For the month of May, we look back on David Melaragni, a 1998 birth year defenseman from Philadelphia, PA. The six-foot blue-liner spent parts of 3 seasons in the EHL, hitting the ice for 96 total games, which helped to develop him into an NCAA Division I hockey player for Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.
“The EHL gave me great experience at a young age. I was 16 when I first played in the league and it gave me a taste of what junior hockey is like," said Melaragni. "The EHL helped me get stronger as a player by going up against 20 year olds at a young age. I was also fortunate enough to have great coaches.”
During his time in the #EShow, Melaragni posted 59 regular season points from the back end.
Following his time in the EHL, Melaragni spent two seasons in the BCHL, then headed off to Canisius College, a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA), in the 2019-20 season.
“Junior hockey gets all the credit for preparing me for college. Starting with the EHL and going to the BCHL, they both showed how hard hockey is and how much work you have to put in to be a division I hockey player. Week in, week out you can’t take a day off and this all translates to college hockey.” added Melaragni.
Melaragni’s senior season this past year (2022-23) was a year to remember. Not only did he record his best statistical campaign with 25 points in 41 games, which led all Canisius defensemen, but he and his Golden Griffins teammates defeated Sacred Heart to win the AHA championship and qualify for the National Tournament.
Looking back on his time in Junior Hockey and now after an extremely successful NCAA career, Melaragni had this to say to prospective student-athletes.
“Just trust the process," concluded Melaragni. "Everything will work out in the end if you want it bad enough and put the work in. Also, enjoy your time there. It’s such a great time of your life playing in the EHL, so be sure to have fun with it. Don’t stress about the future and enjoy the present.”
The EHL takes great pride in players such as David Melaragni for helping them reach their goals and fulfilling our league motto -- With every player comes a different path and next step. Whether it's college hockey or climbing the junior ranks, the EHL and the EHLP provide all of our players with the resources to improve their game and keep climbing in their respective journeys.
Every story is different, and we're ready to help you write the next chapter in yours.
Next Stop, The #EShow