Skilled rookie making his mark
Thorold Blackhawks coach Scott Barnes figures Brad Ditillio has barely scratched the surface of his potential.
The 17-year-old St. Catharines native is off to a good start in his rookie season with seven goals and nine points through his first 16 games, and Barnes feels there is much more to come.
“I think he has some high-end skill, speed, size. He’s got everything you’re looking for,” Barnes said. “I think he’s a player that is going to move up. I had some pretty high expectations for him.
“I think he can be a really good player for us.”
Ditillio has been happy with his start and is quick to give credit to his teammates.
“It means a lot being able to play for these guys, they’re helping me out and all the chances are coming from them,” said Ditillio, a Grade 12 student at St. Francis Secondary School. “It’s a team effort. We’re playing good and off of that, the puck is going in for me.”
Barnes loves Ditillio’s skill set, but feels he still has room to improve.
“He competes hard. He has all the physical tools you want,” Barnes said. “My biggest thing with him is his consistency, not having a great game and then a game where he is non-existent. It’s something we’re working on with him to be a factor every game.”
Ditillio has played up and down the lineup and is currently skating on a line with Joel Chauvin and Sam VanderZalm.
“It’s working out good,” Ditillio said. “We’ve meshed a lot. I’ve played with Chauvin a lot with Niagara North and I’ve know Sammy for a while, so it’s been pretty good.”
Barnes has felt comfortable using Ditillio in all situations.
“He’s kind of been all over. He’s played on my top lines, played on my fourth line. He has been playing on a fourth line, but it’s really effective and I play him a lot.
“They worked well together.”
Barnes has also used Ditillio on special teams and even double-shifted him as necessary.
“We’re just trying to get that fit,” Barnes said. “Early on, I just tried to bring him along slowly. It was a little bit of an adjustment for our younger guys, but he’s got there now.”
Ditillio played two games for the Hawks last season while attending Hill Academy prep school in Toronto where he collected 10 goals and 18 points in 17 games.
“It’s very successful, a lot of guys come out of there,” Ditillio said. “The exposure is amazing. We’re training on the ice every day and working out. There were no weaknesses to it. It was all about development.”
Ditillio had a handful of offers for this season, but felt comfortable in Thorold.
“After the year was done, I assessed all my offers and thought this would be the best place to develop. Come here and play as much as I can. I wanted to go back home after being away for a year and this was the place where I could come home and develop.
“I’m looking to keep playing and developing and see where it takes me from there.”
The Blackhawks improved to 10-6-2-1 with a 4-3 win in Buffalo Wednesday.
Thomas Lansdale and VanderZalm had two goals each while Chauvin added four assists.
Chase Grsic made 34 saves for the win.
“I feel like there is only up to go. We’re solid team and a good group of guys and we’re starting to play the way we should be playing,” Ditillio said.
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