Season Review
2007-08 REVIEW
The Buffalo State men's hockey program entered its third year under the direction of Head Coach Nick Carriere riding the momentum of two consecutive SUNYAC playoff appearances for the first time in school history. The 2007-08 edition continued the program's record-breaking ways by not only setting new records for most consecutive wins and longest unbeaten streak in a season, but also reaching the postseason for the third straight year.
The Bengals opened the season at home going 1-1 in the SUNYAC Challenge, losing to then No. 4-ranked Manhattanville before defeating Cortland in the second game. The team dropped a pair of contests to Hobart in a home-and-home series with the Statesman but opened league play on the road at Geneseo and Brockport with an overtime win and tie, respectively. Buffalo State went on to lose its next five of six games, including conference losses to Plattsburgh, Fredonia, Oswego and Cortland. The team turned things around by the end of the first half of the season, kicking off its record-setting seven game winning streak and eight game unbeaten streak with two non-conference victories against Lebanon Valley. The Bengals started 2008 with a pair of victories each against Morrisville and Johnson & Wales and closed out the SUNYAC season 2-3-2, completing the season-sweep of Geneseo, while also defeating Potsdam and tying Brockport and Cortland.
Despite being unable to replicate last year's highest-ever conference finish, a fourth-place showing, the Bengals made their third-consecutive and fourth-ever playoff appearance as the No. 6 seed in the SUNYAC postseason. Buffalo State ended its season at third-seeded Fredonia in the quarterfinals with a 4-2 loss, finishing 10-12-4 overall and 5-7-4 in league play.
Buffalo State's Nick Petriello (St. Catharines, ON/Holy Cross) was recognized by the conference office three times throughout the season, twice being name Rookie of the Week while also picking up Player of the Week honors. Additionally, he was the lone Bengal recognized by the SUNYAC at the end of the season, garnering Rookie of the Year honors. The freshman forward finished the regular season tied for second in the league in rookie scoring with 18 points in just 15 conference games. He led the Bengals in overall scoring and was tied for second in the entire conference with 30 points on 12 goals and 18 assists. Petriello also scored four power-play goals and netted to game-winners.
The season was highlighted by other outstanding accomplishments by sophomore goaltender Kyle Gunn-Taylor (W. Seneca/Orchard Park) and senior defenseman Jeff Mok (Richmond Hill, ON/Richmond Hill). Gunn-Taylor played in 18 of the team's 26 games and set several new individual records including best save percentage (.907) and lowest goals-against-average (2.68) in a single season. Mok scored six goals during his senior campaign, bringing his career total to 14 putting him in the top spot in goals by a defenseman.
With each recruiting class, Carriere and Assistant Coach Jason Greenway have continually bolstered the Bengals' lineup and next year should be no exception. Buffalo State has the potential to return 23 players next season, and along with newcomers, should again make a run at the SUNYAC postseason and beyond.
