Skilled game could take off for Greyhounds second round pick

Naturally, the Soo Greyhounds have high hopes for winger Marco Mignosa.

At the time of the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis spoke of Mignosa’s scoring ability and what could happen when they put him in a skilled lineup.

For Mignosa himself, the offensive side of the game is where he thrives.

“I’m a 200-foot forward,” Mignosa said. “I like to play a gritty game, but I also like to score goals and make plays to set up my teammates. I like to work hard for every inch of the ice.”

After selecting the right winger, who played for the Toronto Young Nationals U16 team, Raftis spoke of having more views of Mignosa after the young forward played up a year in minor midget as a 14-year-old.

“We had a bigger book on him because he played up in the minor midget year as a bantam, so we got to watch him play on a Young Nats team that was an alright team, but not a lot of skill on that team,” Raftis said. “Marco, even as a 14-year-old, led that team and was able to show his ability to score goals. That’s something that we really think that when Marco gets a chance to play with skilled players that are up to his level, he’s going to take off.”

With COVID-19 making it difficult to get games in during the winter, Mignosa said he continued to work out and get any work in he could during the pandemic.

“There were tons of breaks throughout the year, so I had to make sure I was ready for whenever hockey would come,” Mignosa said. “I was working out a ton throughout the week in the basement, going for runs, shooting a lot of pucks and trying to stay ready in any way I can.”

Since the draft, Mignosa has taken to working on his conditioning to be ready for making the jump to junior hockey.

“I was told by the coaching staff that conditioning is going to be a really important thing next year and that’s a main focus for the off-ice stuff, so I’m working on a lot of conditioning,” Mignosa said. “I’m going to be doing a lot of on-ice skills and moving my feet quickly.”

Mignosa said he plans to continue his workout trend ahead of training camp at the end of August, which includes working on his “all around quickness.”

“The OHL is a lot older and it’s a really fast game, so I know I have to be quick with everything I do to find open ice, set up plays, and move my feet as soon as I get the puck,” Mignosa said of what he’s looking to continue to work on ahead of camp. “I’ve been working on a lot of quickness stuff so I can be ready.”

The 16-year-old, who was the Greyhounds second round pick in June, officially signed with the team on Wednesday.

“I was super excited to sign,” Mignosa said. “When I was drafted, I was ecstatic that I went to a great team and now that I’m signed, I’m ready to be a part of the organization. I can’t wait to get started.”

Mignosa is the second member of the Greyhounds 2021 draft class to sign with the team after Justin Cloutier signed with the team late last week.