ELMIRA, N.Y. – Five graduating members of the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team will look to break into the professional hockey ranks this upcoming season. Of the five, they have either signed professional contracts, signed amateur try-out agreements (ATO), or professional tryout agreements (PTO).
Representing Elmira are Shawn Kennedy ’24, Nicholas Domitrovic ’24, Janis Vizbelis ’24, Amedeo Mastrangeli ’24, and Elmira native Daniel Dimon ’24.
Kennedy, a native of Bainsville, Ontario, broke into the 100-point club this past season while earning a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Second Team nod. Appearing in 28 contests for the Purple & Gold this past season, Kennedy finished with a career-best 26 assists and 39 points, while most-notably adding a trio of assists in Elmira’s home NCAA Tournament game against Endicott this past March. Following the season, Kennedy signed a standard player contract with the Tulsa Oilers of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). This season, Kennedy has signed his contract with the Reading Royals of the ECHL.
Domitrovic, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, was the lone Soaring Eagle from the 2024 class to sign professionally across seas. The four-year forward will join Les Ours Villard de Lans (Bears Villard de Lans) in the French Ice Hockey Federation’s (FFHG) Division I. The Bears, who are the defending champions of Division II, were promoted to Division I for the 2024-25 season, which is the second-highest league in French professional ice hockey. This past season, Domitrovic produced his best offensive numbers in his Elmira career, notching career-bests in goals (18), assists (20), and points (38).
Vizbelis, a native of Riga, appeared in 28 games as a senior for the Soaring Eagles. During the season, he finished with career-highs in goals (18), assists (16), and points (34). Most notably, Vizbelis recorded a pair of goals in Elmira’s 5-2 victory over Endicott in the NCAA Tournament this past season. He has signed an ATO with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL. Differentiating from Kennedy’s PTO, an ATO is for a player who has yet to play in the professional ranks, with both being invited to team camp.
Mastrangeli, a native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, is the 2024 recipient of the Empire 8 Male Senior Scholar Athlete award. A two-time NEHC All-Academic and ACHA All-Academic Scholar, Mastrangeli appeared in all 29 games for the Soaring Eagles this past season. Finishing with 19 points as a defenseman (three goals, 16 assists), Mastrangeli ended his 2023-24 campaign blocking 66 shots, ten of which came in Elmira’s pair of NCAA Tournament games. He has signed an ATO contract with the Tahoe Knight Monsters out of the ECHL
Dimon, who appeared in all 29 games this past season finishing with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists), has signed a contract with the Fayetteville Marksmen of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). A two-time ACHA All-Academic Scholar and four-time UCHC/NEHC All-Academic selection, Dimon finished the season with 24 blocked shots, including a season-best three in Elmira’s NCAA Tournament win over Endicott. Former EC ice hockey player Nick Parody ’23 played in 45 games for the Marksmen last season, while also being loaned to the Rapid City Rush of ECHL during the 2023-24 season.
OTHER ELMIRA MEN’S ICE HOCKEY NEWS AROUND PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY:
The Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Thursday that former EC captain and All-American Mike Haviland ’90 was hired as an assistant coach with the team. Haviland, who was most recently the Associate Head Coach for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, previously served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2008-12, where he was a member of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion team.
??TEAM UPDATE ??
We’ve added Mike Haviland and Scott Ford as assistant coaches!
They join Steve McCarthy, Jared Boll, and goaltending coach Niklas Backstrom on Dean Evason’s Staff.
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— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 8, 2024
