University of Massachusets Athletics
Hockey Announces Captains For 2018-19
April 20, 2018 | Hockey
Rising junior forward Niko Hildenbrand and rising sophomore defensemen Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro will lead the Minutemen next season.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey head coach Greg Carvel has announced that forward Niko Hildenbrand and defensemen Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro will serve as captains for the Minutemen next season. All three played critical roles for UMass during the 2017-18 campaign, which saw the squad complete the biggest one-year turnaround in program history as one of the most improved teams in the nation.
"I am very excited to announce that Niko Hildenbrand, Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro will serve as the captains for the 2018-19 season," said Carvel. "Although they are a young group, they have all proven themselves during their time at UMass of being capable leaders. They exemplify the qualities that are critical to our evolving culture and have proven themselves on the ice having played important roles on last year's team. Under their leadership, the program will look to take more steps forward this coming season."
As a sophomore in 2017-18, Hildenbrand nearly doubled his freshman year point production, finishing seventh on the squad in scoring with 17 points on eight goals and nine assists over 36 games. The Vacaville, California native was +4 with one shorthanded tally and two game winners to his credit and blocked 35 shots while posting four multi-point games.
Ferraro, a 2018 Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection, broke Brandon Montour's record for points by a freshman defenseman in UMass' Hockey East era, logging 23 points on four goals and a team-best 19 assists as the Minutemen's top scoring defenseman. Seeing action in all 39 games, the King City, Ontario native was +5 with six multi-point games, two power-play goals and one game winner. Over 24 Hockey East contests, he totaled 14 points on two goals and 12 assists. Ferraro finished tied for sixth in Hockey East in defenseman scoring and tied for ninth in freshman scoring.
Makar, who was named a co-recipient of the 2018 George C. Carens Award from the New England Hockey Writers Association as co-rookie of the year, a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and to the Hockey East All-Rookie team, totaled 21 points in his freshman campaign over 34 games on 5 goals and 15 assists to finish fifth on the squad in scoring. The Calgary, Alberta native ranked second for the Minutemen in plus minus at +9 and contributed two power-play goals, one shorthanded goal and one game winner with three multi-point games to his credit. He was selected as Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Jan. 15 after a three-point weekend against Vermont and finished with 13 points (4g, 9a) in 20 league games. Makar finished ninth in defenseman scoring in Hockey East and ranked seventh nationally in scoring among freshmen defensemen at 0.62 points per-game
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
"I am very excited to announce that Niko Hildenbrand, Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro will serve as the captains for the 2018-19 season," said Carvel. "Although they are a young group, they have all proven themselves during their time at UMass of being capable leaders. They exemplify the qualities that are critical to our evolving culture and have proven themselves on the ice having played important roles on last year's team. Under their leadership, the program will look to take more steps forward this coming season."
As a sophomore in 2017-18, Hildenbrand nearly doubled his freshman year point production, finishing seventh on the squad in scoring with 17 points on eight goals and nine assists over 36 games. The Vacaville, California native was +4 with one shorthanded tally and two game winners to his credit and blocked 35 shots while posting four multi-point games.
Ferraro, a 2018 Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection, broke Brandon Montour's record for points by a freshman defenseman in UMass' Hockey East era, logging 23 points on four goals and a team-best 19 assists as the Minutemen's top scoring defenseman. Seeing action in all 39 games, the King City, Ontario native was +5 with six multi-point games, two power-play goals and one game winner. Over 24 Hockey East contests, he totaled 14 points on two goals and 12 assists. Ferraro finished tied for sixth in Hockey East in defenseman scoring and tied for ninth in freshman scoring.
Makar, who was named a co-recipient of the 2018 George C. Carens Award from the New England Hockey Writers Association as co-rookie of the year, a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and to the Hockey East All-Rookie team, totaled 21 points in his freshman campaign over 34 games on 5 goals and 15 assists to finish fifth on the squad in scoring. The Calgary, Alberta native ranked second for the Minutemen in plus minus at +9 and contributed two power-play goals, one shorthanded goal and one game winner with three multi-point games to his credit. He was selected as Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Jan. 15 after a three-point weekend against Vermont and finished with 13 points (4g, 9a) in 20 league games. Makar finished ninth in defenseman scoring in Hockey East and ranked seventh nationally in scoring among freshmen defensemen at 0.62 points per-game
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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