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Atlantic Hockey Season Review

Final Horn
  • McLinskey, Cassaro Earn CCM/AHCA All-America Honors: Holy Cross junior forward Liam McLinskey and RIT senior defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro have been named to the 2023-24 CCM/AHCA All-America second team announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association on April 12.
    • The selection of McLinskey and Cassaro this season marks the fifth time Atlantic Hockey has had multiple CCM/AHCA All-Americans in the same season (2009-10, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21).
  • Air Force's Robinson Wins Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award: Air Force senior defenseman Luke Robinson was named the winner of the 2024 Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award on April 12.
    • The award was established in honor of former Army West Point player Derek Hines, who was a “consummate team player and team builder.” Hines played at Army from 1999-2003 and was a four-year letter-winner as well as a co-captain his senior season. He was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 1, 2005 in Afghanistan.
    • Robinson is the seventh Atlantic Hockey player to receive the honor and the third player from Air Force, which is the most of any school in the award’s 18-year history.
  • McLinskey Named a Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist: Holy Cross junior Liam McLinskey was among the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists announced March 20.
    • McLinskey helped lead the Crusaders to a second-straight appearance in the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals this season as he captured Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year honors. 
    • McLinskey is the 14th Atlantic Hockey player to be named a Hobey Baker Top-10 finalist and the first since Mercyhurst’s Joseph Duszak in 2018-19.
 
Beyond the AHA
  • Johnstone Makes NHL Debut: Sacred Heart alum Marc Johnstone made his National Hockey League debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 8 as the Pens took on the Florida Panthers.
    • Johnstone became the third active Atlantic Hockey alum in the NHL, joining fellow Sacred Heart Pioneer Justin Danforth(Columbus) and former RIT defenseman Chris Tanev (Dallas).
    • He is the sixth AHA NHL'er since the conference's founding, joining Danforth, Tanev, and former NHL players Cory Conacher(Canisius), Steve Pinizzotto (RIT) and Jamie Hunt (Mercyhurst). 
    • Conacher, who has played for Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Buffalo and the New York Islanders is currently skating in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. Pinizzotto played parts of three seasons with Vancouver and Edmonton from 2012-15. Hunt played for Washington during the 2006-07 season.
  • Magera Named Rookie of the Year: Former Sacred Heart star Austin Magera turned in an exceptional rookie campaign as he began his pro career by earning the John A. Daley Trophy as the ECHL's Rookie of the Year.
    • Playing with the South Carolina Stingrays, Magera, who was also named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and the All-ECHL Second Team this season, finished second among ECHL rookies - and ninth overall in the league - with 74 points, was third among first-year players with 45 assists and was tied for third with 29 goals. His 14 power-play assists ranked fifth among rookies and he was tied for fifth with 21 power-play points.
 
Milestones and Records
  • Veltri Among Atlantic Hockey Career Saves, Minutes and Games Leaders: Robert Morris goaltender Chad Veltri ended his career at or near the top of multiple Atlantic Hockey career goaltending lists at the conclusion of Robert Morris' 2023-24 campaign.
    • The Fox Chapel, Pa., native is the AHA career leader in goaltender games played (130), AHA games played (94) and minutes played in AHA games (5437:50). He ranks No. 2 in saves (3,611), saves in AHA games (2,556) and minutes played in all games (7507:32). He is also No. 7 in goaltender wins (49) and tied for 10th in goaltender AHA wins (35).
  • Gotkin Wins 600th Career Game at Mercyhurst: Mercyhurst head coach Rick Gotkin became the 16th coach in NCAA men's ice hockey history to win 600 games when the Lakers downed No. 20/RV RIT on Nov. 11. 
    • Gotkin's record now stands at 607-525-107 (.533) in 36 seasons with the Lakers. The 607 wins rank No. 3 among active NCAA men's head coaches. He is one of just six coaches to reach 600 wins while coaching at one school in NCAA men's ice hockey history. 
  • Cassaro Sets Single-Season Defenseman Goals Record: RIT's Gianfranco Cassaro broke the Atlantic Hockey season record for goals by a defenseman with an NCAA defensemen-leading 18 this season.
    • The Nobleton, Ont., native surpassed the previous record of 16 goals set by Mercyhurst blueliner Joseph Duszak during the 2018-19 season.
    • Cassaro's 38 points tied for seventh on the Atlantic Hockey single-season defenseman points list with former Bentley blueliner Steve Weinstein (2013-14).
  • Tuck, Wilkie, Gonsalves Reach 100 Career Points: Sacred Heart's Braeden Tuck and RIT's Carter Wilkie and Elijah Gonsalves became the 96th, 97th and 98th players, respectively, in Atlantic Hockey history to reach 100 career points this season. 
    • Tuck, who hit the mark on Oct. 31, finished his Pioneer career with 108 points to tie for 63rd on the AHA career scoring list. 
    • Wilkie surpassed 100 points on Feb. 10 and now has 111 points on 43 goals and 68 assists for the Tigers to rank No. 55 in AHA history. 
    • Gonsalves has 108 points on 47 goals and 61 assists to tie with Tuck on the AHA career list
  • Sansbury, Townend Reach 200 Career Blocked Shots: Sacred Heart junior Hunter Sansbury (223) and Robert Morris blueliner Cade Townend (208), became the 12th and 13th players in Atlantic Hockey history to reach 200 blocked shots the weekend of Feb. 2-3. The duo rank No. 8 and No. 10, respectively, on the AHA career blocks list, which dates to the 2012-13 season. 
  • Scarfone, Abric Reach 2,000 Saves: RIT's Tommy Scarfone and Army West Point's Gavin Abric joined the 2,000-save club during the 2023-24 season. 
    • Scarfone's 46-save performance against St. Lawrence on Jan. 6 pushed the Montreal, Que., native past 2,000 career saves to become the 37th netminder in Atlantic Hockey history reach the milestone. He ranks No. 19 on the AHA career saves list with 2,494 stops.
    • Abric ended his West Point career with 2,022 saves, reaching the 2k mark on Feb. 24 against AIC. His total ranks No. 36 in AHA history. 
    • Scarfone and Abric are the third netminders in RIT and Army's Atlantic Hockey eras to reach 2,000 saves.
 
About the Atlantic Hockey Association 
The Atlantic Hockey Association marked its 21st season of competition in 2023-24. The 11-team NCAA Division I conference consists of, American International College (Yellow Jackets), Bentley University (Falcons), Canisius College (Golden Griffins), The College of the Holy Cross (Crusaders), Mercyhurst University (Lakers), Niagara University (Purple Eagles), Rochester Institute of Technology (Tigers), Robert Morris University (Colonials), Sacred Heart University (Pioneers), the United States Air Force Academy (Falcons) and the United States Military Academy (Black Knights). For more information, visit atlantichockeyonline.com.