The new-look Division 2 of the UNYCHL has plenty of potential contenders across its 20+ schools. D2 Metro sets up as potentially the most competitive division with some legitimate league title challengers. The six Metro schools will be Niagara County Community College, University of Rochester, St. John Fisher, Niagara University (D2), Brockport, and Canisius.
Niagara County Community College is one of several teams hoping to carry momentum over from a strong finish last year. NCCC scored massive playoff wins over St. Bonaventure and Binghamton, before falling short in the league title game. Bona had been unbeaten and ranked #1 nationally, while Binghamton would go on to win the National Championship. The Thunderwolves roster will have some turnover coming next year. But this is not the first time NCCC has had to replace key players, do not be shocked if they do.
No team in all of AAU College Hockey can claim a better end to the 22-23 season than St. John Fisher. The Cardinals claimed a pair of titles—the UNYCHL Tier 2 Championship, then the AAU D3 National Championship. Fisher played in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 year ago, making both playoffs and compiling 24 wins in total. They will be a part of the league’s new D1 as well as D2 next year.
“Does NCCC continue where they left off?” pondered UNYCHL Commissioner Jon Marchese when asked about D2 Metro. “With what they did at the end of the year, how much they lost could determine the Metro. But also, does Fisher continue its progression?”
“Another team could always emerge too, that’s part of what makes D2 so interesting next year.”
The University of Rochester Yellowjackets played their best hockey at the end of the year as well. UofR took St John Fisher to overtime in the Tier 2 Championship after playoff wins over Niagara (D3) and Penn State Behrend College.
Niagara University’s second AAU team moves into the new D2 and figures to be a force as the overall Purple Eagle program continues to grow. The ACHA team and both AAU teams all went to their respective Nationals last year. The D3 Purps strong year included 13 regular season wins, but finished with a lackluster postseason.
Brockport also shouldn’t be overlooked in this group. A previous Tier 1 mainstay, the Golden Eagles split their two meetings with St John Fisher a year ago and could be poised to take a step forward in the new-look division.
Canisius College rounds out the division, as the Golden Griffins restart their second non-NCAA team. The internal competition that has allowed the multiple teams to thrive at Niagara never really took hold for Canisius’ first run at a second team. But that was at a time when the CHF/AAU was brand new and maybe perceived negatively by those hoping to play for Canisius’ ACHA team. Now with AAU a more established place to play, that can only bode well for the Griffs’s second squad.
