All-New England ReleaseBOSTON - Vermont men's hockey senior captain
Mike Paliotta became the first Catamount to be honored with the Bob Monahan Award as the Best Defenseman in New England on Tuesday. Paliotta also became the first Vermont player since Viktor Stalberg in 2009 to earn All-New England honors.
The New England Hockey Writers Division I All-Star teams and awards were announced after tallying votes from all Division I coaches and respective media outlets throughout New England. This year's banquet will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus, Massachusetts at 6 p.m.
Paliotta led Vermont in scoring this season with a career-high 36 points and was the first defenseman to lead UVM in scoring since Louis Cote in 1978. The team MVP also led the Catamounts with a plus-15 rating and 151 shots on goal, the most by any Hockey East defenseman to rank fourth overall.
The senior was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star, becoming just the second Catamount to earn the honor since UVM joined Hockey East in 2005. The Westport, Connecticut native was also named to the All-Hockey East First Team by the Hockey East Writers and Broadcasters Association (HEWBA).
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The captain was the first Vermont skater to be recognized as the Best Defensive Defenseman in Hockey East, leading the Catamounts to the 10th-ranked team defense and penalty killing unit in the country. He also helped UVM secure the league's Charlie Holt Sportsmanship Award with the least penalty minutes during Hockey East play.
Paliotta posted the most points (31) by any Hockey East defenseman in the regular season and finished sixth in the NCAA in defensive scoring. He closed his career by skating in 104 consecutive contests and missed just five games in his four years, tying a program-record with 41 games played this season.
The defenseman signed a two-year contract on March 26 with the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks, who selected him in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft with the 70th overall pick. He has yet to skate in a game for the Blackhawks, who host the Minnesota Wild tonight in Chicago at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
