When the puck dropped to kick off the Commissioner’s Cup Playoffs in the Federal Prospects Hockey League this week, Seawolves fans were guaranteed to notice some familiar faces.
Both FPHL first-round series featured Stony Brook alumni, with 2021-22 captain and defenseman Brendan Pepe skating for the Danbury Hat Tricks while his former teammate goaltender Richard Shipman was playing in Michigan with the Port Huron Prowlers.
“I wasn’t surprised at all that Pepe was able to land a contract,” Shipman said. “My team and other teams were asking about him so there was clear interest. I am very proud of him for going pro and wish him all the best with his new squad.”
Pepe and Shipman are just the latest in a line of Seawolves to turn pro after graduation. To date, the program has produced 10 professional hockey players appearing in leagues as prominent as the ECHL across the United States and in Europe.
Stony Brook has become increasingly efficient in producing professional-caliber players over the past five seasons, with six players moving onto pro hockey after graduation during that span. For former captain Chris Joseph, it is not surprising to see so many Seawolves take the next step and continue their hockey careers.
“My time at Stony Brook was very valuable and played a large role in shaping me as a player,” Joseph said. “The competition amongst our team in practice improved my game tremendously and taught me to be accountable. I found my identity and confidence as a player at Stony Brook and it made the transition into the [Southern Professional Hockey League] and ECHL that much smoother.”
Joseph played 36 games in the ECHL, which is two tiers down from the National Hockey League. He also spent parts of three seasons in the SPHL, where he won a championship in 2017 with the Macon Mayhem. Winning championships was not new for Joseph, though, as he and the Seawolves established a dynasty with the program winning four consecutive Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League titles between 2013 and 2016.
“Over the past 50 years our program has established itself as a force to be reckoned with,” Head Coach Chris Garofalo said. “We approach every game we play with a championship mentality and expect to extend our winning tradition every season.”
After a five-year gap, the ESCHL trophy returned to its rightful place at Stony Brook this season when the team won the 13th league championship in program history. Pepe finished his impressive Seawolves career with a championship before moving onto professional hockey, but he doesn’t expect to be the last Stony Brook player to do so.
“I think there’s plenty of players who’ve been through the program that could have played pro but didn’t because their Stony Brook education gave them great job opportunities,” Pepe said. “If there are players out there wondering if college hockey will be the end of their career, there’s plenty of opportunities to play at a higher level after they graduate from Stony Brook.”
He also is optimistic about the future of the program and the Seawolves’ chances of securing the team’s first American Collegiate Hockey Association national championship.
“Not only will Stony Brook continue to win league championships, but they’re going to move up in the national rankings and I’d say in the next two or three years take a national championship home,” he said.
Pepe and the Hat Tricks will continue their pursuit of the Commissioner’s Cup when they face off against the Columbus River Dragons for game one of the FPHL Semifinals on Friday, April 22 at 8:30 p.m.
