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University of Massachusets Athletics
Vatrano Added to USA IIHF World Championship Roster
May 03, 2016 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. - Former University of Massachusetts hockey forward Frank Vatrano has been added to the 2016 U.S. Men's National Team that will compete at the International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship May 6-22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, USA Hockey announced on Tuesday.
The East Longmeadow, Mass., native is coming off a stellar campaign in his first year as a pro that saw him collect co-rookie of the year honors in the AHL, sharing the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the league's most outstanding rookie. After signing with the Boston Bruins in March 2015, Vatrano began his first full professional season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL last September before being recalled by the NHL's Boston Bruins and making his NHL debut on November 7, 2015. He finished 2015-16 with 55 points (36-19) in 36 games in Providence and logged another 11 points (8g, 3a) in 39 NHL contests with Boston.
A member of the Minutemen for two seasons (2013-15), Vatrano was UMass' leading goal scorer in 2014-15 with 18 tallies, including six on the power play, one shorthanded and two game winners, ranking tied for sixth in Hockey East in goals scored and tied for fifth in power-play goals. He also dished 10 assists for a total of 28 points to rank second on the squad in scoring and had 15 points on nine goals and six assist in 22 Hockey East games.
Vatrano, an alum of USA Hockey’s National Development Team Program (2010-12), Vatrano previously represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship in Brno and Znojmo, Czech Republic, where he helped Team USA claim the gold medal. He is the fifth Minuteman to play in the IIHF World Championship along with Oleg Yevenko of Belarus (2014, 2015), Justin Braun of the United States (2012), Thomas Pock of Austria (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) and Toni Soderholm of Finland (2005, 2007).