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University of Massachusets Athletics
Colorado Takes Massachusetts Hockey's Dell'Elce In The Third Round Of The 2025 NHL Entry Draft
June 28, 2025 | Hockey
LOS ANGELES – University of Massachusetts hockey sophomore defenseman Francesco Dell'Elce has been chosen in the third round, 77th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday. Dell'Elce, a King City Ontario native, becomes the sixth individual to be drafted following their freshman campaign under UMass head coach Greg Carvel and his staff in the past eight years.
"After an outstanding freshman season on the ice, where Francesco earned Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors, it was not surprising to see him taken so high in the NHL draft," said Carvel. "Francesco should be one of the top defensemen in a very good Hockey East conference over the next couple of years. If Francesco can continue to develop at the rate that he did in his freshman season, he will prove to be a great pick by the Colorado Avalanche."
With freshman forward Vaclav Nestrasil being chosen in the first round on Friday, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft marked the eighth time in nine years the Minutemen have had at least one player drafted and the fifth out of the past seven drafts where multiple UMass players were selected. Including the two UMass picks in this year's draft class, 20 Minutemen have had their names called in the NHL Draft since Carvel arrived in Amherst.
A 2024-25 Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection, Dell'Elce was one of 10 players to see action in all 40 games this past season. He led all Minutemen defensemen with 24 points on seven goals and 17 assists and contributed one power-play goal, two game winners and 38 blocks. Dell'Elce tied for second on the squad in plus-minus at +18 and tied for second in the nation in scoring by freshmen defensemen, third in goals. In his rookie campaign, the blueliner recorded six multi-point games and posted seven points (1g, 6a) on the power play. Dell'Elce appeared in all 24 Hockey East games and had 11 points (1g, 10a) in league action.
"After an outstanding freshman season on the ice, where Francesco earned Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors, it was not surprising to see him taken so high in the NHL draft," said Carvel. "Francesco should be one of the top defensemen in a very good Hockey East conference over the next couple of years. If Francesco can continue to develop at the rate that he did in his freshman season, he will prove to be a great pick by the Colorado Avalanche."
With freshman forward Vaclav Nestrasil being chosen in the first round on Friday, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft marked the eighth time in nine years the Minutemen have had at least one player drafted and the fifth out of the past seven drafts where multiple UMass players were selected. Including the two UMass picks in this year's draft class, 20 Minutemen have had their names called in the NHL Draft since Carvel arrived in Amherst.
A 2024-25 Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection, Dell'Elce was one of 10 players to see action in all 40 games this past season. He led all Minutemen defensemen with 24 points on seven goals and 17 assists and contributed one power-play goal, two game winners and 38 blocks. Dell'Elce tied for second on the squad in plus-minus at +18 and tied for second in the nation in scoring by freshmen defensemen, third in goals. In his rookie campaign, the blueliner recorded six multi-point games and posted seven points (1g, 6a) on the power play. Dell'Elce appeared in all 24 Hockey East games and had 11 points (1g, 10a) in league action.
Players Mentioned
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