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University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass' Gracel Signs With South Carolina Stingrays
September 17, 2014 | Hockey
North Charleston, S.C. - Former UMass hockey forward Branden Gracel has agreed to terms with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, the team announced on Wednesday. Gracel becomes the sixth member of the Minutemen's Class of 2014 to ink a pro deal.
"Branden comes to us after finishing an impressive college career and we look forward to him having continued success at the pro level with our hockey club," said Stingrays' Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Spencer Carbery in the team's press release. "He's a player that can make things happen offensively by creating scoring opportunities through his individual ability."
Over his four collegiate campaigns, Gracel appeared in 134 games, including all 34 in his final two seasons in Amherst. He amassed 89 career points on 38 goals and 51 assists, including 12 power-play goals and five game winners. He left UMass ranked tied for 15th in career goals, 21st in career points, tied for 14th in power-play goals nd tied for 12th in game-winning goals.
As a junior in 2012-13, Gracel led the team in scoring with 34 points (14g, 20a) en route to a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star recognition and ranked ninth in the nation in faceoff winning percentage (59.5%). He posted back-to-back multi-point efforts to help UMass win the 2012 Ledyard Classic and was named Tournament MVP, Hockey East Player of the Month and Honorable Mention National Player of the Month for December 2012.
This past year as a senior, Gracel led UMass in goals for a second straight year with 13, which included seven on the power-play. He was a two-time member of the Hockey East Academic All-Star team.
During the 2013-14 season, as many as 26 former Minutemen were active in professional hockey around the globe in nine different countries: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.