By Warren Kozireski —
As of the semester break, Holy Cross senior goaltender Paul Berrafato had made 84 consecutive starts for the Crusaders and held the program record with nine career shutouts.
Like most players, he is focused strictly on the next game and the next save but he is still taking in his final trip around the Atlantic Hockey conference in his final collegiate season.
“It’s the last two games that I’ll probably ever play here,” Berrafato said after a recent road trip to RIT. “Great memories every weekend.”
His starting streak is now the longest in the country (as of Dec. 13) after the University of Minnesota’s Eric Schierhorn sat out Dec. 9 ending his consecutive start streak of 94.
He stood 11th in the nation in save percentage (.924), top-20 in goals against (2.44) and tied for fourth in shutouts (3).
“I’m just trying to go day-by-day after I get some schoolwork done during the week and playing a few games on the weekend, but as long as we keep winning that’s all that really matters.
“I don’t know what’s next. I’d love to play after and see where hockey takes me, but who knows—that’s a good question. I’m getting married (to Katie Hart) this summer right after school. Business? I have no idea.”
Son of Tony and Cheryl, Berrafato met his fiancé while playing two seasons in Amarillo, Texas for the Bulls in the NAHL after two campaigns with Muskegon (USHL). He began his junior career by winning ten games in 24 appearances with the Buffalo Junior Sabres after one season as a freshman in high school at St. Joseph’s.
“Back then the Junior Sabres midget program and the Regals weren’t really a thing yet and not where it is now, so to go play in the best triple-A hockey league was easy. You can stay in Buffalo and go anywhere now, but it wasn’t like that then.”
As for the choice to play at Holy Cross?
“It’s a great school and a great fit for me. They had a senior, Matt Ginn, and I knew coming in that I would be a freshman and have a year to learn under him work on my game and when he left hopefully take the reins and that’s what happened.”
