ROCHESTER, NY - Sal Cerrato (St. Louis, MO) has had a stellar regular season for the Utica University men's hockey team, a campaign made even sweeter by the announcement of the defenseman as the Empire 8 Player of the Week, along with a UCHC Co-Rookie of the Week honor to boot. Both awards are the first of Cerrato's career.

Cerrato showed off his stellar playmaking this past weekend as the Pioneers started off 2026 with a pair of non-conference victories. The freshman defender shored up the blue line in stunning fashion, helping hold both opponents to just a single goal while also piling up five assists over the two-game set. The St. Louis native was active in the opposing zone, weaving past pressure and finding forward passes as he racked up three apples against Neumann on Saturday and two against SUNY Canton on Sunday. Cerrato now sits second on the team and tied for ninth in the UCHC in assists with nine. He also grabbed three blocks, getting it done on both ends for the orange and blue.

Cerrato and the #14-ranked men's hockey team will be back in action this weekend when they welcome Nazareth University to restart UCHC play. That game is slated for Saturday night with a 7:00 PM puck drop, and it will also be First Source Night.