Lone Star goalie Calvaruso makes NCAA DI commitment

January 5, 2017

Lone Star Brahmas and NAHL goaltender Alec Calvaruso has announced his commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey at Colorado College for the 2017-18 season. Calvaruso becomes the fifth Brahma this season to secure an NCAA Division I commitment.

 

“It’s very exciting. It’s a great school and a good goalie situation to go into,” Calvaruso said. “[The campus is] beautiful. The mountains and the scenery and always good temperature year round.”

 

“I think it’s unbelievable,” Head Coach Dan Wildfong said of his goalie’s commitment. “He came in here obviously as a top goalie recruit for us and we knew he was a Division I goalie.  He’s proven that ever since he’s got here. I think he’s brought a little more structure to his game and I think he’ll do really well in Colorado. He’s going to get a chance to go in there and play next year so it’s really exciting for him.”

 

This season, Calvaruso is 13-4-0 as a Brahma with two shutouts. His 2.03 goals against average is the third best in the North American Hockey League and he is tenth with a .916 save percentage.

 

Going into the holiday break, the Livonia, Michigan native was named the NAHL’s South Division Bauer Star of the Week. Ten times this season he has allowed one or fewer goals, making a statement as the Brahmas last line of defense.

 

“He makes one or two big saves each game,” Wildfong said about what makes Calvaruso special. “We aren’t asking him to stand on his head.  Just like at Shreveport last game he made two big saves. If he doesn’t make those saves, the game is totally different.  He keeps our team calm because he’s making those stops at key times.”

 

Calvaruso, playing in his first season of junior hockey, is a game changer for this Brahmas team that is looking to contend for the Robertson Cup.  Next season he is set to join Brahmas alumni Alex Berardinelli and AJ Vanderbeck in the Centennial State.

 

“I talked to Berardinelli and he said he loves it there. We just talked about what’s going on [in Brahmaland], his experience last year in Lone Star and what I have to look forward to in Colorado,” Calvaruso said.

 

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound goalie is most looking forward to an opportunity to play as a freshman. Calvaruso visited Colorado College in early December and had a chance to talk to the Tigers goaltenders during his trip up north.

 

“They said you get your chance. When you go in you’re going to get your chance and if you prove yourself, which I’m looking to do, then you’ll get an opportunity and you’ll run with it,” Calvaruso said.

 

Last season, Calvaruso played 22 games for Detroit Catholic Central, posting an impressive 1.71 goals against average and .919 save percentage while leading the team to its third straight State Championship. He lost no stride coming to Texas and has a large support system to thank.

 

“I’d like to thank my coaches, parents, family, my advisor Jeff Boston, Coach Al, Coach Dan, and especially the team. They encourage me every day and push me to be my best.”

 

“Austin O’Rourke helps me a lot,” Calvaruso also added of his teammate who often shoots during the extra goalie sessions.

 

Calvaruso will be the fourth Brahma to play at Colorado College. Before starting classes in the fall, he is determined to win another championship.

 

“Dan talks about it all the time but you gotta focus on winning it all and doing it for the guy sitting next to you and helping the other guys commit.”