College Hockey:
Sulmonte leaves Mercyhurst for OHL

USCHO Staff Report • Oct. 27, 2010

Freshman forward Rudy Sulmonte has left Mercyhurst and signed with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Sulmonte, an 18-year-old from Woodhaven, N.Y., had not seen any action yet this season for the Lakers due to being academically ineligible.

“He gave it a try, but college just wasn’t for him,” said Mercyhurst
assistant coach Bobby Ferraris. “It was a little overwhelming with
courses and hockey. He decided to pursue hockey only. He’s going to be
a very good hockey player. He’s a great kid and we wish him the best.”

The Greyhounds, meanwhile, are thrilled with their new acquisition.

“We are very happy that Rudy has made the decision to join our team and pursue his dream of pro hockey,” Sault Ste. Marie GM Dave Torrie said in a statement. “It’s the first time in my eight years as general manager we have had a free agent player who was attending an NCAA institution on a full scholarship decide to leave and join our program.”

Sulmonte played last year for the New Jersey Rockets of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League where his 32 goals and 70 points were fourth in league scoring. He also went to the New York Islanders’ summer development camp after not getting drafted in June’s NHL Entry Draft.

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Lwheatley
What a tool!
Lwheatley
He won’t play or make it there either. What a dummy! Kids who play in the Atlantic are barely one step above Jr. B.
- LtPowers
  You just keep telling yourself that.
Andrew W
Last year several Atlantic players signed with pro teams including 3 from RIT after they made it to the frozen four
Ringwald went to the Hartford wolf pack after signing with the NY Rangers
DeMike followed Steve Penizzito to the Capitals and is no playing with their AHL team
Tenev signed with Vancover
and they have all been getting playing time
- Laker
  Andrew W— i think the reference is to the Atlantic JUNIOR league….not Atlantic Hockey
  - Andrew W
    Maybe but that wouldn’t make any sense and would be totally pointless since Mercyhurst is in AHA
    - Laker
      I think it makes sense since that is the Jr league he played in
Margie
Very disappointing decision by this young man- the OHL is fine for the top 5% of the players; those destined to go to the NHL— this young man had the best of both worlds– playing college hockey and getting his education. I wonder who was advising him? In all my experience as a coach and a player, I never came across a college player who said he was sorry he attended and played college hockey. I have come across many Major Junior players who expressed regret at not taking the college route.
- Dbgodfrey
  well put and likely by a US hockey fan totally pro-college and looking to give the Canadian major system a little jab–better he pursue his athletic talents in the dominant draft-applicable league than trying to get through some “communications” course and spending less time and games following his dream–he’s young-give it a break. In Canada, if you don’t make it it hockey or college you can always become a wealthy fireman or municipal worker.
  - Five Hole
    Margie is right, the OHL will provide a legitimate NHL opportunity for only the best players. The Canadian junior system is not for legitimate “academic” players. Look at the sub-minor US pro leagues. Places like Shreveport, La: Little Rock, Ak; Pee Dee, N.C; They are littered with aging Canadians still chasing their deams for $20,000 a year. The owners of those teams…..the kids that graduated from U.S. universities. You can keep your fireman job.
    - Frmbostn
      PEE DEE was in SOUTh Carolina and they havent had any team in at least 5 years.
      I see that your geography classes in colleeg did you well
      - Maacocresthill
        And you failed grade school spelling………………..?
pmac
the kid is a great player with the atlantic junior league moving kids right up along the ranks including the nahl, ushl, and many college programs, d1 and d3. college is not the easiest place to make it and a pro contract could be in his future.
Raclay1
I, too must wonder what kind of advice this young man got or whether or not he is a genuine cement head who not only lacks common sense as academic skills He would have had a better chance to work on his game in the NAHL or the USHL while preserving his college eligibility..
Bryanfainer
okay okay, i went to hs with rudy, dont say things that you dont know, he was never a great student and his desire for hockey was well overpowering. hell be fine
Guest
What you all are missing is that the same educational opportunities are available to those in the OHL depending on the package signed with the team. Just because he is going to the OHL doesn’t mean he isn’t going to school!
- Dbragnal
  You are really being fooled– although most OHL clubs have “education” consultants the kids are there to play hockey; most teams pay lip service to the education of the kids– the league has set up a school boy package that kids can take advantage of when finished hockey, but that has some loopholes as well.
- Fivehole
  No, the educational opportunities in the OHL are not even close. They are a sham compared to a US University Scholoraship. In the O many of the schollys are base on tuition fron the nearest university to team the player commits to. So the player cannot go to the school of his choice, second with the schedule of the OHL the player will have to be be out of hockey to take advantage of the scholly. Third, many are required to use the scholly money in a very limited time frame. Like I said before, if you don’t make the show, welcome to a life of civil service or waxing the truck at the fire station.
- B_mchugh56
  Ha I think you missed something in the article, he couldnt do school and hockey at Mercyhurst, what makes you think that he will be doing that in the OHL? My guess is he wont be anywhere near a classroom, just my guess but who honestly cares? Let him do what he wants, no right way or wrong way to do it, he is doing what he wants to do not what others think he should do. Good for him
South Side Story
I think the point that everyone is missing is that it’s his choice to do what he does. Worse case scenario, he doesnt make it to the pros, ends back at mom and dads, goes to CC or local university, and gets established that way. Personally, I put off college to pursue my illustrious minor league career after juniors as a 4.0 student with college credits in HS. Why? I had to take my best shot at making my dream come true, so kudos to this kid for doing what HE thinks is right.
Cody Abramson
Rudy mah nigga!

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