July 20, 2010

Jared DeMichiel Signs with Hershey Bears (AHL)

Courtesy of RIT Sports Information

ROCHESTER, NY - Former RIT men's hockey goaltender Jared DeMichiel (Avon, CT) signed a professional contract for the 2010-11 season with the two-time defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League on Monday. The Bears are the farm club of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey Leagues. He will report to the Capitals training camp in September.

"Jared has worked very hard to get this opportunity," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. "After an outstanding season, I think he is more than ready for the next challenge of some day playing in the NHL. Jared is prepared to work his way through the Washington Capital farm system."

DeMichiel, who graduated with his bachelor's degree in business, led the Tigers to their first NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2010 and led all of Division I with 27 wins in 2009-10. He was named the NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player after stopping 62-of-65 shots in wins over national powers Denver and New Hampshire. DeMichiel equaled his career-high with 39 saves in a 2-1 win over then No. 2 Denver in the East Regional Semifinal.

DeMichiel, who was named the 2010 Atlantic Hockey Association Regular Season Goaltender of the Year and earned AHA first team honors, was a main reason why RIT advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time at the Division I level. He helped lead RIT to a school record 28 wins, the AHA regular season and postseason championships, along with the NCAA East Regional title. DeMichiel also won the 2010 Lou Spiotti Coaches Award, and was a six-time AHA Goaltender of the Week. He was also the AHA Goaltender of the Month in February.

In 2009-10, DeMichiel finished 27-10-1 and was fourth nationally with a .724 winning percentage, seventh with a 2.09 goals against average, and 10th in save percentage (.921). He posted six solo shutouts and was part of two shared shutouts. The eight total shutouts are the most in one season in the history of the RIT men's hockey program. RIT finished the season with the fourth best goals against average in all of Division I (2.20).

DeMichiel holds RIT Division I team records with 41 wins, goals against average (2.46), and shutouts (7). In AHA play, he led the league with a 21-4-1 mark, 1.78 goals against average, .932 save percentage, and five solo shutouts. He also was part of two shared shutouts. The 21 wins are an AHA single-season record.

The Tigers finished 91-48-11 in DeMichiel's four seasons at RIT, including a 77-26-9 mark in AHA play. He was a part of three AHA regular season championship squads

There is a chance that DeMichiel could be reunited with former RIT teammate Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) in Hershey. Pinizzotto, who was teammates with DeMichiel during the 2006-07 season, helped lead Hershey to its second straight Calder Cup in 2009-10. Pinizzotto recorded 41 points (13-28-41) and was a team-best plus-40 with 124 penalty minutes in 69 regular season games for the Bears in 2009-10.