The Colgate University men’s ice hockey team began their season on Oct. 4 against the University of Connecticut where they lost 2-4, and despite a challenging 1-1-0 conference start, the team is optimistic about turning things around. Speaking to some of the players before their sweep of Rochester Institute of Technology on the weekend of Oct. 25 and 26, team captain and senior defenseman Reid Irwin and teammates forward junior Daniel Panetta and junior goalie Nick Haas discussed the season’s early hurdles, team goals and individual ambitions.
With a roster filled with potential, Irwin expressed that integrating fresh faces has presented some growing pains.
“We have a lot of potential, but we knew there would be an adjustment,” Irwin said.
Irwin noted that moving from USA Junior Hockey Leagues to college hockey requires players to quickly adapt to the game’s speed and physicality.
Panetta agreed, calling it a “learning curve,” but adding that the team is improving.
“We’re getting better each game, and last game was a step in the right direction,” Panetta said.
Rather than focusing solely on wins, the players are committed to developing a consistent and cohesive style of play.
“Right now, it’s about playing the right way,” Irwin said.
Panetta stressed the importance of establishing a strong home-ice presence this season and emphasized the need for a formidable home identity after a mixed record at home last year.
“We want our rink to be a place where other teams are afraid to play,” Panetta said.
The departure of key seniors, including goalie Carter Gylander, who recently signed with the Detroit Red Wings, has left gaps that younger players are stepping up to fill. Haas highlighted the importance of consistency for the team, particularly in maintaining intensity throughout each game. He pointed out that lapses in focus have cost the team in earlier matchups.
“We need to keep our foot on the gas for the full 60 minutes,” Haas said.
Still, as the old guard departs, there is a greater opportunity for individuals to step into new roles. Irwin will no doubt be one of these figures. As team captain, Irwin’s focus is on fostering unity among new and returning players.
“With so many new guys, my goal has been to make everyone feel like they’re part of the group,” Irwin explained.
Panetta, now an upperclassman, aims to be a mentor.
“I want to be someone younger guys can come to if they need help,” Panetta remarked.
Looking forward, the players are especially excited about some key matchups on the schedule, including the much-anticipated Cornell weekend set to take place on Dec. 6 and 7.
“Cornell University weekends are incredible — the energy, the rivalry. It’s the best part of college hockey,” Irwin said.
Haas is also looking forward to facing Quinnipiac University on Nov. 23, a team that was national champion only two seasons ago in 2023. He described the matchup as a chance to test their mettle against one of the league’s most formidable teams, as a strong performance can help build momentum for the team.
“Games like those are opportunities to put our team on the map and show what we’re capable of,” Haas said.
Since these conversations, the team has bounced back with the sweep over RIT and another victory in their ECAC season opener against Brown. The ECAC opener showed a confident display with the Raiders scoring at 5-on-5, the powerplay and the penalty kill, illustrating a well-rounded performance. Although they would drop the second game of the weekend against Yale University, losing 3-4, the Raiders have begun to register performances capable of shooting them up the standings.
With their season still in the early stages, the team is focused on building momentum and demonstrating their potential. Committed to improvement and teamwork, Colgate’s men’s hockey seems ready to put their early challenges behind them and set a new pace for the season.
