Pirri Makes NHL Debut
CHICAGO, Ill. - Former Rensselaer standout Brandon
Pirri made his National Hockey League debut on
Saturday night when the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red
Wings. Pirri, who spent last year at RPI, wore #14 and
played 8:56 for the Blackhawks, with whom he signed a three-year
contract in August.
Pirri, who tallied 11 goals and a team-high 32 assists for 43
points for the Engineers in 2009-10, became the 21st former RPI
hockey player to play in the NHL.
In his lone season in Troy, Pirri played in all 39 games,
collecting 11 goals with 32 assists for 43 points along with 67
penalty minutes. He was first on the Engineers – and in ECAC
Hockey – in assists, first on the team in penalty minutes and
second in points. Four of his goals came on the power play and two
were game-winning markers. The Toronto, Ont., native had five goals
and 22 assists for 27 points in 22 league games.
In addition to ranking first in ECAC Hockey in assists, he led the
league in power play points and he led all freshmen in scoring. He
was seventh in overall scoring. Nationally, Pirri was second in
points per game by a rookie and tenth in assists per game.
He had at least one point in 26 games, including 13 contests with
multiple points, on his way to being named the ECAC Hockey Rookie
of the Week twice and to the league’s All-Rookie Team.
Prior to joining Rensselaer, Pirri played for the Georgetown
Raiders and Streetsville Derbys of Ontario Junior Hockey League
(OJHL) in 2008-09. He had 94 points on 46 goals and 48 assists in
44 games and ranked third in the league in scoring. He captured
All-Canadian Junior Hockey League First Team honors and earned the
OJHL’s B.J. Munro Memorial Award as the player with the best
professional prospects. He was also the top scorer for Canada East
in the 2009 World Jr. A Championships, helping his team to the
bronze medal.
