Andrew Pellegrino the next future Razorback

The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce F-Andrew Pellegrino as the next 2017-18 commit.   The right-shooting forward comes to Arkansas after a successful junior league career with the Fresno Monsters of the Western States Hockey League.

Pellegrino played 85 games with the Fresno Monsters across two seasons.  In his first campaign with the team (2015-16), Pellegrino contributed 5 goals and 3 assists in 34 games.  Returning as a captain for the 2016-17 season, Pellegrino played 51 games and recorded 41 total points (22 goals and 19 assists) with 57 penalty minutes.  He helped the Monsters make it to and compete in the playoffs both years.

“Pelly is going to bring a lot to the table. He has great speed and a good shot. He leads by example on and off the ice with his work ethic.  He’s good on both the power play and penalty kill.  He’s a very solid all-around player who plays with grit. Fans will love this guy—the way he plays and his great personality off the ice,” said Fresno Head Coach Kevin Kaminski.

Pellegrino is a native of Fresno, California. Pellegrino’s father, Damian “Deno” Pellegrino, played professional hockey for the Fresno Falcons and introduced Andrew to the sport when he was only 3 years old.  Throughout his hockey career, Pellegrino describes his father as the biggest influence on his love for hockey.

Says Pellegrino, “The thing that I love most about the game of hockey is the speed and intensity; there’s not a single sport in the entire world that matches or surpasses those two aspects of the game. Add in the element of teamwork and comradery, there’s nothing like it.”

Regarding his commitment to the University of Arkansas, Pellegrino said, “Choosing to be a Razorback was easy after seeing what the school had to offer in both hockey and academics. I am very excited to continue my education at a great school and continue playing the sport I love.”

Pellegrino becomes the thirteenth in the 2017-18 recruiting class that features players from seven different states and two countries.  He joins the following players:

F-Sine Chadi (Long Beach Bombers, WSHL)
F- Sam Weidenbaum (Decatur Blaze, USPHL)
F-Triston Wilson (Euless Stars, NA3HL)
F/D-Paiute Morrison (Southern Oregon Spartans, WSHL)
D- Cal Owens (Long Beach Bombers, WSHL)
D-Corey Rees (Long Beach Sharks, NA3HL)
D-Kyle Dudley (Euless Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
D-Shaun Foster (SUNY-Canton, NCAA)
D-Kenatae Medure (Atlanta Capitals, NA3HL)
G-Max Barr (Long Beach Bombers, WSHL)
G-Brock Thompson (Connecticut Nighthawks, EHL)
G-Rio Virgoe (Jersey Shore Wildcats, NA3HL)

The University of Arkansas is the only SEC school to field two hockey teams.  The Division I team has, since 2015, competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here).   The Division III team will in 2017-18 begin its eleventh season competing in the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here).  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.