Vitale named New England's Most Improved Player, All-Star
Vitale, the team captain, led Northeastern in scoring with 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 37 games. He more than doubled his previous career best of 16 points, which he accomplished as both a freshman and sophomore. He was also named to the Hockey East All-Star second team.
Vitale helped the Huskies to a 16-18-3 overall record and a 12-13-2 Hockey East mark, the team’s best season since 2001-02. After the team started 1-4-0, Vitale sparked a turnaround with the game-winning goal and an assist in Northeastern’s 2-1 win over No. 4 New Hampshire on Nov. 3 in Durham, N.H. Vitale was named Hockey East Player of the Week for that effort. That was the first game of an 11-game unbeaten streak in which Northeastern went 9-0-2. Over that stretch, Northeastern beat New Hampshire in Durham again on Nov. 16, topped Boston College in overtime at Conte Forum on Nov. 23 and won the Badger Hockey Showdown in Madison, Wisc., Dec. 28-29.
Twice this season Vitale had a goal and three assists in one game. He first did it in NU’s 4-3 overtime win over No. 13 Boston College on Nov. 23 and again in the Huskies’ 7-3 route of Maine on Jan. 4 at Alfond Arena. He was named Hockey East Player of the Week after both feats.
The righty centered Northeastern’s top line every game this season and also posted a +5 rating while playing on NU’s power play and penalty kill. He has 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in 103 games at Northeastern.
The 2007-08 season was another building block for Northeastern University. Northeastern went 16-18-3 (12-13-2 Hockey East) in 2007-08 after going 13-18-5 (9-15-5 Hockey East) last season and 3-24-7 (3-17-7 Hockey East) in 2005-06. Northeastern was ranked in the USCHO.com/CSTV top 20 for 16 weeks, including a No. 7 ranking on Jan. 7. Northeastern was in contention for home ice in the Hockey East Tournament until the final day of the season.
• Full listing on newenglandallstars.com
April 1, 2008
Boston, MANortheastern University junior Joe Vitale of the men’s hockey team was named to the All-New England hockey team and was named New England’s Most Improved Player on Tuesday, the New England Hockey Writers Association announced.
