NY Hockey OnLine
West Hockey / Page 37
NIAGARA
Danford and Freeman
Danford led all defenders on the team this season with 18 points, scoring two goals to go along with 16 assists. The junior was also a key member of the Griffs’ record-setting penalty kill unit. Ralph Cuddemi earned the team’s Rookie of the Year award after recording 10 points on four goals and six assists. Five of the his 10 points came during the Griffs’ postseason run, including his first career multigoal game in the Atlantic Hockey Championship victory over Mercyhurst. Sophomore Cody Freeman earned Most Improved honors, finishing his sophomore season with 20 points, 12 goals and eight assists in 28 games. Freeman increased his scoring by 15 points from his rookie campaign and the sophomore led all players in the country with eight goals during the month of March. Senior captain Preston Shupe received the Dr. David B. Dietz Award, which is presented to a player for his dedication in both athletics and academics. Shupe finished second on the team with 29 points and 16 goals during his final season with the Griffs. Senior captain Torrey Lindsay was honored with the Top Chapman Memorial Award as the team’s unsung hero for the second-straight campaign. Lindsay appeared in all 43 games with 14 points, three goals and 11 assists. He was also a key member of the team’s penalty kill unit, which finished as the 11th-best unit in NCAA history by killing 90.1 percent of its opponent’s power-play chances. In addition, Shupe and freshman Stephen Miller earned team awards for their work off the ice. Shupe collected the Hasek’s Heroes Award for the thirdstraight year for his work with the program, while Miller earned the team’s Community Outreach Award.
Niagara hockey goalie Niagara hockey goalie Carsen Chubak has given up his final year of college eligibility and signed an American Hockey League contract with the Adirondack Phantoms, the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. “We are very happy for Carsen and wish him well with his professional endeavors,” head coach Dave Burkholder said in a press release. “The Phantoms are getting a very dedicated and focused individual.” Chubak led the 2012-13 Purple Eagles to the school’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, and first since 2008, and the program’s first Atlantic Hockey regular season title. Chubak was 23-7-5 with a 1.91 GAA and a .930 save percentage leading the league in wins, goals-against average and save percentage, while finishing third with 2042:38 minutes played. His six shutouts also led the conference, and were tied for first in the nation. His achievements between the pipes earned him AHA Player of the Year honors, as well as a spot as a Top-10 Hobey Baker finalist. Chubak is only one of three players, with Paul Zanette and Joe Tallari, in Purple Eagle history to earn this distinction. Senior defenseman Jason Beattie was honored with the Kevin Mulkern Award during the school’s 156th Commencement Ceremony held at the Gallagher Center. The award is a gift of the family and friends in honor of the memory of former Niagara assistant swim coach Kevin Mulkern. Since 1976, the Mulkern Award has been given annually to the senior athlete who has the highest ideals of sportsmanship, competition and fair play in the spirit of Niagara University. Beattie finished his collegiate career with seven goals and 18 assists in 106 games for the Purple Eagles, including a career-high three goals during the 2012-13 campaign. He recently signed an Amateur Tryout with the Rochester Americans, the American Hockey League affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres. The senior co-captain earned Atlantic Hockey AllAcademic accolades twice and the AHA Student-Athlete of the Year award in 2012. The 2013 Hockey Humanitarian Award finalist graduated in 2012 with his bachelors in accounting, and completed his Masters degree in business administration.
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