Amherstburg native Michael DiPietro has signed his first National Hockey League contract.
A star goaltender with the Windsor Spitfires, DiPietro has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
He tells AM800 Sports it hasn't really set in yet.
"It's awesome to be part of an organization like Vancouver and then to finally seal the deal with a contract is something that has been a goal of mine ever since being drafted by them," says DiPietro, "I'll keep progressing, keep moving forward and hopefully to my final goal which is play in the NHL one day."
He was recently named the Ontario Hockey League Goalie of the Year and was part of Canada's roster at the World Hockey Championship.
(Photo courtesy of OHL Images)
The 18-year-old appeared in 56 games this season carrying a 29-21-3-1 record and produced a league-high seven shutouts while posting the league's third lowest goals-against-average with a mark of 2.79 and a save percentage of .910 that tied for fourth overall.
His seven shutouts not only led the OHL this season but established a new Spitfires single season record surpassing the mark of six he set in 2016-17 and raised his career total to 15, also a team best.