AMHERST — UMass’ defensive corps took another hit Monday with the news that sophomore Mario Ferraro signed an entry-level deal with the San Jose Sharks, forgoing his final two years of eligibility.
Ferraro was selected by San Jose in the second round with the 49th overall pick before playing two years at UMass. The King City, Ontario, Canada native played in all 80 possible games for the Minutemen, racking up 37 points on six goals and 31 assists over the course of his two seasons. He was a third-team all-conference player this past season after earning a spot on the all-rookie team as a freshman in 2017-18.
“Mario had another stellar season at UMass and has consistently proven his capacity to compete and lead at an elite level,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a release. “His offensive skills, ability to make plays from the blue line and the energy he brings to the rink are impressive and we look forward to seeing him continue his growth at the professional level.”
Where the Minutemen will miss Ferraro the most is in the locker room due to his leadership. He was an alternate captain last season for UMass and was regarded as one of the most vocal leaders on the roster. Ferraro was well respected among his teammates, earning high praise for his leadership skills on and off the ice.
“He’s definitely one of the best leaders I’ve ever played for,” former UMass defenseman and current Colorado Avalanche rookie Cale Makar said earlier this month before the Frozen Four. “(He) comes to the rink every day with the most energy I’ve seen out of anybody in the entire world. You know he’s going to compete. Every day you step on the ice with him, he’s the guy you want to compete against in every single drill, he’s going to make you better every single day.”
Ferraro leaves UMass as one of the cornerstone pieces that changed the program’s culture over the last three years under coach Greg Carvel. The Minutemen won just five games the year before Ferraro and the rest of the transformational sophomore class arrived on campus. He leaves after leading UMass to the national championship game for the first time in program history and helped deliver the program’s first Hockey East title of any kind.
“Mario has been one of the most important parts of our two-year turnaround as UMass hockey has become a legitimate and respected program again,” Carvel said in a release. “Mario led his teammates on the ice and off. He is a unique individual and the ultimate warrior. His character, commitment and drive will serve him well as a professional, and were key to the success of UMass hockey over the past two years. We all thank him for everything he has done for this program and look forward to seeing him in a Sharks jersey in the future.”
The departure leaves four starting defensemen from last year scheduled to return for the 2019-20 season. Jake McLaughlin returns as a senior along with a trio of rising sophomores – Marc Del Gaizo, Ty Farmer and Colin Felix. The Minutemen also return Kolby Vegara, who played in 14 games as a freshman this past season, and Ryan Bliss, who didn’t play last year due to injury after arriving as a mid-year transfer. UMass is also scheduled to bring in Gianfranco Cassaro as a freshman defenseman next year. The class might also include USHL Rookie of the Year Zac Jones a year earlier than anticipated.
Ferraro joins a Sharks organization that includes former Minuteman and current San Jose defenseman Justin Braun.
San Jose plays Colorado in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, Tuesday night in Colorado. There is no indication that Ferraro will dress with the Sharks for the playoffs.
