The Excellence of Western Mass Hockey

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?

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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

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