By: Jared Shafran, News Staff
The Northeastern men’s hockey team has seven new players on the roster for the 2011-2012 season, which starts Friday night. While six of them are newcomers to the Hockey East – the other is no stranger to this division at all.
Vinny Saponari, a junior, will play his first game in a Northeastern uniform Friday night when the Huskies host University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass). Saponari has plenty of experience in college hockey. In fact, he won a national championship in 2009 as a freshman with Boston University, Northeastern’s inner city rival.
But after his sophomore season, Saponari, along with his brother Victor, were dismissed from BU for violating the team’s conduct policy. At the time of the dismissal, Saponari talked to the BU Daily Free Press and admitted to breaking a drinking rule and being late for a team bike ride, but said he didn’t do anything else that broke rules.
With his career in doubt, the Powder Springs, Ga. native, who was drafted by the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets), had a decision to make. He could go up north to Canada to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), or play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and resume his college career at a new school the following year.
At first, Saponari was leaning towards the QMJHL, but he ultimately decided to sign with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, keeping the rest of his collegiate eligibility.
“My NHL team wanted me to take the college route and the USHL route because it gave me more years to develop,” Saponari said. “I realized that was probably a better option just because it gave me three years more to develop instead of one year in juniors and then having to go pro or play in Europe or something like that.”
His decision proved to be a smart one. In his season in the USHL, Saponari scored 18 goals and 46 assists while earning a +17 rating. Dubuque, helped by Saponari’s elder leadership, went all the way and won the USHL championship.
“I was fortunate enough to have a great coach and great group of young guys that I was able to provide some experience to and we had a good time all year,” Saponari said.
It was around Dec. 2010 when Saponari started looking back into school and think about where he would play. He got in touch with then Northeastern coaches Greg Cronin and Sebastien Laplante.
“I wanted to start from scratch and not let what happened at BU have any impact,” Saponari said. “I knew I loved the city of Boston and I liked Hockey East. I actually started talking to Greg Cronin and Sebastien Laplante and they were the ones that showed me the school, showed me the team that they had coming back. I think the major factor was the team that was coming back that I knew was very talented and had a lot upside.”
Now that he’s on campus, Saponari has nothing but good things to say about his new school and teammates.
“It’s a little different than what I’m used to,” Saponari said. “It’s a lot more campus-y than BU and I really like that. The guys on the team have made it real easy for me to join the team and become part of the team. So it’s been good.”
Saponari’s new head coach, Jim Madigan, could not be happier to have him in the offensive lineup to replace departing senior forwards Wade MacLeod, Tyler McNeely and Steve Silva.
“I expect an awful lot from Vinny Saponari this year,” Madigan said. “He’s not coming in as a freshman, he’s coming in as a junior, and he’s coming in with experience. I can’t foresee a situation of him not having a good year.”
Madigan also had plenty to say about Saponari’s offensive skill set, speaking volumes about his player’s ability in the offensive zone.
“He’s got very good stick skills” Madigan said. “He’s got awareness, and he reads off his teammates really well. He’ll get the opportunity to play, his practice play has earned him opportunities to be on the power play and special team situations, and he’s poised to have a good year.”
In his first exhibition game this past Sunday, Saponari logged five shots and got time in on the power play. The newcomer said he was excited to get on the ice for his new team.
“It’s just always a unique feeling when you get to put on a new jersey and play for a new team in front of a new building,” Saponari said. “I thought there was a lot of excitement and energy amongst the team and everyone was excited to be back in hockey season.”
As for his relationship with his old team, Saponari said he has Jan. 13 circled on his calendar, the day the Huskies will host the Terriers and he will play his old team for the first time.
“I definitely have looked at the dates, I know when they are and I know the possible matchups,” Saponari said. “It’ll be fun. I can’t say that I don’t look forward to it because anybody would look forward to it in my situation but when it comes around I’ll just try and keep the nerves down and just go out there and play.”
While Saponari is anxious to prove himself against his old team, his former head coach, Jack Parker, downplayed the matchup when asked about it at Hockey East media day last week.
“Nothing’s personal with Vinny or personal with any individual player we play,” Parker said. “Vinny’s a real good player and I’m sure he’ll be a good player for Northeastern.”
For now, Saponari said he is focusing on what he can do to help the Huskies get off to a good start, something they struggled with last season, going 1-7-3 in their first 11 games.
“Practice is really important this week,” Saponari said.
“It’s important to get our systems down and make sure our responsibilities defensively are tighter. We’re pretty confident that we can come together and put out a good effort on Friday.”
