Aug. 18, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Former UMass hockey goalie Paul Dainton was announced to have signed a contract with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL on Wednesday afternoon. Dainton joined the Falcons on an Amateur Tryout Agreement to close out the 2010-11 season after he finished his career at UMass as one of the great goalies in program history.

Dainton finished his UMass career appearing in 123 career games with 3,226 saves in 7,043 minutes of work - all school records. He posted a .908 save percentage (3rd all-time at UMass) and a 2.79 save percentage with a 45-61-12 record. His career minutes and saves are the second most all-time for a goalie in Hockey East history as well behind Jon Muse of Boston College.

As a senior, Dainton also had the special honor of being named team Captain - only the eighth goalie in the history of the program to ever wear the "C".

As successful as he was on the ice, Dainton was just as active off. He was a nominee for both the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award this past season for his work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Amherst and his work in the psychology department at UMass.

OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM THE SPRINGFIELD FALCONS:
Springfield, MA - The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today that goaltender Paul Dainton and center Chris D'Alvise have signed standard American Hockey League contracts for the 2011-12 season. Both players are expected to attend Falcons training camp starting on September 24.

D'Alvise played in 43 games for the Falcons last season collecting 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. The Mississauga, Ontario native started the 2010-11 campaign with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder where he posted 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in just 11 games. He joined the Falcons on November 19, 2010 on a Professional Tryout Agreement and scored one goal and added two assists in his AHL debut on November 20, 2010 at Syracuse.

Prior to turning pro, D'Alvise played in 145 games with Clarkson University from 2005-2009 where he netted 49 goals and 56 assists for 105 points. D'Alvise was named the Most Outstanding Player of the ECAC Hockey Tournament playoffs during the 2006-07 season. Chris collected 18 power play goals during his career and was a three-time selection as the ECAC's Player of the Week honors.

Dainton concluded last season with the Falcons after finishing his four-year collegiate career with UMass-Amherst. The Sudbury, Ontario native made his AHL debut on March 23, 2011 at Hartford stopping 31 of 34 shots. He earned his first AHL win on March 26, 2011 at Worcester turning aside 39 of 41 shots on goal.

In four seasons with the Minutemen, Dainton played in 123 games posting a record of 69-61-12 with a 2.78 goals against average and .908 save percentage. Dainton served as a captain of UMass-Amherst during the 2010-11 campaign.