Local products good for Saints

Don't forget about your backyard.

St. Lawrence University men's hockey coach Joe Marsh certainly doesn't. He jumps at the opportunity to snatch a local product.

"We certainly think it's nice for us," Marsh said. "The kids that are local and can play, this is an attractive place for them."

He had his eyes set on Canton native Kyle Flanagan long before his older brother, Sean, landed on the team three years ago.

"I remember the day he was born, that's how long I've been around here," Marsh said. "We always knew he was a special player."

Flanagan joins his brother, Aaron Bogosian (Massena) and Joe Spadaccini (Canton) as local products on the roster this season.

"Not many people get to play Division I hockey in their hometown," Flanagan said. "It's always been St. Lawrence where I wanted to go to school."

Once Sean got to campus in the fal of 2006, Kyle was nearly guaranteed.

"That was probably the biggest factor," Kyle said. "I wasn't 100 percent on coming, but Sean wanted me to come here."

And Marsh couldn't be happier.

"The bottom line is, like the Flanagans, they can play," he said. "You wouldn't want to see them leave and go somewhere else."

They join a long list of home-grown hockey players who grew up following and loving St. Lawrence hockey.

"I went to all the home games I could make," Flanagan said. "The community just rallies around us. It's a great feeling to play here."

If St. Lawrence fans didn't already know Flanagan's name from his hockey and lacrosse career at Canton High School, they most certainly did after his game-winning goal with 14 seconds left against Niagara. It was Flanagan's fourth game.

"Kyle burst on the scene pretty big to say the least," Marsh said. "I think he's got the potential certainly to be a front-line player in our league and probably nationally."

For Flanagan, the fun starts with playing with former teammates and other local talent.

"It's just like old days," he said. "It reminds me a lot of high school. The guys on the team are just awesome and especially the fans."

Bogosian came to the Saints in a slightly different way. His younger brother, Zach, was the third overall pick in the NHL draft in 2008.

"I want to make a name for myself," Bogosian said.

When he goes home to Massena, everyone acknowledges him for his achievements at St. Lawrence.

"Everyone's just asking about me," he said. "They follow St. Lawrence. It's awesome being the local boy."

Bogosian was briefly recruited by Clarkson, but he said he connected better with the coaches at St. Lawrence. He's happy with his decision.

"It's nice to play in front of people I grew up around," he said. "I grew up playing against Sean (Flanagan). It's pretty awesome playing at the college level with guys you grew up playing against."

SAINTS STILL STANDING

St. Lawrence earned another ECAC Hockey split last weekend against Harvard (3-2 win) and Dartmouth (3-2 loss).

They did it without top scorer Kyle Flanagan, who has missed three games with a Class I separated shoulder.

"It's not really that bad," Flanagan said. "It's an injury that happens a lot. The main thing is just really rehab it well and hopefully stay healthy."

Flanagan will again miss St. Lawrence's game against Maine on Saturday.

Marsh will also sit Jeremiah Cunningham, a front-line starter along with Flanagan. Cunningham fractured a rib and will be out until Dec. 4.

On top of that, St. Lawrence lost another player, George Hughes, to a hip flexor. Hughes will miss Saturday's game as well.

"Given where we're at in terms of the injuries we've had, it's a pretty good weekend," Marsh said of the split. "I think the big thing for us is that guys come in and pick it up."

The Saints get a break from conference play to rest players and heal up before taking on Clarkson in a home-and-home set.

"It's a big game and an important game," Marsh said of Maine. "But it doesn't have the points looming over it. I like our team and I think the work ethic has been there, but it's just difficult when we've had as many different changes in the lineup that we've had."

Marsh said the only line that hasn't been affected by injury is the second set of forwards — Travis Vermeulen, Brandon Bollig and Alex Curran.

"That's been our most consistent line because of that," he said. "They played together all last year. Repetition does help."

The Saints will look to see who will step in and fill in for the injured players this weekend.

"I look at this right now as good opportunities for these guys," Marsh said. "It will be a great venue to evaluate."

EXTRAS

Sean Flanagan underwent his third hip surgery last week. He is red shirting this season and should return for next year.

He missed 11 of the final 15 games last year with hip problems.

"I'm looking forward to the day we have two healthy Flanagans playing on the same line," Marsh said.

Sportswriter Daniel J. Cassavaugh covers St. Lawrence University men's hockey for the Times. For more coverage, visit the "Casstle of the Saints" blog online at www.watertowndailytimes.com. You may reach him at dcassavaugh@wdt.net.