Alouettes 1st round pick pays a visit

California native Brett De Lorenzi poses for a photo with Alouettes G.M. Denis Champagne at the North Bay Holiday Inn Express on Friday morning. De Lorenzi was the Als second 1st round pick in the June GMHL Draft held in Shelburne, Ontario. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The Nipissing Alouettes rolled out the welcoming mat for one of their top draft picks on Friday.

Brett De Lorenzi, a first round pick - 11th overall - by the Alouettes this spring came up with his family to visit the area over the weekend.

The 18-year-old defenceman just finished up his final year of Midget with the California Cougars who played in a Midget ‘A’ league last season in the Golden State.

“It’s pretty much a new experience, I’m excited to play in the GMHL, it’s kind of a shock that I’m actually here and I never thought someone from California could go this far away and now I’m just getting ready for new things,” said De Lorenzi, who was familiar with Mike Lawler and Jon Drake, two Northern California players who spent some time with the North Bay Skyhawks.

De Lorenzi hopes to contribute right away and describes himself as a physical puck-moving defenceman. Alouettes heach coach Lui Ricci likes De Lorenzi’s chances of being in his top pair on the blue line this fall.

“He has a heavy shot and he’s big and strong. That’s something we lacked last year. In the third period we were pushed around,” Ricci said soon after the June draft.

Alouettes General Manager Denis Champagne acted as the host, taking the De Lorenzi’s around North Bay and of course Sturgeon Falls.

“We’ll show him the arena and let him meet some different people in the community and we’ve got some interviews set up with the media. We are going to keep him pretty busy and hopefully he can get some rest and relaxation also,” said Champagne.