Frank Vatrano played just 34 games for the Providence Bruins this season, but he did enough to earn a share of the American Hockey League’s Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award.
The Garrett Award annually goes to the league’s top rookie. Vatrano and San Antonio Rampage forward Mikko Rantanen shared the award.
Vatrano, who is in his first full professional season after leaving UMass last spring, scored a league-leading 34 goals in 34 games for Providence. His 17 assists gave him 51 points and a 1.5 point per game average, which was also best in the league.
Vatrano, who finished the regular season with the Bruins, returned to Providence for the remainder of the season after Boston didn’t reach the playoffs.
MINUTEMAN VS. MINUTEMAN — Two of the three UMass alumni in the NHL playoffs are competing against each other as Jonathan Quick’s Los Angeles Kings face Justin Braun’s San Jose Sharks. Game One was late on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Conor Sheary made his playoff debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He registered his first career playoff point, an assist, in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the New York Rangers in Game One Wednesday.
EIPP HONORED — Erika Eipp will try to build off of last weekend’s 15-point effort (five goals, 10 assists) that earned the UMass senior women’s lacrosse player Atlantic 10 and IWLCA National Player of the Week honors.
The Minutewomen (11-1, 4-0 A-10) will host St. Bonaventure (3-9, 1-3) Friday at 3 p.m. and La Salle (4-7, 2-2), Sunday at 1 p.m.
MEN’S LACROSSE AT FAIRFIELD — With two losses in their first two Colonial Athletic Association games, UMass (4-6, 0-2) faces Fairfield (6-6, 2-0) in an important game Saturday at 1 p.m. Only four of the six teams reach the conference tournament.
The Stags beat Drexel and Hofstra in their first two conference games.
SOFTBALL HEADS WEST — After sweeping a doubleheader with Rhode Island Wednesday, the Minutewomen (12-20, 6-4 A-10) will try put some distance between themselves and a crowded field in the conference standings with three games at St. Bonaventure (6-22, 3-7).
They play a doubleheader on Saturday at noon and a single game Sunday at 2 p.m.
UMass is in third place, a half game ahead of Saint Louis and George Washington, who are each 6-5.
ELSEWHERE — The men’s and women’s track & field teams host the Minuteman Invitational, Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
The UMass baseball team (7-14, 2-4 A-10) hosts Saint Joseph’s (14-14, 3-3), Friday (3 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon).
Rowing competes against Boston University, Dartmouth and Northeastern Sunday in Boston, while women’s tennis is at Fordham at 3 p.m.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage