Recruiting notes on Ammirato, Hynes

by Ryan Fay

Roman Ammirato, who recently committed to Union for the 2014-2015 season, played just 22 games for Shawn Anderson's Hawkesbury Hawks last season.

But the 5-foot-8, 157-pound centerman left a big impression.

Ammirato (Cornwall Standard-Freeholder)

"He is a very exciting and dynamic player," said Anderson, the co-owner/head coach of the Hawks, who acquired Ammirato in a January trade with Cornwall.

Anderson, a teammate of Union head coach Rick Bennett on the 1994-1995 Hershey Bears, also praised Ammirato for his compete level and scoring touch.

"Roman's strength as a player is that he is always competing," Anderson said. "You would think looking at him that he will be out-battled in one-on-one situations. It is the opposite; he wins most of his one-on-one's with his speed and smarts.

"His size is deceiving and he plays a lot like [Tampa Bay Lightning forward] Martin St. Louis. He scores points whether it is filling the net or making the plays to help put the puck into the net."

Ammirato scored points in spades last year, finishing as the fourth-leading scorer in the Central Canada Hockey League with 83 points (34 goals, 49 assists) in 61 games played between stops in Cornwall and Hawkesbury.

According to Anderson, Union was one of "four or five" schools he spoke with about Ammirato after the Williamstown, New Jersey native joined his club in January.

Anderson said Ammirato could be a "highlight player" at the Division I level, but could still benefit from adding additional physical strength as he moves up the hockey chain.

The 19-year-old will play this upcoming year with Amarillo of the North American Hockey League prior to coming to Union for the 2014-2015 season.

"It will be very difficult to fill the void of a player like Roman. We will miss him on the ice," Anderson said. "The Hawks are very proud of Roman and wish him all the best."

ARRIVAL DELAYED

Union fans will have to wait a year to watch forward Tyler Hynes, who was previously expected to join the Dutchmen this fall.

Hynes, a Slingerlands native who played prep hockey at Albany Academy with incoming defenseman Jeff Taylor, has decided to play a second season with the U.S Hockey League's Omaha Lancers. He's now scheduled to arrive at Union in 2014-2015.

"I was supposed to come in this year but I felt like I wasn't ready and the coaches at Union supported my decision to stay in the USHL one more year," Hynes said. "I want to be the best player I can be when I get to Union and in this case that meant playing another year of junior hockey."

In 53 games played with Omaha last season, the 19-year-old had six goals and nine assists.

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