NEWS

Former OJHLers Frank Salituro (left - photo credit: Kevin Colton/Hobart and William Smith) and Lucas Van Natter (right - photo credit: Gene Boyars/Manhattanville Sports Information) were both named members of the ECAC-West All-Conference Teams for their performances in 2012-13.

F - Frank Salituro (Hobart College Statesmen) - 1st Team All-Conference
The native of Vaughan, Ontario played two seasons in the OJHL from 2007-09 after playing a single game as an affiliate in 2006-07 with the Stouffville Spirit.  He joined the league full-time in 2007-08 as a 17-year rookie with the St. Michael's Buzzers, playing 15 regular season games and recording nine points as the club captured the OJHL regular season crown.  The following year, Salituro finished eighth in scoring on the Buzzers with 38 points in 51 games played and would head to Hobart once the season was complete.

F - Lucas Van Natter (Manhattanville College Valiants) - 2nd Team All-Conference
After playing a single game as an affiliate with the Port Hope Predators in 2007-08, the Fort Erie, Ontario native joined the OJHL full-time and would play two seasons with the Aurora Tigers from 2008-10.  The 19-year old rookie would finish fourth on the club in scoring with 17 goals and 44 points in 49 games played and would become the club's leaders in year two.  Van Natter would finish second on the Tigers and third overall in the OJAHL scoring race with 39 goals and 96 points in only 56 games played.  For his efforts and and clean play, only recording 10 penalty minutes, Van Natter would be named the OJAHL Most Gentlemanly Player and following the season was off to Manhattanville.

Also receiving recognition in the ECAC-West were:

Josh Burnell of the Elmira College Soaring Eagles who received Honourable Mention as a Forward.  Burnell played three seasons in the OJHL from 2008-11 as a member of the Bramalea Blues and Georgetown Raiders.

Gary Keenan of the Utica College Pioneers was named the Coach of the Year.  Heenan previously played for the Junior 'B' version of the Oakville Blades during the early 1990's.

Below is the official press release from the ECAC Division III Hockey website (www.ecacdiiihockey.com):

Eastern College Athletic Conference Interim Commissioner Steve Bamford announced today the ECAC Men’s West All-Conference ice hockey team for the 2012-13 season. In a vote conducted by league coaches, regular-season co-champions Hobart College and Utica College took home two of the major awards each, as the Pioneers' forward Louie Educate was named the Player of the Year, and his coach Gary Heenan was voted Coach of the Year. From Hobart, Brad Richard and Mac Olson were awarded Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, respectively.

Educate tallied 33 points with 16 goals and 17 assists during the 2012-13 season to help lead Utica to a 20-4-1 overall record (11-3-1 Conference). The sophomore helped Utica outscore its regular season opponents 116 to 55. Educate was also selected to the 2012-2013 All-Conference first team.

Richard spearheaded the Hobart defense by playing a major part in the transition game for the Statesmen. The senior finished the regular season with four goals and seven assists for 11 points, Richard, who was also an All-Conference selection after a second team nod in 2011-2012, led a defense that allowed a Conference low 32 goals against Conference opponents this season.

Olson made a definitive impact in his first season for Hobart in the Purple and Orange, tallying eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points from his forward position. The Statesmen finished the regular season 19-4-2 (11-3-1 Conference). Olson is the second consecutive Statesman to earn the award following in the 2011-2012 footsteps of defenseman Terrence O'Neill.

Utica vaulted from a 15-8-2 mark in 2011-2012 to this season's 20-4-1 record and a number seven national ranking with Coach Heenan at the helm. Heenan had an outstanding season, as his squad placed two athletes on the All-Conference first team along with three on the second team, and one on the all-rookie team. The Pioneers are the top seed entering the ECAC Divison III West Hockey post-season play.

First Team All-ECAC West
Forward - Louie Educate, Utica, Sophomore
Forward - Scott Hudson, Manhattanville, Senior
Forward - Frank Salituro, Hobart, Senior
Defense - Scott Farrell, Neumann, Senior
Defense - Anton Racklin, Manhattanville, Sophomore
Defense - Brad Richard, Hobart, Senior
Goalie - Nick Broadwater, Hobart, Senior

Second Team All-ECAC West
Forward - Jon Gaffney, Utica, Junior
Forward - Trever Hertz, Utica, Junior
Forward - Luke Van Natter, Manhattanville, Junior
Defense - Donny Olivieri, Utica, Freshman
Defense - Ryan Michel, Hobart, Sophomore
Goalie - Nick Therien, Utica, Junior
Goalie - Braely Torris, Neumann, Junior

Honorable Mention
Forward - Josh Burnell, Elmira, Sophomore
Forward - Jordan Zalba, Neumann, Senior
Defense - Mike Slowikowski, Utica, Junior

All-Rookie West
Forward - Mike Collins, Elmira
Forward - Matt Coleman, Manhattanville
Forward - Mac Olson, Hobart
Defense - Scott Dawson, Nazareth
Defense - Donny Olivieri, Utica
Goalie - Joe Gladnick, Nazareth

ECAC Men's West Player of the Year
Louie Educate, Utica

ECAC Men's West Defensive Player of the Year
Brad Richard, Hobart

ECAC Men's West Rookie of the Year
Mac Olson, Hobart

ECAC Men's West Coach of the Year
Gary Heenan, Utica