Salituro decides on Robert Morris

The Mahoning Valley Phantoms have announced that forward Stefan Salituro has committed to play college hockey at Robert Morris University (College Hockey America) for the 2009-10 season.

Salituro, the Phantoms’ third-leading scorer with 12 goals and 29 assists, secures the Division I scholarship in the midst of a scoring hot streak that has seen him register at least one point in 12 of Mahoning Valley’s last 13 games.

He’s tallied 20 of his 41 points in those 13 contests.

“It feels great, because this is what I’ve always wanted to do: go to college to play hockey,” said the Willowdale, Ontario, native.  “Just getting the weight off my shoulders, to know where I’ll be next year, is a great feeling.”

Salituro’s journey to college will not be a long one as RMU’s campus just outside of Pittsburgh in Moon Township, Pa., roughly an hour southeast of Youngstown.

“I really like what I saw of the campus and the program when I went on my official visit,” said Salituro. “And, from what Coach (Derek) Schooley told me, I’ll have a great opportunity there. I’m hoping to fit in well on the team at RMU.”

The veteran winger will join former Phantoms Nathan Longpre, J.C. Velasquez and Denny Urban on next year’s Colonials squad.

Longpre, who played for the 2006-07 Phantoms, has been named CHA Offensive Player of the Week for the last two weeks at RMU.

Salituro becomes the sixth current Phantom committed to a D-I school, joining Jordy Trottier (Bentley), Cole Schneider (Connecticut), Brad Smith (Ohio State), Alex Lippincott (Ohio State) and Michael Gunn (Michigan State).