WELLINGTON’S RINALDI COMMITS TO RIT
Andrew Rinaldi of the Wellington Dukes (photo credit – Shawn Muir / OJHL Images) committed to the NCAA Division 1 Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers beginning with the 2019-20 season this week.
In his final season of junior eligibility, the 20-year-old from Montreal led the Dukes with 63 points (29 goals/34 assists) in 48 games this season.
Rinaldi amassed 58 points (25 goals and 33 assists) during 53 regular season games and helped the Dukes win the OJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup titles last year.
“Andrew stuck with the process and we are thrilled that he is able to pursue his education and hockey career at RIT,” Wellington General Manager Todd Reid told the OJHL. “He will follow former Dukes Jordan Ruby and Abbot Girduckis. The future is bright for RIT with both Andrew and teammate Elijah Gonsalves committed to their program.”
Rinaldi was Kewl South-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for October 2018 and North-East (before the conferences were reconfigured) Player of the Month for October 2017 – both times following 17-point months.
Rinaldi played for the Kent School in Connecticut and the Springfield Rifles U18 out of Massachusetts before making the jump to the OJHL last season. He played previously for the Lac St. Louis Prédateurs Espoir minor hockey program.
Rinaldi’s older brother, Anthony, is in his junior year of NCAA D1 hockey at Union College. Anthony scored 38 goals and added 35 assists in 52 games during the 2015-16 season with the Kingston Voyageurs of the OJHL.
RIT, located in suburban Rochester, NY, lists five OJHL graduates on its roster: Girduckis, Andrew Petrucci (Toronto Patriots), Jordan Peacock (Burlington), Jake Joffe (Toronto Jr. Canadiens) and Gabe Valenzuela (North York Rangers).
The Wellington Dukes face the Cobourg Cougars in the opening round of the OJHL plays beginning this week.
Congratulations to Andrew and best of luck in the NCAA
The OJHL, the largest Jr. A hockey league in Canada, had more than 135 commitments in 2017-18, including 65 NCAA Division I scholarships.
-With files from the Belleville Intelligencer
