Stony Brook University Reloads for 2024-25 After National Championship Debut
Stony Brook University’s DIII hockey team is entering the 2024-25 ECHC season with high expectations after an impressive run last year. Following a top seed finish in the Black Division playoffs and the team’s first-ever appearance in the National Championship Tournament, the Seawolves are looking to build on their recent success. With a mix of experienced returners and exciting new additions, Stony Brook aims to take the next step and push even further this season.
Returning Forwards:
Stony Brook retained a core group of forwards, including several of last season’s top scorers. Tyler Edmonds (7 goals, 15 assists for 22 points) and Nikita Vorotnikov (9 goals, 13 assists for 22 points) return to lead the offense, alongside Steven Richardson (11 goals, 9 assists for 20 points) and Brandon Gerstein (14 goals, 6 assists for 20 points). The team will be without last season’s top scorer Lucas Puccia (17 goals, 9 assists for 26 points), who has been called up to the M1 ACHA team, but they retain a wealth of experience across the forward group.
New Forwards:
To complement their returning forwards, the Seawolves have added three new players. Skyler Lin, who had 6 points in 5 games with the Great Neck Bruins, will bring offensive depth, while Daniel Sorkin and Ryan Weiman (Rockville Center/East Rockaway/Hewlett) join the team after solid seasons in USNY-HS. Sorkin notched 15 goals and 11 assists in 11 games, while Weiman added 9 goals and 4 assists in 14 games. These newcomers are expected to make an immediate impact.
Returning Defensemen:
Stony Brook’s defensive unit will be led by returning veterans Brendan Devaney and Andrew Moscheni, providing experience and stability on the blue line.
New Defensemen:
The Seawolves bolstered their defense with four new additions. John Braccia (Long Island Royals 18U A), Brent Brdey (Connetquot/Sayville T-Birds), Jack Mancini (Long Island Gulls 18U AAA), and Andrew Martin (Penfield High) will bring fresh talent and versatility to the defensive group. Brdey, who led his team’s defensemen with 16 points, and Mancini, who had 13 points in 22 games, are expected to make key contributions.
Returning Goaltenders:
Stony Brook returns two goaltenders, Nicholas Guadagno and James Palma. Guadagno, who started four games last season, led the team in goals-against average and is poised to take on a larger role following the departure of Gene Castro, last season’s starter and a First-Team All-American.
New Goaltenders:
The Seawolves added two new goalies, Matthew Marino (Long Beach High) and Jillian Storminger (Islanders Elite 19U Black). Both will provide additional depth in net and push for playing time alongside the returning goaltenders.
Looking Back at Last Season:
Stony Brook finished the 2023-24 season as the top seed in the Black Division playoffs, going undefeated (10-0) in inter-divisional play. However, they fell short in the finals, losing 2-1 to Sacred Heart University. Despite the setback, the Seawolves qualified for the National Championship Tournament for the first time in team history. In Pool Play, they managed a win against the College of William & Mary but fell to the University of Rochester and eventual champions, the University of Miami.
Outlook for the 2024-25 Season:
With a strong group of returning players and some key additions, Stony Brook is looking to improve on last season’s success and make another deep playoff run. The loss of top scorer Lucas Puccia will be felt, but the Seawolves have the firepower to compensate with veterans like Edmonds, Vorotnikov, and Gerstein, alongside new talent like Lin, Sorkin, and Weiman. The defense remains solid with returning players and a revamped blue line, while the goaltending tandem will look to replace the stellar play of Gene Castro.
Stony Brook is focused on returning to the National Championship Tournament and making a stronger showing, with their sights set on pushing further into the postseason this year.
Photo credit: Kevin Psomas I @psomasproductions (Instagram)