WORCESTER - Worcester Sharks General Manager Wayne Thomas announced today that the club has signed center Matt Fornataro to an American Hockey League contract.  Per club policy, terms of the deal were undisclosed.

 

The 23-year-old Fornataro skated in one regular season game at the end of last season for the Syracuse Crunch and recorded his first professional goal after a stellar four years at the University of New Hampshire. 

 

The 6-foot, 190-pound Calgary, Alberta native was a second-team All-Hockey East selection and a New England All- Star, led the Wildcats in scoring with 46 points (18+28=46) his senior year. A senior captain, Fornataro appeared in 156 games over his four years at UNH, tallying 44 goals, 74 assists and is ranked in the top 50 all-time scorers in UNH history.

 

Prior to UNH, Fornataro was a teammate of San Jose Shark Joe Pavelski for two seasons in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks where he skated in 114 games and recorded 79 points (31+48=79).

 

The Sharks home opener is Saturday, October 18 against the Providence Bruins.  The first 3,000 fans will receive an All-Star FINZ Bobblehead and a magnet schedule compliments of Charter Communications.

 

Ticket packages for the 2008-09 season are on sale now by contacting the Worcester Sharks Office at 508.929.0500 or by crashing the net at www.sharksahl.com. Secure your seat for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications by making your deposit today!