For Immediate Release
Contact Dave Geringer, Sports Information Director, (508) 990-9651 [log in to unmask]
Monday, March 20, 2006
THREE CORSAIRS FINALISTS FOR JOE CONCANNON AWARD
BOSTON, MA– Three members of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s hockey team are among 15 semi-finalists for the sixth Joe Concannon Award, presented annually by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston to New England’s best American-born NCAA Division II or III hockey player.
Senior forward Eric Frank (Waltham, MA/Traverse City Enforcers), who was a semi-finalist last season, joins junior forward Kyle McCullough (Danvers, MA/Boston Jr. Blackhawks) and freshman goaltender Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, MA/Springfield Jr. Falcons) were named as semi-finalists for the award. It marks the first time that three semi-finalists from one team have ever been chosen.
Frank is one of four semi-finalists from last season. He finished second in scoring for the Corsairs this season with 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 28 games. Frank tied for second in scoring in the ECAC Northeast Conference, and finished his UMass Dartmouth career with 67 goals and 89 assists for 156 points in 92 games. One of six Corsair seniors, Frank helped lead the Corsairs to a 25-5 record, the ECAC Northeast Conference title, the Corsairs’ first-ever spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs and a first-round tournament win at SUNY Geneseo. He ranks sixth in points and assists at UMass Dartmouth, and ranks ninth in goals.
McCullough led both the Corsairs and the ECAC Northeast Conference in scoring with 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 30 games. In 83 games at UMass Dartmouth, he has 47 goals and 59 assists for 106 points. He ranks second nationally with four short-handed goals and is tied for 20th nationally with 1.53 points per game.
Dryjowicz-Burek ranks first in Division III with a save percentage of .941, is third in goals-against average at 1.73, and ranks sixth in winning percentage at .773. He started 23 of the Corsairs’ 30 games and was 17-5-0 with three shutouts. Dryjowicz-Burek led the ECAC Northeast in goals-against average, save percentage and winning percentage.
“Without question, there has been some outstanding hockey played at the D-II and D-III levels this season, and we have seen some truly notable performers in each of the three leagues in New England,” said Concannon Award Committee Chairman, Tim Costello. “In addition to proving themselves as superb athletes, each of the nominated players has exemplified sportsmanship and character in representing their team and institution. The committee’s final decision will not be an easy one. We will be very diligent in evaluating the final results to determine this year’s winner.”
“It’s a credit to our team, and to the players nominated” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “Eric Frank was an All-American a year ago, Kyle led the league in scoring and ranked third in the nation, and Jon led all divisions in goals-against average. It’s an honor to be nominated for the Joe Concannon Award, The fact that we have three of the 15 players in all of Division II and Division III is a credit to the players and to their teammates.”
The Gridiron Club established the Joe Concannon Award in 2001 to honor Concannon, a lifelong devotee of college hockey, former member of the Walter Brown Award Selection Committee and, as a journalist, a staunch advocate for the amateur athletes he knew and covered. He served as sports information director (SID) at Holy Cross before joining the Boston Globe in the late 1960’s to cover college sports. He passed away in 2000.
The award will be presented April 13th at the annual New England Hockey Writers Banquet.
Joe Concannon Award Winners
2001 Keith Aucoin Norwich University
2002 Michael Carosi Bowdoin College
2003 Nick Stauder Salem State College
2004 Jim Pancyzkowski Wesleyan University
Michael O’Sullivan Curry College
2005 Brian Doherty Curry College
Joseph Ori Trinity College
UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY
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