Prior to 2017, the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey team had a player or recruit selected in the NHL draft for three straight years. This past Saturday marked the fourth year in a row, but that was the lesser of two records. Incoming freshman goaltender Keith Petruzzelli was drafted and the Bobcats saw their second highest draft pick ever selected.
The Detroit Red Wings selected Petruzzelli in the third round with the 88th overall pick in the draft. The Quinnipiac hockey commit was the eighth goalie taken in the draft, and the second from the United States.
“It’s an absolute honor to be selected by such a storied franchise,” Petruzzelli said Saturday night shortly after hearing his name called. “Great franchise, great coaches, great people and I just can’t wait to get started.”
The USA Hockey goaltender of the year played most recently in Michigan for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. The 6-foot-5-inch and 174-pound goaltender had a stellar season, highlighted by earning team MVP honors at the USHL top prospects game in January.
His accolades also include leading all USHL rookies in both wins (22) and save percentage (.918), and second in goals against average (2.40).
The future Bobcat tweeted after the draft, “Dream come true to have been drafted by the @DetroitRedWings excited to be a part of such an incredible franchise!! #wings.”
Before Muskegon, Petruzzelli played high school hockey near his hometown of Wilbraham, Mass at Springfield Cathedral. Leaving after two years, the highly touted prospect attended South Kent School playing for the Selects Hockey Academy. He posted a 1.13 GAA in 22 games with the team in the USPHL.
Petruzzelli will enter Quinnipiac this fall alongside his older brother D.J. The two are just another set of brothers to attend Quinnipiac. Other notable siblings include Kellen and Connor Jones (’14) and most recently Tim and Connor Clifton (’17).
The Bobcats return two goalies from last year’s team, both of whom split time between the pipes. Chris Truehl, a senior transfer from Air force and Andrew Shortridge, a sophomore who claimed the crease his own down the final stretch of the season will challenge the freshman for time this upcoming year.
The last stop for Petruzzelli before he heads to Hamden in a few months is back in Michigan for the World Junior Summer Showcase July 19-Aug. 5. Petruzzelli will try to earn a chance to represent his country in the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships.
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Draft picks from around the ECAC:
Petruzzelli joins 9 other ECAC Hockey players who were selected in this years NHL draft:
Nick Campoli – Clarkson:
Selected in the 6th round (158 overall) by Vegas Golden Knights. This playmaking center will be no stranger to the mascot Golden Knights by the time he ships off to Vegas for a pro career. Next year with the Clarkson Golden Knights, Campoli will look to improve on his 23 assists and 32 points in 20 games that he recorded last season with the North York Rangers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
Morgan Barron – Cornell:
Selected in the 6th round (174 overall) by New York Rangers. This two-year captain for St. Andrew’s College, the largest all-boys boarding school in Canada, recorded 50 points in 46 games last season. He joins the Big Red as one of six draft picks on campus. Cornell looks to get back to the NCAA tournament after falling to UMass Lowell in the Northeast regional last season.
Jack Badini – Harvard:
Selected in 3rd round (91st overall) by Anaheim Ducks. Joins the Crimson next season after a phenomenal season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in which he scored 28 goals and recorded 42 points in 59 games. He will look to add to the potent Harvard offense, and help head coach Ted Donato return to the Frozen Four.
Jack Rathbone – Harvard:
Selected in the 4th round (95 overall) by Vancouver Canucks. This Massachusetts native isn’t traveling far for his collegiate hockey career. Growing up in West Roxbury, Mass Rathbone will travel only a short 10 miles to Cambridge to play for Ted Donato and the Crimson. It may not be Boston College where he father played college hockey, but Harvard has a pretty decent name for itself.
Reilly Walsh – Harvard:
Selected in the 3rd round (81 overall) by New Jersey Devils. The 5-foot-10-inch defenseman doesn’t tower over people on the ice, but the puck moving defenseman should have no problem working in tandem with Crimson’s star sophomore defenseman Adam Fox. ECAC, Harvard has three more incoming draft picks: watch out!
Will Reilly – Rensselaer:
Selected in the 7th round (217 overall) by Pittsburg Penguins. The final pick in the draft, but getting drafted is getting drafted right? Reilly notched 15 points in 35 games last season with RPI. The Engineers will be happy to have Reilly back on their blue line as they try to improve on their 6-16 conference record.
Parker Foo – Union:
Selected in the 5th round (144 overall) by Chicago Blackhawks. Brother of current Dutchman Spencer Foo, Parker joins a Union team that took the ECAC by storm, losing only four conference games. After being upset in the quarterfinals of the ECAC tournament, Union will look to make another run to the NCAA tournament next year. Foo scored 34 goals and recorded 66 points in 60 games with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
John Adams – Union:
Selected in the 6th round (162 overall) by Detroit Red Wings. Adams broke onto the scene with 37 goals and 60 points in 56 games with the Fargo Force of the USHL. This towering 6-foot-5-inch winger will bring size and skill to the Dutchmen roster. Bring back Spencer Foo, add his brother Parker and now Adams, and Union replacing captain Mike Vecchione won’t be as hard as it seems.
Phil Kemp – Yale:
Selected in the 7th round (208 overall) by Edmonton Oilers. The two-year captain of the U.S. National U18 team will join the Yale Bulldogs next year. Keith Allain will look to add strength to his young defensive core (graduating only one defenseman) after a down year for the Ivy powerhouse who went below .500 in the ECAC.
