Men's Hockey Ready for New Season

Raiders open 2024-25 campaign at UConn this weekend

HAMILTON — Colgate Men's Hockey opens the 2024-25 season on the road, traveling to UConn for games at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

"We're excited about the season and to be a part of a league that continues to get stronger," Donald F. Vaughan Head Men's Hockey Coach Mike Harder '97 said during the ECAC Hockey preseason media call last week.

"We like the group we are returning. Our senior class is six guys that will play a lot and share the leadership role," he added. "We brought in what we think is a really strong recruiting class with nine players, including two transfers."

ALL-LEAGUE RETURNERS
The Raiders return two ECAC All-League selections. Tommy Bergsland earned Second Team honors after posting a career-best 26 points behind five goals and a team-leading 21 assists. The senior finished tied for second in points by a defenseman in the ECAC. Bergsland also ranked tied for eighth overall and tied for third among blueliners in helpers.

Sophomore Jake Schneider earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team last season after tallying 18 points with nine goals and nine assists. Schneider finished sixth in goals and tied for 10th in points among ECAC first-years.

BRINGING TALENT BACK
The Raiders bring back 17 players from last season, including Daniel Panetta, who finished second on the team in goals (13) and points (29). The junior also ranked tied for 10th in goals and 11th in points in the ECAC. Senior Brett Chorske was tied for 10th in the league and tied for second on the squad with junior Simon Labelle in assists (20). Alex DiPaolo led the team and ranked tied for second in ECACH in game-winning goals (four).

On the defensive side, Bergsland was second on the team in blocked shots (46) last season. Senior Reid Irwin blocked 41 shots while contributing 13 points (3G, 10A). Junior Bobby Metz finished tied for the team lead in plus-minus at +10.

Colgate has two returning goaltenders in juniors Andrew Takacs and Nick Haas. Takacs played in three games last season, posting a 2-1 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.38 goals-against average. Haas played in one game against LIU, where he made 28 saves.

LETTER ON THE SWEATER
The Raiders named Irwin its captain for the 2024-25 campaign. He will serve his second season as a captain after dawning an 'A' on his jersey last year. Bergsland and DiPaolo were named alternate captains, earning the honor for the first time.

THE NEW GUYS
Head coach Mike Harder announced the addition of nine players during the offseason, including seven first-years and two transfers. The newcomers consist of four defensemen, four forwards, and a goaltender.

SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
Following the road trip to Connecticut, the Raiders host Sacred Heart in their home opener next Friday and Saturday.

Colgate opens ECAC play at home against Brown and Yale Nov. 8-9. The Raiders travel to Penn State for a pre-Thanksgiving battle Nov. 26-27 before taking on local rival Cornell in a home-and-home series Dec. 6-7. Colgate kicks off the new year with its final non-conference series against LIU Jan. 10-11. The remainder of the season includes home bouts against Dartmouth, Harvard, Union, RPI, St. Lawrence, and Clarkson.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Tommy Bergsland: D; 6' 3"; Senior

#29 Brett Chorske: F; 6' 7"; Senior

#28 Alex DiPaolo: F; 6' 1"; Senior

#30 Nick Haas: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#4 Reid Irwin: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#7 Simon Labelle: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#6 Bobby Metz: D; 5' 9"; Junior

#12 Daniel Panetta: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#24 Jake Schneider: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#1 Andrew Takacs: G; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#25 Tommy Bergsland
: 6' 3"; Senior
: D

#29 Brett Chorske
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F

#28 Alex DiPaolo
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F

#30 Nick Haas
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#4 Reid Irwin
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#7 Simon Labelle
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#6 Bobby Metz
: 5' 9"; Junior
: D

#12 Daniel Panetta
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#24 Jake Schneider
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Andrew Takacs
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G