Quinnipiac’s Shawn Mansoff and Canisius’ Sean Weaver headline the preseason All-MAAC First Team. Mansoff enters his senior season as Preseason Player of the Year, while Sean Weaver gets the nod as Preseason Goalie of the Year.
Mansoff, a 6-foot, 205-pound forward, burst onto the scene in 1999-2000 by scoring 29 goals and 27 assists for 56 points in just 35 games. Nationally, he ranked third in points per game (1.60) and second in goals per game (0.83). In MAAC league play, Mansoff was first in goals (26), third in assists (24), and first in points (50).
Quinnipiac won its second consecutive regular season title and Mansoff was named 1999-2000 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, and was a member on the All-MAAC First Team.
Weaver, a 6-1, 190 lb. junior, had a breakthrough season in 1999-2000. He appeared in 23 games posting a record of 11-7-4 with a league-leading 2.37 goals against average, and helped lead the Ice Griffs to a third place finish in league play. His .927 save percentage ranked him sixth in the nation. For his efforts, Weaver was a 1999-2000 first team All-MAAC selection and the 1999-2000 MAAC Goalie of the Year.
Pre-Season All-MAAC First Team
Ryan Carter, Iona F
Shawn Mansoff, Quinnipiac F
Eric Ellis, Mercyhurst F
Steve Tobio, Bentley D
Nathan Lutz, Iona D
Sean Weaver, Canisius G
Pre-Season All-MAAC Second Team
Martin Paquet, Sacred Heart F
Louis Goulet, Mercyhurst F
Rae Metz, Fairfield F
Anthony DiPalma, Quinnipiac D
Les Hrapchak, Sacred Heart D
Alexis Jutras-Binet, S. Heart G
Iona junior Ryan Carter garnered a first team selection at forward. Carter is coming off another big season for the Gaels, finishing third in the league with 24 goals, including six game-winning goals. He helped Iona advance to the MAAC Championship Game and was a first team All-MAAC selection in 1999-00 for the second straight year.
Mercyhurst senior Eric Ellis rounded out the first team selections at the forward position. Last season, Ellis was second on the Lakers with 40 points and was second in the league with three shorthanded goals. His team-leading 28 assists were a big reason why Mercyhurst finished in second place during the regular season and why he earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team.
Bentley junior Steve Tobio secured one of the defensive positions on the All-MAAC First Team. Tobio finished the 1999-2000 season tied for third among defensemen with 29 points while being named 1999-2000 MAAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He also earned a spot on the 1999-2000 All-MAAC First Team.
Iona sophomore Nathan Lutz also joins the first team defensive unit. Lutz had a successful freshman year with nine goals and 11 assists in helping the Gaels advance to the MAAC Championship Game. His efforts earned him 1999-2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
