As the final 16 teams compete in NCAA Men’s Hockey action, a pair of Spruce Grove Saints alumni will suit up for their schools and compete for the National Championship and advancing to the Frozen Four in St. Louis, Missouri.
After transferring from Ferris State to the University of Minnesota-Mankato, sophomore forward Luigi Benincasa is ready to compete in his first NCAA tournament and gets set to open the Regionals against the #3 seed in the tournament, the University of Western Michigan. The Mavericks won the Mason Cup as the CCHA’s top team last weekend and will play in the Fargo Region. Benincasa played parts of four seasons with the Saints, spanning 140 career games with 71 goals and 88 assists for 159 points in that span while also adding 33 points in 28 playoff games in Spruce Grove.
The Edmonton native spent his first collegiate season with in Ferris State with the Bulldogs, collecting seven goals and 23 points in 33 games before transferring to Mankato, where Benincasa scored six goals and 24 points in 36 games this season as a Maverick and makes his first appearance in the NCAA tournament.
University of Denver standout goaltender Matt Davis is set to help the Pioneers repeat as National Champions in his fourth season at Denver. The Calgary, Alberta native spent two seasons with the Saints, collecting 55 wins and boasting a 2.24 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in 74 career games in Spruce Grove to go along with seven shutouts. Davis elevated his game in the playoffs as he owned a 1.84 GAA and a .924 SV% in 24 playoff games with the Saints as well as earning four shutouts.
While at Denver, Davis has been lights out including a magical run that culminated in a National Championship last season where he was named All-Tournament MVP at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota. The 21-year-old has been terrific again this season, finishing the year with a 2.12 GAA and a .920 SV% while winning 27 games and helping the Pioneers to their Regional Semifinal matchup against Providence College on Friday night. Boston College and Bentley are the other two schools playing in the Manchester Region with the winners playing in a Regional Final on Sunday to decide who advances to St. Louis.
The Saints want to wish both Matt and Luigi the best of luck in the NCAA tournament!
