer back with an empty net goal completing the Saints 4-2 win and improving their record to 5-1-0. McCarthy backstopped the Saints with 32 saves on 34 shots and Nate Scarincio earned the Player Of The Game.

Siena University will hit the road for the first time this season this upcoming weekend. The Saints will look to carry the fire versus Niagara University on Friday and St. Bonaventure University on Saturday.

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Three Stars of the Weekend:

1st Star – Dominick Oppedisano 
2GP – 2G – 1A 

2nd Star – Will Pipher 
2GP – 2G – 1A (1X POTG)

3rd Star – Dom Waters 
2GP – 1G – 1A

@Rich_M_Photopgraphy on Instagram

Siena Men’s Ice Hockey was back in action this weekend for games three and four of their six game homestand. This weekend, the Saints took on the University of Vermont and Binghamton University. 

Friday night the Saints faced off against the Vermont Catamounts, who soundly defeated the Saints in last years’ matchup. The outcome looked to be headed in the same direction as Vermont jumped out to an early two goal lead from the help of Tommy Hauch, TJ Vitullo, and the Vermont power play. Late in the first, the Saints found the answer from Freshman Will Pipher, as well as Sophomore Patrick Temple on the power play to tie the game at two headed into the second. The goals would mark the first ACHA career goals for both Pipher and Temple. Siena was able to hold onto that momentum starting the second as Temple potted his second of the game to give the Saints a 3-2 lead.  Nearly a minute later Aidan Grant tied the game for Vermont at three. Knotted up at three with twenty minutes to play, Siena found themselves in a crucial third period. Hauch scored his second of the game to give Vermont the 4-3 lead, but from here on out Siena’s powerplay wrote the story. Goals from Senior Jay Kelleher and Freshman Luke Kurdziolek on the powerplay would give the saints a 5-4 lead that would hold until the final buzzer. The Saints would improve to 3-0-0. Freshman Patrick Temple, who recorded two goals along with an assist in a pivotal game in this early season for the Saints said,

 “ It feels great that I contributed to a hard fought win especially against a team like that.”

For Siena Hockey players, weekends typically consist of long bus trips, hard fought games or grueling workouts paired with rest and recovery, but this weekend was different. This weekend was Siena University’s parents weekend but more importantly for the team it was their annual Blessing Of The Sticks luncheon. Father Larry blessed the team with good health, opportunity and sportsmanship but the real message came when he was discussing effort, consistency and accountability with the team. Following the blessing, the Saints gather together to introduce their families.

Just a few hours later the Saints had to change their focus and gear up for game two of the weekend, versus Binghamton University in front of a packed Albany County Hockey Facility.  The first period was silent until Brandon Scheuermann found the back of the net on an odd bounce for Binghamton to make it 1-0. The Saints went into the second period, energy high, looking for the answer but surrendered yet another bad break. It was Aidan Stappenback finding the net with the help of a lively bounce off of the back glass to give Binghamton the 2-0 lead. Patrick Temple would keep the hot hand as he would net his third goal in two games to keep Siena in it 2-1. But Binghamton would strike again late in the period to make it 3-1. The Saints would answer back in the third with Sophomore Alex Hart netting his first of the season. It proved to be not enough as the Saints would drop the game 3-2, moving their season record to 3-1-0.  

The Saints end their six game homestand next weekend with a game on Friday night versus Quinnipiac University and a game on Saturday versus Montclair University. Friday’s game versus Quinnipiac marks the Saints annual Pink at the Rink game, where the Saints raise money for the American Cancer Society through a t-shirt sale and host a game at the Albany County Hockey Facility partnering with ACS and Colleges Against Cancer.

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3 Stars of the Weekend 

1st Star –  Patrick Temple 
2GP – 3G – 1A (1x POTG) 

2nd Star – Will Pipher
2GP – 1G – 0A

3rd Star – Luke Kurdziolek
2GP – 1G – 0A

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This past weekend the Saints kicked off their 2025-26 season on the right foot at home versus Bryant University and Roger Williams University. Friday night the Albany County Hockey Facility lit up as Siena took the opening faceoff against Bryant for their home opener. The Saints lost their previous matchup to the Bulldogs back in 2022 6-1, but that didn’t faze senior Patrick Rowan as he opened the scoring early for the Saints on a shot from the point to make it 1-0. Late in the first Bryant’s Zachary Thompson would make it 1-1, followed by a power play marker early in the second from Kai Konstantino making it 2-1 Bulldogs. From here on out it was pure Saints domination. Siena would go on to score four unanswered goals from junior Tim Robinson (2) as well as freshmen Dominick Oppedisano and Luke Kurdziolek. Oppedisano’s and Kurdziolek’s goals mark the first of many in their young ACHA career. The Saints would go on to win 5-2 with senior netminder Matthew McCarthy taking home the win, and stopping 31 of 33 shots. Defenseman Tim Robinson took home the Player Of The Game nod from his teammates. 

The Saints would have minimal rest as they were back at it next day for a 4:30pm puck drop versus the Roger Williams University Hawks. Rowan, showing an early season scoring touch, wasted no time getting the Saints on the board again to give the Saints another 1-0 lead. It is great to see Rowan have this surge of production this early in the season after missing the majority of time last year due to injury. When asked about how it feels to get the team going on back to back nights Rowan said this;

“It feels amazing. I’m happy I can get the boys going and I need to keep focusing on getting pucks through.”

Senior forward Anthony Zappala kept the momentum going for Siena as he scored his first of the year from behind the net to make it 2-0. The Saints would then go quiet until the third, allowing two unanswered goals from the Hawks to tie it at two. With a little over fifteen minutes left in the third, sophomore Assistant Captain Daalten DeMarsh was able to net his first of the year to give the Saints a 3-2 lead. This tally from DeMarsh shows his versatility after his transition from the blue line up to the forward group after his SECHL All-Rookie, First, and All-Academic team season last year. The Saints would go on to win 3-2 with McCarthy getting his second win stopping 22 of 24 shots. Senior defenseman Jay Kelleher took home the Player Of The Game. 

This marks the Saints first 2-0-0 start in over three years as they look to keep rolling through this six game homestand to open the season. Next Friday and Saturday hosts The University of Vermont and Binghamton University respectively. 

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Three Stars of the Weekend 

1st Star – Daalten DeMarsh 
2GP – 1G – 2A 

2nd Star – Tim Robinson 
2GP – 2G – 0A (1X POTG)

3rd Star – Jay Kelleher 
2GP – 0G – 2A (1X POTG)