Well it’s that time again. Pucks will soon be flying in the grounds of Potsdam. This is a special year for the brigade. What started out 5 years ago as several students bringing cardboard saws to the hockey games, has evolved into an era of mayhem, light-up saws, the Omega saw, 5 generations of shirts, bumper stickers, and even hand foamsaws. We hope that the team this year re-establishes themselves as a force to reckon with.

The men start the season with an exhibition match at Cheel Arena on October 3rd. The team hits the road and returns home after 2 weeks to open the regular season with games against Niagara and RIT. These games are slated for Parent’s Weekend. This is also the weekend the new 5th Anniversary shirt will be available. More details to follow on that. The anticipated SLU(t) game this year falls on Saturday October 24th. After this matchup, Clarkson is on the road for the next 8 of 10 games. The schedule is compensated in January as the Knights have 6 straight home games. The rest of the season is then spent playing ECAC teams. Out of conference teams include Michigan State, Minnesota-Duluth, Boston College, Northern Michigan, and Alabama-Huntsville.

The women have a very unique schedule. Opening the season against the Ottawa Senators (no, not those Ottawa Senators) as an exhibition match, Cheel Arena is then occupied for the next 9 of 11 games. Following that trend, starting November 6th, the women only have 2 of the next 14 games at home. After this stretch, the women close the season alternating weeks at home and on the road. October 27th marks the date for the SLU(t).

More details are to follow for the shirts. Pre-orders will start in the next couple weeks. Times will be posted. Stay tuned to bonesaw.org for all the latest updates concerning your Clarkson Hockey teams!

First let me say I’m very excited for the upcoming season of Clarkson hockey and cannot wait for it to begin.  It will be the 5th year of Bonesaw so let’s make it a memorable one.  I’ll say congratulations to those who have departed from Clarkson and helped give us great memories in Cheel Arena for 4 years.  We’ve lost a very strong class of players in Shea Guthrie, Chris D’Alvise, Philippe Paquet, Adam Bellows, Dan Tuttle, Jon Marshall, Mike Willemsen, and Tyrell Mason.  These names were key factors in Clarkson’s run to the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008.  We can only hope that the next Nick Dodge or Shawn Weller is on their way to Clarkson for the freshmen class of 2013. 

The list of freshmen hockey players for the upcoming season has been released per Clarkson University’s Athletics website.  The list consists of 3 forwards, 4 defensemen and a goaltender playing in such leagues as the USHL, OJHL, EJHL and prep schools.  Each addition will hopefully help improve on Clarkson’s 10-19-7 overall record from last season and put them back in the 20 win range as per the previous two seasons.

Two of the forwards are a bit smaller in statue, but that certainly is no indication of the skill they possess as both 5’ 8” Peter Massar and 5’ 9” Matt Wilson each averaged more than a point per game for their teams in the EJHL.  Both bring in the ability to put points on the board, something which Clarkson looks to improve on from last season as they finished with 88 goals for in 36 games.  This number pales in comparison to the previous 2 seasons of Clarkson Hockey in which 108 and 136 goals were scored. 

The third forward Adam Pawlick, is listed as a “pure” goal scorer and is compared to Clarkson Alum Steven Zalewski.  With his 20 goals in 53 contests last year, Pawlick should be able to contribute on the score sheet right away and help raise those bonesaws in the air. 

Andrew Himelson is a defensemen coming out of the USHL where he played for Des Moines, it’s said that he brings some offense and the ability to start a rush with great passes out of the defensive zone.  Another defensemen added to the roster is Nikhola Grenier-Pokulok.   He brings a lot of size to the D-corps as he stands 6’ 5” and 220 lbs.  His big size will help make him a strong defenseman that will make it difficult for the opponent’s forwards to enter the zone and play down low. 

The last two defensemen also add some size to the back end as both are 6ft +.  Patrick McEachen and Jordan Ciccarello are two different players as McEachen is more offensive minded while Ciccarello is more of a defensive physical player.  McEachen racked up 33 points last season in 49 games playing for Stouffville in the OJHL.  He should be able to help out on the point on the powerplay. 

The final freshmen player coming in is a goaltender Cody Rosen who played in the OJHL last year.  He put up good numbers for a backup role, with an .899 save % and a 14-3 record.