Adamo a natural scorer
Danny Adamo is looking forward to the OHL draft this weekend. Photo: ALEC MURRAY.
Danny Adamo has high hopes for the upcoming Ontario Hockey League draft this weekend.
The 16-year-old forward for the Niagara North Stars will be eagerly following the proceedings which begin Friday at 7 p.m. with rounds 1-3 followed Saturday with rounds 4-15.
“I’ve been waiting for this . . . I can’t even remember how long,” Adamo said. “I’m excited, a little nervous, but I think things will go my way.”
Adamo, who attends Grade 10 at A.N. Myer, has played AAA all the way up through minor hockey with an eye on taking his game to the next level.
“That’s always been in my mind, it’s always been OHL, OHL, OHL. It would be the best option for me.”
He has had some contact with OHL teams already.
“There has been a couple of teams who have texted my agent throughout the season saying they like the way I play,” he said. “I’ve talked to one team so far but I’ve also been told that talking to teams isn’t really that big of a deal.”
Adamo is a gifted offensive player who led the Stars in scoring this season with 18 goals and 38 points in 31 regular season games before adding six goals and 14 points in eight playoff contests.
“Danny is a goal scorer that has a knack for finding the back of the net,” Stars U16AAA coach Jay Glenney said. “He was a danger to score every time he touched the puck with an exceptional release. He always worked hard and became a good 200-foot player this season. Danny also protects the puck as well as any player in the SCTA (South Central AAA) using his strength to his advantage.”
Adamo feels he has what it takes to make the jump to the OHL, stature notwithstanding.
“It’s a big step but I really think I have the skill and the IQ to play at the next level,” he said. “The only thing stopping me is my size and strength so obviously I have to work on that over the summer. I may not be able to make it my first year, but hopefully in my second year I can.”
Adamo has already had a brief taste of junior hockey, suiting up for a pair of regular season games with the Fort Erie Meteors where he netted a goal. He also dressed for a playoff game versus the Caledonia Corvairs.
“To play junior B to play as a 16-year-old is really hard,” he said. “It was definitely an eye opener that I was somewhat struggling in junior B, how I would do in the OHL. I played against Caledonia and I had a tough time. You have to be good to play junior B, not just OHL.”
Meteors general manager/coach Nik Passero loves Adamo’s skill set.
“Danny is an offensive threat every shift he’s on the ice,” Passero said. “His defensive game has come a long way in the last 12 months.
“He has all the tools and the attitude to become a great player.”
Adamo will like join older brother Kyle Adamo on the Meteors next season.
“I have looked up to my brother a lot. I’m very proud of him. He’s come a long way with adversity in his career with a lot of coaches and whatnot, but right now he’s the best he’s ever been and I do look up to him.”
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