F Massimo Rizzo - Univ. of Denver, NCAA (2019, 216th, CAR; traded to PHI)

[Daneurism]

Another player from the impressive 01 class out west that includes Dach, Krebs, Barlage, and Mutala.



Incredible set of hands, and also a terrific goal scorer. Burnaby plays in a weak loop, aside from tournaments, so the competition in the compilation might not be all that. Though, he was recently named top forward at the 01 World Selects Invite, which had many of the top players in the age group from North America.

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[Firecracker]

Im really high on this guy. When the competition is high he turns out. Led his team in points at the Pat Quinn Classic which had many top teams from the west coast he was tied for most points on his team at the John Reid Memorial another top tournament and did very good at bantam westerns. In 61 games he had 60 goals and 77 assists for 137 points. He was drafted by Kamloops in the first round of the WHL draft 15th overall in the first round. He attended rookie camp there for a few days but he left early and played a few exhibition games with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL so it looks like he may choose the NCAA route over WHL. Looks like he will be play for Burnaby Prep in the CSSHL this year so he will be facing people older than him and playing good teams.

Some games (He is 88)
http://sportscanada.tv/pqc/archives/5956 Burnaby Vs Shawnigan Lake (CSSHL)
http://sportscanada.tv/pqc/archives/5952 Burnaby Vs Notre Dame (SSMHL Midget AA)
http://sportscanada.tv/pqc/archives/6501 Burnaby Vs LA JR Kings (T1EHL)
http://sportscanada.tv/pqc/archives/6508 Burnaby VS LA Jr Kings (T1EHL)
http://sportscanada.tv/pqc/archives/6512 Burnaby Vs Notre Dame (SSMHL Midget AA)
All this footage is from the pat quinn classic where he did well. It was also against high level competition.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Most likely will play BCHL Junior A with Penticton and go NCAA route ive heard.

This is where having Don Hay as a head coach starts becoming a pain in the butt in junior... a lot of kids aren't used to and don't respond well nowadays with his hard nosed way of coaching and we may see some top young players choose other options/ask for trades. It happened countless times with Vancouver Giants where top young kids requested trades and wanted out cause all through minor hockey they could do as they please and light up every game. Don Hay doesn't care who the kid is, but if they don't work hard, they wont play... many kids have responded well to that and have played many years in NHL BUT also on flipside many top kids tuck their tails between their legs and struggle and don't make it professionally. In many instances in Vancouver, kids parents called the GM and owner and asked if their kid can be traded... Yes, the parents called and asked instead of the kid walking in and asking.

Vancouver Giants fans know what im talking about

Im not saying this is the reason Rizzo may decide against WHL(even though he told Kamloops he would play major junior before WHL draft), but I just get nervous for Kamloops Blazers organization now and see some similarities. Most recently Kamloops recently traded a former high pick Jake Kryski, who has struggled past 2 years to Kelowna and he has completely lit it up in preseason so far and hes expected to be a go to guy now.. hes also a Burnaby Winter Club alum like Rizzo...



anyways, extremely skilled kid and will be a stud wherever he plays. Id love to see him play WHL, but if he doesn't, he will take the league by storm forsure if he plays Junior A after his midget season. Im sure right now he could pick and choose almost any NCAA school to verbally commit to

 

[SmartPuck]

Fantastically skilled. Has a bit of Patrick Kane to his game. Regardless of where he ends up playing he's going to have a great chance at being an NHL player.

 

[tony d]

Looks like a good 1, lots of hype around the 2019 draft, let's see if all these guys pan out.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Fantastically skilled. Has a bit of Patrick Kane to his game. Regardless of where he ends up playing he's going to have a great chance at being an NHL player.

yup... that was his NHL comparison during bantam. Wears number 88 too

 

[Firecracker]

Looks like he played his first game of the season for Bwc prep. He had 1 assist and a penalty.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

Most likely will play BCHL Junior A with Penticton and go NCAA route ive heard.

This is where having Don Hay as a head coach starts becoming a pain in the butt in junior... a lot of kids aren't used to and don't respond well nowadays with his hard nosed way of coaching and we may see some top young players choose other options/ask for trades. It happened countless times with Vancouver Giants where top young kids requested trades and wanted out cause all through minor hockey they could do as they please and light up every game. Don Hay doesn't care who the kid is, but if they don't work hard, they wont play... many kids have responded well to that and have played many years in NHL BUT also on flipside many top kids tuck their tails between their legs and struggle and don't make it professionally. In many instances in Vancouver, kids parents called the GM and owner and asked if their kid can be traded... Yes, the parents called and asked instead of the kid walking in and asking.

Vancouver Giants fans know what im talking about

Im not saying this is the reason Rizzo may decide against WHL(even though he told Kamloops he would play major junior before WHL draft), but I just get nervous for Kamloops Blazers organization now and see some similarities. Most recently Kamloops recently traded a former high pick Jake Kryski, who has struggled past 2 years to Kelowna and he has completely lit it up in preseason so far and hes expected to be a go to guy now.. hes also a Burnaby Winter Club alum like Rizzo...



anyways, extremely skilled kid and will be a stud wherever he plays. Id love to see him play WHL, but if he doesn't, he will take the league by storm forsure if he plays Junior A after his midget season. Im sure right now he could pick and choose almost any NCAA school to verbally commit to

Oh are you another one of those Giant fans who still try to blame Don for the awful awful way their organization has been run since 2009?

If this kid did tell the Blazers he'd go the WHL route and then changed his mind, that's pretty immature and stupid on his part.

The reason the Blazers have developed the last couple years under Don is because of the way he's developed the young kids.

If this kid goes the NCAA route, more power to him. But if he doesn't want to play for Don because he doesn't want to be told to work hard then the Blazers don't need a little soft kid like that on their team.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Oh are you another one of those Giant fans who still try to blame Don for the awful awful way their organization has been run since 2009?

If this kid did tell the Blazers he'd go the WHL route and then changed his mind, that's pretty immature and stupid on his part.

The reason the Blazers have developed the last couple years under Don is because of the way he's developed the young kids.

If this kid goes the NCAA route, more power to him. But if he doesn't want to play for Don because he doesn't want to be told to work hard then the Blazers don't need a little soft kid like that on their team.

Not a Giants fan

a lot of kids don't tell WHL teams that they have no plans to play in the league so then they are still high picks in the draft. It helps them get NCAA scholorships even more cause those NCAA teams want to land those highly touted players. I know this happens for a fact alot.

Most kids say they wanna play in WHL and you'll see some "im unsure as of now" when talking to kids before draft. Its rare a kid says "no interest in WHL at all" when leading up to draft.

It's always after the kid is drafted when the truth comes out

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

He is a little slow on the skating, if he were in the WHL today I'd see him struggling.

 

[TLEH]

reminds me a bit of Kane, but looks like he is like skating in quicksand sometimes.

 

[Dodospice]

Even more so than in the Q or the OHL, if you're a young kid drafted into the CHL and either A) can't make the team (like a 2001 born player ie. Rizzo) or B) aren't likely to make it as a 16 year old, why would you do anything that would take away your NCAA eligibility for the future.

It just seems smart to me, for Rizzo to keep all his options open moving forward especially when he isn't eligible to make the team this season.

 

[HockeyTraveler]

Blazers knew he wasn't committing before they drafted him. Matt Recchi was on the local Kamloops Radio stating that they felt he was a franchise player and were taking the chance that he may commit. Check out the link of the interview. https://soundcloud.com/keen941/blazer-tc-friday. Kid was the best in the West since Pat Quinn. Out Played the #1 pick in the Bantam Western Championship in both games they played each other and led the Championships in Scoring with 11 Points in 5 games. Love the Quick Sand comment, kid sets the pace, skating wasn't an issue on the 4th clip. Shorthanded game winner in Championship game of Westerns. That's Krebs chasing him. Kid was top forward in World Select Invite with Top North American kids there. Hope he signs in Kamloops, but so much can change for these kids and theres no rush when they can't play until there 16. W drafts to early in my opinion. Look forward to following his progress, kids got skill and compete.

 

[Firecracker]

Good news for him. Last I checked he was leading bwc prep in points averaging 2 ppg but I haven't checked in a while. He is still 15.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Good news for him. Last I checked he was leading bwc prep in points averaging 2 ppg but I haven't checked in a while. He is still 15.

Vees will make sure he plays there next season and not WHL

 

[Firecracker]

8 points in 5 games for team BC at the Western Canada Challenge Cup. His team got second with him being named captain.

 

[Firecracker]

After a great midget season he is going to finish the year in Penticton for the BCHL playoffs.

 

[phillipsj89]

Wondering what his plans are next year.

Kamloops radio had an interview with the Blazers GM and listening between the lines. Rizzo wants to go to Kamloops, but his parents want him to go the NCAA route. Hard to say what will win out, but I would bank on NCAA (just odd such a highly touted player hasn't committed yet, no?) MAybe the lure of a Memorial Cup in Kamloops would help their chances?? Who knows, but he would likely get first line minutes net year with a couple good players in Kamloops.

 

[Teemu]

Wondering what his plans are next year.

Kamloops radio had an interview with the Blazers GM and listening between the lines. Rizzo wants to go to Kamloops, but his parents want him to go the NCAA route. Hard to say what will win out, but I would bank on NCAA (just odd such a highly touted player hasn't committed yet, no?) MAybe the lure of a Memorial Cup in Kamloops would help their chances?? Who knows, but he would likely get first line minutes net year with a couple good players in Kamloops.

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Carolina!

 

[Sticktape]

Three goals and four points in his first two games with the University of Denver. Anyone watch the games?

 

[wetcoast]

Another player from the impressive 01 class out west that includes Dach, Krebs, Barlage, and Mutala.



Incredible set of hands, and also a terrific goal scorer. Burnaby plays in a weak loop, aside from tournaments, so the competition in the compilation might not be all that. Though, he was recently named top forward at the 01 World Selects Invite, which had many of the top players in the age group from North America.

It's kind of ironic and sad that only 2 of the 3 guys have really lived up to expectations so far the the other 3 have really sunk although I guess there is time for Massimo but not like projected.

 

[covfefe]

It's kind of ironic and sad that only 2 of the 3 guys have really lived up to expectations so far the the other 3 have really sunk although I guess there is time for Massimo but not like projected.

I'd say that most of the time that ends up being the case when you're watching Bantams. See Alex Forsberg's thread. Ultimately outcomes from the bantam draft show us that there's no correlation between draft slot and future success.

Plus, while Barlage could never skate, he may get a PTO or minor league contract at year end. Mutala was drafted and is playing pro already. 3/5 are already pro hockey players, plus Rizzo who I think will probably get to the AHL - that's pretty good, all outcomes considered.

 

[wetcoast]

I'd say that most of the time that ends up being the case when you're watching Bantams. See Alex Forsberg's thread. Ultimately outcomes from the bantam draft show us that there's no correlation between draft slot and future success.

Plus, while Barlage could never skate, he may get a PTO or minor league contract at year end. Mutala was drafted and is playing pro already. 3/5 are already pro hockey players, plus Rizzo who I think will probably get to the AHL - that's pretty good, all outcomes considered.

The thing is that only a couple of the guys, Dach and Krebs even came close to dominating in the WHL like the hype suggested and that was my response.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Any chance the Hurricanes sign this kid? Enjoyed an impressive freshman season.