Seniors Tony Capobianco (Mississagua, Ontario) and Kyle Gibbons (Westlake, Ohio) of the Canisius College hockey team were both named to the Atlantic Hockey Preseason All-Star Team on Monday as voted on by the league’s media. Canisius, which was also placed fourth in the 12-team poll, was the only school with multiple players on the six-member all-star team.
The 2013 Atlantic Hockey Champions, Canisius received two first-place votes from the Atlantic Hockey Media Association, which is compromised of print, online and radio/television media covering the league. Niagara was picked first in the poll with Air Force and Mercyhurst tying for second. Following the Griffs in the rankings are Connecticut, RIT, Holy Cross and Robert Morris (tied for seventh), Bentley, Army, AIC and Sacred Heart.
Gibbons led the Griffs with 43 points, 21 goals and 22 assists during the 2012-13 campaign. His 43 points and 21 goals are the third most in the program’s history, while also placing second with nine power-play tallies. Overall, Gibbons ranked 12th in Division I in points, eighth in goals and sixth in power-play goals last season.
Gibbons played his best hockey with the team’s season on the line, earning Atlantic Hockey Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. The third-team all-conference selection led all players in the country with 18 points during the month of March, posting six goals and 12 assists. He recorded at least one point in all seven postseason contests, including a career-best four points in the championship win over Mercyhurst.
Capobianco was named the Griffs’ MVP during the 2012-13 campaign after playing a key role in the team’s first conference championship. He set four school records in saves (1,256), save percentage (.929), goaltender wins (18) and shutouts (four) during the season. Capobianco also led all players in the country with 1,256 saves, which ranks 12th in NCAA history and the most since the 1988-89 campaign. He finished 12th nationally with his .929 save percentage to go along with a 2.40 goals against average.
During the Griffs’ run to the Atlantic Hockey Championship, Capobianco set a tournament record with 235 saves. Overall, the All-Tournament Team selection posted a 6-0-0 record during the league’s postseason championship with a 1.99 goals against average and .951 save percentage.
The Griffs are coming off their most successful season in school history. Canisius won the program’s first Atlantic Hockey Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, while also finishing the season ranked 19th in the final USCHO.com national poll, the highest placement in the program’s history.
Canisius opens the 2013-14 campaign with an exhibition game against Brock on Oct. 6 before playing at Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara onOct. 12.
