Recalling Albion’s varsity hockey team
Contributed Photo – Albion goalie Chris St. James makes a save during the Purple Eagles inaugural game against Hilton.
Over the past few years club high school hockey has become increasingly popular in the area including the formation of the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina and Newfane/Wilson teams. However, for a brief period of a couple of years in the mid 1990’s Albion High had its own varsity hockey team.
Playing in the Monroe County League and with the Batavia rink serving as its home ice, the Purple Eagles hockey team debuted in the 1994-95 season.
The Purple Eagles went through a losing learning debut season which began with a loss to Hilton in the season opener.
Albion earned its elusive first ever victory early in the 1995-96 season romping past Brighton 7-1. Six players contributed goals to that win including Lester Green, Eric Pike, Chad Pike, Collin Reid, Chris Pearls and Matt Kenny.
The Purple Eagles also nipped Brighton 1-0 later in the season 1-0 a goal by Greg Moore. Chris St. James earned the shutout in goal.
However, Brighton avenged those losses by downing Albion 3-0 in the first round of the Section V playoffs.
St. James earned first team All-Monroe County Division II honors after being named to the second team the year before.
