VECCHIONE ADDED AS ASSISTANT CAPTAIN

Press Release

KEARNEY, Neb. – Storm head coach and general manager Josh Hauge has added forward Michael Vecchione as an assistant captain for the 2012-13 season.
 

Vecchione, a native of Saugus, Mass. has played in 61 games with the Storm over two seasons, scoring 12 goals and assisting on 23 others. So far this year, he has scored two goals and added four assists.

“He’s a tremendous player,” Hauge said. “He’s a guy that will go through the wall for us and is someone we felt really deserves to wear a letter for us.”

The second year forward has committed to play for Union College, a member of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) that reached the Frozen Four this past spring.

“It’s an honor to have them see me as a leader on the team,” Vecchione said. “It’s a little more responsibility than just being a veteran on the team. You’ve got to be a lot more vocal and set good examples. It will challenge me to be more consistent as a player.”

Vecchione said he is very close with the other leaders on the team, including captain Brian Ward and assistant captains Tim Bonner and Heikki Liedes.

Although the decision was already being discussed, Hauge said the process was expedited when Liedes went down with an injury on Oct. 20 in a win over Omaha.

“We talked about having a coach’s choice, a guy that we felt could lead by example,” Hauge said. “He’s very likeable and all the guys enjoy being around him. He’s a guy who’s not afraid to let people know when they need to change something.”

When Liedes returns next month, Hauge believes the four leaders will work well together.

“I think it’s really important for us to have another player that guys can look to,” Hauge said. “It really helps us to have four guys that are core leadership guys.”

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)