Chicago Steel forwards Robert Mastrosimone and Nick Abruzzese were among the best North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings released Monday for this year’s NHL Draft on June 21-22 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Mastrosimone and Abruzzese were listed No. 53 and 122, respectively among 217 skaters.
Mastrosimone, 18, scored 31 goals and 60 points in 54 games in his second season with the Steel. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound center’s 31 goals pushed him pass Andrew Miller for the most goals scored in franchise history with 47 in 114 career games. He’s committed to Boston University.
Abruzzese claimed the USHL scoring title with 80 points in 62 games. The 5-foot-9, 163-pounder fell three points shy passing Miller’s 82-point record in 2008-09 for most points in a single season in franchise history. Abruzzese, who will turn 20 on June 4, is committed to Harvard.
Two Steel affiliates in defenseman Jackson LaCombe (No. 36) and goaltender Jonathan Williams (No. 19) also made the list.
LaCombe scored 20 goals and 81 points for Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota this season. The 18-year-old Minnesota commit has skated in three games for the Steel and will join the team for the Clark Cup playoffs. Williams, who turns 18 on June 21, plays for Springfield in the North American Hockey League and is committed to Michigan State. He can also join the Steel next season.
North Dakota commit Massimo Rizzo, who was drafted in 2017 by the Steel, came in at No. 84. Rizzo has 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) in 37 games for Penticton Vees in the British Columbia Hockey League. He’s the latest Penticton captain to commit to UND: Troy Stecher, Tyson Josh and Nick Jones.
The Steel also have two players from last season on the list with defenseman Jeremie Bucheler (No. 114) and left wing Brett Budgell (No. 156). Bucheler and Budgell have moved on to the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies and QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, respectively.