Shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, Zack Torquato was made the third overall pick at the 2005 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection draft.
The talented forward from Sault Ste. Marie will be headed just a few hours from home as the newest member of the Saginaw Spirit.
This past season, Torquato played junior B as a 15 year-old for the Stratford Cullitons where he scored 34 goals and 41 assists for 75 points. In the 2003/04 season, Torquato shined as an underage with the Soo North Stars AAA Midgets.
Spirit head coach and general manager Bob Mancini says Torquato is a talented offensive performer.
“Zack has great vision and the ability to make the players around him better,” Mancini said on the Spirit website. “We feel he’s a great fit for our club, and has the character and determination that we hope to see in every Saginaw Spirit draft pick.”
Torquato says he's looking forward to coming to Saginaw. "I visited the city during the season, and the city seemed very nice," Torquato said.
"The fans are awesome at the games. I knew a little about Saginaw, because my family knows the Thorburn family. (Former Spirit Chris Thorburn is also a native of Sault Ste. Marie). They had great things to say about the town and the team."
Torquato was named the Ontario Mid-Western Junior “B” League Rookie of the Year as he lead the Cullitons in scoring and was 4th in the league in scoring.