Crusader

Issue date: 4/30/04 Section: Sports

Joe Montovani, a sophomore forward for the Holy Cross Men's Club ice hockey team, was named last week to the 2004 American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II All-Northeast Second Team. The award is the first awarded to a Holy Cross Club hockey player since its inaugural season in 2000. The honor for Montovani makes him one of the Northeast Region's top six forwards for the 2003-2004 season in the ACHA. Rounding out the second-team are forwards Geoff Dumas of West Connecticut University and Cale Spaulding of the University of Pennsylvania, defensemen Matt Stone of Westfield and Jesse Muro of Stony Brook, and goalie Dan Koletsky of Penn State. The Northeast first-team included forwards Matt Weindel (NYU), Lou Weber (Wagner), and Ryan Tocicki (Penn State), defensemen Bill Acker (Stony Brook) and Brian Casey (Siena), and goaltender Brian Kenney (NYU).

The 6'0", 195 lb. Montovani led the Crusaders in scoring this season with 41 points, earning the team's Art Ross Trophy as the club's top point scorer. In 22 games this season, Montovani tallied 18 goals. His 23 assists and nine power play goals were both tops on the team. Montovani played his high school hockey at St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, MO, where he was an All-State selection his senior year. He also played for the Affton American Midget Major team and was selected to represent Team Missouri at the Chicago Showcase Festival.

The selection of Montovani for the Division II Northeast Second-Team is a testament to the determination and effort of the ever-growing HC Club Ice Hockey Team. On April 17, the club received word that it had gained full acceptance into the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association, after playing as an associate member in the conference this past season. Holy Cross will play in the eastern conference of the NECHA along with Bates, Bryant, Bridgewater State, Endicott, MIT, and the University of New Hampshire. Acceptance as a full-time member into the NECHA has been a goal of the club since its inception and the team has fared well against NECHA teams, posting a record of 3-4-1 last season.

When asked what this award means to him, Montovani explained, "it's a national award, so it's as much, if not more, of a recognition to our program than to me, because it's a sign we're being nationally recognized." The schedule only gets tougher for the Crusaders in the NECHA next season, but Montovani feels that the club is ready for the challenge. "We played very well this season against teams we will be facing on a regular basis next season, so i think the difficult schedule will help push our program to a higher level."

The Holy Cross Club Hockey team graduates just three seniors: Pat Lannon, Kurt Gustafson, and Larry Brutti. Therefore, the Crusaders should be in a prime position for success in the NECHA. As Montovani commented, "we only graduated three seniors, so hopefully the best is yet to come for the Club Hockey program."

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