The New Buckets and Other Notes

St. Lawrence University men’s hockey has a different look. But few inside Appleton Arena have noticed.

The Saints are skating with new headgear, which is only odd because rarely has St. Lawrence made uniform changes late in a season.

Every year, St. Lawrence receives new equipment and helmets. This season, though, a better helmet was on the market and coach Joe Marsh was tired of seeing his players fall to concussions.

The helmets don’t look much different than what the Saints started with this year, but under the casing is more padding, better form-fitting and better science.

The helmets help prevent concussions — a problem various St. Lawrence players have had this season.

“We had some guys we really wanted (protected) that we had to try and take as many precautions as we could,” Marsh said. “It’s a better helmet. Nothing is concussion-proof, but hopefully it makes a difference.”

The team began looking into new helmets when Jared Keller endured a potentially season-ending concussion against Maine on Nov. 28. Keller hasn’t been on the ice since and even spent some time away from campus entirely as he tried to recover from post-concussion syndrome.

“They were look at just getting him the helmet,” brother Derek Keller said. “Then coach (Marsh) decided to get them for the whole team next year.”

Marsh didn’t want to wait that long, either, or show any preference toward certain players.

“You can’t say, ‘This guy deserves it more than this guy,’” Marsh said. “If (the helmet) is 5 percent better than the helmet we’re using then that’s enough. If it’s a better helmet, we’re going to get it.”

So Marsh went ahead and ordered the entire roster the new buckets, which they use in games and practices.

“I haven’t really noticed a whole lot of difference (playing),” Keller said. “I took a few big hits and no concussion. They’re doing their job.”

Since implementing the new gear, only one St. Lawrence player, Mark Armstrong, has endured a concussion.

“He was really coming around and playing pretty well,” Marsh said. “For the integrity of the game, you hate to see the kids with some of these injuries.”

Marsh added that no equipment advancements will prevent dangerous plays like the one that knocked Armstrong out of St. Lawrence’s game with Princeton last weekend.

“We just have got to figure out ways to educate at an early age,” Marsh said. “These kids have to be protected better than they are. It’s not just up to the equipment.”

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PROFESSOR PETIZIAN

St. Lawrence goalie Alex Petizian doesn’t just love being a goalie, he also loves teaching aspiring goaltenders.

He spends his summers working at the Jim Corsi hockey camp. Corsi is the goaltending coach for the Buffalo Sabres. Petizian also works at a different camp with former Princeton netminder Erasmo Saltarelli.

In season, he’s not far from mentoring young goalies. This year, he started working with Nelson Dane, the 7-year-old of St. Lawrence professor Kasarian Dane.

“I love it,” Petizian said of mentoring. “I’m just trying to give back is all. It’s more about finding time to help the kids than me not wanting to. The issue is finding time.”

Dane is the second player Petizian mentors. The first, 14-year-old Jake Watson, plays Bantam-level hockey in Canton. Watson’s father, Bill, approached Petizian after a game one season when the players exited the locker room to greet family and friends.

“He saw me in the hallway and comes to every game, so I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” Petizian said. “It’s work out.”

Petizian volunteers his time when he can before practice to help Watson and Dane. Last year, he mentored just Watson nearly year-round.

“He came up to Montreal and came to Jim Corsi’s hockey school,” Petizian said. “I’ve helped him out a ton.”

Petizian added that when he graduates, he hopes future St. Lawrence goalies will be open to helping Canton players develop their skills.

Coach Joe Marsh doesn’t require individual community service, but wasn’t surprised with Petizian’s volunteer efforts.

“I don’t want them doing it for PR,” Marsh said. “There’s guys on the team that are pretty community minded, especially with the closeness of our fans. (Petizian) is a really engaging guy and kids really look up to him.”