The '03 native of Winchester, MA is in his second season with the Avalanche, and over the course of 71 career games in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), Santonelli has tallied 22 total points to his credit on seven goals and 15 assists.

"Santonelli is a true warrior," said Avalanche head coach and general manager Chris Cerrella. "He plays the game the right way. He plays simple and heavy, and he is a very tough defender. I am so proud of how hard he has worked. He came to us from Trinity Pawling Prep and now is going off to play NCAA. Albertus Magnus is getting a great young man and he is going to be an excellent addition to their academic and athletic community. I am very happy for Mike and his family, and wish them the best of luck in the future."

As Cerrella mentioned, Santonelli's path took him through prep school, then the EHL, and now onto NCAA hockey. Looking ahead, the Falcons have now committed two players so far this season from the EHL, as Santonelli will team up with Akezhan Melis, a forward for the Boston Jr. Rangers, when he arrives on campus next fall.

"I’ve always had the goal of succeeding not just in hockey but academically as well," said Santonelli. "I’m super excited to attend Albertus Magnus and to be able to continue my dream of playing hockey at such a competitive school. I’d like to thank Coach Cerrella for all his help getting me to this point, and I’d especially like to thank my parents for helping me grow into the person that I am today."

Santonelli and the Avalanche hit the holiday break in 1st place in the North Division, with a six-point lead over the 2nd place New England Wolves. When they return to action in January, the Avalanche will have 20 regular season games remaining, as they prepare for the postseason and what they hope will be a 7th straight appearance at the Frozen Finals.

Learn more about the Avalanche on the team's official website, and check out the full 2023-24 NCAA commitment list.