EASTON, Mass. (July 6, 2023)- The Stonehill College men's ice hockey team announced that Max Pineo, Nolan FitzPatrick, Frank Ireland, and Carter Rapalje will be named captains for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Pineo will wear the "C" on his jersey this year and FitzPatrick, Ireland, and Rapalje will be alternate captains for the Skyhawks.

"All hockey coaches agree that the single most important trait of great hockey captains is that they lead by example on and off the ice," said men's ice hockey head coach, David Borges. "These four student-athletes were elected captains by their peers because they lead by example. They all are highly motivated, dedicated, and all have a relentless work effort. They compete and push their teammates to perform at their highest level every day I am looking forward to working with this leadership group this season as we continue to grow as a team in developing our team culture and identity."

Pineo skated in 25 games this past season and netted a career-high seven goals and dished out a career-best five assists for a total of 12 points. Of his seven goals, one of his served as the game-winner in a 3-2 victory at Saint Anselm College (Feb. 14). In 10 games last season, Pineo finished at least a +1 including the last two games of the season where he was a +1. 

FitzPatrick played in 24 games for the Purple and White last year and potted a career-high six goals and recorded a personal-best six assists. FitzPatrick had one game last year where he dished out two assists which resulted in a 5-1 win versus Rivier University (Jan. 17). The rising senior also scored one game-winning goal last season too in a 5-3 win at Franklin Pierce University (Feb. 7). 

In his 23 games last year, Ireland made an immediate impact his freshman year as he led the squad in goals (20) and handed out 15 assists for 35 points. Rapalje's 20-goal season was the first since the 2006-07 season and he scored his first collegiate goal in a 6-5 win at against Salve Regina University (Oct. 15). Rapalje also posted six multi-goal games and two of those contests resulted in hat tricks with the first coming in a 5-2 win at Post University (Nov. 19) and an 8-2 victory at Assumption (Jan. 10). With his stellar season, Rapalje was named a finalist for the Sid Watson award and was the lone freshman nominated too. 

Finally, Ireland was another freshman who made a strong impact in his first year for the Purple and White. Ireland finished with 17 goals and led the team with 27 assists for a total of 44 points which also led the squad. Ireland posted four multi-goal games and one of them included a four-goal performance in a 6-2 win against Framingham State (Feb. 18). Ireland's first career goal game in the program's Division I opener against Long Island University (Oct. 8). Ireland posted six multi-assist games and had a four-assist game during the Skyhawks' 8-2 win at Assumption (Jan. 10). 

Stonehill wrapped up their first Division I season with an impressive 17-6-2 record which was also a program record. The Skyhawks started out the season on a 12-game unbeaten streak and in that stretch, the squad had a seven-game win streak. The Purple and White will look to continue their momentum into the coming year.

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