By Matt Stefano
The Soo Thunderbirds have announced on Friday they have reacquired defenseman Michael Caruso from the MHL’s Yarmouth Mariners in exchange for player development fee.
Caruso, who served as an assistant captain with the Mariners this season, had 2 goals and 5 points through 15 games along with 40 penalty minutes.
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontatio native who stands 6’0 and 195 lbs, spent one season with the T-Birds in 2012-2013, scoring 4 goals and 16 points through 32 games along with a team leading 74 penalty minutes. Following just one season with the T-Birds, Caruso was also named to the NOJHL’s second all star team.
“We are extremely happy to welcome Michael back to the Soo Thunderbirds,” said T-Birds general manager Jamie Henderson. “Michael is a player who is highly motivated to come in and be a strong contributor to the current team and be a leader both on and off the ice.”
“Michael adds even more experience and depth to our blueline along with being a character young man,” concluded Henderson.
The 1995 birth year defenseman, who is the older brother of T-Birds forward Matt Caruso, turned 20 years old on April 19th, 2015 , which was the day the T-Birds clinched the Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy.
Caruso, who was selected by the OHL’s Peterborough Petes in the 14th round (271st overall) during 2011, will be in the Thunderbirds lineup tonight (Friday) in Elliot Lake vs the Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. and will wear No. 6.
The 20 year old defenseman will join current T-Bird overagers Joey Miller, Matt Mitchell, Nathan Hebert, Matt Pinder, Nathan Warren, Brett Jeffries, Aiden Salerno and Izaak Del Mastro.
