REXFORD, N.Y. – Seven members of the Union College men’s hockey program were honored at the team’s season-ending awards banquet, held Thursday at the Edison Club.
Senior forward Daniel Ciampini received the Most Valuable Player Award. Ciampini earned AHCA/CCM East All-America and All-ECAC Hockey First Team honors after leading the team in goals (26), shots (126), plus/minus (+21), power play goals (9) and game-winning goals (5). He shared team scoring honors with Mike Vecchione, tying a school record with 50 points.
The Coaches’ Award was presented to senior defenseman Charlie Vasaturo. Chosen team captain, Vasaturo appropriately scored the team’s first goal of the season and went on to lead the team in blocks (62) for the second straight year. He also appeared in 81 straight games – the longest active streak on the team.
Junior forward Matt Wilkins took home the Most Improved Player Award. Wilkins finished third in team goals (13) and fourth in scoring (28 points) and led the Dutchmen in playoff scoring (4-4-8). Wilkins scored twice in Union’s 3-2 come-from-behind win over Notre Dame on Nov. 28, tying the game with 1:45 left in regulation and scoring the game-winner with 22 seconds remaining in overtime. He also distributed four assists in the Mayor’s Cup win over Rensselaer.
Freshman forward Spencer Foo accepted the Rookie of the Year Award. The team’s leading rookie scorer, Foo finished fourth in team goals (11) and sixth in points (25). He was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team and to the ECACH Media Association All-Rookie squad. Foo ranked 23rd in NCAA rookie scoring.
The Scott Richardson Unsung Hero Award went to senior Sam Coatta. Chosen as an alternate captain, Coatta worked tiredlessly on the penalty kill unit as one of the team’s top defensive forwards. Coatta started the season with three goals in four games and overcame a wrist injury late in the season to help lead the Dutchmen to a first round playoff series win over Cornell.
Junior defenseman Sebastien Gingras received the Charles N. Morris Award, presented annually to a player who participates in extracurricular activities while demonstrating academic interest and achievement. Gingras, who carries a 3.89 overall grade-point average as a Neuroscience major, served as a student advocate of the “It’s On Us” public-service campaign and worked as a resident hall advisor on campus.
Theo Di Pauli von Treuheim was honored with the Thomas Van Arden Dukehart Award, presented to the player with the highest grade-point average. It’s the third-straight year Di Pauli von Treuheim has been presented the award. A bioengineering major with a 3.96 overall grade-point average, Di Pauli von Treuheim was recently named a 2015 Barry Goldwater Scholarship award winner.
Union finished the 2014-15 campaign with a 19-18-2 record, placing tenth in ECAC Hockey with an 8-13-1 mark. The Dutchmen defeated Cornell in a first round playoff series before falling to Quinnipiac in the ECACH Quarterfinals.
