Alumni Team Competes at National Senior Games
10/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Oct. 19, 2011
By Chris Rydburg
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Earlier this month a brotherhood of Miami University hockey alumni traveled to Rochester, N.Y. to compete in the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) Winter Games. The hockey team, organized by Brian Stancampiano, was made up of players ranging from the 1979-80 team to the 1982-83 team. While the Miami alumni team only went 1-3 in the tournament, Stancampiano said it was a success.
“Well, we certainly didn’t win the championship,” Stancampiano said Oct. 8 while watching the RedHawks defeat the Bemidji State Beavers opening weekend, “But we certainly won when it came to having fun.”
The alumni team won its first game, 3-2, before dropping its next three games 2-1, 7-1, and 4-0.
The team was comprised of many accomplished Redskin alumni, including Miami’s all-time leading scorer Steve Morris (‘83), who produced 202 points during his playing career. Rick Kuraly, (‘83), who was second on the all-time scoring list until Carter Camper (’11) jumped to that position last season, was also on the team, as well as former Miami captains Kevin Beaton (‘83), Bill Bok (‘82), Paul Kinney (’80), John Malloy (’80) and Pete Shipman (‘80).
Despite the talented roster, things didn’t quite go as planned.
“I think it is fair to say, we grew a little older,” Stancampiano laughed. “I think most of us haven’t played in 15-20 years.”
To further complicate matters, Miami Hall of Fame netminder Dan Kodatsky was unable to play in the games due to an injury. But Stancampiano did not panic.
“That was really unfortunate, but we actually found a goalie last minute in Stan Jones. Jones was a player on Miami’s club team in 1979-80. We were lucky to find him.”
Jones actually turned out to be the MVP of the team. “He stole that first game for us,” Stancampiano said.
Even though they did not secure a championship, the team felt good about its accomplishments.
“It was a blast seeing the guys again,” Stancampiano said. “You would never know almost 30 years had passed. We were laughing and busting chops just like the old days. It was also great meeting “older” RedHawks.”
The Stancampianos returned to Oxford on Miami’s opening weekend to see their daughter, Nikki, play for the Miami’s women’s club hockey team.
“It’s great that we get to come up and see her and see the men’s team,” Stancampiano noted.
--MURedHawks.com--
