American Int'l Announces Six Additions for 2009-10 Campaign

American International Announces Six Additions for 2009-10 Campaign

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International College head men’s ice hockey coach Gary Wright announced that six new players will join the Yellow Jackets for the upcoming 2009-10 season – defensemen Jeff Ceccacci (Placentia, Calif.), Jason Cohen (Anchorage, Alaska) and Chris Markiewicz (Calgary, Alb.), forwards Nick Grasso (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, Man.) and goaltender Ben Meisner (Halifax, N.S.).

"We like the overall profile of this group, both athletically and with respect to their character.” Wright said. “More importantly, they fill some needs that will augment our program and their impressive skill base should provide us with instant help."

Ceccacci spent last season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he scored three goals with 11 assists for 14 points in 50 games played. He served as an alternate captain and led the Gamblers to the USHL regular season title.

Cohen spent the last two seasons with the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) where he scored eight goals with 31 assists for 39 points in 81 career games played. He tied for second on the team in scoring with seven goals and a team-best 24 assists for 31 points in 49 games played last season and added four assists in four playoff games. Cohen served as an alternate captain and was selected to play in the NAHL’s Top Prospects Tournament.

Grasso played at forward and on defense for the New Jersey Hitmen and New York Apple Core of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) last season where he scored four goals with 29 assists for 33 points in 50 regular season games. He added two assists in seven playoff games while leading the Hitmen to the 2009 Dineen Cup title and an appearance in the AAA national championship game. Grasso was also named to the 2009 EJHL All-Star team.

Markiewicz spent the last two seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He finished second on the team in scoring in 2008-09 with seven goals and a team-best 45 assists for 52 points in 56 games played, ranking him second among the league’s defensemen. Markiewicz was a 2009 all-league selection and played in the 2009 league all-star game. He was named the Bandits’ Defenseman of the Year and served as an alternate captain.

Meisner spent the 2008-09 season at The Winchendon School (Mass.), where he led the team to a 23-11 record and a top-10 league ranking. Meisner posted a 3.25 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 887 minutes between the pipes last season.

Pleskach skated for the Selkirk Steelers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) each of the last three seasons, tallying 133 goals and 149 assists for 282 points in 187 games played. He led the team in scoring in 2007-08 (52-56-108) and 2008-09 (57-55-112) and his 112 points last season ranked him second in the MJHL. Pleskach led the league in scoring during the 2008-09 playoffs with 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points in 17 games and led the Steelers to a league title and a national tournament appearance in 2006-07. He served as an alternate captain and was named team MVP last season in addition to being named MVP of the MJHL All-Star Game.

AIC will open the 2009-10 season October 23 with a non-conference contest at Union College.