A 1-3-1 start isn’t what Shenendehowa hockey fans have come to expect in recent years, but it’s part of a new reality for the Plainsmen.
With the graduation of 11 seniors from last year’s Section II, Division I championship squad, Shen is in the rare position of rebuilding.
We have a good group of upperclassmen, but they played under a really good group of seniors last year, said Shen coach Juan de la Rocha.
The Plainsmen’s early season schedule hasn’t helped them. They’ve played several of New York’s traditional powers including Ithaca, Auburn, Williamsville North and Canisius (Buffalo).
`We’ve had a pretty rough schedule to start the season,` said de la Rocha.
What should give Shen fans hope is that the Plainsmen are rising to the occasion, even if the wins haven’t been there. They fought Ithaca to a 1-1 tie Nov. 28, defeated McQuaid (Rochester) 4-1 last Friday and battled Canisius before falling 4-3 last Saturday.
`Last weekend was a big step for us,` said de la Rocha. `Those are two very good teams (McQuaid and Canisius), and we played very well.`
The few veterans Shen has on offense ` nine forwards graduated from last year ` led the Plainsmen in last weekend’s action. Alec Pacheco scored two goals and added an assist in the victory over McQuaid, and A.J. Mangino tallied twice in the loss to Canisius.
Still, Shen will need its younger players to contribute in order to win its seventh consecutive Sectional title.
`We’re top dog (in Section II) because of what we’ve done in the past, but we’re not who we were before,` said de la Rocha. `It’s always our goal to win the Section without a doubt, but at no point do we look past our league competition.`
There are plenty of teams in the Capital District High School Hockey League that will challenge Shen this year, according to de la Rocha.
`CBA is very good this year. Guilderland returned most of its scorers from last year. Saratoga (Springs) has a new head coach behind the bench, which always energizes a program. They’ve already defeated CBA this year,` said de la Rocha.
Shen will have to wait a little longer before taking on the CDHSHL. The Plainsmen are one of eight teams competing at this weekend’s Don Kauth Memorial Tournament in Saratoga Springs. Shen faces Oswego Friday night at Clifton Park Arena before playing St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Saturday at Saratoga’s Weibel Avenue Arena.
Playing an aggressive non-league schedule should pay dividends for Shen once it does start facing CDHSHL teams, said de la Rocha.
`We’re going to be a team where you’re going to see more results in January,` he said.
Saratoga Springs (3-1-1) has an equally challenging schedule during the Kauth Memorial Tournament. The Blue Streaks host Section III’s Liverpool Friday and Oswego Saturday at Weibel.
Saratoga is looking for a better effort than at last weekend’s West Genesee Tournament, where the Blue Streaks lost to the host school 5-0 and tied Aquinas (Rochester) 2-2.
In other weekend hockey action, Burnt Hills/Scotia-Glenville hosts Niskayuna/Schenectady in a CDHSHL game at Union College. The Spartan/Tartans are coming off a first-place finish at the Saranac Lake Tournament, where they defeated the Mohawks 3-2 in a shootout in Saturday’s final. “