NEWS

Former Stouffville Spirit star forward Drake Caggiula (photo credit - Peter Bottini/UND Athletics), now with the University of North Dakota, was named 2nd Team All-NCHC for his performance throughout the 2014-15 season.

The Pickering, Ontario native joined the Spirit as a 16-year old rookie in 2010-11 and finished fifth on the club in scoring after recording 45 points in 48 games played, but would face some adversity during the playoffs with a lengthy injury that would see him only play eight games during the club's semi-final run.  Caggiula's efforts, that included 10 power play goals, the 12th best total in the entire league, earned him a spot as a North-West Conference 1st Team All-Prospect.

After a brief stint in the USHL to start the 2011-12 season, Caggiula returned to earn a spot on Team Canada East, helping the team capture a second consecutive silver medal at the 2011 World Junior 'A' Challenge held in Langley, B.C.  He was also a member of the OJHL North Division All-Star Team that finished as runner-up at the inaugural Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was  held in Smiths Falls, Ontario.  Caggiula finished the season with 10 goals and 34 points in 25 regular season games to be named 1st Team All-Prospect for the second consecutive year, as well as to the OHA All-Prospect Team. 

It was in the playoffs, however, where Caggiula truly shined.  Missing OJHL MVP Christian Finch, and playing injured himself, Caggiula led the Spirit to their first-ever OJHL title on the strength of 17 goals and 37 points in only 23 post-season contests.  For this resilient efforts, Caggiula was named the OJHL Playoff MVP.

Below is the official press release from the UND Athletics website (www.undsports.com):

University of North Dakota senior forward Mark MacMillan and junior goaltender Zane McIntyre were named to the All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) First Team, highlighting UND’s all-conference honorees that were announced today by the NCHC.

Additionally, forward Drake Caggiula (Jr., Whitby, Ontario) and defenseman Jordan Schmaltz (Jr., Verona, Wis.) were named to the All-NCHC Second Team, while freshman forward Nick Schmaltz (Fr., Verona, Wis.) earned NCHC All-Rookie Team honors.

MacMillan tied for the conference goal-scoring lead with 13 despite missing the final two games of the regular season due to injury. The Penticton, British Columbia, native also led the NCHC in goals per game (0.59) during conference play and had 20 points in 22 games.

McIntyre, a native of Thief River Falls, Minn., started all 24 of UND’s conference games and went 16-6-2 with a 2.15 goals against average and .931 save percentage. He led the league in wins and winning percentage (.708) while ranking second in save percentage and third in goals against average.

Caggiula, like teammate MacMillan, tied for the conference goal-scoring lead with 13 en route to collecting a team-leading 22 points during NCHC games. A team-high four of his goals came on the power-play and he tied for the team lead with three game-winners. Caggiula was named NCHC Player of the Month in November.

Jordan Schmaltz was UND’s lone repeat honoree after collecting 13 points during conference play, including a pair of power-play goals. He was also a second-team all-conference selection as a sophomore in 2013-14.

Nick Schmaltz earned all-rookie team honors after scoring four goals and 11 assists in 20 conference games, placing him third in the NCHC rookie scoring race. Schmaltz was named NCHC Rookie of the Month in October.

All-Conference First Team
F: Trevor Moore, Denver
F: Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
F: Mark MacMillan, North Dakota
D: Joey LaLeggia, Denver
D: Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College
G: Zane McIntyre, North Dakota

All-Conference Second Team
F: Danton Heinen, Denver
F: Austin Czarnik, Miami
F: Drake Caggiula, North Dakota
D: Andy Welinski, Minnesota Duluth
D: Jordan Schmaltz, North Dakota
G: Ryan Massa, Omaha

All-Rookie Team
F: Danton Heinen, Denver
F: Patrick Russell, St. Cloud State
F: Nick Schmaltz, North Dakota
D: Louie Belpedio, Miami
D: Luc Snuggerud, Omaha
G: Kasimir Kaskisuo, Minnesota Duluth