Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced the ECAC Men's West Hockey All-Academic Team Tuesday for the 2009-10 season and ten Utica College student-athletes were honored. There were 59 total student-athletes that represented six ECAC West teams and each must have completed one full academic year and hold atleast a 3.00 grade-point average.

The Pioneers honored include seniors Aaron Jeffery (Brighton, MI), Matt Jimenez (Santa Rosa, CA), Sean McKevitt (Clinton, NY), Vincent Nucci (Rochester, NY), Jeffrey Pappalardi (Delmar, NY), juniors Kregg Guestin (Kingsburg, CA/Swan Valley (MJHL)) (Kingsburg, CA), Sean Timkey (Rochester, NY/Capital District (EJHL)) (Rochester, NY) and sophomores Kyle Guestin (Kingsburg, CA/Prairie (PJHL)) (Kingsburg, CA), Soichiro Omi (Tokyo, Japan/Bradford (GMHL)) (Tokyo, Japan), and Max White (Sands Point, NY/NY Bobcats (AJHL)) (Sands Point, NY).

Team captain Aaron Jeffery's resume includes two straight appearences on the all-academic team, 86 games played - second most among active players - 18 goals, and 34 assists, good enough for fourth among active players. Jeffery is a former member of the Billings Bulls of the North American Hockey League. He is the son of Julie Jeffery and is pursuing a degree in biochemistry.

Assistant captain Matt Jimenez was honored for the second straight season on the All-Academic Team. Jimenez has 73 career games played and eight assists as a defender. He played junior hockey for the Pembroke Lumberkings of the Central Junior Hockey League and is the son of Kathy and Mario Jimenez. Matt is a criminal justice major.

Assistant captain Sean McKevitt played in 50 career games and competed in all 26 games this season, including 15 conference contests. McKevitt had 11 total points, including five goals and six assists in 2009-10. He attended The Gunnery where he played prep hockey. Sean is the son of Mary and Fran McKevitt and is pursuing a degree in communication arts.

Vincent Nucci's career statistics include 81 games played, 24 goals, both third among active players, and 29 assists good enough for fifth among active players. Nucci played in all 26 games this season and had 17 total points including seven goals and 10 assists. Six of his seven goals came in conference play. He is a former member of the Capital District Selects of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Vincent is the son of Rosemarie and Alfred Nucci and is currently pursuing a degree in management.

Jeff Pappalardi has been honored on the All-Academic Team for the last three years. He currently is tied for second all-time among active players in career games played (86) and assists (36), and is fifth in goals (16). Pappalardi played junior hockey, alongside teammate Vincent Nucci, for the Capital District Selects of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Jeffrey is the son of Jacqueline and Dennis Pappalardi and is a business management major.

Utica College finished its 2009-10 campaign with an overall record of 8-14-4 and 4-10-2 in conference play and made the conference tournament for the seventh consecutive year, however lost in the first round to defending National Champion Neumann University. The Pioneers will retire eight seniors including captain Aaron Jeffery and assistant captains Matt Jimenez and Sean McKevitt.

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