BROOKS, AB (June 7, 2023) – The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League have signed 2004-born forward and Clarkson commit, Mirko Buttazzoni.
Buttazzoni, 18, has 106 regular season games experience in the British Columbia Hockey League, spending the 2022-23 season with the Coquitlam Express where he put up 47 points (20G, 27A) in 53 games. He was third in team scoring and participated in the BCHL All-Star Tournament this past January.
“I’m excited and thankful to be able to call Brooks, Alberta my new home. The Brooks Bandits are a top Canadian Junior Hockey franchise with a great track record of winning and developing players that move on to the next level,” said Buttazzoni.
“I believe that I’ll grow and excel with this organization as their staff and culture is truly amazing from everything I’ve seen so far. I’m looking forward to competing for another AJHL and Canadian National Championship.
He split the 2021-22 season with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Express, tallying 27 points (10G, 17A) in 53 games in his rookie season. Buttazzoni played his U18 hockey with Burnaby Winter Club Prep in the CSSHL during the 2020-21 campaign.
“We felt a player with the skill set of Mirko couldn’t be passed up on,” said Bandits Head Coach and General Manager, Ryan Papaioannou.
“He has an ability to score from distance which is an attractive quality for our club. Mirko will certainly impact the game from an offensive perspective, and we are looking forward to working with him on all aspects of his game.”
The Bandits welcome Mirko and the Buttazzoni family to Brooks.