RIP Mercyhurst NCAA Men's Hockey

[PrezdeJohnson09]

I don't know how many of the "newer" posters will remember since it was a long time ago, but Mercyhurst used to be a very relevant name in the Division III world. They started out as Division III program and then transitioned to Division II for awhile, but still participated in a combo Division II/III league with the old ECAC West.

Mercyhurst, Niagara, Elmira, RIT, Hobart, Canisius and I believe at one point (Plattsburgh and Oswego before the SUNYAC formed) were members of the OG ECAC West.

Before Utica, Manhattanville and Neumann were around, it was all those programs battling it out every weekend.

It was a hell of a fun league with some really strong rivalries. Perhaps Russell will have some good stories and memories from those days, I know the RIT crew of Ed Trefzger, Scott Biggar and Chris Lerch were all heavily involved at that time as well.

In 1999-2000 Mercyhurst started playing up to Division I as a Division II school in all sports. Niagara and Canisius joined them and then a few years later RIT made the jump up too.

I never saw him play, but I heard a lot of impressive stories about Scott Burfoot '92. He went on to a 10+ year pro career after totaling 290! yes you read that right, 290 points in a four-year career at Mercyhurst. My first year following D-III hockey was the following year in 1992-93.

It's always a sad day when you lose a college hockey program, it's even more sad when it's a program with as much history as Mercyhurst has.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Also, same head coach for basically their entire existence. Rick Gotkin announced his retirement after 38 years at the helm of the program earlier this year.

The only year he wasn't the head coach was their inaugural year in 1987-88.

 

[MilkUniversity]

Said it in the D1 thread, but that’s a massive disappointment for the players especially with how tough the recruiting environment is. Wonder how many will make the jump to D3 if they’re committed to playing out their college career. Know there’s a lot of talk about how NAHL/USHL players might be pushed out in favor of CHL recruits. Hopefully we’ll see schools nearby like Buffalo, Chatham, Hiram, etc pick up some of the slack and become an option.

 

[WCHornet]

I don't know how many of the "newer" posters will remember since it was a long time ago, but Mercyhurst used to be a very relevant name in the Division III world. They started out as Division III program and then transitioned to Division II for awhile, but still participated in a combo Division II/III league with the old ECAC West.

Mercyhurst, Niagara, Elmira, RIT, Hobart, Canisius and I believe at one point (Plattsburgh and Oswego before the SUNYAC formed) were members of the OG ECAC West.

Before Utica, Manhattanville and Neumann were around, it was all those programs battling it out every weekend.

It was a hell of a fun league with some really strong rivalries. Perhaps Russell will have some good stories and memories from those days, I know the RIT crew of Ed Trefzger, Scott Biggar and Chris Lerch were all heavily involved at that time as well.

In 1999-2000 Mercyhurst started playing up to Division I as a Division II school in all sports. Niagara and Canisius joined them and then a few years later RIT made the jump up too.

I never saw him play, but I heard a lot of impressive stories about Scott Burfoot '92. He went on to a 10+ year pro career after totaling 290! yes you read that right, 290 points in a four-year career at Mercyhurst. My first year following D-III hockey was the following year in 1992-93.

It's always a sad day when you lose a college hockey program, it's even more sad when it's a program with as much history as Mercyhurst has.

Actually Plattsburgh & Oswego belonged to both SUNYAC and ECACW at the same time in the 80s. In 1987 Plattsburgh won the Triple Crown against Oswego: SUNYAC Championship, ECAC Championship and NCAA Championship (vacated)

 

[elbojpb]

I never saw him play, but I heard a lot of impressive stories about Scott Burfoot '92. He went on to a 10+ year pro career after totaling 290! yes you read that right, 290 points in a four-year career at Mercyhurst. My first year following D-III hockey was the following year in 1992-93.

Burfoot was a man amongst boys. His skills were 2 degrees of separation from anyone else playing at D3 those years. Ran into an Erie resident in Fla where we spend winters, and I asked him "do you recall a very skilled player from M'hurst from the 80s?" He immediately replied Burfoot without a second of hesitation.

Unfortunately, I don't believe 'Hurst will be the last to throw in the towel at D1. Especially those AHA schools who opted out of the settlement. Hopefully some of those players will find their way back to the ECAC/W

Ironically, while I'm reading this story, Mankato St is playing in the West Regional; a school that took "basically" the same route as 'Hurst, RIT, Niagara and Canisius.

 

[bakdraft21]

Actually Plattsburgh & Oswego belonged to both SUNYAC and ECACW at the same time in the 80s. In 1987 Plattsburgh won the Triple Crown against Oswego: SUNYAC Championship, ECAC Championship and NCAA Championship (vacated)

Thanks for reminding me Hornet

 

[bakdraft21]

Burfoot was a man amongst boys. His skills were 2 degrees of separation from anyone else playing at D3 those years. Ran into an Erie resident in Fla where we spend winters, and I asked him "do you recall a very skilled player from M'hurst from the 80s?" He immediately replied Burfoot without a second of hesitation.

Unfortunately, I don't believe 'Hurst will be the last to throw in the towel at D1. Especially those AHA schools who opted out of the settlement. Hopefully some of those players will find their way back to the ECAC/W

Ironically, while I'm reading this story, Mankato St is playing in the West Regional; a school that took "basically" the same route as 'Hurst, RIT, Niagara and Canisius.

Krueiger,sp?, from UConn I believe was pretty good for the d3 level

 

[2ndPair]

Burfoot was a man amongst boys. His skills were 2 degrees of separation from anyone else playing at D3 those years. Ran into an Erie resident in Fla where we spend winters, and I asked him "do you recall a very skilled player from M'hurst from the 80s?" He immediately replied Burfoot without a second of hesitation.

Unfortunately, I don't believe 'Hurst will be the last to throw in the towel at D1. Especially those AHA schools who opted out of the settlement. Hopefully some of those players will find their way back to the ECAC/W

Ironically, while I'm reading this story, Mankato St is playing in the West Regional; a school that took "basically" the same route as 'Hurst, RIT, Niagara and Canisius.

Those were the glory days of Stevens Point. Ralph Barahona and Cole Caufield's Dad Paul were pretty special players as well.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Elmira had Joey Spinelli too who was quite special.

 

[WCHornet]

Actually Plattsburgh & Oswego belonged to both SUNYAC and ECACW at the same time in the 80s. In 1987 Plattsburgh won the Triple Crown against Oswego: SUNYAC Championship, ECAC Championship and NCAA Championship (vacated)

Thanks for reminding me Hornet

Sorry, I was there for all the games, even when you guys beat Herb Brooks and St Cloud. Remember that low side glass at Plattsburgh before the remodel ?

 

[bakdraft21]

Sorry, I was there for all the games, even when you guys beat Herb Brooks and St Cloud. Remember that low side glass at Plattsburgh before the remodel ?

no worries alls well after several yrs of trips to the Dr...side boards were nice ,little o'school....

 

[Russell Jaslow]

I don't know how many of the "newer" posters will remember since it was a long time ago, but Mercyhurst used to be a very relevant name in the Division III world. They started out as Division III program and then transitioned to Division II for awhile, but still participated in a combo Division II/III league with the old ECAC West.

Mercyhurst, Niagara, Elmira, RIT, Hobart, Canisius and I believe at one point (Plattsburgh and Oswego before the SUNYAC formed) were members of the OG ECAC West.

You really want to go OG, add in Union (and Merrimack and Lowell over in ECAC East). And to complicate matters even more so, besides the SUNYAC "subconference" within the ECAC West, you also had the NYCHA subconference, which caused a bizarre set of circumstances in how the ECAC West playoff teams were selected (Fishman would have the cow of all cows if he knows this story). Stories? You want to hear the Union-Potsdam NYCHA vs. ECAC West playoff selection story? Like I said, bizarre. And then there's the scheduling arrangements within the ECAC conferences -- there were none. Anybody played whoever they scheduled. Some twice, some once, some none! No even amount of conference games. Just pure Wild West style. Oh, and if you were under .500, you didn't make the playoffs even if you were in a playoff position.