It took a little persuasion, but Matthew MacDougall is now a Windsor Spitfire.
As BlackburnNews.com reported Tuesday, the Memorial Cup champions received a signed commitment from the 17-year-old forward. The Aurora, Ontario native had his rights owned by the Spits following a trade with the Barrie Colts, but MacDougall was leaning toward continuing his hockey career in the NCAA.
MacDougall was ready to commit to playing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, but Spits general manager Warren Rychel visited his family and made his argument well.
"He didn't want to stop until he got me," says MacDougall while being introduced to reporters Wednesday at the WFCU Centre. "He did everything he could that kind of pushed me as well. If somebody wants you that bad, it's obviously a good spot to be."
MacDougall was traded to the Spitfires from the Barrie Colts, who drafted him in last year's OHL Priority Selection draft. He didn't see game action with the Colts. He now says it's a prime chance for him to get some quality ice time, but he will not forget the hospitality of UMass.
"UMass was great to me, I can't thank them enough," says MacDougall. "But I just felt that change was good and this just was another great opportunity. We're in rebuild mode, so there's going to be a lot of ice time and such, so it was hard to say no to."
As the Spitfires retool themselves following their unexpected Memorial Cup win with six forwards moving on, Rychel says a player of MacDougall's skill could be a playmaker for them. He also says the Spitfires have had an eye on him for some time.
"We always like this type of player," says Rychel. "The modern player is smart-and-speed. We had him rated high in the draft two years ago. Unfortunately we were between picks when he was selected and obviously to get him from NCAA grasp is real good."
Rychel says MacDougall will have a chance to get some significant ice time and next week's training camp will be an opportunity for him to show what he can do.
Training camp begins Monday for the Windsor organization. Rychel says 52 players have been invited.
