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University of Massachusets Athletics
Five Minutemen Attending NHL Development Camps
June 30, 2017 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – Two members of University of Massachusetts hockey's 2016-17 roster and three incoming freshmen for 2017-18 are attending development camps with NHL clubs this summer. Draft picks Ivan Chukarov (Buffalo Sabres), Mario Ferraro (San Jose Sharks) and Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) will all be in action with their respective NHL teams, while Jake Gaudet and 2017 graduate Steven Iacobellis have received invitations from the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks, respectively.
Ivan Chukarov | Junior | Defenseman | Buffalo Sabres (July 8-11)
A seventh round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, Chukarov has seen action in all possible 72 games thus far in his two seasons in a UMass uniform and has tallied 16 points on five goals and 11 assists. In 2016-17 as a sophomore, Chukarov posted a career-best six assists to go along with a pair of goals for eight points in 36 games. He was named a co-recipient of the Craig Ramsay award winner at Buffalo's development camp in 2016, given to the "hardest working player" at camp.
Mario Ferraro | Freshman | Defenseman | San Jose Sharks (Dates TBA)
Ferraro became the second-highest draft pick in UMass history when he was selected 49th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft last weekend. Ferraro played his final season of junior hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Des Moines Buccaneers and totaled 41 points on eight goals and 33 assists over 60 regular season contests. He garnered USHL First All-Star Team and USHL All-Rookie Team accolades after tying for first among USHL defensemen in goals and ranking second in points and assists.
Jake Gaudet | Freshman | Forward | Ottawa Senators (June 27-July 3)
Over three-plus seasons with the Kemptville 73's of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Gaudet amassed 109 points over 153 career regular season games on 44 goals and 65 assists. He logged 31 points (12g, 19a) in his final year of junior hockey and had seven points (3g, 4a) over 12 games in the 2016-17 postseason.
Steven Iacobellis | Class of 2017 | Forward | Vancouver Canucks (July 4-6)
Iacobellis, who graduated from UMass this May after completing his four-year career with the Minutemen was the 10th two-year captain in UMass history and fifth in the program's modern era. As a senior in 2016-17, Iacobellis became one of seven individuals to register four straight seasons of 20 points or more in the program's Division I era and only the fifth during the program's time in Hockey East. He led the Minutemen in scoring this past season with 21 points on eight goals and 13 assists and finished his career with 87 points on 31 goals and 56 assists over 139 games, ranking 10th all-time in games played, 21st in assists and 24th in points.
Cale Makar | Freshman | Defenseman | Colorado Avalanche (June 26-29)
Makar was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the highest draft pick in program history. He amassed 135 career points on 35 goals and 100 assists over 111 regular season contests with the Brooks Bandits over the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and added 37 points (9g, 28a) in 46 career postseason games with AJHL titles with Brooks in 2016 and 2017. Makar led all AJHL defensemen in scoring in his final season of junior hockey with 75 points (24g, 51a) in 2016-17 and was sixth overall in points, fifth in assists. He helped lead Brooks to their second straight league championship with 16 points (5g, 11a) in 13 games, with an additional eight points (3g, 5a) in five games to propel the squad to its first Western Canada Cup. Makar ranked second in scoring at the 2017 RBC Cup with eight points (2g, 6a) in five games. In 2016-17, Makar racked up postseason honors, being selected as AJHL Top Defenceman, AJHL Most Valuable Player and AJHL Playoff MVP, and was named to the AJHL All-League Team. He was also named Western Canada Cup Top Defenceman and was selected to the All-Tournament Team, and was chosen as the RBC Cup Top Defenceman and Most Valuable Player, the first player to ever be named RBC Cup MVP in back-to-back seasons. Makar also received the CJHL Most Valuable Player Award, and won the prestigious RBC National Junior A Player of the Year Award.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter (@UMassHockey) and Instagram (@MassachusettsHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
Ivan Chukarov | Junior | Defenseman | Buffalo Sabres (July 8-11)
A seventh round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, Chukarov has seen action in all possible 72 games thus far in his two seasons in a UMass uniform and has tallied 16 points on five goals and 11 assists. In 2016-17 as a sophomore, Chukarov posted a career-best six assists to go along with a pair of goals for eight points in 36 games. He was named a co-recipient of the Craig Ramsay award winner at Buffalo's development camp in 2016, given to the "hardest working player" at camp.
Mario Ferraro | Freshman | Defenseman | San Jose Sharks (Dates TBA)
Ferraro became the second-highest draft pick in UMass history when he was selected 49th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft last weekend. Ferraro played his final season of junior hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Des Moines Buccaneers and totaled 41 points on eight goals and 33 assists over 60 regular season contests. He garnered USHL First All-Star Team and USHL All-Rookie Team accolades after tying for first among USHL defensemen in goals and ranking second in points and assists.
Jake Gaudet | Freshman | Forward | Ottawa Senators (June 27-July 3)
Over three-plus seasons with the Kemptville 73's of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Gaudet amassed 109 points over 153 career regular season games on 44 goals and 65 assists. He logged 31 points (12g, 19a) in his final year of junior hockey and had seven points (3g, 4a) over 12 games in the 2016-17 postseason.
Steven Iacobellis | Class of 2017 | Forward | Vancouver Canucks (July 4-6)
Iacobellis, who graduated from UMass this May after completing his four-year career with the Minutemen was the 10th two-year captain in UMass history and fifth in the program's modern era. As a senior in 2016-17, Iacobellis became one of seven individuals to register four straight seasons of 20 points or more in the program's Division I era and only the fifth during the program's time in Hockey East. He led the Minutemen in scoring this past season with 21 points on eight goals and 13 assists and finished his career with 87 points on 31 goals and 56 assists over 139 games, ranking 10th all-time in games played, 21st in assists and 24th in points.
Cale Makar | Freshman | Defenseman | Colorado Avalanche (June 26-29)
Makar was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the highest draft pick in program history. He amassed 135 career points on 35 goals and 100 assists over 111 regular season contests with the Brooks Bandits over the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and added 37 points (9g, 28a) in 46 career postseason games with AJHL titles with Brooks in 2016 and 2017. Makar led all AJHL defensemen in scoring in his final season of junior hockey with 75 points (24g, 51a) in 2016-17 and was sixth overall in points, fifth in assists. He helped lead Brooks to their second straight league championship with 16 points (5g, 11a) in 13 games, with an additional eight points (3g, 5a) in five games to propel the squad to its first Western Canada Cup. Makar ranked second in scoring at the 2017 RBC Cup with eight points (2g, 6a) in five games. In 2016-17, Makar racked up postseason honors, being selected as AJHL Top Defenceman, AJHL Most Valuable Player and AJHL Playoff MVP, and was named to the AJHL All-League Team. He was also named Western Canada Cup Top Defenceman and was selected to the All-Tournament Team, and was chosen as the RBC Cup Top Defenceman and Most Valuable Player, the first player to ever be named RBC Cup MVP in back-to-back seasons. Makar also received the CJHL Most Valuable Player Award, and won the prestigious RBC National Junior A Player of the Year Award.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter (@UMassHockey) and Instagram (@MassachusettsHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
Players Mentioned
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