Hockey

HIGH SCHOOL & PREP HOCKEY Hockey is a winter sport here at St. Francis High School. We have four teams on campus. The top team, “Varsity Prep” holds tryouts in mid-October with their season starting at the end of October.  The remaining four teams: Varsity Federation, Varsity Club and JV Prep teams begin their season in November.  Practices are held after school at Leisure Rinks with most games taking place locally over the weekend. The St. Francis hockey season and playoffs typically conclude by the end of February.  

Team Highlight - St. Francis’ Varsity Prep team was a founding member of, and continues to play in the Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL), a league comprised of US and Canadian Prep Schools. SF's Prep team travels to Vermont, Quebec, Pennsylvania, and Illinois for regular season games and to Boston for the Belmont Hill School Holiday tournament; playing on average 30 games per season. The MPHL and SF Prep players are scouted by US and Canadian Junior Teams, as well as Division I & Division III colleges.

RED RAIDERS HOCKEY
Red Raiders Youth Hockey Association (RRYHA) is a USA Hockey sanctioned travel association available only to St. Francis High School students. Red Raiders play a split season, ending in November, so it's players can commit to playing St. Francis High School hockey unhindered by a full-season Bantam or Midget schedule. Red Raiders tryouts for 15U, 16U, and 18U are held every April.

MODIFIED HOCKEY
​Incoming freshmen can play modified (AAU) hockey for St. Francis in the spring of their 8th grade year. During the modified season, teams will practice twice weekly, in addition to the league scheduled weekend games. Tryouts are held in late Feb/early March.


 
MEET OUR STAFF:

Anthony Micucci - Director of Hockey Operations & Admissions Associate
micuccia@stfrancishigh.org
St. Francis High School is excited to welcome Coach Anthony Micucci as the new Director of Hockey Operations and Admissions Associate for the 2021-2022 school year.  A Frontier High School graduate, he has played both Junior B and Junior A hockey in Deerwood, MN. He also had a short stint with the defunct Buffalo Wings professional roller hockey team.    Coach Micucci has offered goalie camps, clinics and one-on-one training in the Buffalo area for past 25 years through his Micucci Goalie School.  His goaltenders have participated in the OHL, NAHL, USHL, NCAA and other various junior hockey programs.

Coach Micucci's hockey philosophy is simple "Work hard and you will get results".  His enthusiasm to help our hockey players onto the next level while providing a positive experience is important to the school.  He is committed to the process that will enable our hockey players to have a great experience being part of the St. Francis brotherhood, and for our hockey program to be an extension of what the school emphasizes in the Franciscan education that our young men receive in the classroom.

VARSITY PREP HOCKEY:
Brian Becker - Head Varsity Prep Coach
hamburg@f45training.com
Coach Brian Becker enters his first season behind the bench for St. Francis. He comes to the Red Raider family with Head Coaching experience at the 16UAAA, 18UAAA, JV High School and Junior Hockey levels. His Junior Hockey coaching experience includes stints in the NA3HL, EmJHL (now USPHL) and GOJHL. He’s a level 4 certified coach through USA Hockey. 

As a player, Coach Becker recorded 42 points in just 19 games while receiving MVP honors during his senior year in high school.  He went on to play NCAA hockey for one season at SUNY Fredonia as a true freshmen. Coach Becker then finished his playing days playing ACHA hockey where his team qualified for two straight national tournaments.  

Professionally outside of coaching, he’s a certified personal trainer that owns and operates a fitness studio called F45 Training Hamburg. 

Joey Pezzino - Asst. Varsity Prep Coach
Coach Joey Pezzino enters his first season behind the bench for St. Francis where he will be in charge of the Red Raider defense. He comes home to the Red Raider family after 4 years of coaching at Frontier High School. He also coaches a 12U team in the Hamburg Hawks organization.
 
As a player, Coach Pezzino played for the Red Raiders and is a proud St. Francis Alum, Class of 2010.   Coach Pezzino graduated from the University at Buffalo. After attending University at Buffalo Law School, he completed hockey management and scouting courses, learning from mentor and current Peterborough Petes GM Mike Oke.
 
Outside of hockey, Coach Pezzino is an insurance agent for State Farm.

VARSITY FEDERATION HOCKEY: 
Jack Panek -  Head Coach
Jordan Farnham - Asst. Coach
Kevin Wicka - Asst. Coach

VARSITY "A" HOCKEY: 
Jay Ciamaga -  Head Coach

VARSITY "B" HOCKEY:
Richard Luczak - Head Coach

JV PREP HOCKEY:
Patrick Roberts - Head Coach
Matt Wawrowski -  Asst. Coach
Mike Rogan - Asst. Coach

Success Begins at St. Francis