Royals' Zappala Named CCM Vector Rookie Of The Month

January 9, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. -Reading's Joe Zappala is the CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month for December.

The 23-year-old had four game-winning goals in December to move into a tie for second in the ECHL and had 15 points (9g-6a) and a plus-minus rating of +7 in 14 games. He is tied for 11th among ECHL rookies and ranks fifth on the Royals with 23 points (11g-12a).

The 6-foot and 205-pound Zappala had his first professional hat trick and scored the game-winning goal in a 7-4 win against Trenton on Dec. 10. The Medford, Mass. native had a season-high seven-game scoring streak (6g-6a) from Dec. 8-21 and four of the seven games were played on the road.

From Dec. 13-21 Zappala had a career-best four-game assist streak and three of the four games were on the road.

Zappala played four seasons at Yale University where he had 83 points (39g-44a) from 2002-06. In his sophomore year in 2003-04, he led the NCAA with a school record nine game-winning goals while scoring a team-leading 18 goals and a career-high 30 points in 31 games.

He signed with Trenton after completing his college season in 2005-06 and had two assists in seven games.

Runners Up: Todd Griffith, Bakersfield (13 gp, 9g, 7a, 16 pts), Ryan MacDonald, Fresno (7-0-1, 1.67 GAA, .948 save pct.), Colton Fretter, Gwinnett (13 gp, 6g, 10a, 16 pts), and Jonathan Paiement, Texas (13 gp, 3g, 7a, 10 pts).

Also Nominated: Julian Talbot (Alaska), Corey Potter (Charlotte), Mathieu Aubin (Cincinnati), Kelly Czuy (Las Vegas), Brandon Schwartz (Long Beach), Brock Hooton (Phoenix), Matt Stefanishion (South Carolina), Troy Bodie (Stockton), Jamie Tardif (Toledo), Mark Pandolfo (Trenton) and Danny Stewart (Utah).

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