Rochester forward DeRosa signs NAHL tender
April 20, 2020
The Rochester Grizzlies of the NA3HL are pleased to announce that forward Matt DeRosa has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the St. Cloud Blizzard of the NAHL’s Central Division.
DeRosa, 18, has played in 85 games for the Grizzlies where he’s averaged above a point-per-game pace with 86 total points in two seasons. The 6’1/180 lbs. native of Alpharetta, Georgia is familiar with the North American Hockey League as well having competed in eight games over two seasons with the Austin Bruins.
DeRosa also played in the 2019 NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament for the NA3HL team. During the 2019-20 season, DeRosa had 40 points in 39 games played.
“Matt worked very hard to improve his game this year,” said Grizzlies Head Coach Chris Ratzloff. “We are excited for him to get the opportunity in the NAHL. He has had a taste a couple of times and now knows what it takes to stick.
In St. Cloud, DeRosa will be coached by the Central Division’s newest bench boss, Corey Millen. In addition, DeRosa will be reunited with former Grizzlies Head Coach and current Blizzard assistant head coach, Casey Mignone.
Ratzloff went on to say, “Casey [Mignone] is familiar with what Matt will bring to the growth of their team. We look forward to seeing him continue to improve and the success he will have.”
DeRosa becomes the third Grizzly to sign an NAHL Tender this season behind Peyton Hart (Austin Bruins) and Sean Guerin (Wichita Falls).
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include one tender exclusively used on players from the NA3HL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on July 21, 2020.
