April 10, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After a highly decorated sophomore season, UMass sophomore hockey winger James Marcou (Kings Park, N.Y.) was named to the AHCA/Reebok All-American Second Team as announced at the NCAA Men's Division I Frozen Four in Washington, D.C. Marcou becomes the sixth Minuteman in school history to be named All-American: Jon Quick (2007), Thomas Pock (2004), P.J. Flaherty (1972), Pat Keenan (1972), and Brian Sullivan (1972). Marcou led UMass in scoring for the second consecutive season and was tied with Boston University's Colin Wilson for the Hockey East Scoring Title.

Marcou is one of seven All-Americans this year from Hockey East among the 24 student-athletes honored among the First and Second Teams. He also becomes the third UMass player to earn the honor in the last five years.

This is Marcou's third major postseason honor after a standout sophomore season where he notched 15 goals and 32 assists. He was also named to the New England Hockey Writers All-Star Team and the Hockey East All-Star First-Team. He was also a Hobey Baker nominee and a Walter Brown Semifinalist. He joins Quick and Keenan as the only UMass sophomores to be named to the All-American team.

The rising junior who was just named an Assistant Captain will enter the 2009-10 season needing just 21 points to become the ninth player in UMass Hockey history to reach the 100 point plateau. His sophomore season was one for the record books as he became the first UMass skater to lead Hockey East in scoring. Marcou shattered the UMass sophomore assist record previously held by Greg Mauldin (20 assists in 2002-03) with 32 this year.

In just two seasons with the Minutemen, Marcou is already 22nd all-time in scoring (79 points) and tied for 15th in assists (56). As one of the top scoring threats in the country, Marcou was also honored for his work in just two seasons by the UMass fans this year as they voted him to the UMass Hockey East 25th Anniversary Team which recognized the top UMass players in the program's history with the Hockey East Association.

Twenty different Division I hockey-playing schools can celebrate players honored as Reebok All Americans for the 2008-09 season. The nation's top 24 college hockey players were announced tonight at the NCAA Men's Division I Frozen Four in Washington, DC. Leading the way was Boston University with three selections, including two on the East First Team. The University of Michigan and Notre Dame each had two honorees. Noteworthy among the selections:

• Only two players had been so honored before. Senior defenseman Matt Gilroy of Boston University, a First Team choice this year, was named to the East First Team a year ago and to the East Second Team in 2007. Colorado College forward Chad Rau repeated on the West Second Team.

• There are 15 players from the United States seven from Canada, and two from Sweden.

• The honorees are experienced. Twelve of the 24 selections are seniors and 10 are juniors. There is one sophomore and one freshman.

• The honorees hail from eight states and four Canadian provinces. The leading source is Minnesota with four native sons.

• Fifteen players participated in the NCAA Tournament. Five of them advanced to the "Frozen Four."

• The honorees include all ten finalists for the 2009 Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

The AHCA/Reebok All-American Ice Hockey Teams are sponsored by Reebok, an international leader in hockey equipment, and chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association.