Hockey Announces Team Award Winners

The Canisius hockey team announced its top players from this past season on Thursday as it revealed its award winners for the 2022-23 campaign.

Seniors Jacob Barczewski and Keaton Mastrodonato both took home a pair of honors. Barczewski earned both the Most Valuable Player and Three Stars Awards for a third consecutive season.

Mastrodonato, meanwhile, was selected as the team's Top Forward for a third straight campaign and was also tabbed the David B. Dietz Hockey Booster Award honoree, presented to a Canisius player for his dedication in both athletics and academics in honor of the Canisius Sports Hall of Famer.

An All-AHA Third Team selection, Barczewski was named the AHA Postseason Most Outstanding Player and an AHA All-Tournament Team selection after posting a 5-2 record with a 1.13 goals against average and a .963 save percentage in seven playoff contests, helping lead the Golden Griffins to the program's second AHA Championship.

The O'Fallon, Mo., native posted a 2.65 goals against average and a .918 save percentage in 1882 minutes played during the 2022-23 season. He ranked second in the AHA in save percentage and fifth in goals against average. Barczewski also led Atlantic Hockey with three shutouts, all of which came during the final 10 starts of the season.

A native of O'Fallon, Mo., Barczewski finished his career ranked second in program history in career wins (44), third in career goals against average (2.64), fourth in career saves (2,719) and fifth in career save percentage (.917).

An All-AHA Third Team selection in his own right, Mastrodonato was one of just three Canisius skaters to appear in all 42 contests last season. He paced the team in scoring for a third straight season with 36 points (16g/20a), becoming just the fourth player in program history and the only the second in the Division I era to lead the team in scoring for three straight seasons.

Named to AHA Postseason All-Tournament Team, Mastrodonato was tabbed the Hockey Commissioner's Association's National Player of the Month and AHA Player of the Month for February after leading the nation in both goals (10) and points (15) during the final month of the regular season. The Powell River, British Columbia product tallied two shorthanded goals during the 2022-23 campaign to become the program's all-time leader with seven career shorthanded tallies

Graduate student J.D. Pogue was the recipient of the Tom Chapman Award, given annually to the team's unsung hero. The Montreal, Quebec, product served as a team captain for a second consecutive season. He appeared in 32 games and tallied four goals and seven assists for 11 points while also recording 20 blocked shots. Pogue scored one of the biggest goals of the 2022-23 season during game three of the Griffs' AHA Semifinal matchup against Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara, breaking a 2-2 tie with the eventual game-winning goal early in the third period to send Canisius to the championship game.

Senior David Melaragni garnered Top Defenseman honors for the second straight season. The Philadelphia, Pa., product skated in 41 contests during the 2022-23 season, leading the team with 21 assists while ranking third on the squad with 25 points. Melaragni's 21 helpers were the fourth most by a Canisius defenseman in the Division I era of the program while his 25 points matched the fifth-highest output by a Griffs blueliner in the program's Division I era. He also ranked fourth on the squad with 36 blocked shots.

Freshman Stefano Bottini was named the team's Rookie of the Year. A native of Lugano, Switzerland, Bottini took part in 32 games during his rookie campaign, pacing the Griffs' rookies with eight points, four goals and four assists. A mainstay in the Canisius lineup the second half of the regular sason, Bottini teamed up graduate student Erik Urbank and senior Markus Boguslavsky to provide the Griffs with a solid depth line on their way to the Jack Riley Memorial Trophy.

Sophomore Matt Vermaeten was named the team's Most Improved Player. After playing in just 11 games as a rookie, Vermaeten took part in 22 contests during the 2022-23 season. He tallied three assists and also recorded 61 face-off wins and 16 blocked shots. The Ottawa, Ontario, native recorded his first collegiate point with an assist in the series opener versus Miami (Ohio) in October and was registered assists in league matchups against Army and RIT.

Senior Lincoln Erne was recognized as the team's Community Service Award winner. The Blaine, Minn., native skated in 41 games for the Griffs last season, notching one goal and four assists for five points. He ranked third on the squad in blocked shots with 61.

Erne was instrumental in the organization and participation of the team in various community outreach activities during the 2022-23 academic year. Erne and the team also assisted with youth hockey clinics around the greater Buffalo area during the season.

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

#30 Jacob Barczewski: G; 6' 1"; Senior; L

#53 Lincoln Erne: D; 6' 2"; Senior; R

#8 Keaton Mastrodonato: F; 6' 1"; Senior; R

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

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

#25 Matt Vermaeten: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore; L

#15 Markus Boguslavsky: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#26 Stefano Bottini: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

#61 Erik Urbank: F; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#30 Jacob Barczewski
: 6' 1"; Senior; L
: G

#53 Lincoln Erne
: 6' 2"; Senior; R
: D

#8 Keaton Mastrodonato
: 6' 1"; Senior; R
: F

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

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

#25 Matt Vermaeten
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; L
: F

#15 Markus Boguslavsky
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#26 Stefano Bottini
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F

#61 Erik Urbank
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: F