Young blood hops the Express
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has gone for size and youth in signing two plum prospects who hail from the Greater Sudbury Area.
HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed via Espanola president Chad Clarke that the Express has signed 6-foot-2, 190-pound, 2000 birth-year defenseman Patrick Musico and 6-foot-2, 190-pound, 1999 birth-year forward Keegan Gillis-McAnulty to NOJHL cards.
“Patrick will make an immediate impact on our blueline and continue to get bigger and stronger as we expect him to become a league-leading defenceman in the years to come,” Express head coach Tom McCarthy said of Musico, who played for the North Central Predators major midgets in 2015-2016.
As for Gillis-McAnulty, the big forward showed a good scoring touch with the Copper Cliff Redmen minor midgets in ’15-16, tallying 36 goals, 22 assists, 58 points in just 27 games. He also suited up for four NOJHL games with the Express as an affiliate player.
“Keegan is big and strong and he has a knack for getting the puck down low and finishing,” praised Express co-coach Jason Rapcewicz. “We believe he will quickly become a fan favourite in Espanola with his style of play.”
The Express will enter its second NOJHL season in 2016-2017 after debuting as an expansion team in ’15-16 and making the West Division playoffs.
PHOTO: Express coach Tom McCarthy observes the signing of Patrick Musico (photo, left) and Keegan Gillis-McAnulty (photo, right.)