By: Brayden Peters
BROCKPORT, N.Y. - For the second time this season, Brockport Golden Eagles hockey junior goalie Cole Hudson was named UCHC Goalie of the Week. This came after recording a total of 85 saves on 88 shots on goal for a save percentage of .966 across two straight games against the #2 Utica Pioneers over the weekend. The first time Hudson received this honor was on Jan. 13.
"It's definitely good to get honored for having a good weekend," Hudson said. "It's definitely nice to get that little pat on the back for sure."
Hudson didn't get the start on Friday in the Golden Eagles' 7-1 loss to the Pioneers as it was freshman Dax Easter who was in between the pipes. After he got pulled early in the second period after Utica got up 6-0, Hudson went on to make 36 saves while allowing one goal for a .973 save percentage.
The American International College transfer started against Utica on Saturday at Wegmans Ice Arena. Although he gave up two goals in Brockport's 2-1 loss, he made 49 saves for a .961 save percentage.
"You can't really control how many shots you get, but all you can do is control each shot you do get," Hudson said. "So it's conserving energy, making sure that you're just protecting your rebounds so you're not working harder than you have to. Just have fun. When you get all those shots it does give you a lot of chances to overthink the game. So it's really fun just to kind of get in a rhythm like that."
Brockport head coach Brian Dickinson, who used to play goalie in his playing days, saw glimpses in the series against Utica of what Hudson was able to do in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
"Outstanding individual that is really starting to get comfortable and get back to the way he can play," Dickinson said. "I think since we've been back from Christmas, every game he's been in has been a really solid effort for him and he's just consistently getting back to the Cole Hudson that played in Shreveport in the North American Hockey League. We've been saying all along if he gets back to that level, look out."
With the Shreveport Mudbugs, Hudson posted a .923 save percentage, 2.16 GAA, 832 saves and a 20-6-5 record in 32 games played.
"It's good to get back to that feeling," Hudson said. "Definitely, I had that good year in Shreveport and it felt like nothing really can get past me and it's nice to be back in that rhythm again and kind of have that confidence."
This season, Hudson has recorded a .911 save percentage, a 3.55 GAA, 370 saves and a 2-7-1 record in 11 games played.
Hudson and the Golden Eagles will get set to host Geneseo on Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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