By Jeff Patrus
Sports Writer
The Brandon hockey program made significant strides last year in its third season of existence.
As the Blackhawks prepare for their Nov. 19 season opener against Port Huron Northern, Coach Brian Moore is hoping the team can improve on last year’s 16-10-2 record and Division III regional championship.
Brandon returns an experienced squad, with 16 of 21 players on this year’s team having been with the Blackhawks for last season’s playoff run. Brandon’s 21-man roster is comprised of five seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores and three freshmen.
‘The kids that have played before, they had a taste of making the state quarterfinals,? Moore said. ‘They want to go a step further. The newcomers (the three freshmen and two new sophomores) are very excited. They seem to know what we need to do.?
The Blackhawks return two honorable mention Division III all-state players in junior Mike Ross and senior Joel Pappas. Ross led the team last year with 30 goals and 32 assists, while Pappas added 28 goals and 22 assists.
‘They stepped up big in the regional tournament,? Moore said. ‘That is a big boost when your best guys play their best in the tournament.?
Anchoring the Blackhawks? second line are juniors Kyle Jackson (17 goals and 10 assists last season) and Mike Cybulski (17 goals, 17 assists).
Freshman Brandon Newman joins Ross and Pappas on the Blackhawks? first line, while Jackson and Cybulski will team with freshman Steve Tallman on their second line.
‘They give us a couple of pretty potent lines, both on the power play and the penalty kill,? Moore said. ‘We’ve got lines that are capable of scoring on every shift and capable of stopping teams.?
On the blue line, junior Chris Nuccio anchors the Blackhawks. He scored three goals and 22 assists for the Blackhawks last year. ‘In my mind, he’s the best defenseman in the area,? Moore said of Nuccio. ‘He gives us a solid foundation back there.?
Senior Scotty Steudle (three goals and 14 assists) will team up with Nuccio to give the Blackhawks a pair of quality defensemen.
Brandon also returns an experienced goalie in junior David Hughes, who stopped 89 percent of opposing teams? shots last season, a figure Moore said is good for a high school goalie.
While Moore said his top goal each season is for the students to enjoy competitive hockey, he hopes the Blackhawks can compete for the Flint Metro League championship this season. Last year, the Blackhawks finished fourth in the league as Lapeer West took the Flint Metro crown.
However, his goals don’t end there.
‘We want to not only win regionals, but to play in Plymouth in the final four (of the Division III state playoffs),? he said. ‘We’ll have to beat Cranbrook to get there. That’s our goal.?

Brandon Hockey 2003-04 Roster
No. Name Gr. Pos.
2 Scott Thurman 10 F
3 Brandon Newman 9 F
4 Mike Ross 11 F
5 Troy Nuccio 10 F
7 Phil Liquia 12 F
8 Brendon Moquin 11 D
9 Brad Erlandson 10 F
10 Brian Quarrella 12 F
11 Joel Pappas 12 F
12 Kyle Jackson 11 F
14 Scotty Steudle 12 D
17 Alex Hockey 10 D
18 Craig Skidmore 10 F
19 Mike Cybulski 11 F
20 Mark Westphal 11 D
21 Stephan Tallman 9 F
24 Chris Nuccio 11 D
25 Matt Ruppert 12 D
28 Tony Kraydich 10 F
30 David Hughes 11 G
33 Jeff Hammond 9 G

Brandon Hockey 2003-04 Schedule
11-19 vs. Port Huron 5 p.m.
11-22 at Our Lady of the Lakes 3:20 p.m.
12-3 at Fenton 8 p.m.
12-5 vs. Lapeer East 8 p.m.
12-6 vs. Goodrich 5:15 p.m.
12-13 at Lake Orion 5:15 p.m.
12-17 at Oxford 7:15 p.m.
12-19 at Linden 5 p.m.
1-9 vs. Lapeer West 8 p.m.
1-10 at Saginaw Nouvel CC 6:30 p.m.
1-14 vs. Bloomfield 5 p.m.
1-16 vs. Saginaw Nouvel CC 8 p.m.
1-17 vs. Fenton 7:30 p.m.
1-24 at Waterford Kettering 1:20 p.m.
1-28 vs. Auburn Hills Avondale 7:15 p.m.
1-30 at Lapeer West 8 p.m.
1-31 at LakeVille 7 p.m.
2-3 vs. Linden 3 p.m.
2-7 at Utica Stevenson 8 p.m.
2-11 at Lapeer East 7:15 p.m.
2-18 at Bay City Thunder TBA
2-19 at Mt. Morris 8:45 p.m.
2-20 vs. Oxford 8 p.m.
2-24 vs. Lake Fenton 3:30 p.m.
2-28 at Chippewa Valley 4:45 p.m.
3-1 Regionals TBA
3-3 Regionals TBA
3-5 Regionals TBA
3-6 Regionals TBA
3-9 Quarterfinals TBA
3-10 Quarterfinals TBA
3-13 Finals TBA