Spartans’ Buffoline emerging into star

BHBS junior forward Geordan Buffoline is quickly emerging into one of the best players in Section 2 hockey, and it seems like not many people saw it coming. Except for his father, that is.

The head coach of the BHBS hockey team, Jim Buffoline, father of Geordan and reigning Section 2 Coach of the Year, always knew what his son was capable of. Now he’s seeing it in full swing. Buffoline has posted 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in just 14 games this season. He is top 5 in Section 2 in all 3 categories, despite having played less games than everyone ranked ahead of him. He is only 6 points away from breaking the BHBS single-season points record (Chase Godfrey had 38 points in the 2010-11 season). He is just 2 goals away from breaking the team single-season record for goals (Brandon Gaudin scored 16 last season). Buffoline is also just 14 points away from breaking the team record for career points, set by Trey Swingruber with 78. His points per game mark (2.36) is just barely behind Godfrey’s team record (2.37).

“I’m just lucky to have played with the players I’ve had around me.” Buffoline says about the records he is approaching. “Last year, with Brandon [Gaudin] and all the seniors, and this year with Tino [Benamati], Alec [Lind], and Nick [Koszelak], I’ve been pretty fortunate to have some great players around me these last few seasons, and breaking all those records would be a huge honor. Ultimately though, my main goal is to win a Section championship. That definitely comes first, but obviously breaking all those records would be pretty cool as well.”

Having your own father as the coach doesn’t hurt, either.

“Yeah, I think it definitely helps.” Buffoline says about being coached by his father. “It definitely makes me more comfortable to ask him things, and suggest new ideas to him. Plus, obviously we live together, so we’re always talking about new things we can do, you know, stuff like that. It’s a good thing, for sure.”

Buffoline’s main goal of winning Section 2 doesn’t seem too far out of reach either. The team finished 17-5-1 last season, and lost in the championship game to Saratoga. This year’s team is 9-4-1, and starting to move up the standings after a slow start in sectional play. They certainly have the weapons and talent to make a deep run into the playoffs, as they rank 3rd in the Section in goals scored (59) behind just Saratoga (80) and Bethlehem (62).

Buffoline not only has a chance to win a title before his graduation next season, but also a chance to establish himself as one of the best players in program history, and that’s not an honor he takes lightly.