Potential college free agent signee Mike Vecchione will not be looking to sign a pro deal. He has decided to stick around Union for his senior season, reports Ken Schott of the Daily Gazette.
Vecchione may have been able to make the leap even after his sophomore year, putting up two strong years to start his collegiate career. He scored 14 goals and 34 points in 38 games in his freshman season, a year where he helped the Dutchmen capture a national championship.
Last season, those numbers got a substantial bump, when he scored 19 goals and 50 points in 39 games.
This year, his numbers took a dip on a Union team that had their season ended by Cornell in a first-round sweep during the ECAC Tournament over the weekend. Vecchione scored nine goals an 29 points in 34 games.
His lowered production, however, should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s in no small part due to it just being a different team this year. Last season Vecchione was tied with Daniel Ciampini for the team lead at 50 points. This year, Vecchione’s 29 points led the team.
During the 2013-14 season, when they won the National Championship, Union had seven players over 29 points.
They averaged 2.5 goals per game this season, which is a big step down their 3.8 in 2013-14 and 31. last season.
Vecchione will join Jimmy Vesey as notable NCAA men’s hockey players who have decided to stay through their senior year despite an option to go pro. Vesey wrote about his decision recently for the Player’s Tribune.
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Dustin Nelson is the News Editor for The Hockey Writers. He’s a contributor to Hockey Prospectus, Hockey Wilderness, and writes a column for Rotowire. He’s also written for Gone Puck Wild, Wild Xtra, InDigest, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Tiny Mix Tapes, Prefix Magazine & other publications. Have a tip? Email him at dlukenelson[at]gmail[dot]com.
