Third Round NHL Pick Could Suit Up For Huskies' By Dec. 15
HOUGHTON, Mich. — Casey Pierro-Zabotel (Kamloops, B.C.), who has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to attend and play hockey at Michigan Tech this fall, will continue his junior hockey career until December of 2007, it was announced today by Huskies' head coach Jamie Russell.
Pierro-Zabotel is considered a partial qualifier according to the NCAA's initial eligibility standards. He will use the fall semester to fulfill the necessary requirements to become eligible. Pierro-Zabotel could play for Michigan Tech as soon as its home contest against Northern Michigan Dec. 15. He will continue playing junior hockey for the first part of the season while he seeks approval from the NCAA initial eligibility clearing house.
“I am very proud of Casey for his belief and commitment to earning a college education,” said Russell. “Obviously, he is a great hockey player, but he truly believes in receiving his education. Although this isn't an ideal situation, it could be a great opportunity in the long run. Not only will he be able to combine his education with a Division I hockey career, it will help him move towards achieving his goal of playing in the NHL.”
Pierro-Zabotel was taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round with the 80th overall pick in the 2007 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft. Among the 73 college players chosen in the 2007 NHL Draft, Pierro-Zabotel was the ninth-highest rated incoming player slated to join a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) team in 2007-08.
A 6-2, 208-pound center, Pierro-Zabotel recently completed his third year with the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He was the league's third-leading scorer during the 2006-07 campaign with 51-65–116 points in 55 regular-season contests. Tabbed as the most valuable player of the BCHL Interior Conference this past season, Pierro-Zabotel appeared in the BCHL All-Star Game and was a member of Team West at the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) Top Prospects Game. In addition to averaging more than two points per game in the regular season, Pierro-Zabotel netted 23 power-play goals, which was the third best total in the BCHL.
Adding to his impressive resume, Pierro-Zabotel teamed up with fellow Michigan Tech recruit Deron Cousens (Georgetown, Ontario) in helping Canada West win a gold medal at the inaugural World Junior A Hockey Challenge last November. Canada West?s second-leading scorer in the four-game tournament, Pierro-Zabotel amassed 3-6–9 points. The sniper notched the game-winning goal with a man advantage in his squad?s 4-3 victory over Canada East in the gold medal game.
Pierro-Zabotel recorded 29-39–68 points in 2005-06, including six shorthanded goals in 69 games. He also earned playing time in 63 contests in 2004-05, scoring 6-6–12.
The Huskies open the 2007-08 campaign with seven consecutive home dates, including a season-opening meeting with the University of Toronto Oct. 6. Michigan Tech kicks off the regular season against Northern Michigan (Oct. 12) and Lake Superior State (Oct. 14) in the battle for the inaugural Superior Cup.
Photo: Casey Pierro-Zabotel at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.
Courtesy: Larry Radloff
Pierro-Zabotel Aims To Join Michigan Tech Hockey Team In December
