SACRED HEART MEN'S ICE HOCKEY ANNOUNCE CAPTAINS FOR 2002-03 SEASON
10/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 8, 2002
FAIRFIELD, CT (October 7, 2002) - The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team has announced that senior Richard Naumann (Boerne, TX) will captain this season's squad, assisted by seniors Martin Paquet (St. Catherine, QUE) and Les Hrapchak (Wakaw, SK). All three have been members of the team since their freshman year.
Naumann is coming off a 19-point effort last season and is prepared to lead the Pioneers. "This team has a winning attitude," said Naumann. "The freshmen are buying into that attitude. We are definite champions and if we do not win, it would be disappointing."
Paquet, voted Preseason MAAC Co-Player-of-the-Year and to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team, led the team in scoring in 2001-02 for the third straight year, netting 16 goals and 19 assists. Hrapchak, who was voted to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team for the second straight season, led all Pioneer defensemen with five goals and 18 assists.
The Pioneers are coming off a stellar 2001-02 campaign, where they finished 16-14-4 overall and 15-8-3 in the MAAC. Sacred Heart advanced to the MAAC semifinals for the first time last season in thrilling fashion, dropping Canisus 3-2 in overtime. The Pioneers lost to eventual champion, Quinnipiac, 3-2.
Sacred Heart opens the regular season with a pair of games at Bemidji State University on Friday, October 18th and Saturday, October 19th. The Pioneers open the home portion of their schedule, Friday, November 8th, when they play host to conference foe Army at the Milford Ice Pavilion. SHU will host two in-state conference match-ups at the Harbor Yard Arena, November 15th against UConn and March 7th against Fairfield.
