Toronto Maple Leafs sign Jerry D’Amigo
The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have signed forward Jerry D’Amigo to an entry level contract. The youngster spent last season playing for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers.
D’Amigo spent last season playing for R.P.I. at the collegiate level, and had yet to sign a pro contract with the Maple Leafs. D’Amigo was not allowed to attend Maple Leaf training camp this year without a pro contract. Now having signed a pro deal he is not allowed to return to the NCAA.
Therefore, the only option D’Amigo has if he does not play in the National Hockey League or American Hockey League next season would be to head to the Ontario Hockey League where his rights are owned by the Kitchener Rangers. D’Amigo made it clear that he would not be making the move to the OHL and therefore will play in either the NHL or AHL next season.
D’Amigo shot-up the Leafs prospects rankings after an impressive performance at the World Junior Hockey Championships last year, in which D’Amigo registered 12 points, on route to winning a gold medal with the United States.
Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke had this to say of the youngster’s progress: “We’ve been very pleased with Jerry’s progression over the past 12 months, Seth Appert and the rest of the coaching staff at R.P.I. have done a really nice job of preparing Jerry for the next stage in his development. We look forward to having him at training camp.”
D’Amigo will attend Maple Leafs training camp at the end of the month and is expected to appear in one or two of the Leafs pre-season games. Although the likelihood of D’Amigo making the team as a 19-year-old is low, the Leafs lack of depth on the left-wing could work in the youngsters favour.
Last year playing for R.P.I. D’Amigo recorded 10 goals, and 24 assists for 34 points in 35 games.
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