Starting this Friday, the Springfield Jr. Blues will be hosting their annual Draft Camp. Springfield has used this camp to identify relatively unknown players, help them reach their potential as a hockey player and assist them in receiving NCAA scholarships. The camp is open to all hockey players.
This week, the Springfield Jr. Blues will be highlighting a recent success story everyday from past Draft Camps, including when they attended, their success in Springfield and where they are at currently in their hockey careers.
#20 Brian Rigali- Forward
In the summer of 2014, Brian Rigali traveled downstate from Green Oaks, Illinois to attend Springfield’s Draft Camp. After leading his U16 team in scoring the previous season, Rigali was eager to show he can score at the NAHL level. Rigalli picked up where left off in AAA hockey having an impressive draft camp and was selected by Springfield in the 2014 NAHL Draft.
In his rookie season with Springfield, Rigali showed he could compete and score in the NAHL finishing 3rd on the team in goals while playing in 58 of 60 games during the 2014-15 season. His play and progression as a player was also noticed by coaches in the USHL and made the Sioux City Musketeers roster as a free agent.
In 95 games in the USHL with Sioux City, Rigali registered 15 goals and 28 assists. This past season, the forward was named an Assistant Captain and helped the Musketeers capture the Anderson Cup, which is awarded to the USHL team with the best regular season record.
Brian Rigali scores his first of two goals in Game 1 of the 2017 Clark Cup FInals. (Photo Credit: Jim Lee-Sioux CIty Journal)
After a successful regular season, Rigali and the Musketeers made it to the Clark Cup Finals and Rigali scored 2 goals in a Game 1 victory. For the 2017-18 season, the Illinois native will continue his hockey career at NCAA Division I University of Connecticut.
The Draft Camp begins Friday at The Nelson Center with games at 5:00pm and will run through Sunday. The camp is FREE for fans to attend and will feature and equipment sale on Saturday morning from 9am-12pm.
