Windsor Spitfires Pick Pizzuto Among Five Taken in U-18 Draft

The Windsor Spitfires took five players in the first-ever Ontario Hockey League Under-18 Priority Selection on Wednesday night. Among those taken was Windsor AAA Midgets Captain Gianluca Pizzuto. The 5’7, 181-pound defenceman played 35 regular season games last season, scoring three times and adding 19 assists along with 26 penalty minutes, adding 12 points (4G, 8A) in 12 playoff games.

Evan Benwell, a 5’10, 158-pound winger from the Mississauga Rebels Midget AAA program, was chosen in the first round at #16.

At #56, Thunder Bay’s Quintin Loon-Stewardson – a 5’10 167-pound centre from the Thunder Bay Kings – was taken.

Goalie Patrick O’Leary of the Mississauga Reps Midget AAAs was chosen at #76 and Matthew O’Brien, a 6′0 & 193-pound right winger from the Toronto Nationals Midget AAAs, was the final Windsor selection at #96.

All five players are expected to be at spring mini-camp later this month.