Five Falcons Honored With MASCAC Post-Season Honors

Fuller named 2009-10 MASCAC Coach of the Year

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 4, 2010) - Five members of the Fitchburg State ice hockey team were honored by the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) as post-season honors were announced by Conference Commissioner Angela Bauman, Wednesday afternoon.

DEAN FULLER

Head Coach Dean Fuller, currently in his 25th season behind the Falcon bench, headlined the list of Fitchburg State honorees as he was named the 2009-10 MASCAC Coach of the Year by his peers. Fuller registered one of his most successful regular season this year, leading Fitchburg State to its first conference regular season title since the 1998-99 season. The Falcons boasted an 18-5-1 record overall while topping the charts with a 14-4-0 mark and 28 points in the conference.

Senior captains Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves), Chris Brecken (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) and junior Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) led all Fitchburg State players, earning MASCAC All-Conference first team honors while senior Pat Dolan (St. Louis, MO/St. Louis Jr. Blues) was named to the All-Conference second team.

Hutton earns his first All-Conference honor after pacing the high-powered Fitchburg State offense with 33 points on 11 goals and 22 assists. Throughout his four-year career, Hutton has been a true shooter for the Falcons, totaling 96 career points (41g, 55a) over 97 games played. He enters the Fitchburg State post-season ranking fourth in the MASCAC with 1.50 points per game and third overall in 1.00 assists per contest.

ROBERT VORSE

Brecken also collects his first All-Conference nomination after spearheading Fitchburg State's defensive line. This season, the Falcons have limited opponents to a league low 81 goals, while holding the conference's best penalty kill. Brecken, a four-year member of the Falcons, reached the century mark for games played this season, totaling ten assist for ten points from the backline.

Joining Brecken from the defensive side is two-time, All-Conference recipient Robert Vorse. Vorse, the 2008-09 ECAC Northeast Goaltender of the Year, earns his second consecutive All-Conference first team nod after leading the Falcons in net with ten victories, a 3.25 GAA, .889 save percentage and one shutout. Between the pipes, Vorse has been as consistent as they come, totaling 913 save and a minimal 2.75 GAA over 33 games played. He currently ranks among league leaders in victories (1st), GAA (5th), and save percentage (7th).

Rounding out the Falcons award winners was defensemen Pat Dolan who picked up his first-career All-Conference honor with a second team nomination. This season, Dolan witnessed one of his most prolific years, ranking second among MASCAC defensemen in scoring with 15 points on three goals and 12 assists. He has been a four-year letterwinner for the Falcons, appearing in 82 contests with 35 career points (8g, 27a).    

The Fitchburg State ice hockey team will be in action tonight as it hosts the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth in a MASCAC Semifinal match up beginning at 7 p.m.

2010 MASCAC Men's Ice Hockey Championships

THURSDAY, MARCH 4TH - SEMI-FINALS

GAME #3: #5 UMass Dartmouth (11-14-1) at #1 Fitchburg State (18-5-1) 7 p.m.
GAME #4: #3 Plymouth State (17-8-1) at #2 Salem State (13-8-4), 7 p.m. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 6TH - CHAMPIONSHIP (AT HIGHEST REMAINING SEED)

GAME #5: Winner GAME 3 vs. Winner GAME 4, TBA