Three Crusaders Sign With ECHL Teams

WORCESTER, Mass - Holy Cross graduating seniors Joe McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.) and Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) have signed with ECHL teams. Vidal and Bolton have signed standard professional contracts (SPC) with the Atlanta Gladiators, while McNamara has signed an Amateur Tryout Agreements (ATO) with the Florida Everblades. Vidal and Bolton will join 2015 Holy Cross graduate Matt Ginn on the Gladiators. The Gladiators are the ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins, while the Everblades are affiliated with Carolina Hurricanes. Each team has 12 games remaining this season. The Gladiators and Everblades face-off on Sunday, March 20.

McNamara played in 131 career games with four goals and 52 assists for 56 points. His 56 points are fifth most by a defenseman in the school’s Division I history, while his 52 assists are third. This season, his team-leading 21 assists were second all-time by a defenseman in the team’s Division I era. As a junior he was named the Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week and received the team's Michael P. Quinn Defensive Player of the Year Award. Also as a sophomore he won the team’s Glenn “Spike” Crane Memorial Award. McNamara is a three-time member of the AHC All-Academic Team and a two-time member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy.

Go here to read the press release on the Everblades' website.

Vidal played in 136 career games with 14 goals and 46 assists for 60 points. He is only the sixth player in program history to be a two-time team captain. As a junior he received the team’s Crane Award and the Seventh Player Award. Also as a sophomore he was named the Crusader of the Week. He is a two-time member of the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic team and is a 360 leader in the Holy Cross Leadership Academy, earning the Leader of Distinction Award this year.

Bolton played in 145 career games with 11 goals and 43 assists for 54 points. He played in 145 games, which are tied for seventh all-time. His 54 points are seventh all-time by a defenseman in the program’s Division I era, while his 11 goals are seventh and his 43 assists are sixth. Bolton has been named the Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week twice. He was also a three-year member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy including a 360 Leader as a senior.

Go here to read the press release on the Gladiators' website.

Be sure to keep checking GoHolyCross.com for more news on Crusaders signing professional contracts. There are numerous ways to stay connected with the Holy Cross men's hockey team. Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @HCrossMHockey, Facebook and Instagram.