Roll state: Men’s hockey ices out MASCAC competition
Gabriela Gondolfe
She/Her
SGA Senior Class President
2/19/23
If you have been to any of the Plymouth State men’s hockey games this year there’s a good chance you’ve seen the green and white Panthers win, a 100% chance to be exact! The Plymouth State men’s hockey team is a D3 Powerhouse this 2022-2023 season. Competing in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Panthers secured an unbeaten, 18-0-0, run through the league schedule since re-adopting the sport for the 2008-09 season. Plymouth State matches the program record for wins in a season, improving to 21-3-1 overall.
Behind their success is a team of players from all around the world that has made notable triumphs. Even with the graduation of seven key players in 2022, the team has made notable changes and gained fresh faces that have been proven assets to the organization. “Our freshmen and our transfers this year did a great job of jumping into roles right away. I think a lot of guys knew they had opportunities that were more clear this year than they were in the past… Hockey in itself is like a business, you’re either ready to play or you’re not”. said Ted Austin a senior captain from Toledo, Ohio.
Aside from the Panthers’ winning streak and record-breaking stats, they have also been recognized for their star players. The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston has released its semifinalists for its Joe Concannon Award, presented annually to the best American-born NCAA Division II/III hockey player in New England, and two members of the Plymouth State University men’s ice hockey team were among the 33 players chosen.
Seniors Myles Abbate of Norwell, Mass., and Brendahn Brawley of Morton, Pa. were named semifinalists for the prestigious award in an announcement from Gridiron Club of Greater Boston president Cheryl Duddy-Schoenfeld. The award was established in 2001 shortly after the passing of the longtime writer for The Boston Globe, who had a great passion for the game of college hockey while always advocating strongly for amateur athletics. Abbate reached a historic tally this season, gaining his 100th career point against Westfield State. “I remember going into that game I was one point away… but when I scored it was pretty cool and it was even better seeing the guys on the bench going nuts…. It’s something I’ll always remember with my teammates because it’s for them”. Abbate comments on this amazing milestone of his. Senior Goalie Brawley has been a brick wall all season establishing a new program best for goalie wins in a year.
Collectively this team has proven their chemistry, skill, and achievements far beyond their competitors. Senior Ben Chipman of North Vancouver, British Columbia attributes this success to the team as a whole and states “we have really experienced lines that contribute offensively every single night…. Our defensive game has improved over the last few games and we have committed to letting in fewer goals”.”
After winning their last regulation game on February 18th against Salem State, the Top-seeded Plymouth State will host the winner of fourth-seeded Westfield State and fifth-seeded UMass Dartmouth in a semifinal game on Saturday (Feb. 25) at 6:00 p.m. Goodluck in playoffs Panthers!