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Pimental Commits to Stonehill

By EHL/EHLP, 03/19/22, 3:00PM EDT

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Railers All-Star Forward and Captain Set to Join Skyhawks this Fall

WORCESTER, MA -- Matt Pimental, a forward for the Railers Jr Hockey Club, has committed to Stonehill College for the fall of 2022.

The '01 native of East Providence, RI is in his 2nd season with the Railers, and he's served as the team's captain both years. Overall, Pimental has played in 89 total Eastern Hockey League (EHL) games to date, and he has tallied 77 points along the way.

“Matt Pimental has been a two-year captain for our program,” said Railers head coach Sean Bertoni. “Matt exemplifies what it means to be a leader both on and off the ice. Matt’s game has progressed in all areas since joining the Railers. Matt is a complete 200-foot center-man that takes pride in playing at a high level in all three zones. He is a college coach’s dream. We are extremely proud of Matt Pimental.”

Pimental is one of four EHL players heading off to Stonehill this fall, as alongside his current teammate Mike Martignetti, he will join up with Cameron Collins of the East Coast Wizards and Ryan Davies of the Valley Jr Warriors. Pimental is beyond grateful to have found the perfect next step in his career.

"I was down to two schools, the other being in the Midwest," said Pimental. "Stonehill being close to my home definitely played a part in my decision. It will be a lot easier for my family and friends to see me play in college.”

The EHL All-Star went on to talk about the Railers program, and how the entire staff has helped prepare him for the next level.

"It starts with Coach [Mike] Addesa," added Pimental. "He has done a lot for me. He has been a great advocate for me in the college process, and Coach Bertoni as well; I think he is the hardest worker in the organization. He is always keeping guys up-to-date with what is going on with college coaches. The organization is very fortunate to have them both. The Railers have provided me two years to develop more. Having served as captain for two years I have been able to develop my leadership role and become a strong leader, a better leader.”

Speaking of Addesa, the General Manager of the Railers took come time to congratulate Pimental as well.

"We fast became aware of the leadership potential that Matt exhibits in a very humble way in everything that he does and very quickly chose him to be our captain," said Addesa. "I have coached many outstanding leaders over a lengthy career. Matt Pimental ranks in the area of character and leadership with the very best that have ever been a part of any team I have coached or managed. He is very intelligent and a very good student. He has impeccable character. He has obvious athleticism and probably what separates him from the pack is that he has that unusual gift of caring much more about the people he believes he is destined to serve than the caring he has for himself. Everybody in Matt’s life means so much more to him and he is willing to sacrifice himself in every way to give the best he has within him to each of those people. In his first year, he had been offered a number of options to move on to the collegiate level and, without any pressure from our staff, chose to remain a part of our program for a second year for further development. The number of schools that pursued him over a two-year period totaled 21 and he is deserving of all the interest he has been shown by that tremendous number of schools. He is a young man that has grown up in a very caring family. We are thrilled for his family and for Matt himself that he has had the opportunity to choose from a list of so many outstanding schools. He is as deserving of all of the attention and opportunities presented to him by all of those outstanding institutions. We are deeply indebted for the great service he has provided to all of us in his two years as a Railer.”

Learn more about the Railers on the team's official website, and check out the full 2021-22 NCAA commitment list.

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