Two former X-Men crack AHL rosters

ANTIGONISH, NS – Two former StFX X-Men hockey players recently signed professional contracts with American Hockey League (AHL) teams. Danny Battochio and Will Colbert were co-Most Valuable Players on the 2008-09 X-Men squad and each will be playing professional hockey for the 2009-10 season.

“I was very pleased to learn of the professional opportunities presented to both Danny and Will,” commented X-Men head coach Brad Peddle. “It is a strong testament to their skill level and hard work, and to the quality of players that we graduate from the X-Men hockey program. We wish them all the best in the next stage of their hockey careers.”

Danny Battochio has signed on with the Peoria Riverman organization, the AHL affiliate for the St. Louis Blues. He is one of two goaltenders along with Hannu Toivonen to make the cut.

Battochio, a native of Lively, ON graduated from StFX this past May with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was the starting goaltender for the X-Men for the past three years. He was named an AUS second team all-star last season and was the team’s co-MVP. Danny posted a regular season record of 15-11-0-2 in 2008-09 and led all Atlantic University Sport (AUS) goaltenders in games played (26) and was sixth in the AUS with a 3.30 goals against average. He was second in the AUS in both shutouts (2) and saves (26.12 avg/game) and earned the nod as the CIS Athlete of the Week on January 11, 2009.

Will Colbert has signed with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL, the affiliate teams for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. He is one of eight defensemen to make the cut.

Colbert, a native of Arnprior, ON graduated from the X-Men program with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Kinetics this past May and was the former captain of the X-Men for the last two years. Will was a very hard worker both on and off the ice and established himself as one of the premier defenseman in the AUS conference.

He was second last season in plus/minus on the X-Men team at +8 and was second amongst team defensemen in scoring with 17 points. Colbert was ninth overall in the AUS in scoring by defensemen and was in the top 10 in all the following team statistical categories for StFX:  points (17), goals (5), power play goals (3), assists (12), shots (42). He was the co-MVP of the X-Men for the 2008-09 season, along with Battochio.

The current StFX X-Men squad will open AUS regular season play on Oct. 16 when they travel to Wolfville, NS for a game against the Acadia Axemen, them they are at home Saturday night, Oct. 17 to host the Dalhousie Tigers in the their home openers at 7:00 pm at the StFX Keating Centre.