By Brittany Burke
CCSU’s hockey season might have ended last month, but for forwards Jon Knobloch and Ryan Stanley, the season was extended through this past weekend in Philadelphia at the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s All-Star Weekend.
Despite missing their chance at the ACHA nationals Stanley and Knobloch were named to the Super East Collegiate Hockey League’s first and second All-SECHL Teams respectively for their performances throughout the season. As members of the All-SECHL teams, the Blue Devils competed and helped the SECHL team sweep the tournament, 5-0, finally defeating the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association, 8-2 for the top spot.
Not only was Stanley named to the first team, he was also named the SECHL Player of the Year. The 2010-2011 season also brought forth another milestone for the sophomore when he notched his 100th point.
“Obviously it’s a big accomplishment and I’m proud of myself for doing it, but also my teammates, and Jon Knobs had a lot to do with it because he’s a great player,” said Stanley. “We were on the same line for most of the year and I think it’s more like a team thing because at the beginning of the season we didn’t have very many expectations and towards the end of the season we started playing better. I played better, everyone sort of stepped up and it’s a good personal accomplishment but also a team accomplishment I think as well.”
Only in his third semester as a Blue Devil hockey player, Stanley entered the new season as a veteran amongst the new crop of freshmen, and quickly stepped into a role as offensive leader.
“He definitely deserves it [SECHL Player of the Year] he was a major part of our offense on the ice and off the ice, said Head Coach Ben Adams. “He contributed to the locker room readiness and pushing a lot of the kids not necessarily in the lineup all the time on a regular basis to get better and it’s great for him and great for the team and it certainly represents what we want to represent with all of our players.”
The on-ice success in the new season came as no surprise following his role in the team’s national run in Simsbury. Stanley transferred to CCSU in the spring semester, following a stint at the Division III School, Saint Anselm.
After realizing that D-III wasn’t for him, and wasn’t worth the sacrifices he was making, he chose to move back to Connecticut, and attend CCSU.
“Playing there, it was a grind because you have to wake up at 6:30, go to school, go to practice for two hours at night, try to fit in your homework and it was just a lot for our talent level, because we were Division III not Division I, all going into the NHL, and it just took a toll on your body and it just wasn’t really for me,” said Stanley.
“I still talk to some of the guys on my former team and I personally feel like I’m having more fun than them and I attribute that to my teammates and the camaraderie of our team because like I said I think hockey’s about having fun and sometimes coaches and programs get caught up in trying to be the best and here it’s very relaxed but at the same time it’s competitive.”
Following in his older brother’s path of playing university club hockey, Stanley made CCSU’s team. Knowing forward Jeff Pease from his days at South Windsor was his in to the club. He finished the regular season with 13 points in 13 games, finding ice time from the beginning, adding to the Blue Devils’ four line tandem. At the start of the new season it was evident that he would help fill the void left by the previous year’s graduating seniors.
“People get a misconception that club hockey isn’t competitive or it’s just you drink beers and go out and play, because I thought it was that way when I first got to college, then I transferred here and I realized it was very serious and it’s great because you can get every aspect you like of hockey,” he said. “It’s competitive, but at the same time it’s not life and death and you can still have a good time at school.”
As a 20-year old freshman, Stanley had attended Loomis Chaffee, the prep school in Windsor, Conn., for a year before attending Saint Anselm, and making the decision to attend CCSU rather than UConn, like other members of his family.
Toward the end of the season it was unclear of whether or not he was going to return to CCSU or transfer again, but in the end of the love for the game, which he has been playing since he was five because of the Mighty Ducks, won out.
“I had a lot of discussions with Coach Adams this year and with myself and my parents and just figured it would be the best to stay here. I’ve tried the Division III level and I’ve got no complaints, I love playing here at CCSU.”
Despite leading the team in points, Stanley is still looking to improve next season, specifically with his plus/minus percentage and his team presence.
“Personally I want to have a better year than I did this year as far as all the stats go and as far as being a team player,” he said. “On a team level I know everyone wants to make regionals because we didn’t make regionals this year and then nationals as well and I think an autobid is ultimately what we strive for as a team. And personally one of the things I want to work on is making everyone around me better, making my linemates better and making the whole offensive better as a unit.”
Stanley will have plenty of time to hone is game, returning to the ice as a Blue Devil for his junior and senior seasons.
