Former Hobart College forward Tommaso Traversa ’15 (Torino, Italy) recently signed with the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League, an affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
Traversa is the second Statesman to play for the Aces. In 2013, defenseman Brad Richard ’13 signed with the team and went on to be named to the All-Rookie Team and help the Aces capture the Kelly Cup.
“Tommaso brings a tremendous amount of energy to the ice…a real ‘run-through-the-wall’ type of guy,” said Alaska Aces Head Coach Rob Murray in a release on AlaskaAces.com. “A dynamic player who skates well.”
Traversa was tabbed the 2014-15 ECAC West Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-ECAC West first team. He also shared Hobart’s Boswell Award as the team MVP. Traversa played in 28 games in his senior season, finishing third on the team in points with 21 (12g, 9a).
“Playing college hockey helped me to understand that you will have to gain your spot on the team on the ice and off the ice. You have to work extremely hard in practices and in the games to make sure you will be in the lineup for the next game,” said Traversa. “This is something that will definitely help me this year because it’s going to be even harder this year and I know I will have to work even harder to ensure my spot in the team.”
A three-time member of the ECAC West All-Academic team and a member of the All-ECAC West Rookie team as a first-year, Traversa played in 101 career games, registering 32 goals and 40 assists for 72 points. He was also named the ECAC West All-USCHO.com Rookie of the Year in 2011-12.
“In the last four years I also understood how important it is to build a compact group in the lockeroom,” added Traversa. “I always believed that the strength of the group is more important than the individual’s strength. That is something that Coach Taylor has tried to teach us in these last four years, and I will definitely bring that characteristic to Alaska.”
“I want to thanks all the coaches in these past four years, the athletic department, all my teammates and friends that I played with from my first year to my senior year, my family and friends, and especially my sister who helped me so much in these four years. Without all these people I wouldn’t have been here for sure.”
