SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013
SIJHL alumnus Bortuzzo scores 1st NHL goal
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Pittsburh Penguins defenceman Robert Bortuzzo, the first Superior International Junior Hockey League alumnus to skate in a National Hockey League game, scored his first career NHL goal Saturday afternoon helping the Penguins defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-1.
Bortuzzo blasted his only shot in the contest past future hall of fame netminder Martin Brodeur midway through the third period in notching that initial NHL tally.
He also finished the game with a plus-3 rating while earning third star laurels for his efforts.
Bortuzzo skated in the SIJHL for a Fort William North Stars squad that captured both the Bill Salonen Cup SIJHL championship and a Dudley-Hewitt Cup crown before falling in the semifinal to the eventual Royal Bank Cup champion Burnaby Express back in 2006.
The 6’4″, 215-pound defenceman, who turns 24 next month, is one of 129 former Canadian Junior Hockey League players that is currently on a NHL roster.
Bortuzzo was drafted by the Penguins in the third round, 78th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Another former SIJHLer and North Star in goaltender Carter Hutton, has dressed in a number of NHL contests to date as a back-up, but has yet to see any game action.
Hutton is under contract with the Chicago Blackhawks and is currently with their American Hockey League affiliate Rockford IceHogs.