SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International College head men’s ice hockey coach Gary Wright announced eight additions, consisting of five forwards and three defensemen, for upcoming 2008-09 campaign. The players come from some of the best junior and prep leagues in the United States and Canada.
"We are excited about this year’s incoming class,” said Wright, who is entering his 25th season behind the bench at AIC. “This is one of the strongest recruiting classes we have had, and much of the credit goes to [assistant coach] Trevor Large and [former assistant coach] Eric Lang. We filled many of our needs at the forward position, and upgraded our skill level and scoring proficiency at that position. Moreover, we have some talented incoming defensemen who are expected to provide us with instant help. It's noteworthy that we have three players coming from the prestigious United States Hockey League (USHL)."
New up front are freshmen Neilsson Arcibal (Vista, Calif./Des Moines Buccaneers), Rob Florentino (West Roxbury, Mass./Buckingham, Browne & Nichols Prep), Rich Leitner (Los Alamitos, Calif./Ohio Junior Blue Jackets), Michael Penny (Calgary, Alb./Olds Grizzlys) and Rody Selk (Minot, N.D./Des Moines Buccaneers).
Arcibal played in 51 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL last season and finished fourth on the team in scoring with 26 points. His 11 goals and 15 assists were both tied for third-most on the team. Selk played alongside Arcibal with Des Moines, scoring 10 goals with 12 assists for 22 points, making him the Buccaneers’ sixth-leading scorer. In two seasons with Des Moines, he registered 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 117 games played.
Florintino played at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School this past year and served as team co-captain. Leitner saw action in 53 games for the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets during the 2007-08 campaign. He was the team’s fourth-leading scorer with 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points.
Penny played in 62 games this past season for the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (ABHL) and led the team with 28 goals and 56 points. His 28 assists tied him for third-most on the team. Penny played in 169 games in three seasons with the Grizzlys, totaling 47 goals, 58 assists and 105 points.
The three addition on defense are freshmen Pat Beckwith (Winthrop, Mass./Valley Junior Warriors), Rob Blanchette (South Boston, Mass./New England Junior Huskies) and Luciano Primiani (Montreal, Que/Kahnawake Condors).
Beckwith appeared in 42 games last season with the Valley Junior Warriors of the Eastern Junior Hockey Leage (EJHL). The 6-1, 185-pounder recorded two assists and 30 penalty minutes.
Blanchette split the 2007-08 season with the New England Junior Huskies of the EJHL and the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He scored two goals with eight assists for 10 points in 17 games with the Huskies and registered one goal and 10 assists for 11 points with the Tornado. Blanchette played parts of three seasons with Texas, scoring seven goals with 29 assists for 36 points in 123 regular season and postseason games. He tallied three goals and one assist in 10 games during the 2006-07 playoffs.
Primiani played in 52 games last season with the Kahnawake Condors of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (LHAAAQ). He led all defensemen in scoring with nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points, which was good for fifth on the team overall. Primiani’s 24 assists were the fourth-most on the team.