Gianluca Curcuruto
Image: OHL

Gianluca Curcuruto

Hometown:

Richmond Hill Ontario

Team:

OHL

Currently Playing In:

CHL

Birthday:

1994-02-25
Position:

D

Eligible for draft:

2012
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2012
Height:

6-1
Acquired:

Unsigned - Eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft
Weight:

187 lbs.
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History

2009-10: Curcuruto finished the season playing for the Mississauga Reps in the GTHL playoffs after skating with the Reps midget AAA team during the regular season. Curcuruto scored 3 goals with 3 assists in five playoff contests. In 64 games with the Reps' midget team he scored 38 goals with 44 assists. Curcuruto was selected by Sault Ste. Marie in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.

2010-11: Curcuruto skated in 56 games for the Greyhounds in his first OHL season and was part of Ontario's gold medal-winning squad at the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Curcuruto scored 1 goal with 25 assists and was minus-one with 26 penalty minutes. The Greyhounds missed the OHL playoffs after finishing last in the West Division. In five games at the WHC he scored 1 goal with 2 assists and 2 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Curcuruto attended Canada's selection camp for the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship before returning to Sault Ste. Marie for his second season with the Greyhounds. In 63 OHL games he scored 3 goals with 13 assists and was minus-14 with 36 penalty minutes. Though improved over the previous year, the Greyhounds again finished last in the West and missed the OHL playoffs by one point. Curcuruto was ranked 160th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Obtained by Plymouth in August 2012 in a trade with Sault Ste. Marie, Curcuruto played 67 games for the Whalers in his third OHL season. Curcuruto led Plymouth defensemen with 47 points – scoring 9 goals with a team-leading 38 assists – and was +36 with 32 penalty minutes. The Whalers finished first in the West Division and reached the Western Conference finals. Curcuruto scored 2 goals with 7 assists in 11 playoff games and was +7 with 7 penalty minutes.

 

Talent Analysis

Curcuruto is a two-way defender who does not excel at any part of the game but is dependable when he plays within his abilities.  When Curcuruto tries to play beyond his abilities is when he gets himself into trouble.  He has the skill to eventually become an effective lower-pairing defenseman, but his hockey sense is not yet well developed.

 

 

Future

The Blue Jackets elected to pass on signing Curcuruto to a contract, so the defender will go back into the NHL Draft pool for 2014.

 

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