This week we sat down with Syracuse radio announcer Dana Grey, and discussed the Syracuse hockey program, as well as this weekend’s games here at LaHaye Ice Center against Liberty. The Flames face the Orangemen on Friday night, and Saturday afternoon prior to the Liberty football game. Puck drops at 7pm at the LaHaye Ice Center tonight.
Duke Cuneo: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for the Syracuse hockey program.
Dana Grey: I am a Junior Broadcast and Digital Journalism student with a sports emphasis in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Growing up in Boston, I’ve been a huge New England fan my whole, specifically a huge hockey nut. It’s my dream to be a professional play-by-play broadcaster in the NHL so when I came to Syracuse I looked for opportunities where I could start getting reps. Now I’m in my second year with the Men’s team and call the games with another student James Colgan. We are really excited about how we’ve been able to grow our broadcasts and help the program over the past couple of years.
Duke Cuneo: This is SU’s first season in the ESCHL. Many of our fans are unfamiliar with SU Hockey, give us some background on the program and what they bring to the league.
Dana Grey: Syracuse made the switch over from the NECHL to the ESCHL for a few reasons. The biggest being that the competition in the NECHL was actually hurting the Orange as a program. With the way the that the ACHA rankings are computerized in the later stages of the season, SU would wind up losing ground nationally if they didn’t beat weaker divisional opponents by double digit goals. Not to say that blow outs like that didn’t occur regularly, but hockey is hockey and one can’t be expected to score 10 goals night in and night out. The varying in level of competition was extremely difficult from weekend to weekend when you are switching between opponents who can barely roll four lines to go play a top team in the country.
Duke Cuneo: How did SU end up in the ESCHL this season, and what are your expectations for the season?
Dana Grey: The move was made public early on in the fall of 2016 and from the start I knew it was going to be a beneficial decision. Syracuse is a very strong hockey club, their divisional title and recent ACHA National Tournaments speak for themselves, so I am relieved that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Duke Cuneo: How does this season’s squad stack up to last year’s team that made a national tournament appearance?
Dana Grey: This year Syracuse is returning the majority of the team and has kept a lot of its top talent. Following a first round exit in the National Tournament last March, the coaching staff knew it had to address some issues on the back end. The Orange was one of the top offenses in the country last year but defensive breakdowns led to their early postseason exit. Two of the top recruits this year reflect that hole and have done a nice just filling it early on through five games. Freshman defensemen, Ford Hatchett and Sean Mesick have both looked strong in the early going and have provided some stability on the back end. If the Orange can get the defense up to par with its electric offense, this is a dangerous team.
Duke Cuneo: What is SU’s style of play like? Would you say they have a brand of hockey?
Dana Grey: “Orange is the New Fast” may hold more true with the Syracuse hockey team as opposed to the football team that created the slogan. SU has a high powered offense that seems to be picking up right from where it left off last year. SU has already scored 29 goals through five games and is working at a tempo that many opponents seem to have a difficult time matching. Adding to the character of the team is the impressive Orange penalty kill. Self dubbed “The Dog Pound”, the SU PK has only surrendered one goal all year and its ferocious neutral zone forecheck has created two shorthanded goals.
Duke Cuneo: Who are 3 key players for your success that fans should keep an eye on this weekend?
Dana Grey: Keith Lambert – Team leading 7 goals and 12 points, Junior Forward with sweet hands and great ice vision.
Joseph Pucciarelli – 4th line grinder that serves valuable time on the PK. Plays with an edge and draws a handful of penalties by frustrating opponents.
Peter Owen Hayward – Led the ACHA in goals last year as a Freshman with 28 goals, battling an early season shoulder injury but owns the ice when he is out there.
Duke Cuneo: Liberty is known for it’s raucous crowds in the ACHA, are SU’s guys used to playing in front of big crowds?
Dana Grey: While this Orange team doesn’t have a ton of experience with raucous barns, most members played in front of a good sized crowd at the OhioHealth Ice Haus at the National Tournament. My broadcast partner James and I got to see first hand the atmosphere down in Columbus when we were asked to call some of the Division One games. It was an unreal crowd and I think Syracuse will feed off a big Liberty fanbase.
Duke Cuneo: When I played for Liberty back in the early 2000’s, we played at a fairly new rink against Syracuse. How is SU’s home ice advantage these days, with an on campus facility?
Dana Grey: While Tennity Ice Pavilion might not be up to the high caliber that some of the ACHA squads, but it can hold a great crowd. The fan base for the Orange is growing as the team starts to get more traction on campus.
Duke Cuneo: Being a power 5 school, from a hockey rich area, does Syracuse have any plans for NCAA hockey in the future?
Dana Grey: There is definitely a push to bring Men’s Division One Hockey to Syracuse University. I personally don’t think it is a question of if, it is a question of when. Considering a number of factors such as the fact that SU already has a Women’s D1 team, Central New York is a hockey hot bed and that there is already a successful club team, I have hope that a program will come sooner rather that later. What poses the problem to the bringing D1 Men’s hockey to Syracuse is the funding it would require and of course Title IX.
Duke Cuneo: Does the team have any non-hockey plans for the road trip down south?
Dana Grey: Not that I know of… other than the 2019 ACHA National Tournament in Texas!
Duke Cuneo: Score predictions for the weekend?
Dana Grey: Game 1: One-goal Liberty win
Game 2: One-goal Syracuse win
We would like to thank Dana for answering our questions, and hope he and the Syracuse team have a great trip down to Lynchburg.
