‘Joey is the goalie we wanted’

First netminder taken in OHL draft, Costanzo commits to the IceDogs

A goaltender whose playing style has been compared to three-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-André Fleury has signed a standard player agreement with the Niagara IceDogs.

Niagara made Joey Costanzo, 15, of Toronto the first goalie taken in this year’s Ontario Hockey League draft by picking him in the second round, 23rd overall.

The graduate of the Toronto Marlboros triple-A program was selected with a pick acquired from the London Knights, and he was taken right after the IceDogs selected forward Juan Copeland, 15, from Detroit’s triple-A HoneyBaked.

IceDogs general manager Joey Burke said Costanzo’s selection affected the team’s approach for the rest of the 15round draft.

“Joey is the goalie we wanted and, had he not gotten to us, it would have changed the landscape of our entire draft,” Burke said.

“This is a big signing for us.” Niagara went into the virtual draft convinced Costanzo has “the ability to be a star in our league.”

“You need a top goalie to succeed at this level,” Burke said. “I truly feel we have added our future starter, and a guy capable of winning championships here.

“We couldn’t be more excited to add Joey to the IceDogs officially.”

Costanzo, six-foot-one and 160 pounds, was regarded as the top goaltender in the draft class of prospects born in 2005. His height and composure in the crease can be intimidating to shooters.

Niagara said in a news release Costanzo’s “size, awareness and character off the ice make him a well-rounded goalie who can make the transition to the OHL level seamlessly.”

Scouts have compared Costanzo’s playing style to Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins who now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights, and Andrei Vasilevskiy

of the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Costanzo likes to use his size to make saves and takes pride in his athleticism. “I’ve always been a multi-sport athlete,” he said in an interview. “I like to make athletic saves, but I’m also a very technically sound goalie and a very fast goalie.”

As a rookie backstop in the OHL, Costanzo isn’t likely to play many games, but he is content to sit at the end of the Niagara bench and learn all he can from Tucker Tynan, the team’s starting goaltender.

“I haven’t spoken to him personally, but I’m excited to meet him, learn behind him,” he said. “He’s definitely had some success in the OHL.

“My parents have always told me I was born older, so I’m going to do my best to be mature enough to stay behind him and learn from him and take over once he’s gone.”

Costanzo, who turns 16 next month, is one of three goaltenders Niagara has taken in two drafts so far this year. Matteo Porporino, 15, went in the 14th round, 265th overall, in the regular

draft and Boe Piroski, 17, was selected in the first round, 20th overall, in the under-18 draft.

Barring last-minute trades, the IceDogs will have the 18th and 105th picks in the Canadian Hockey League import draft next Wednesday.

In all, 60 teams are taking part

in the draft, from the Western Hockey League (22), the OHL (20) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (18).