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Date: March 2, 2006
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Tortorella gets NESCAC coaching honor; Kelly, Fritch honored

WATERVILLE, Maine --- Jim Tortorella, the all-time leader in men's hockey head coaching wins at Colby College, was named New England Small College Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year on Wednesday.

Sophomore forward T.J. Kelley (Taft School/Ridgefield, Conn.) and sophomore defensemen Arthur Fritch (St. Sebastian's/South Boston, Mass.) each made the NESCAC All-Conference second team.

Tortorella, who has a 172-85-21 record in 11 seasons at Colby, shared the honor with Bill Kangas of Williams College. Tortorella's 172 wins are the best of any hockey coach to lead the Mules. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of Maine and played on the men's hockey team.

Colby finished with a 15-9-1 record despite being heavily hit by graduation losses and with a relatively young team. The Mules finished in a tie for third place in the league standings with Bowdoin.

Kelley led the NESCAC for much of the season in scoring and currently ranks second in total points (40) and points per game (1.60) with his 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points. He ranks in a tie for fifth in goals scored and is second in total assists.

Kelley has 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 career points in two years with the Mules.

Fritch ranked second in the league in defensemen scoring with seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points. He was a key player on Colby's power play unit with his passing ability and booming shot. Fritch had four power play goals and added one short-handed goal.

Despite being a defensemen, Fritch is on pace for 100 career points if he stays healthy. He has 11 goals and 41 assists for 52 points in 47 games with the Mules.