The Excellence of Western Mass Hockey: We have an
AHL professional team in the Springfield Thunderbirds, 2 Divison I College
Teams, 2 Division 3 College Teams, excellent high school hockey, as well as the
Springfield Pics and Springfield Rifles Junior hockey at various levels. We also
have one of the best off season Summer Leagues in the nation at the Olympia Ice
Center in West Springfield, MA. Most importantly we have as the list below only
begins to show, a ton of hockey talent.
I strongly encourage local college coaches (and the
Thunderbirds) to recruit more Western Mass talent. Why?
First, as the list below shows there is a treasure chest of talent. Second,
There is no better way to increase interest and attendance at games than to
have some local talent on the teams. Common sense stuff !
Some Statistics:
* Massachusetts is one of the top 3 states in the nation for producing
college hockey players.
* NCAA statistics reveal that only 11.7% of high school hockey players end
up playing in college, that means 88.3% don't.
* Only 5.6% of college hockey players end up playing major professional
hockey, that means that 94.4% don't.
* Approximately 60% of all college hockey schools are located in the New
England area. This is why East Coast Junior Hockey is continually
strengthening. New England area college coaches love this since recruiting
opportunities are right in their own backyard.
Western Mass Hockey Players Update - College, College Bound,
and Professional
First, The Brothers:
Charlie Kelleher - One of the most impressive up and coming players. He is committed to the University of New Hampshire in
following his brother, Tyler. My own opinion, he could have been playing
and starring for them now! This season he has played for the Tri-City Storm and
the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL where in 52 games he registered 43 points.
Tyler Kelleher - University of New
Hampshire senior, who burned up Hockey East and Division I College Hockey
with 63 points in 40 games. He is tied for the lead in D1 college points and is
a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in NCAA
College Hockey. The NHL is nuts if they don't pick him up. Both Charlie and
Tyler, by the way, are as tough as nails...their grandfather was a professional
boxer.
Mickey Foley - Skidmore College, a solid
player who completed his junior year for Skidmore with a 10 -12 -4 record with
some impressive wins.
Matt Foley - Yale University, doing an
amazing job with a lot of playing time as a freshman having played in 33 games.
He had 8 points as a freshman defensive player. A great start for a freshman.
Dominic Blad - Finished his freshman
season with UMass Boston. They were ranked as high as #3 in the nation for D3
Hockey, with a highlight of the season beating an unbeaten 8-0 Utica College Team at the
"Aud" in Utica before a crowd of 4,000. Although the team did not finish strong,
Dominic and Coach Peter Belisle are committed to a much stronger 2017-18 season.
Anthony Blad - Probably the most
improved in the list. A Senior at Suffield High, playing with the Springfield
Pics in the USPHL he has now evolved to become one of the better defensive
players at his level in Western Mass. He recently participated in an invitation
only Beantown Classic Tournament at the NESC that included some of the best
players in the Northeast. In 3 games he registered 2 goals and an assist with a
+6 rating as a defensive player. In contact with several DI and DIII colleges
for Engineering and hockey.
Bryce Peritz - Suffolk University
completed his freshman year in hockey after playing with the Springfield
Pics.
Cam Peritz - Give him an A++ for his
college hockey opportunity and decision. The Pope Francis (and Cathedral) senior
ranked 2nd in Mass Division I High School Hockey with 39 points in 20 games. A
leading candidate for Western Mass Player of the Year. He is going directly out
of high school to Wesleyan University, a GREAT academic college.
Tanner Zacharewicz - UMass Dartmouth. It
is always great to see 2 brothers playing at the same school at the same time,
both solid players. Tanner is a senor and played 26 games and had 7 points.
Kyle Zacharewicz - UMass Dartmouth.
Kyle, a junior played in 21 games and had 4 points. The brothers are from
Ludlow, MA
DJ Petruzzelli - DJ last played for the
Springfield Jr. Blues in the NAHL and registered 4 points in only 5 games. We
believe that he has had injuries, after playing the prior year in Canada in the
BCHL. DJ had over 100 points while playing for Cathedral High School. DJ has a
commitment to Quinnipiac University.
Keith Petruzzelli - Keith was featured
in NHL News as rated #1 for North American goalies in the NHL Central Mid Term
Rankings...this is a BIG deal. After starring for the South Kent Prep Selects
Academy last year as they were ranked 3rd in the nation, this year he is playing
for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. In an amazing recent happening he
scored a goal that received national publicity as he let fly a shot some 200
feet on an open net and scored full ice ! Both DJ and Keith should be on the
2017-18 Quinnipiac Team next season...that should be exciting.
Extra Special:
Frank Vatrano - He is the pride of Western Mass
playing in the NHL with the Boston Bruins. Injured at the start of the season he
has bounced back to be a major contributor toward the Bruins' run for the
Stanley Cup playoffs. In 35 games he has 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points.
As a younger player he represents the future of the Bruins under new Coach,
Bruce Cassidy. He is a constant threat to score with his well known quick
release thunder shot.
And the Rest:
Artie Potter - UMass Amherst Club, Artie
wanted to concentrate on his Engineering studies as a freshman, but now as a
sophomore he was a standout (no surprise) on the UMass Team that played many
major college hockey club teams, a very good brand and level of hockey. They
even went down to Florida to play the undefeated #1 ranked Florida Gulf Coast
Eagles. They were good enough to get into the post season playoffs.
Jack Williams - Completed his sophomore
year at Franklin Pierce University. Playing in 24 games he registered 9 points
as a defensive player. A tragedy earlier this year with the sudden, unexpected
passing of the head coach.
Peter Crinella - Holy Cross
College, completed his sophomore year after being a rare true freshman with no
Junior play. This seldom happens in college hockey, especially at the D1 level.
Scored goals against nationally ranked Notre Dame and the Air Force Academy. The
Crusaders had a 14-15-7 record.
Ryan Cloonan - Boston University, a
sophomore forward for BU in the tough Hockey East Conference with a record of
23-10-3. BU is 7th ranked nationally in DI Hockey. Ryan has 5 points in having
played in 31 games.
Cullen Geary - Bowdoin College, a solid
defensive player for the Polar Bears. Cullen is a junior who played in 11 games
this past season and had 2 points. He was injured most of last season.
Sean Kavanagh - Tufts University, a
solid defensive player as a senior for Tufts. Sean had 11 points in 23 games for
Tufts and also received some special recognition for his play.
Austin Orszulak - A senior and captain
of American International College Hockey. Austin played in 36 games this year
and registered 14 points.
Danny Petrick - Will be headed to play
for Northeastern University in the tough Hockey East Conference. In 29 games for
the Austin Bruins in the NAHL he had 15 points as a defensive player and was
given recognition toward "Star of the Week" in the NAHL.
Joe Mazza - Western New
England University. Joe, a sophomore defensive player played in 23 games and had
3 points.
Barry Almeida- A 2 time National
Champion with Boston College, he is currently playing professional hockey in
England in the EIHL for the Coventry Blaze. In 36 games he has an impressive 38
points. Why isn't he playing for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the
AHL?
Willy Smith - After 3 impressive seasons
in Canada with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, this season he played 50 games
with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. He is one of my favorite players to
watch play.
Johnny Leonard - Can't wait to see him play for
UMass Amherst next season, my camera is ready ! He is well seasoned
having played 2 years with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. This year he
played in 50 games and contributed 30 points. He is one of the all time greats
from Cathedral High School that definitely will help UMass Amherst next season.
Jake Ryczek - Providence College bound,
drafted by the NHL Chicago Black Hawks, now playing his second season with
Watererloo Black Hawks in the USHL. As a defensive player he has
29 points in 44 games. After 4 years in the USHL he is definitely ready to play
for Providence. Jake is the best defensive player ever to come out of Western
Mass.
TJ Syner - Former UMass star, pro hockey
with the Coventry Blaze, British Elite Hockey League. He had an impressive 41
points in 36 games with Coventry. Again, Why isn't he
playing for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL?
---------------------------------------
It should be noted that most all of the above players play in the
Olympia Ice Center's Summer A League in West Springfield, MA. This is why it is
considered one of the best off season leagues in the nation.
Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service
