Former Spartans have memorable spring break
Cohen, Irish-Baker sign pro hockey contracts with ECHL teams
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Canisius College senior Billy Irish-Baker, a former Williamsville North hockey player, appeared in six games with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the East Coast Hockey League over spring break.

Spring break for Michael Cohen and Billy Irish-Baker has been a vacation they'll never forget.

Cohen and Irish-Baker, seniors on the Canisius College hockey team and former Williamsville North High School players, signed professional contracts last week to play in the East Coast Hockey League.

The East Coast Hockey League is the "AA" farm system for the American Hockey League and two leagues below the National Hockey League.

Cohen, a Williamsville resident, signed with the Reading Royals while Irish-Baker, of Clarence, signed with the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Reading, located about one hour from Philadelphia, Pa., is the ECHL affiliate for the AHL's Manchester Monarchs, which is the affiliate for the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. Cincinnati is the ECHL affiliate for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, the affiliate for the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.

Cincinnati is in first place in the American Conference's North Division with 73 points. Reading is in fifth with 66 points.

Canisius College senior Michael Cohen, a former Williamsville North hockey player and current Williamsville resident, has played in seven games with the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League.

"It was a great opportunity with spring break to not miss any school and get my feet wet and see what it's all about," said Irish- Baker.

"It's like a dream come true," added Cohen. "My ultimate goal is to play in the NHL but next year I want to play in the AHL. I should definitely end up playing in this league."

Both returned from spring break on Monday to complete their senior years, although Cohen said he will play his final two games with Reading this weekend against Toledo.

Each were deserving of a chance to play in the ECHL.

Cohen, a right winger, had one of the most productive careers of any Canisius player since it became Division I in 1998-99. He was the first Golden Griffin player in the last five seasons to have 20 points or more in each of his four seasons. He ranks third in school history with 100 points, accomplishing the feat with a goal against Holy Cross on Feb. 9, and is only the third Golden Griffin to reach the century mark. He also ranks third in team history in goals (42) and assists (58) and first in power-play goals (22). His 32 points during the 2005-06 season was the most since 2001-02 and at the time, ranked him fifth on the Division I single-season scoring list.

Irish-Baker, a forward, was Canisius' team captain his senior year and assistant captain his junior year. He was extremely durable, appearing in 134 games, including the last 115 which is the longest streak at the school since it has been Division I. He finished 11th in scoring in team history with 61 points. He was also 10th all-time in career goals with 32. As a freshman, he led the team with 12 goals.

Canisius College hockey coach Dave Smith, an Amherst resident, said both have had no problems playing in the ECHL.

"They were great contributors to our program and are character players," said Smith. "Those are the kinds of guys who you see in pro hockey.

Cohen and Irish-Baker were perfect fits for their ECHL teams.

"What Cincinnati was looking for was what Billy provides," said Smith. "They needed someone to play a reliable defensive role and be physical. Reading was looking for a front line player because there were decimated by call-ups to the American Hockey League and Michael fits that role."

Cohen and Irish-Baker each felt the speed of the ECHL was faster than any level of hockey they've played before but grew into their roles well.

"I play a real simple game," said Irish-Baker. "If you do the simple things and if you're not getting noticed as much, you're doing your job."

"This is the best hockey I've ever played," added Cohen. "Everyone is in the right spot at the right time. It's almost easier to play because it's not as hard when everyone is doing their job. It's instinctual."

Cohen and Irish-Baker's ECHL experiences became more memorable last Wednesday when each scored their first goals against each other. (Cincinnati beat Reading, 4-3, in overtime.)

Irish-Baker stuffed in a rebound in the second period to tie the game at 2-2. It was his only point in six games played. Cohen tied it for Reading at 3-3 in the third on an even strength rush to the net. In seven games played, Cohen has a goal and five assists. He had a point in his first six games.

"We were lined up next to each other at a faceoff and joking around, saying 'wow, this is an awesome spring break', said Cohen. 'What better way to spend spring break than playing pro hockey?'"

Canisius College-North connection

Cohen and Billy Irish-Baker are two of several former Williamsville North players who have gone on to play at Canisius College.

In addition to Cohen and Billy Irish-Baker, former Spartans Greg Brown and Vincent Amigone Jr. are on the current roster. Chris Angelo, another North grad, left the hockey program in December, according to the Canisius College athletics department.

Billy's younger brother, Brandon, a 2006 Canisius graduate, played with Amigone, Angelo, Brown and Cohen on North's 2002 New York State Division I championship team.

"I'll know every single one of those guys forever," said Cohen of the 2002 North title team.

In 2000, Billy and Brandon Irish-Baker, Brown, and 2005 Canisius grad James LeCuyer led the Spartans to its first Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation title, a 7-0 win over St. Joe's. LeCuyer was Fed playoff MVP.

"It changed the way people looked at Williamsville North," said Billy Irish-Baker.

In 2001, Billy Irish-Baker was named Fed playoff MVP as he, along with Brandon Irish-Baker, Cohen, Brown, and Amigone helped the Spartans earn its second straight Fed title, a 6-3 win over St. Joe's.

The key connecting North with Canisius is current Spartans hockey coach Bob Rosen, a former Canisius College forward and assistant coach. Rosen, who coached North assistant Dan Mancuso at Canisius, attends as many Golden Griffin games as he can and still stays in contact with many of his former players. They in turn, have not forgotten what it meant to play for him at North.

"I still talk with Bob, Danny and (North assistant) Tim (DiGiulio)," said Billy Irish-Baker. "Anytime I have problems I'll ask them for their opinion."

"The North coaches taught me to be a good teammate," said Cohen. "That can transcend to anywhere in life."

"These kids all come back to North at various times," added Rosen. "Some have talked to the team at alumni weekend around Thanksgiving."

Rosen said at North, Billy Irish-Baker, fifth all-time in scoring for league play (64) and the school's all-time Fed playoff scorer (14), had a strong work ethic similar to 2007 North grad Ryan Geary, the school's all-time regular season leading scorer (88 points) and in state playoffs (16).

"He had a tremendous will to win whether it was blocking a shot on a penalty kill or winning the battle along the boards to make sure the puck got out of the zone in the last minute of a game," Rosen said. "He was a great team player. He was captain for us, his junior team, and at Canisius. It just talks about the type of player Billy is."

Cohen, tied for ninth all-time at North in league play scoring (52), fourth in state playoff scoring (10) and tied for fifth in Fed playoff scoring (8), was also a natural goal scorer at North.

"He had tremendous speed," said Rosen. "He didn't do much as a freshman but was a dominant player his sophomore and junior years."

Rosen hopes Cohen's and Irish-Baker's ECHL experiences help them land on a team next year.

North emulates college program

Rosen said probably 20 players have left his program and gone on to play Division I hockey. Recent North players who played Division I include Doug Conley (Robert Morris University), Andrew Orpik (Boston College), Brett Bennett (Boston University), Adam Shine (Mercyhust College), Shane Sims (will play at Ohio State University) and current Buffalo State College men's hockey coach Nick Carriere (Niagara University).

Four players were selected in the NHL draft - Chris Hajt (Edmonton Oilers), Orpik (Buffalo Sabres), Sims (New York Islanders) and Bennett (Phoenix Coyotes).

"When I took over at North, I wanted to emulate a college program and what goes on," said Rosen. "It took us a few years to get to that level between getting ice time, practice and dry land training in the offseason. We try to give our players every opportunity to be the best hockey players that they can be."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com