Thrashers prospect selects college hockey route

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Julian Melchiori has made up his mind: The Thrashers draft pick will attend college, despite the significant pull to play junior hockey.

Melchiori, selected in the third round and 87th overall in this year’s draft, has accepted a full scholarship to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. However, that didn’t stop Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League from trading for his rights this month.

“For me as a player, I was a late developer and I need the time to put weight on and develop as a player,” Melchiori said at the Thrashers prospect development camp. “The college route gives you that opportunity. It’s a lot of games, practices and time in the weight room. That will benefit me for sure.”

Steve Spott, Kitchener general manager and coach, recently was quoted in a Canadian newspaper saying he hoped Melchiori’s uncle, Mike Murphy, could persuade the young defenseman to join his team.

Murphy, who played professionally for the Los Angeles Kings, is the NHL’s vice president of hockey operations. Melchiori stayed with his uncle while attending the draft at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last month.

Melchiori also discussed the decision to attend college with his three cousins among others; Ryan Murphy and Patrick Murphy attended college and Sean Murphy played in the OHL.

“I’m going to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell,” Melchiori said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to go in and play. I’m looking forward to it."

The coach, Blaise MacDonald, was a big reason Melchiori chose college hockey.

"I really like his philosophies on training and the systems they play," Melchiori said. "I also wanted to go into a program where I was going to play my first year and get the opportunity to develop as a player.”

Melchiori was offered a scholarship by Lowell shortly after competing in the Chowder Cup tournament in Boston in 2007. Before this season, the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, who drafted Melchiori in the 14th round in 2007, offered him a roster spot but he turned it down to retain his NCAA eligibility.

The 18-year-old native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, played 39 games last season for Newmarket in the Central Canadian Hockey League. He finished with seven goals and 16 assists. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder wasn't surprised he was selected by the Thrashers after speaking to scouting director Dan Marr several times during the year and meeting with general manager Rick Dudley and Marr at the scouting combine.

Melchiori will use his time at development camp to compare himself to other draft picks. He also will use the week for comparison to some of the franchise’s top prospects who are close to making the NHL.

As for the NHL, Melchiori expects to be ready after his college career, if not sooner. “I’d like to say for sure after my four years at [the] university, but if the opportunity came before then and the circumstances were right I’d have to do what I have to do,” he said.