3rd year right wing JJ Piccinich(14) scores himself a one-year AHL deal with San Antonio Rampage after helping lead first year team Newfoundland Growlers to the 2019 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship.
Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 4th round pick in the 2014 draft (#103 overall), he was never signed but did ink a 2-year stay with affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He played his entire rookie season with Orlando Solar Bears scoring a career best 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points but only played 6 games (1 assist) in the higher league as a sophomore skater.
The New Jersey-born player took a somewhat odd path to turning pro starting with a pair of years in the USHL with Youngstown Phantoms before heading to Boston University.
He stayed in college only one year before accepting terms from a 2012 draft by London Knights to head north for his continued development.
No doubt he did pretty well winning the 2016 OHL Championship and the Memorial Cup in his first year.
He would become team captain the following season.
The 23-year old, who plays an almost by the book power forward style game, could be just getting started.