Hockey East Release
UMass Lowell's Zack Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) and Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) were named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team on Wednesday afternoon, while senior Matt Ferreira (Brampton, Ont.) received the Turfer Athletic Award. The trio will be honored at Thursday's annual championship banquet at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, MA.
Wilson, one of three unanimous All-Rookie selections, led all Hockey East freshmen in points (28), assists (16) and points per game (1.08) in league play. He also tied Boston College's Johnny Gaudreau for the most goals (12) in conference play.
The Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick was named the league's Rookie of the Week five times—more than any other player.
Kamrass earned an All-Rookie selection after appearing in 24 league games with seven assists and a plus-6 rating. The talented blue-liner assisted on game-winning goals against Maine (11/11), Northeastern (1/20) and Providence (3/2).
Kamrass recorded a plus or even rating in 18-of-24 games and took just eight penalty minutes in league play.
Joining the duo on the All-Rookie team are forwards Gaudreau (BC), Ross Mauermann (PC), Ludwig Karlsson (NU) and Kyle Reynolds (UVM), defensemen Alexx Privitera (BU) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (UNH), and goaltender Casey DeSmith (UNH).
Ferreira is the first-ever River Hawk to receive the Turfer Athletic Award and the third men's recipient in Hockey East history. The Turfer Athletic Award is given annually to an individual, coach or team who best represents the core values of Turfer Athletics; tenacity, commitment and innovation.
Ferreira was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007 and had to delay his start with UMass Lowell while undergoing life threatening surgery, rejoining the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League for an extra year.
Over the last four seasons, Ferreira has transformed into the River Hawks' top two-way player and one of the team's three captains—despite playing with three metal plates in his head. He ranks fourth on the team with 31 points (13g, 18a) and is a key member of both the power play and penalty kill units.
The previous winners of the Turfer Athletic Award are Alan Thompson of New Hampshire in 2008-09 and Jeff Dimmen of Maine in 2010-11.
