Posted: Dec 12, 2017

Women’s Ice Hockey’s Amato, Turney Claim NEWHA Weekly Awards

RINDGE, N.H. (December 12, 2017) – Freshman forward Nicole Amato (Billerica, Mass.) of the Franklin Pierce University women’s ice hockey team has been named New England Women’s Hockey Alliance Player of the Week, for the week ending on Dec. 10, as announced on Tuesday by the NEWHA. In addition, freshman goaltender Kelly Turney (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) has been named NEWHA Rookie of the Week.

Amato -- who earned a Rookie of the Week accolade in mid-November -- tallied three points on two goals and an assist in a 2-0-0 week for the Ravens. Against Plymouth State on Friday night, she scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the final five minutes of a 2-0 win. At Salem State on Saturday, she opened the scoring in the first period and later assisted on a third-period insurance goal in a 4-1 win.

On the season, Amato is tied for the team’s scoring lead with 13 points (7-6-13) while playing in all 14 games thus far. She has three power-play goals and two game-winning goals, has recorded 47 shots on goal and is currently +4 on the year.

In her only appearance in net last week, Turney stopped all 12 shots she faced against Plymouth State, in a game which was scoreless until the final five minutes. The shutout was the first of her collegiate career. It marked the fourth straight week a Raven collected Rookie of the Week honors from the NEWHA.

On the season, Turney has logged 40% of the team’s minutes in goal (343:46), with six appearances, including five starts. She has made 121 saves against 136 shots to record an .890 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average, on the way to a 2-3-1 record.

The Ravens (7-6-1) are unbeaten in their last five (4-0-1) and ticked over .500 for the first time this season in their final game of the semester. They return to the ice on the other side of New Year’s, when they host Johnson & Wales on Sunday, Jan. 7. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics’ official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics’ online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).