New Jersey's Stolarz Wins NHL Debut

Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha) made 29 saves for the win in his NHL debut on Sunday, as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the visiting Calgary Flames, 5-3.

The 6-foot-6 Stolarz, who according to NHL.com is the first New Jersey native to play in goal in an NHL contest, spent one semester at Omaha in 2012. He went 2-5-0 with one shutout in eight NCAA appearances with the Mavericks before transitioning to London (OHL), according to hockeydb.com. After recording 38 wins in 55 games over two campaigns with the Knights, Stolarz turned pro in 2014-15 with Lehigh Valley (AHL), and finished 21-18-7 in 47 games last season with a 2.60 goals-against average and .916 save percentage for the Phantoms.

A native of Edison, N.J., Stolarz was drafted by the Flyers in the second round (45th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his pre-draft year with Corpus Christi (NAHL) before enrolling at Omaha, and later served as a back-up for 26 NHL contests with Philadelphia before getting the start on Sunday.

Hockey Thanksgiving 2016

Happy (U.S.) Thanksgiving, hockey world

Cammalleri Powers Devils over Canes

Several New Jersey Devils with NCAA ties figured prominently on the scoresheet in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the host Carolina Hurricanes.

Mike Cammalleri (Michigan) opened the scoring with his first three goals of the year, a natural hat trick spanning the second and third periods, following a scoreless opening 20 minutes. It was Cammalleri’s sixth career hat NHL trick, and first in a New Jersey uniform since joining the club in 2014. Goaltender Keith Kinkaid (Union) made 33 saves in earning not only his first victory of the season, but the Devils’ first road triumph of the 2016-17 campaign, in their sixth try after going 0-3-2.

Beau Bennett (Denver) had two assists for the Devils on Sunday, while team captain Andy Greene (Miami) closed out the scoring with a shorthanded empty-net goal in the final minute of regulation, his first goal this fall. Noah Hanifin (Boston College) assisted on Carolina’s lone score.

New Jersey is now 5-3-3 overall, while Carolina is 3-5-3. The two teams meet again tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark to conclude their home-and-home series.

BC to Retire Mottau's Jersey

Former Boston College defenseman Mike Mottau will become the 13th hockey Eagle ever to have his number retired, according to bceagles.com. 

Mottau, who won the 2000 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men's hockey, will be honored on Nov. 27 at the Eagles' home game at Conte Forum against Minnesota. Although his jersey is being retired, Mottau's No. 3 will still remain in circulation on the Eagle roster.

A native of Avon, Mass. and a Thayer Academy product, Mottau posted 27 goals and 130 assists for 157 points to go with 228 penalty minutes in 163 career appearances in Maroon and Gold. He became the second Eagle ever following David Emma (1991) to earn the Hobey Baker Award, after putting up 6-37—43 points in 42 outings during his senior season. Johnny Gaudreau followed as BC's third Hobey Baker winner, in 2014.

A two-time All-America selection, Mottau still leads BC in career assists, and also helped the Eagles to three NCAA Frozen Fours (1998, 1999, 2000) and two national runner-up finishes. They also won two Hockey East Tournament titles (1998, 1999) during his tenure in Chestnut Hill.

Drafted by the New York Rangers (182nd overall) in 1997, Mottau went on to play in 321 NHL regular-season games with the Rangers, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers. He notched 7-51—58 points and 164 PIM overall, and also picked up four points in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff contests with the Devils, before retiring in 2014, according to hockeydb.com. He also played in nearly 400 regular-season games in the American Hockey League.

No. 3 is currently worn at the Heights by freshman defenseman Luke McInnis, son of BC assistant coach and former forward Marty McInnis. It was worn the past three seasons by defenseman Ian McCoshen, who left school after his junior campaign last year to sign an NHL contract with Florida after helping the Eagles to the 2014 and 2016 NCAA semifinals.

Vecchione Tops NCAA Division I Scorers

Two skaters from Hockey East, one from the ECAC, and one from the NCHC topped the scroll of leading scorers in NCAA Division I Men's Hockey through Halloween, according to USCHO.com.

Headlining the list was Union College senior forward Mike Vecchione, who has tallied 10 goals and six assists for 16 points in eight games. His 10 goals put him ahead of Notre Dame junior forward and NHL draftee Anders Bjork, who has collected 7-9—16 points in eight outings and is property of the Boston Bruins.

In third place is North Dakota sophomore forward Brock Boeser, a Vancouver Canucks draft choice and 2016 NCAA champion, with 6-6—12 points in seven appearances. Coming in fourth overall is Joe Gambardella, a senior forward at Massachusetts-Lowell who has put up 5-7—12 points in eight starts. 

Eight players are tied with 11 points apiece, paced goal-wise by Gambardella's junior UML teammate, C.J. Smith, who has notched 5-6—11 points in eight contests.