Spits ink DiGiacinto

 

 

by Evan Mathias

The Windsor Spitfires have signed 17-year-old free agent forward Cristiano DiGiacinto.

DiGiacinto, who was signed Oct. 15, was passed up twice in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection but said he wasn’t discouraged and has tried to prove himself.

“There’s a lot of great guys in this league so I hope I can develop during practice and throughout the year, catch up to where they’re at,” said DiGiacinto. “I’m excited to grow as a player here.”

Spits general manager Warren Rychel said DiGiacinto is a classic case of a late bloomer. He was a smaller player and was injured much of his draft year when he was overlooked.

The 5’11, 196-pound winger was signed to a free agent tryout with the Erie Otters during training camp but didn’t stay with the team when the regular season started.

DiGiacinto made his Spitfires debut Oct. 17 against the Guelph Storm. He started on the team’s second line and stayed there throughout the course of the game, earning limited power play time.

Rychel said DiGiacinto is a hard working player and likes his style of play.

“If it can make your team better than it was 48 hours ago, then for sure you have to make these moves,” said Rychel. “We like his intensity, he gets after the puck and he plays like he cares. I think he will upgrade our lineup as a whole.”

DiGiacinto said he wants to use his physical style of play to make an immediate impact with the team.

“I see myself as a strong power forward, I’m physical, can get in the corners and the greasy areas and put the puck in the net,” said DiGiacinto.

Rychel said he doesn’t want DiGiacinto to come in and think he needs to dominate, but rather take a secondary scoring role.

“It might take some time, but he plays hard and he gets after it,” said Rychel. “It will obviously take time. Our league is very good, but he will definitely be a factor.”