The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team looks to the 2011-12 season with a renewed sense of optimism. The previous campaign was full of adversity on and off the ice as the Bears skated to an unimpressive 6-17-1 mark. That was coupled with an inadvertent NCAA rules violation, which brought greater challenges to third-year head coach Chris Bernard and assistant coach Tim Crowley. Changes to SUNY Potsdam’s policies regarding grants to international students, forced the Bears to scrap their initial recruiting class and focus on building a new class late in the process.

“We had begun to put the finishing touches on a recruiting class and were required to change course, as only one incoming player was able to honor his commitment,” said Bernard. “Also, with the departure of five returning guys, we had a great deal of work to do to secure a solid class between May 1 and August 1. Tim deserves a lot of credit for doing a great job under tough circumstances.”

The changes at Potsdam have resulted in fewer players from Quebec and Ontario and more from the Midwest and New England.

“We’re going to be operating differently,” Bernard added. “The way we’re going to play will be a little different. We’re going to have to be more of a real lunch pail, hardworking, and meat and potatoes team. We’re excited about having our new guys and I’m as intrigued as anyone as to what they can bring to the program.”

While there are 14 new faces, a strong group of 13 veterans remain and Bernard is excited to have them back.

“Our returnees suffered through some difficult situations and uncertain times last year and made the choice to come back and represent us and SUNY Potsdam,” said Bernard. “I have all the respect in the world for them. The coaching staff appreciates the commitment that they’ve shown us and the college.”

Three of those veterans will serve as captains this season. Senior Sy Nutkevitch (Montreal, Quebec/Cornwall Colts) will don the “C” and juniors Brett Waters (Uxbridge, Ontario/Markham Waxers) and Matt Viola (Toronto, Ontario/Vaughan Vipers) will be assistant captains.

“Sy Nutkevitch has earned the respect of both the returnees and the recruited guys through the way that he competes and drives himself to improve every day,” Bernard said. “Brett Waters is a very affable guy who’s detailed oriented and makes no excuses. Matt Viola brings the same work ethic and enthusiasm to practice everyday. He wears his heart on his sleeve and wants to win for his teammates more than himself.”

Forward

Six forwards return to lead the Bears offense this season. Nutkevitch was the team’s third-leading scorer last season with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. Last season’s top freshman scorer, sophomore Mike Arnold (Didsbury, Alberta/Kingston Voyageurs), is back as well. Arnold got hot at the end of the season and finished with six goals, including a team-high three on the power play, and seven assists for 13 points. Viola totaled three goals and three assists in 23 games in 2010-11. Sophomore Adam Place (Scarborough, Ontario/Bowmansville Eagles) also had strong debut season with four goals and seven assists for 11 points.

Rounding out the returnees are senior Mike Foy (Markham, Ontario/Welland Canadians) and junior Billy Tsekos (Montreal, Quebec/Vaudrevil Mustangs) whose experience is a valuable commodity for this year’s Bears. Foy registered a goal and two assists in 21 games last season and Tsekos contributed an assist in 17 games.

Eight new forwards join the team for 2011-12. Sophomore Paul Manderfield (Marinette, Wis./Granite City Lumberjacks), freshman Vinny Buttitta (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/New York Apple Core), freshman Trevor Cope (Swartz Creek, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Knights), and freshman Carlo Ahee (Detroit, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Hawks) are part of the largest group of Midwesterners to ever put on a Potsdam jersey.

Junior Aaron Hildreth (Clay, N.Y.) joins the Bears after being a named a second-team NJCAA All-American with Monroe Community College last season. Sophomore Ryan Miller (Didsbury, Alberta) played with the Arizona Sun Devils club team before heading Potsdam. Freshmen Kenny Simon (Norwell, Mass./Philadelphia Revolution) and Dan Kelley (Lake Placid, N.Y./Lake Placid) and Australian junior Dave Manning (Adelaide, Australia/Northland College) complete the new forward ranks.

Defense

Four veterans will anchor Potsdam on the blue line this year. Waters played in 22 games last season with a goal and four assists for five points. Hunter Syrydiuk (Toronto, Ontario/Bowmanville Eagles) (9 games played, 1-goal, 2 assists-3 points) returns as the lone senior. Sophomores Nick Avgerinos (Bolton, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders) (1-3-4) and Kevin Carpenter (Denver, Colo/Notre Dame Hounds) played in 22 and 17 games, respectively.

Four newcomers bolster Potsdam’s defense. Freshman New Yorker Max Fogel (Williamsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) joins two more Midwesterners, freshman Kevin O’Connor (Ann Arbor, Mich./New Mexico Mustangs) freshman Dan McCamey (Dayton, Ohio/Minnesota Flying Aces). Freshman Alabamian Erick Ware (Huntsville, Ala./Kenai River Brown Bears) is the final new addition on defense.

Goal

The Bears enter the season with four goaltenders on the roster, three returnees and one freshman. Bernard, a former goalie himself, recognizes the importance of performance between the pipes.

“We’ve got some depth in goal and we’re going to need our guys to perform consistently at a high level for a chance to be successful this year,” said Bernard.

Senior Kevin McFarland (St. Louis, Mo./Woodstock Slammers) returns after posting a 2-5-0 mark in nine games, including six starts. He earned more time in goal as the season progressed last year. Freshman Dylan Ellis (Oakville, Ontario/Aurora Tigers) looks to battle McFarland for time in goal. Junior Andy Groulx (Rockland, Ontario/Orangeville Crushers) missed all of last season with an injury and is expected to return in the second semester. Senior Kevin Weiler (Binghamton, N.Y./Northwood Prep) gave the Bears badly needed depth in goal last season and will fight for ice time in 2011-12.

Schedule

Potsdam will face the usual competitive SUNYAC schedule this season as well as teams from several other eastern conferences. The Bears will travel to ECAC West foes Utica, Manhattanville, and Hobart. Potsdam will also see Southern Maine, Skidmore, and Castleton out of the ECAC East and Southern New Hampshire from the Northeast 10. The Bears will take part in the Middlebury Classic on Dec.31-Jan.1.

Potsdam opens its 2011-12 campaign with a SUNYAC road matchup with Morrisville on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m.