The Geneseo Ice Knights had a successful weekend while visiting the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs. They won their first game on Friday Jan. 31 with a score of 6-0 and swept the weekend doubleheader on Saturday Feb. 1 by a score of 8-3.
Amidst the team’s accomplishments, one particular player stood out for his performance. Senior forward Tyson Empey had been sitting on 99 career points going into the weekend. During Friday’s 6-0 shutout, he reached the 100-career point milestone when he assisted on a goal from senior forward Andrew Romano. Empey also added a goal in the third period to get to 101 career points.
While reaching such a notable milestone is impressive, Empey’s milestone solidified something that makes Geneseo hockey unique. Once Empey assisted on that goal for his 100th point, Geneseo stood alone as the only hockey program in all of college hockey (including all divisions and men’s and women’s hockey) to have four active players with 100 career points. He joined Romano (155 career points), senior forward Conlan Keenan (156), and senior forward David Szmyd (107).
Empey summarized his own achievement and the team’s accomplishment. “It is an incredible milestone to reach the 100-point mark and I can’t thank my teammates enough for helping me get there,” Empey said. “Though it is a great achievement for the four of us, it is not the main goal we have been working towards this season or during our careers. Without the team working together for a common goal the individual success would not be possible.”
Empey’s offense was not the only reason for success over the weekend, as 11 different Knights recorded a goal in the two victories, including junior forward Levi Wunder’s second shorthanded goal of the season and first-year forward Bryan Zurowski’s first career goal.
Adding to the record books was first-year goaltender Matthew Petizian, who made 15 saves during the game on Friday on his way to his first-career shutout. Junior goaltender Aaron Mackay continued the Ice Knight’s consistently strong goalie play, helping the Knights secure a win on Saturday.
Geneseo will need to carry their success from the 14-3 weekend rout of the Mustangs as they take on the SUNY Oswego Lakers on Friday Feb. 7 on the road. Geneseo currently sits atop the SUNYAC standings with 18 points, but the Lakers loom ominously close to the Knights, sitting in second place with 16 points. If the Lakers win, they would move into a tie for first with Geneseo.
Empey is aware of the importance of the upcoming game in Oswego. “This weekend is massive game against Oswego. It is an important game for the battle to finish at the top of the SUNYAC,” Empey said. “We had a great game against them early in the season, but we know they will be hungry for redemption and we are doing everything we can to prepare this week.”
Empey referred to the team’s 9-1 rout of the Lakers on Nov. 16. Empey led the way in that game with a hat trick.
After Friday’s game, Geneseo will return home Saturday Feb. 8 as they celebrate one of the most successful senior classes in Geneseo hockey history on Senior Night. The seniors currently flaunt an unbelievable combined 661 career points.