FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's hockey team will open its 2023-24 season this Friday with a scrimmage against the Eastern Hockey League All Stars.The EHL is a hockey league of 23 teams in four divisions, similar to the NHL. The EHL is a league designed for pre-collegiate athletes, and has been regarded as one of the leaders in advancement to NCAA Division II and III levels.

This will be the sixth year that the EHL has had an All-Star team play a Division III school, according to Associate EHL Commissioner Neil Ravin.

Fredonia State and the EHL have worked closely together since the league's formation 11 years ago. In fact, since 2014, a total of 34 players have committed to play for the Blue Devils, the second most by any school in the league behind Brockport. The league has had continuous support for these scrimmage games against its All Stars. Every year, more and more schools reach out wanting to have them come and play against them. The league now has multiple All-Star teams, including what they call first team and second team.

"It is the least we can do as a league... give back to a school who has given so much to us," Ravin said. Fredonia State will be facing the All-Stars first team.

Head coach Jeff Meredith has had his own two sons play in the EHL which, he says, "makes their All Stars coming a little more special."

Being a career coach and having had numerous players come from this league, Meredith described the event as "an exciting opportunity to see more possible Blue Devil athletes." The All Stars plan on arriving in Fredonia on that Friday around 3 p.m. After their arrival, they will be given a facility tour by Meredith who says that, during the tour, "they will learn about the history and tradition of the program." He hopes that seeing the facilities could motivate one to want to play at Fredonia State.

There is more excitement behind the All-Star scrimmage than usual, as there will be 25 prospective players here, Meredith said. The hope is that with a mixture of facility tours and by playing against the Blue Devil team itself, the players will get a feel for the program.

This is Fredonia State's first live action of the year, which means it is time to fill the rink and be loud. "The players have put in a lot of hard work and effort this off-season so it will be exciting to see their efforts pay off," Meredith said. "Our existing group told me they weren't satisfied with a sixth place finish … They are hungry for more."

The puck drop for this game will be at 7 p.m. in Steele Hall. The Devils will also scrimmage at Buffalo State the next day at 3 p.m.

The first regular-season games are Oct. 27-28 at Trine University in Indiana.

The first regular-season home game will be Friday, Nov. 10 vs. SUNYAC and Western New York rival Buffalo State.