UTICA, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 14 Utica College men's hockey team opens up regular season play at home on Friday night as the Pioneers host Fredonia State in the Parkway Drugs Home Opener at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. 

Get the First Look: Fans will notice a few changes this season at the home of the Pioneers, arguably the top NCAA Division III hockey facility in the country … For starters, the building took on a new name this offseason as it has been dubbed The Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium … The facility, which hosted the 2017 NCAA Division III Men's Hockey National Championships, will also feature new luxury suites which are currently in the final stages of construction.

Pioneers All-Access: Make sure to catch live video, audio and stats for all home games on Pioneers All-Access: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/ … Audio is provided by Utica College's student radio, WPNR 90.7 FM.

Tickets: Individual home game tickets are on sale at the AUD ticket office or online at http://empirestatetix.com/ … Individual game tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for non-Utica College students … Online ticket purchases will incur a $3.50 processing fee per ticket.  

Last Time Out: Over the weekend the Pioneers rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit and tied NCAA quarterfinalist and nationally-ranked No. 6 Endicott College 3-3 in an exhibition match on Saturday afternoon … Utica's Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) posted a three point night, including the game-tying goal with 3:28 left in the third period, to help the Pioneers grind out a tie.

Nationally-Ranked: The Pioneers are ranked No. 14 in both the USCHO.com Preseason and the D3hockey.com Preseason National Polls.

Season Openers: The Pioneers have not lost a regular season opener in ten seasons, going 8-0-2 in the stretch … Utica has won seven straight season openers and has an 9-5-2 record all-time in season opening contests.

Welcome to the UCHC: The Pioneers enter their first season as a member of the newly formed United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) this season … The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States … The membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York, to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas … In its inaugural season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Chatham University, Elmira College, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and William Smith College into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures … In addition, Wilkes University is set to begin men's and women's play in the fall of 2018.

UC Tops Inaugural UCHC Preseason Poll: The Pioneers were the top predicted choice to finish first among nine teams in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference standings for the 2017-18 season, according to the UCHC Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll … A survey of league coaches yielded eight out of a possible nine first place votes for the Pioneers, who posted a 12-2 league record against much of the same conference competition last year en route to a second straight conference championship game.

Looking Back at Last Season: Utica advanced to its third conference tournament title game in the last four years last season and they have now appeared in five conference tournament championship games in the program's 16-year history … The Pioneers have won three conference regular season titles in the last five seasons … UC finished the year ranked No. 14 in the final D3hockey.com National Poll and No. 15 in the final USCHO.com National Poll … After earning hosting rights to the ECAC West Conference Tournament the Pioneers won their quarterfinal matchup 4-3 against Neumann before falling in the conference championship game against Hobart College, 2-1, in overtime … The Pioneers started the season 8-0 last year, marking the best start in program-history … They finished the regular season with a program-best 12-2 ledger in conference play … UC dominated in conference play last year, outscoring their opponents 57-28 … Utica's 18 wins last year were the second most wins in a single season in program-history … The last time Utica won over 18 games in a single season was back in 2013 when the Pioneers won 21 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Semifinals in Lake Placid, NY.

Leading the Way: Senior's Brett Szajner (Novi, MI/Amarillo (NAHL)) and Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) were named captains while classmates Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) were named alternate captains this offseason … Szajner has spent the past two seasons as an alternate captain for the Pioneers … He has played in 63 games on the defensive end, recording seven goals and 17 assists … Bushinski has 63 career games under his belt and has 34 career points (10 goals, 24 assists) … He is coming off a career-high 19 point season … Valenti is the Pioneers active leading scorer with 55 career points in 81 games played … Last season he finished second on the team with 25 points on 10 goals and 15 assists … Stefan, an all-conference second team pick this past Winter, had a breakout season in 2016-17 as he totaled a career-high 19 points from the defensive end … He has now played in 79 career games and has 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists).

All-Conference Returners: UC landed a league-best five players on ECAC Men's West All-Conference teams last season and two Pioneers were named to the all-rookie team … The Pioneers return four all-conference selections and two all-rookie team picks to the ice this season … Senior forward Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) and sophomore goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) were selected to the first team last season, while senior defender Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) was named to the second team … Senior Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) was named honorable mention, while Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Virtanen earned all-rookie team status.

Leading Scorer: Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)), a transfer at the beginning of last year from Division I Union College, led the team with 35 points on 12 goals and 23 assists … He ranked second in the conference in points per game … He had 11 multi-point games last year ...  His 35 points were the most points scored by a Pioneer in a single season since All-American and current assistant coach Louis Educate registered 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) back in 2013.

Solid Between the Pipes: Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) had an impressive first year with the Pioneers … He finished the year ranked first in the league with a 1.76 goals against average, .940 save percentage and a 9-1 record in league games … He had 13 total wins and one shut out to his credit, to go along with a .922 save percentage in 19 total games played … Pushing for ice time between the pipes will be sophomore Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) and senior Henry Dill (Columbus, OH/UMASS (Hockey East)) … Dill played in eight games last year and posted a 5-2 record in seven starts … Baggetta is also a solid option in goal after a strong offseason.

Consistent Scoring Threat: Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)), who led the Pioneers in scoring his sophomore year, finished his junior season ranked third on the team with 22 points by way of seven goals and 15 assists … Utica was 16-4 last year in games where McVeigh earned at least one point … He ranked inside the top-25 in the conference for total points last year ... 16 of his 22 total points came in conference play and he netted three power-play goals … In 75 career games he has totaled 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists).

Avoiding the Sophomore Slump: Sophomore forward Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) was selected to the All-Rookie Team in his first season at Utica … He was a four-time ECAC West Rookie of the Week selection … Fitzpatrick had 11 goals and seven assists on the year for a total of 18 points … His nine goals in conference play led the team last season.  He also ranked second on the team with 11 total goals.

Scoring Depth: The Pioneers return their top seven scorers from a year ago … Senior Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) finished his junior season ranked second on the team with 25 points … Adding depth to the scoring efforts will be Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) and defenseman Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) … Carter is the top returning scorer among Pioneer defenders as he has 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) in 80 career games played … Justin Derlag, Shawn Lynch (Syracuse, NY/Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)), Kyle Lajeunesse (South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)), Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)), and Devin Warfield (Cary, NC/Carolina Eagles (USPHL)) also return and will certainly provide quality ice time for the Pioneers. 

Bolstered Defense: The UC defense will be led by veterans Brett Szajner (Novi, MI/Amarillo (NAHL)), Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)), Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) … Borsoi played in all 27 games last year and totaled 14 points … The junior now has 20 points in 54 career games played … In the offseason the Pioneers added freshman defenders Brandon Young (Muskegon, MI/Johnstown (NAHL)), Hunter Gunski (Goffstown, NH/Wellington (OJHL)), and Vaden McManus (Fayetteville, NC/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) to go along with Division I Canisius College transfer Daniel Fritz (Harwood, MD/Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)).

Fresh Faces on the Offensive End: One of the Pioneers marquee offseason acquisitions was Colarado College junior transfer Gregg Burmaster (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) … Burmaster, a forward and nearby Clinton, NY native, played in 32 games over the course of two seasons for the Tigers before transferring home to Utica College … Adding depth to the offensive attack will be freshman Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)), Josh Haskin (Troy, NY/P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (USPHL)), Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)), Tyler Pietrowski (Curtice, OH/Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)) and Jamie Bucell (Garfield Heights, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)).

Pioneers in France: The Pioneers traveled to Briançon located in southeastern France on August 8th to play four games overseas as a part of a memorable nine day international exchange trip … Every three years the NCAA permits college teams to take part in an international exchange trip intended to expose the student-athletes to different cultures … Utica played a competitive schedule and finished the trip with a 3-1 overall record … In 2011 Utica traveled to Fussen, Germany and went 4-0 in international competition … In 2007 UC traveled to Chamonix, France and posted a 3-1 record over the course of its trip … UC now holds an impressive 10-2 overall record in international play.

Best Fans in the Country: Utica led the nation in home attendance for 11th consecutive seasons in 2016-17 … The streak looks to continue as the Pioneers have topped 2,600 season ticket holders for 2017-18 … In 16 home dates last year, the Pioneers had a paid attendance of 52,982 fans … That's an average attendance of 3,311 - more than 1,000 fans per game than any other division three program … UC's average attendance ranked 23rd nationally at all levels of NCAA hockey (DI-DIII).

17th Season on the Bench: Head Coach Gary Heenan was hired as head coach of the Utica College men's ice hockey program in August 2000 … Since that time, Heenan has led the team to 14 consecutive playoff appearances (2003-2016), five appearances in the ECAC West championship game, four ECAC West regular-season championships and a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four … He currently holds an overall record of 224-155-42 in his 16-year tenure and recently posted his seventh consecutive winning season.

Alumni Become Coaches: New to the Utica coaching staff this season will be former Pioneer All-American and 2013 ECAC West Player of the Year Louis Educate … Educate is a 2015 graduate of Utica College, where he earned a B.S. in Risk Management and Insurance. … He was a three-year member of the UC men's hockey team, where he helped guide the Pioneers to their first ever NCAA tournament berth and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in 2013 … Joining Educate on the bench will be former Pioneer great Jon Ames … Ames finished his playing career at Utica in 2005 and recently moved back to the area … In two seasons at Utica College Ames totaled 68 points on 34 goals and 34 assists in 53 games … He played alongside Pioneer Hall of Famer Jimmy Sokol and helped guide UC to the program's first ECAC Men's West Conference regular season championship as well as the tournament championship game in his senior season.

Mark Your Calendar:  The 13th annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss will take place on December 9, 2017 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium as the Pioneers hosts Neumann University in UCHC action at 7 p.m. … Fans are asked to bring a new stuffed animal to the game … When Utica scores its first goal, fans throw their teddy bears onto the ice … All toys will be collected by New York Sash and donated to local children this coming holiday season … The annual event is a partnership between New York Sash and Utica College to raise toys for local children in need … Through this event over 30,000 stuffed animals have been donated and distributed to local children in need throughout the holiday season … The annual event has sold out for six consecutive seasons and this year WKTV's affiliate station CBS Utica will televise the contest throughout the Mohawk Valley.