Thursday, July 17, 2008

Alex Aleardi Signs

It has been a big week for the Cumpuware organization of the Mid West Elite Hockey League. They had defenseman Austin Levi sign with the Plymouth Whalers and you can add Alex Aleardi to that list. The 5'9 165lbs center has signed with the Kitchener Rangers who won the OHL Championship. He was drafted in the third round of the OHL Draft this past May.

The Kitchener Rangers website said he had 35 goals for 109 points in 72 games. During MWEHL play he had 13 goals and 29 assisits in 30 contests.

He didn't make a college commitment. What makes me so surprised is most these players are uncommitted when signing with the OHL. The three big ones in John Carlson, Austin Watson and Jared Knight still had commitments. Levi, Aleardi, Barron Smith, and Beau Schmitz all were uncommitted. Schmitz did have a commitment with Ferris State but he formally decommitted a while back. Could "The Best of Both Worlds" campaign working for the OHL? The USHL released this video to gain more exposure to potential players. The OHL and the USHL are battling with each other.

Could this signing lead to a bigger signing for the Rangers? Could Jeremy Morin be on his way to Kitchener? He's a 2007 draft pick of the Rangers and was rumored to come to Kitchener at last year's trade deadline. He's one of the few players on the USA NTDP U-18 team yet to make a college descision. He's also a top 15 pick for the NHL Draft.

The Kitchener Rangers still have Jeff Skinner who was their 1st round selection in 2008 still unsigned. I think that won't be too much of a hassle to get him to sign. Just a tidbit but their 15th round selection this year was David Bondra, the son of former NHLer Peter Bondra.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)

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