Sweet Home hockey earns respect
Marko, Mohney, Campise earn All-State first team honors
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home hockey's Ryan Marko, far left, Derek Mohney and Paul Campise are the first New York State Division II first-team all-stars in school history. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Last year, nobody in New York State knew Sweet Home had a hockey team.

This year, everybody knows, as evidenced by juniors Ryan Marko and Derek Mohney and senior Paul Campise being selected to the Division II All-State first team. Senior forward Alex Esposito earned honorable mention.

It's the first time any Sweet Home hockey player has earned All-State first-team honors. What it really means is respect for a program that finished 17-4-4, lost 2-1 to eventual state champ Monroe Woodbury in the state quarterfinals in its first state playoff game and was fifth overall among small schools in the state. They were 0-23-1 in 2002-03.

"A perfect example was at last year's meeting: Derek got second team honors, and that's because no one heard of Sweet Home hockey, and now we have three players because everyone knows Sweet Home hockey," said Sweet Home coach Dave Gerspach. "I'm getting e-mails daily from teams who want to play us, like Ithaca (Division I state champion) and a lot of section three teams who will either travel here or asked if we'll travel there."

Marko, a junior forward, was Sweet Home's second consecutive Section VI Western New York Varsity Federation scoring champion (Esposito won it in 05-06), despite missing nine games between a suspension and an injury. He finished the year with 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists), had six game-winning goals and had five short-handed goals. He is the school's all-time leading scorer with 111 points (49 goals, 62 assists).

"In my mind, he's the best forward in the league," said Gerspach. "He can do everything. He can play the penalty kill and the power play and sees the ice. He has great speed and hands. He's a great goal scorer but a better assist maker."

Mohney was his usual stellar self in net, leading all Federation goalies in wins, saves and minutes. He finished overall with a 14-4-3 record, 1.98 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Over the last two years, Mohney has a 27-11-4, 1.99 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

"He can control a game," said Gerspach.

Campise was the Federation's best defenseman, leading all in scoring (22) and plus/minus (plus-32). Overall, Campise finished with 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) and was a plus-39. He also led the team in minutes played.

"He was a great two-way player who never got beat one on one and led our power play and penalty kill," said Gerspach.

Esposito, a forward, had 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) and finished his high school career only behind Marko all-time at the school in scoring with 99 points (55 goals, 44 assists).

"He's got great speed and vision, plus is a pure goal scorer," said Gerspach. "If he gets a puck, it's going into the net."

All four also earned Federation all-star status. Marko, Mohney and Campise made the All-WNY team. Esposito and Matt Stewart were Division II first-team selections. Williamsville East's Andrew Ross (defender) and Anthony Clair (forward) were Division II all-state honorable mentions.

Amherst Central's Federation all-stars came from David Moore (Small School second team) and Thom Bergman, Al McQuiggan and Matt Allwes (honorable mention).

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com