TENDER TOMMY PARROTTINO COMMITS TO MICHIGAN TECH

Mar 16, 2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce the commitment of IceRays tender Tommy Parrottino to Michigan Technological University, a NCAA Division I program in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), targeted for the 2018-19 season.

“It’s exciting,” said Parrottino on his commitment. “They have such a good program there. Coach Mel [Pearson] is turning the program around. It’s just an honor to be part of that organization."

Parrottino, 18, capped off a stellar season with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL), recording 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points with 18 penalty minutes and six power play goals through 32 games. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound forward led the Jr. Grizzlies in goals and scoring and finished second in the T1EHL in goals and scoring. During the season, he recorded two hat-tricks and points in 25 of 32 games, and he also appeared in two games with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) U-18 team in the United States Hockey League (USHL) in December. Before this season, Parrottino was drafted 252nd overall (16th Round) by the Sioux Falls Stampede in Phase II of the 2015 USHL Draft.

The Rochester Hills, Mich., native returns to his home state to begin his collegiate career after signing his NAHL future with the IceRays in December. Parrottino has played his midget career in Michigan beginning with his time in the Little Caesars program and continuing through this season in Oakland. He enjoys playing in his home state and feels that a lot of work is paying off, but he does give a nod to the program that gave him the opportunity.

“Oakland has done a great job running a ‘Grade A’ program along with the coaches that I have. Hard work, not quitting and not giving up all these years had a big part of it. I’ve just been working as hard as I can every time I touch the ice.”

Parrottino is the second past, current or future IceRays player to associate himself with the Michigan Tech program. Goaltender Pheonix Copley (‘10-’11) played two seasons with the Huskies before earning a professional tryout (PTO) contract following his sophomore season. Parrottino becomes the second tendered player for the 2016-17 season to commit to a NCAA Division I program, joining forward Trevor St. Jean, who committed to Bowling Green State University just under one month ago. The two will be future opponents in the WCHA, but for the time being Parrottino is hoping to improve in his expected two years of junior hockey before the Huskies are ready to pull him into the program.

“I look forward to just getting better at every aspect of the game. The work has just started now even though I just committed. It really takes the pressure off, but I have just as much work to put in, if not more. I’m just looking forward to getting better and playing at a faster pace.”

Parrottino signed a tender contract with the IceRays for the 2016-17 season in Dec. 11, 2015 after 18 games with the Jr. Grizzlies.

The IceRays head on the road to round out their season series with the Lone Star Brahmas starting on Friday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. from the NYTEX Sports Centre. The IceRays return to the American Bank Center on Friday, March 25 and open a two-game set against the Odessa Jackalopes. Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).