Good news has been coming in bunches for Penticton Vees forward Massimo Rizzo.
In the middle of May, it was announced he will be the Vees captain for the coming season and just two weeks later, he committed to an NCAA future at the University of North Dakota.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Burnaby posted 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points in 50 games in his rookie BCHL season. He was near a point per game in the postseason with four goals and six helpers in 11 playoff contests.
At North Dakota, Rizzo will follow a familiar path like other Vees alums such as Tyson Jost, Mark MacMillan, Nic Jones, Dixon Bowen, Brett Hextall, Colton Poolman and Gabe Bast. Last season, the Fighting Hawks roster included Poolman, Bast, Bowen, Jones and Chilliwack Chiefs alum Jordan Kawaguchi.
The Fighting Hawks compete in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) along with Miami-Ohio, Denver, Colorado College, Western Michigan, Nebraska-Omaha, St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth.
Rizzo, a 2001-born player, is considered a likely prospect to be selected at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver.
