OHL Signings Notebook (Sept. 5)

‘Tis the season!

CHL signings are flying in now that teams are breaking camp and getting ready to begin the 2019-20 season. The Ontario Hockey League regular season begins in exactly two weeks when the Niagara IceDogs host the Sudbury Wolves at the Meridian Centre.

Forward David Campbell (3.5-stars) and Christian Cicigoi (unrated) both recently signed with North Bay. Campbell and Cicigoi were teammates last season with Powassan (NOJHL), where Campbell had 39 points (16g-17a) in 54 games and Cicigoi posted a .917 save percentage in 28 games.

“David was a strong skater who was heavy on the puck when he needed to be,” our scouts noted on Campbell at least season’s Eastern Canada Cup. “Showed strength and the ability to play in traffic and not get pushed around.  He was confident with the puck on his stick and attempted to make plays when given the chance.”

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North Bay also signed defenseman James Mayotte (3.25-stars), who appeared in 74 games last season for Shattuck St. Mary’s, scoring 25 points (9g-16a).

The Saginaw Spirit signed forwards Roberto Mancini (4.0-stars) and Sebastian Bulovs (3.75-stars). Mancini, who has good size at 6-foot-2, finished last season with 29 points (12g-17a) in 49 games for the Mississauga Reps Min Midget AAA team. Bulovs had 13 points (7g-6a) in 47 games as a rookie in the OJHL last season with Brampton.

Riley Pitt (3.75-stars) signed with the Oshawa Generals. A seventh-round pick of the Generals in the 2019 Priority Selection Draft, Pitt, who is just 16 years old, is already 6-foot-4. Pitt had 11 points (4g-7a) in 33 games for the North Central Predators Minor Midget AAA team last season on the blue line, and then played a pair of games with the Milton Menace (OJHL) to close out the season.

“Among the biggest defenders in Ontario Pitt showed steady improvement all season with his speed and agility,” our scouts wrote after last March’s OHL Cup. “With a long reach and good gap control he has always been a difficult defender to beat. We noticed his increased offensive confidence this season and helped him create.”

The Generals also signed Tye McSorley (3.5-stars), who had nine points (2g-7a) in 53 games for the Mississauga Chargers (OJHL) last season, and David DeJesus (3.75-stars), who is another sizable defenseman (6-foot-3).

Our scouts last saw Jesus in February, when he played for the Mississauga Chargers (OJHL)

“David is a strong skater with a quick first few strides and above average straight line speed,” said our scouts. “He is always moving his feet and trying to improve his position on the ice. This can at times lead him to trouble and he was caught out of position on a few occasions in the game, however in the offensive end he can provide his team with an extra scoring threat.”

The London Knights also inked a pair, signing forward Ty Anselmini (3.75-stars) and defenseman Connor Federkow (4.0-stars).

Anselmini scored 51 points (22g-29a) in 31 games last season for the Guelph Jr. Gryphons (Min Midget AAA) while Federkow appeared in 31 games for the Niagara North Stars (Min Midget AAA), scoring 10 points (2g-8a).