ECHL Colorado Eagles

Four Colorado Eagles Named to 2016-17 All-ECHL Team

Published on April 6, 2017 under ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


WINDSOR, CO. - The ECHL on Thursday announced its All-ECHL First and Second Teams for 2016-17 as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media, who were asked to select a goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards. Among the six players named to the All-ECHL First Team, three are members of the Colorado Eagles. Included in the group are forwards Matt Garbowsky and Casey Pierro-Zabotel, along with defenseman Matt Register. Additionally, Eagles defenseman Jake Marto has been named to the All-ECHL Second Team. Colorado's four All-ECHL members are the most from any team in the ECHL this season.

2016-17 All-ECHL First Team

G - Riley Gill, Allen Americans (40 gp, 30-7-2, 2.28 GAA, .933 save pct.)

D - David Makowski, Allen Americans (40 gp, 15g, 34a, 49 pts., +19)

D - Matt Register, Colorado Eagles (70 gp, 17g, 46a, 63 pts., +19)

F - Chad Costello, Allen Americans (69 gp, 31g, 85a, 116 pts., +21)

F - Matt Garbowsky, Colorado Eagles (70 gp, 35g, 44a, 79 pts., +30)

F - Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Colorado Eagles (70 gp, 24g, 64a, 88 pts., +16)

2016-17 All-ECHL Second Team

G - Jake Paterson, Toledo Walleye (47 gp, 32-13-2, 2.34 GAA, .916 save pct.)

D - Jake Marto, Colorado Eagles (67 gp, 10g, 46a, 56 pts., +16)

D - Kevin Schulze, Wheeling Nailers (65 gp, 12g, 45a, 57 pts., +5)

F - Shane Berschbach, Toledo Walleye (67 gp, 18g, 60a, 78 pts., +9)

F - Brendan O'Donnell, Florida Everblades (58 gp, 39g, 38a, 77 pts., +29)

F - David Vallorani, Brampton Beast (69 gp, 30g, 50a, 80 pts., +8)

"We are incredibly proud of these four young men who have helped to form the foundation of this team all year long," said Eagles president and general manager Chris Stewart. "This reward is much deserved for a group that has been so impressive both on the ice and in the community."

Garbowsky is tied for third in the league with 35 goals, is tied for fourth with 79 points and is tied for fifth in plus-minus at +30. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic after tallying two goals and two assists in the ECHL All-Stars 8-7 win over Adirondack. The 26 year-old spent his rookie season with the Elmira Jackals, notching seven goals and 14 assists in 33 games. He has also appeared in 24 total games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, after making his professional debut with the Americans at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season.

A 5-foot-10, 185-pound center, Garbowsky experienced a highly-acclaimed career at the NCAA level in four seasons at the Rochester Institute of Technology. During his collegiate career, Garbowsky amassed 114 points in 128 games, was named the AHA Player of the Year, captured an AHA Championship, was named to the AHA All-Star Team and was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in NCAA hockey.

Pierro-Zabotel receives All-ECHL First Team honors for the second time after previously being named to the team in 2012-13. He ranks second in the league with 64 assists and 88 points while ranking third with 25 power-play assists and tied for third with 31 power-play points. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound center won an ECHL Championship last season with the Allen Americans, collecting 47 points in 58 regular season games and adding another 16 points in 24 playoff contests.

The former third round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL Draft has posted 344 points in 406 ECHL games and was named to the ECHL All-Star Game in 2013, which was played at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado. In addition, Pierro-Zabotel has also appeared in 17 AHL contests, netting one goal and two assists with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Charlotte Checkers and Norfolk Admirals.

Register is on the All-ECHL First Team for the third time in his career after also receiving the honor in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He leads all ECHL defensemen with 63 points and six game-winning goals and is tied for second with 17 goals. He is second among blueliners with eight power-play goals and is second with 29 power-play points.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman captured an ECHL Championship with the Allen Americans last season, after starting the year with the Atlanta Gladiators. Register was named the ECHL Defenseman of the Year during the 2013-14 season with the Ontario Reign and also earned a spot on the ECHL All-Star Team in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.

Marto is tied for first among defensemen with 46 assists and is third with 56 points. His 23 power-play assists are second among league blueliners and he is third with 28 power-play points. He posted a career-high 37 points in 62 games with the Eagles last season, finishing the year at a plus-12.

A two-time WCHA champion during his NCAA career at the University of North Dakota, Marto also enjoyed a two-year stint playing professionally in Europe. He collected 17 points in 51 games while playing for Sodertalje SK in Sweden during the 2013-14 campaign and 11 points in 49 games with the Graz 99ers in Austria in the 2014-15 campaign. In addition, Marto has also appeared in 14 AHL games with the St. John's Ice Caps, posting three points.

Through the team's first six seasons in the ECHL, the Eagles have had eight players named to the All-ECHL First Team (Chad Costello, Aaron Schneekloth, Michael Forney, Trent Daavettila, Adrian Veideman, Garbowsky, Pierro-Zabotel, Register) and three players appear on the All-ECHL Second Team (Kyle Ostrow, Daavettila, Marto).

The Eagles will be back in action when they travel to take on the Rapid City Rush on Friday, April 7th at 7:05pm MT at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Tickets for the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Eagles ticket office at 970-686-SHOT (7468) or purchase online at www.ColoradoEagles.com.

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