The St. Catharines, Ontario newspaper, the Standard, reported late last week on a player who's interested in the Golden Eagles and vice versa...
Paul Sirignano desperately wants to play competitive hockey next season.
The speedy winger is coming to the end of his junior career and wants nothing of the beer leagues.
Sirignano has had some feelers from a few Division 3 schools in the United States and if he continues to play well, should be able to hook on with a team.
The 20-year-old St. Catharines native fired his 14th goal of the season and turned in another solid overall effort as the Thorold Blackhawks defeated the Port Colborne Pirates 8-3 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game Wednesday night at Thorold Arena.
The Hawks have now won six in a row to improve to 27-10-3 after losing five straight. They trail the St. Catharines Falcons by three points, but the Falcons have a game in hand which they will make up Thursday in Wheatfield.
"That's why I play the game," Sirignano said when asked about playing at a higher level next season.
Sirignano's game seems perfectly suited for the collegiate level. He can skate, doesn't mind throwing his weight around and is a good team player.
In fact, Thorold coach Kevin Rosebrugh feels Sirignano's stock may be on the rise.
"He's a definite Division 3 player and he may get some interest from Division 1 schools," Rosebrugh said. "I've had him for three years now. I had him in Port and two years here, and he has the skill set."
Sirignano admitted he's been thinking about his future as his junior career winds down. He's already secured dual citizenship so he would be eligible to play in Europe when he finishes school.
"You've got to have school to fall back on in case hockey doesn't work out," said Sirignano, who said Brockport State University in Brockport, N.Y., has shown the most interest.
Sirignano, who normally plays with Tanner Goode and also combines with Goode as a top-notch penalty killer, is a perfect third-line player and would likely be a second-line player on many teams, but the Hawks are stacked up front.
"Those two guys have been great all year and they accept their role," Rosebrugh said.
With just over a month to go before the playoffs, the Hawks appear on the right track.
Sirignano figures the club's latest surge has a lot to do with chemistry.
"We had guys coming and going over Christmas, and now we're all together," he said. "We're doing a lot of things together off the ice."
Source:
http://stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2280232&auth=BILL%20POTRECZ,%20Standard%20Staff
