Keith Petruzzelli selected 88th overall by the Detroit Red Wings

Keith Petruzzelli (photo by Muskegon Lumberjacks)

Keith Petruzzelli has been selected 88th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. The 6-foot-6, 180 pound Petruzzelli, a native of Wilbraham, Massachusetts is the highest incoming draft pick in the history of the Quinnipiac Bobcats program. Former standout defenseman Devon Toews was previously the highest selected Bobcat when he was selected in the 4th round by the New York Islanders in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Transfer John Doherty was a second round pick by Toronto but went to New Hampshire for two years before coming to Quinnipiac. Petruzzelli recently concluded his first and only season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL where he led all rookie goaltenders with 22 wins and had a .918 save percentage.

He led the Lumberjacks to the Clark Cup playoffs where he had 52 saves in two starts against Dubuque. In January, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game after making 21 saves in relief in 27 minutes. In February, Petruzzelli became the only USHL goaltender to score a goal this season when he scored an empty net goal in a 4-1 win over the Madison Capitols. 

Prior to playing with Muskegon, he was a standout at the South Kent School in Connecticut going 21-1 with a 1.13 goals against average and a .936 save percentage with nine shutouts in 22 games played.

Petruzzelli will compete with rising sophomore Andrew Shortridge and senior Chris Truehl for starts in goal. He will be joined in Hamden with his brother D.J. who has battled some injuries the past couple of seasons in junior hockey. Petruzzelli is set to enroll for summer classes in July and take part in the summer workout program in preparation for the upcoming season.

Jonathan Singer is a 2004 Quinnipiac alum. You can follow him on Twitter @QHockeyBlog.