Ice Hockey

Saint Michael’s Ryan Mero Named Northeast-10

Ice Hockey Player of the Year

Saturday, March 8, 2008

For Immediate Release

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South Easton, Mass. – Saint Michael’s College junior forward Ryan Mero (Peekskill, N.Y.) was named the 2007-2008 Northeast-10 Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Year.

Mero led the Purple Knights to a share of the Northeast-10 Regular Season Title, the first in team history. The Purple Knights concluded conference play with a 4-1-0 record along with Saint Anselm College. The junior is currently tied in the Northeast-10 for points with Southern New Hampshire’s Brandon Hammermeister. Each has totaled 37 points this season. Mero ranks first in the conference in goals scored with 20 in which five were power play and three were short-handed goals. In addition, he was selected to the All Northeast-10 First-Team.

Teammate John Burns (Sandwich, Mass.), a junior defender, also picked up post-season hardware as he was selected as the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Burns has anchored a defense that has held opponents to 4.08 goals per game, which is third best in the conference. He ranks tops among the conference’s defenders in scoring with five goals, 24 assists for 29 points. A Second-Team selection a year ago, Burns was named to the All Northeast-10 First-Team.

Stonehill College freshman goaltender Mike Manna (Framingham, Mass.) was selected as the Northeast-10 Goaltender of the Year as well as Co-Freshman of the Year. Franklin Pierce University’s Sean Woodring (Rogue River, Ore.) shares the Freshman of the Year honors with Manna. In just his first year of collegiate play, Manna has established himself as one of the top goalies in the conference. He is ranked second in goal against average (2.98), save percentage (.912) and third in winning percentage (.531). Manna has recorded 509 saves this season while allowing 49 goals. He was also named to the All Northeast-10 First-Team.

Woodring had a solid rookie campaign finding the back of the net eight times this year. He currently ranks second among Northeast-10 freshman in scoring with 21 points (8 G, 13 A). Overall, Woodring is ranked in the top 20 in the conference in scoring.

Saint Michael’s Chris Davidson was named the 2007-2008 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year. In just his first year at the helm, Davidson guided the Purple Knights to a share of the NE-10 Regular Season Title and a trip to the Northeast-10 Tournament Final.

Ryan Mero, Saint Michael’s
Brandon Hammermeister, Southern N.H.
Brendan O’Brien, Stonehill
John Burns, Saint Michael’s
Bill Ninteau, Stonehill
Mike Manna, Stonehill

Second Team

Matt Curran, Stonehill
Joseph Fields, Franklin Pierce
Chris Healey, Saint Michael’s
James Trahon, Assumption
Mike Nunzianto, Saint Anselm
Peter Wilson, Franklin Pierce
Pat Gallagher, Saint Anselm

Player of the Year: Ryan Mero, Saint Michael’s

Goaltender of the Year: Mike Manna, Stonehill

Co-Freshmen of the Year: Sean Woodring, Franklin Pierce and Mike Manna, Stonehill

Defensive Player of the Year: John Burns, Saint Michael’s

Coach of the Year: Chris Davidson, Saint Michael’s