First PrestoSports Men's Ice Hockey Weekly Awards of the Season Announced
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Morrisville's Eric Melso (Philadelphia, N.Y.) as Rookie of the Week, Morrisville's Nick DeVito (Averill Park, N.Y.) as Player of the Week, and Buffalo State's Emil Norrman (Kungsbacka, Sweden) as the Goaltender of the Week.
Melso opened his inaugural collegiate season with a hat trick in the 4-3 overtime win over Fredonia on Saturday, leading the Mustangs to a 1-0 start on the season. The freshman notched the first score of the night on a power play opportunity, before netting the game tying score midway through the third to force the overtime frame. Melso gave the Mustangs the win with his tally with 22 seconds remaining in extra time, completing the hat trick and sudden victory win. Aside from his offensive effort, he went 16-for-22 on face-offs while shooting .429 from the ice.
DeVito started his senior season with a five point weekend, netting a combined three goals and two assists in the 2-0 sweep of Fredonia. On Friday, the senior tied the game at 2 in the second period with his short handed score, adding two assists, including on the game winning tally in extra time. He followed Saturday with two additional scores, the first in the second period, followed by the game winner midway through the third off the break away. The weekend sweep was the first time in NCAA history for the Mustangs to open with back-to-back SUNYAC wins.
Swedish freshman goalie Norrman stopped 36 of 37 shots (.973 save percentage) he faced in his first collegiate start, backstopping the Bengals to a 2-1 overtime victory over Nichols College on Saturday.
