BROOKS, AB (September 10, 2018) – The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are delighted to announce that Anthony Petruzzelli (Federal Way, WA) will be inducted into the Smith Group Bandits Wall of Fame at the team’s second home game, Saturday, September 22nd, at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Petruzzelli, 25, will become the third inductee into the prestigious alumni showcase, following the induction of his former teammate Anthony Paskaruk last season, and former Bandit goalie Chad Johnson the year prior.
“I am excited and proud to have Anthony back in Brooks after his collegiate career and graduation,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “‘Petro’ was a true Bandit. He is one of many players that have shaped our culture over the past 10 years and we are forever grateful for his 3 seasons in Brooks.
“Petro was always the type of person who would find a way; whether on or off the ice, he was counted on to do the right things. I have plenty of memorable moments with Anthony, but the top of the list has to be the opening goal of the 2013 RBC Cup Final.”
“It’s a huge honour that I never would have expected,” said Petruzzelli. “I’m really excited to come back and see the town and how much it’s grown. It’s awesome to be a part of the CRA forever now. It’s a great organization, and I’m glad to have spent my three years playing junior hockey there.”
In three years in Brooks, Petruzzelli scored the third-most goals in franchise history, finding the back of the net 80 times in 176 regular season games, posting the 8th-most appearances in franchise history, along with 83 assists, the 12th-most in franchise history, and 163 points, the 6th-most by a Bandit. His goal-scoring prowess ranks behind only Cam Maclise and Jarret Granberg.
In his debut in 2011-12, Petruzzelli scored 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 59 games and was named the AJHL Rookie of the Year as he helped propel the team to its first-ever league championship. He followed it up with a 63-point (30 goals, 33 assists) performance in 59 games in 2012-13, as the team won its first-ever national championship in Summerside, PEI. He was the team’s third-highest playoff scorer that year and also added 4 goals and 3 assists in 6 games at the National Junior A Championship tournament, scoring the second-most goals behind only his teammate Cam Maclise.
He concluded his career with a 53-point (27 goals, 26 assists) campaign in 58 games in 2013-14, leading the team in scoring before departing for a four-year NCAA career at the University of Vermont, where he was named an alternate captain in his final three years of college hockey. Concluding his senior year in 2017-18, he began his professional career with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL and will enter his first full season with that team in 2018-19.
His Junior accolades also included a run to the U.S. Jr. A Nationals with the Helena Bighorns of the Northern Pacific Hockey League in 2010-11, a team coached by future Bandits assistant coach Scott Cunningham.
Anthony Petruzzelli Night, presented by Smith Group, will be held on Saturday, September 22nd at 7:00 PM when the Bandits host the Camrose Kodiaks. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.