D'Amigo Signs Contract with Maple Leafs

Photo by J.S. Carras — The Record

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) sophomore Jerry D'Amigo has signed a three-year, entry level National Hockey League (NHL) contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. By signing, D’Amigo, a sixth round draft choice of the Leafs in 2009, forfeits his final three years of college eligibility.

“This is an opportunity I just could not pass on and I am thankful the people in Toronto believe in me,” said D’Amigo, a forward. “While nothing is certain where I will play next year, it is my intention to continue to work as hard as possible to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I love RPI and I wouldn’t be in a position to sign without my teammates in Troy, Coach Appert and the rest of the staff. They put me in positions to improve and excel on and off the ice and I am very thankful for that. Everyone has been very supportive and that just shows the character of the program.”

“I want to congratulate Jerry on moving one step closer to his lifelong dream of playing in the NHL,” said Rensselaer head coach Seth Appert. “While at RPI he has developed from a late draft pick to become one of the premier prospects in the entire NHL. He has done so through his work ethic and with the help of his teammates at RPI, who pushed him towards excellence. We are proud of him and Jerry will always be part of the RPI Hockey Family.”

In his one season with the Engineers, D’Amigo played in 35 games, tallying 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points. He was third on the team in points, second in assists and fourth in goals. Three of his goals came on the power play, while one was shorthanded and a team-high three were game-winners.

In 21 league games, D’Amigo, a native of Binghamton, N.Y., scored seven goals with 17 assists for 24 points. He was second in freshman scoring (1.14 points per game), third in overall shorthanded points (1 goal, 1 assist) and sixth in overall assists per game (0.81). Nationally, he ranked fifth in rookie points and sixth in points per game by a rookie (0.97). He was the 2010 ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and a Freshman All-America by Inside College Hockey.com.

The 158th overall draft choice of Toronto in 2009, D’Amigo missed four games while playing for the United States World Junior Championship Team. He led that team to a gold medal by scoring 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) to rank second in the tournament and on the team. He was first on the U.S. in goals and third in assists. He was also a plus-7. He was the team’s Player of the Game twice and had multiple-point efforts in each of the three games in the medal round.

D’Amigo, who remains a candidate to play in this year’s World Junior Championship Team, arrived at Rensselaer after playing on the U.S. Under-18 National Development Team, where he posted 23 goals and 33 assists for 56 points in 53 games in 2008-09. He helped lead that squad to a gold medal at the U.S. World Championships and was named to the All-Tournament Team after leading the team in scoring with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists).