By Mike Farrell
Erie Community College officials and its 2014-15 NJCAA Hockey Championship Kats joined Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown inside downtown’s City Hall to accept the mayoral proclamation that May 5, 2015 will now be known as “Erie Community College Hockey Team Day.”
In February, ECC (25-3) won their second national championship in five years when they defeated Williston State College (North Dakota) 2-1 at the SUNY Broome Ice Center in Binghamton. The title capped a memorable season, which started with the team moving their home games downtown into Buffalo’s new HARBORCENTER facility.
Today’s ceremony inside Mayor Brown’s second-floor offices included presentation of the aforementioned proclamation, noting the date’s designation, as well as including items from the team’s season, including its six All-Americans (Tyler Ritter, Arron Wanat and William Korczynski have made the first team; Brad Jones, Jacob Macchioni and Trevor Evans made the second team); seven All-Region 3 members (Timothy Duffy, Trevor Evans, Bradley Jones, William Korczynski, Jacob Macchioni, Tyler Riter and Aaron Wana received All-Region 3 recognition as voted on by region’s coaches. Tyler Riter and Zach Morlock); and accolades for head coach Gary Rost, who was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year and NJCAA Coach of the Tournament.
The team presented Mayor Brown with his own Kats hockey jersey.
