Photo Credit – Chad Goddard:
Calgary, AB – The Calgary Mustangs are excited to report that team captain and defenseman Salvatore Scalise has committed to the Marian University Sabres of the NCAA Division III's Northern Collegiate Hockey Association athletic conference.
Scalise, who made his AJHL debut with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons during the 2013-14 season, was acquired partway through the 2015-16 season as the result of a trade with the Whitecourt Wolverines. In 55 games played this year, “Savvy” put up career highs across the board and led all Mustangs defensemen with 9 goals and 26 assists, adding 65 minutes in penalties; his 35 points were good for 12th among all AJHL defensemen this season. In the playoffs, he added an assist and 2 PIMs in 3 games. Scalise was the recipient of the Mustangs' 2017-18 Leadership Award for his leadership and dedication, the second straight year he's earned that honour, and also holds a Mustangs' Top Defensive Player award from 2015-16.
“I always wanted to go to school in the States and continue playing hockey. The class sizes are small and I feel that will be beneficial, being more personal, with getting a degree,” states Salvatore. “I feel I can make an impact on the team and play my game there on the Olympic ice surface, which is what we play on [with the Mustangs].”
“I'm looking forward to making new friendships and getting my life started with school and making a whole new band of brothers on the hockey team. I'm going to miss the 'Stangs, it's hard to leave after 3 years on the team especially with the success we had this year, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the boys do next year and the direction they are going in.”
“It's exciting to see Salvatore reach his goal of playing NCAA hockey,” says Mustangs Head Coach and General Manager Tyler Drader. “He's a fantastic person and has worked hard to get where he is today. I will be keeping an eye on his progress and wish him all the best.”
Scalise is the fourth Mustangs player to commit to a postsecondary institution directly out of the organization this season, and will join fellow graduate Yuri Chernichko down south with the Sabres program. He is the first Mustangs' player to have played his 200th AJHL game with the club in 5 years; in 213 career games, Salvatore recorded 20 goals and 65 assists for 85 points and 259 PIMs.
Savvy ends his decorated Mustangs career 15th among all known Royals/Mustangs players for games played with 155 (right behind Chernichko), 5th among all known Mustangs/Royals defensemen in goals and 3rd among all known Mustangs/Royals defensemen in points. Salvatore, who spent his minor hockey career within the Calgary Royals Minor Hockey Association, will join the Sabres beginning in the 2018-19 academic year.
On behalf of the entire organization, we would like to congratulate and thank Savvy for his dedication and commitment to the franchise and wish him and the Sabres the best of luck moving forward!