skip navigation

EHL Alumni Update

By Neil Ravin - Director of Communications, 11/21/18, 9:00AM EST

Share

6 Alums Take Home Weekly Honors

BOSTON, MA -- Another week has gone by in the 2018-19 hockey season, and the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) continues to see its alums turning heads at the next level. This past week in particular, a total of 6 EHL alums claimed weekly honors in their respective conferences.

Paul Boutoussov spent a pair of seasons with the Valley Jr. Warriors, and now is in his sophomore season at Salve Regina University. This past week, the '96 was named the Player of the Week in the the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), after scoring 4 goals and dishing out an assist in a weekend sweep of Endicott College. After tallying 72 career points during his time in the EHL, Boutoussov has carried his scoring touch over to college, with over 30 points notched to his name to date.

Sticking with the Seahawks of Salve Regina, Blake Wojtala was named the Goaltender of the Week in the CCC. The alum of the New York Applecore played in huge role in his team reaching last year's Division III National Championship game, and he's off to another great start in his senior season. Wojtala was between the pipes for each win over Endicott this past weekend, making a combined 92 saves in the 2 games. Through 6 contests this season, the '94 owns a mark of 4-1-1 to go along with a 2.79 GAA.

Speaking of top netminders, Evan Morelli already has 2 awards so far this season, as he was once again was named the Goaltender of the Week in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). The former backstop for the Boston Jr. Rangers, turned aside a combined 54 shots, all while improving his record up to 5-0-1 for the season. Plymouth State University shutout Castleton University on Tuesday and then knocked off Salem State University on Thursday.

Also in the MASCAC, we saw an alum of both the EHL and the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) take home a weekly honor. Will Ahearn played for the Walpole Express at the EHL level last season, and in the EHLP during the season prior to that (2016-17). Now the '97 is a freshman at Worcester State University, and he was just named the Rookie of the Week in the MASCAC. Ahearn scored a pair of goals in perfect week for the Lancers, as WSU beat Saint Anselm College and Westfield State University.

The last pair of alumni who earned weekly honors are both from the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, and each player is now competing in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC). Mac Vail and Luke Benitez played big roles on the EHL team that won it all back in the 2016-17 season. As for this year, the former Jr. Flyers are no longer teammates, but they are each still turning heads.

Vail is in his sophomore season at Manhattanville College, and this past week he was between the pipes when the Valiants beat Steven University by the score of 3-2 on Friday, and shutout Chatham University 5-0 on Saturday. The performances from the '96 earned himself Goaltender of the Week honors in the UCHC.

As for Benitez, the '97 forward was named the Rookie of the Week in the UCHC after he scored a trio of goals for Stevenson, and that includes 1 on his former teammate.

With just a pair of EHL teams in action today, our next set of TSR Hockey Stars of the Week will be released on Tuesday, December 4th. Prior to that however, we will announce our November Stars of the Month on Monday, December 3rd. Remember to catch the #Eshow all season long on HockeyTV.


Paul Boutoussov (Valley Jr. Warriors 2015-17)


Evan Morelli (2014-15 Boston Jr. Rangers)


Will Ahearn (Walpole Express 2015-17)


Blake Wojtala (New York Applecore 2013-15)


Mac Vail (Connect RoughRiders/Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 2015-2017)


Luke Benitez (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 2016-17)