Pogue Named Hockey Captain for 2021-22 Season

Canisius hockey head coach Trevor Large announced Monday that senior forward J.D. Pogue will serve as team captain for the 2021-22 season.

In addition, graduate student Austin Alger and juniors David Melaragni and Keaton Mastrodonato will serve as alternate captains for the upcoming campaign.

"I am confident J.D. will be an excellent captain for this team," Large said. "He is humble, hardworking and committed to push our program to the highest level. This is one of the highest honors for any hockey player to receive. J.D. deserves it. He welcomes the challenge and will give his all while leading this team. We are all lucky to be around J.D. on a daily basis. He makes us all better."

A native of Montreal, Que., Pogue has appeared in 82 games during his first three seasons with the program, recording five goals and eight assists. As a junior, Pogue was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship after appearing in 13 games, establishing career highs in both goals (5) and assists (3).

Pogue scored the most important goal of the 2020-21 season when he found the back of the net in overtime of the Griffs' 4-3 victory over nationally-ranked Army in the semifinals of the AHA Tournament. He also netted the game-winning goal in the front half of a weekend sweep of RIT in February.

Alger, meanwhile, has appeared in 88 games in a Canisius uniform after transferring into the program prior to the start of the 2017-18 season, recording 20 goals and 37 assists. Last season, the Livonia, Mich., native appeared in all 17 games for the Griffs, tallying three goals and five assists for eight points. In the classroom, he was an AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar selection and named to AHA All-Academic Team for the 2020-21 season.

Mastrodonato has taken part in 51 games during his first two seasons on Main Street, notching 19 goals and 16 assists. The Powell River, British Columbia, product was an All-AHA Western Pod First Team selection and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee in 2020-21 after skating in all 17 games for the Griffs, pacing the squad with 18 points, highlighted by a team-best nine goals and a pair of game-winning markers.

Mastrodonato also excelled in the classroom during the 2020-21 campaign, garnering AHA Student-Athlete of the Year, AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar and AHA All-Academic Team honors.

Melaragni has appeared in 45 games in a Canisius uniform in his first two seasons with the program, registering three goals and eight assists while also pitching in 44 blocked shots.

As a sophomore, Melaragni took part in all 17 games, recording two goals and four assists. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Melaragni scored the game-winning goal in the Griffs' 5-2 win over RIT in game one of their AHA Tournament Quarterfinal Round series on March 12. Academically, Melaragni was an AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar selection and named to AHA All-Academic Team.

"Austin, Keaton and David will continue to lead this team in their own way," Large said. "Our leadership group this season is well trained, versatile and committed to help assist and elevate our already strong culture. I have faith this group will sacrifice and lead the right way. I couldn't be more excited for this season with this team."

For complete coverage of the Canisius hockey team, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffsHockey on Twitter and Instagram.

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Players Mentioned

#83 Austin Alger: F; 6' 0"; Graduate Student; R

#8 Keaton Mastrodonato: F; 6' 0"; Junior; R

#5 David Melaragni: D; 6' 0"; Junior; L

#9 J.D. Pogue: F; 6' 1"; Senior; R

Players Mentioned

#83 Austin Alger
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student; R
: F

#8 Keaton Mastrodonato
: 6' 0"; Junior; R
: F

#5 David Melaragni
: 6' 0"; Junior; L
: D

#9 J.D. Pogue
: 6' 1"; Senior; R
: F