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University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS ATHLETICS
Hildenbrand And Chaffee Named UMass Hockey Captains For 2019-20
July 02, 2019 | Hockey
The forwards have played a combined 184 games for the Minutemen with 106 career points between them.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey forwards Niko Hildenbrand and Mitchell Chaffee have been named team captains for the upcoming 2019-20 season, head coach Greg Carvel announced on Tuesday. Hildenbrand, who served as captain for the Minutemen in 2018-19, is entering his senior year, while Chaffee will be a junior this fall.
"The 2019-20 Minutemen hockey team will be led by two young men who have exhibited the qualities and values that have allowed our hockey program to improve so rapidly since the day they arrived on campus," said Carvel. "Niko Hildenbrand and Mitchell Chaffee are two big body, power forwards who lead by example and play to our team's identity every time they step on to the ice. Both Niko and Mitchell excel in the classroom and weight room, and also are involved in the local community and the UMass campus. Captains play an extremely important role because they are responsible for echoing the coaching staff's message and holding their teammates accountable to team standards. It is because of this that I am excited to name Niko and Mitchell as our captains. They have personally witnessed the power of a strong hockey culture over the past two years and are eager to continue pushing our hockey program forward. We demand a lot from our captains and I am excited to work closely with these two impressive young men next season!"
Hildenbrand becomes the 11th two-year captain in program history and sixth in the program's modern era. As a junior the Vacaville, California, native helped lead the Minutemen to unprecedented success in 2018-19, including a school-record 31 wins, a trip to the NCAA title game and UMass' first-ever Hockey East Regular Season Championship. In 37 games this past season, Hildenbrand contributed 14 points on three goals and 11 assists and was +3 with eight of his points (3g, 5a) coming in Hockey East play. He enters his senior season having already eclipsed the century mark in games played (105) and has 40 career points to his credit on 15 goals and 25 assists.
Chaffee enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2018-19 which saw him garner CCM/AHCA Hockey First-Team All-America honors and earn the title of Hockey East Scoring Champion in addition to receiving the Herb Gallagher Award (New England's best forward) and earning New England All-Star and Hockey East First-Team All-Star recognition.
In Hockey East action, Chaffee totaled 31 points over 23 league contests for an average of 1.35 points per-game. The Rockford, Michigan native also led Hockey East in assists in league play with 22, to go along with his nine goals.
Overall, he registered 42 points over 40 contests on a team-high 18 goals with 24 assists and a plus/minus rating of +21. Chaffee finished fourth overall in Hockey East in points, third in goals, tied for eighth in assists, tied for sixth in power-play points (14), tied for third in power-play goals (7) and tied for sixth in plus/minus. He amassed 12 multi-point games, as well.
Thus far in a UMass uniform over two seasons Chaffee has seen action in 79 games and has logged 31 goals and 35 assists for 66 points.
For continued coverage of UMass Hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
"The 2019-20 Minutemen hockey team will be led by two young men who have exhibited the qualities and values that have allowed our hockey program to improve so rapidly since the day they arrived on campus," said Carvel. "Niko Hildenbrand and Mitchell Chaffee are two big body, power forwards who lead by example and play to our team's identity every time they step on to the ice. Both Niko and Mitchell excel in the classroom and weight room, and also are involved in the local community and the UMass campus. Captains play an extremely important role because they are responsible for echoing the coaching staff's message and holding their teammates accountable to team standards. It is because of this that I am excited to name Niko and Mitchell as our captains. They have personally witnessed the power of a strong hockey culture over the past two years and are eager to continue pushing our hockey program forward. We demand a lot from our captains and I am excited to work closely with these two impressive young men next season!"
Hildenbrand becomes the 11th two-year captain in program history and sixth in the program's modern era. As a junior the Vacaville, California, native helped lead the Minutemen to unprecedented success in 2018-19, including a school-record 31 wins, a trip to the NCAA title game and UMass' first-ever Hockey East Regular Season Championship. In 37 games this past season, Hildenbrand contributed 14 points on three goals and 11 assists and was +3 with eight of his points (3g, 5a) coming in Hockey East play. He enters his senior season having already eclipsed the century mark in games played (105) and has 40 career points to his credit on 15 goals and 25 assists.
Chaffee enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2018-19 which saw him garner CCM/AHCA Hockey First-Team All-America honors and earn the title of Hockey East Scoring Champion in addition to receiving the Herb Gallagher Award (New England's best forward) and earning New England All-Star and Hockey East First-Team All-Star recognition.
In Hockey East action, Chaffee totaled 31 points over 23 league contests for an average of 1.35 points per-game. The Rockford, Michigan native also led Hockey East in assists in league play with 22, to go along with his nine goals.
Overall, he registered 42 points over 40 contests on a team-high 18 goals with 24 assists and a plus/minus rating of +21. Chaffee finished fourth overall in Hockey East in points, third in goals, tied for eighth in assists, tied for sixth in power-play points (14), tied for third in power-play goals (7) and tied for sixth in plus/minus. He amassed 12 multi-point games, as well.
Thus far in a UMass uniform over two seasons Chaffee has seen action in 79 games and has logged 31 goals and 35 assists for 66 points.
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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