University of Massachusets Athletics
Marc Del Gaizo Becomes 23rd Massachusetts Hockey Alumnus To Reach The NHL
November 04, 2023 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey alumnus Marc Del Gaizo will become the 23rd Minuteman to reach the highest level of professional hockey when he makes his National Hockey League debut with the Nashville Predators against the Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon. The defenseman signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators at the conclusion of his junior season in 2021 and is the ninth player to play under head coach Greg Carvel at UMass to reach the NHL, the fifth to do so after coming to Amherst undrafted.
A 2019 fourth round (109th overall) draft pick of the Predators, Del Gaizo, left UMass as the career leader in plus-minus at +61 (currently second all-time). He appeared in 90 career games over three seasons and totaled 58 points on 20 goals and 38 assists with eight power-play goals and four game winners. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey native served as one of the team's assistant captains in 2020-21 during UMass' Hockey East Championship and National Championship run.
The two-time Third Team Hockey East All-Star finished the 2020-21 campaign with 14 points on three goals and 11 assists and was +21. He was selected to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team as a freshman in 2018-19, as well. Del Gaizo scored one of the most iconic goals in UMass history during his rookie year, netting the overtime game winner against Denver in the 2019 NCAA Semifinal to vault the Minutemen into the NCAA Championship game for the first time and was subsequently named to the 2019 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
Del Gaizo was a pivotal piece in UMass finishing in the top-10 in the nation in scoring defense in each of the three seasons he wore the Maroon & White, including the Minutemen ranking second at 1.66 goals per-game in 2020-21 and setting a program record for the fewest goals allowed in a season, 67, in 2019-20.
Since turning pro in 2021, Del Gazio has appeared in 177 American Hockey League games, playing for both the Chicago Wolves (2021) and the Milwaukee Admirals (2021-2023). He has posted 68 career points in the AHL on 13 goals and 55 assists.
A 2019 fourth round (109th overall) draft pick of the Predators, Del Gaizo, left UMass as the career leader in plus-minus at +61 (currently second all-time). He appeared in 90 career games over three seasons and totaled 58 points on 20 goals and 38 assists with eight power-play goals and four game winners. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey native served as one of the team's assistant captains in 2020-21 during UMass' Hockey East Championship and National Championship run.
The two-time Third Team Hockey East All-Star finished the 2020-21 campaign with 14 points on three goals and 11 assists and was +21. He was selected to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team as a freshman in 2018-19, as well. Del Gaizo scored one of the most iconic goals in UMass history during his rookie year, netting the overtime game winner against Denver in the 2019 NCAA Semifinal to vault the Minutemen into the NCAA Championship game for the first time and was subsequently named to the 2019 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
Del Gaizo was a pivotal piece in UMass finishing in the top-10 in the nation in scoring defense in each of the three seasons he wore the Maroon & White, including the Minutemen ranking second at 1.66 goals per-game in 2020-21 and setting a program record for the fewest goals allowed in a season, 67, in 2019-20.
Since turning pro in 2021, Del Gazio has appeared in 177 American Hockey League games, playing for both the Chicago Wolves (2021) and the Milwaukee Admirals (2021-2023). He has posted 68 career points in the AHL on 13 goals and 55 assists.
Players Mentioned
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