September 2, 2009

INCH's A to Z: Holy Cross' Jay Silvia

Click here to read Ken McMillan story on the Inside College Hockey website.

You might think we're headed back to the Middle Ages, what with profiles of a Black Knight and a Crusader in this installment of INCH's A-Z series. No, we're still talking college pucks, focusing specifically on a pair of Atlantic Hockey standouts whose contributions could spell the difference in whether their respective teams experience a renaissance in 2009-10.

JAY SILVIA
Holy Cross
So. | LW | Burlington, Mass.

Key Statistics: Silvia finished off a strong rookie season with 14 points after New Year’s Day and posted a pair of two-goal efforts in a three-game playoff series loss to Rochester Institute of Technology. He posted 11 goals and 10 assists in 38 contests, ranking fourth on the Crusaders in points, third in goals, and seventh in assists. Among Atlantic Hockey rookies, Silvia ranked ninth in points and sixth in goals. Nine of his points (including four goals) came in non-conference action. Silvia scored four times on the power play, four unassisted goals, and two game-winners. He was a minus-two for the season. Silvia played three seasons with the Belmont Hill School in the New England prep leagues, earning all-star status each year. He had 52 goals and 36 assists in his career, led by a 24-goal, 16-assist effort during as a junior.

The Bigger Picture: Silvia played the left side with center J.P. Martignetti for most of the new year, 12 games with Everett Sheen and the last six with Brodie Sheahan. There was also a February stretch when he played with three other centers as coach Paul Pearl juggled his lineups. Pearl says he isn’t sure what his line pairings will be at the outset, though he expects Silvia to see plenty of ice time. Pearl says once Silvia improves his quickness he can become a dominating player.

What He Does: Silvia earned a job as a third-line winger at the outset of last season and impressed the coaches enough to get a spot on one of the top two lines by Thanksgiving. Silvia has really good hands and protects the puck well. He doesn’t have a big slap shot, but he does have a hard snap shot and a quick release. He has good size at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds but he’s not a real banger. Silvia sees the ice well and is a good playmaker.

Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl on Silvia: “He was a kid we were really excited to be getting. We like Jay, we love his game and really think he’s a good player. We will utilize him as much as we did in the second half last year. He was one of the best players on the ice that weekend against RIT.”