BROOKS, AB (June 27, 2015) – The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) have signed 1996-born goaltender Andrew Tucci (Toronto, ON), the team announced today.
Tucci, 19, comes to Brooks after three stellar years playing for Choate Rosemary Hall prep school in Wallingford, Connecticut, in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC)'s Founders League. This past season, Tucci recorded a 2.19 goals against average and .929 save percentage for Choate, following up a 2013-14 campaign in which those statistics were 1.50 and .950, respectively.
“Andrew was put on our radar by one of our NCAA contacts, and we have spent time watching and getting to know him over the last couple of months,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “He is a proven goalie at the prep school level, having played a key role for Choate last year.”
“Andrew is a great athlete and plays the game with good instincts and flexibility,” Papaioannou added.
The 5’7”, 157lb goalie also went 14-4 with a 1.73 GAA for the Springfield Rifles U18 team this past season. Tucci is a graduate of the Don Mills Flyers minor midget program, where he recorded a 24-9 record with a 2.27 GAA in 2011-12.
Tucci also received a Most Valuable Player award at the U19 Teal Invite tournament in Boston this month.
He was also ranked eighth in a list of the top fifteen uncommitted prep school goaltenders in New England last year by SB Nation College Hockey.
“I couldn't be more excited to be joining the Brooks Bandits for the upcoming year,” said Tucci. “I look forward to helping Brooks keep the winning tradition it has held in past years.”
Season Tickets for the Bandits’ 2015-16 campaign are on sale now! Reserve your great seat for all 2015-16 games, get the first crack at seats for the 2016 Playoffs, have a chance at great prizes, and more! More information is available at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.