The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a notebook article regarding one Amadeus Lombardi, the 5’11,” 171-pound dynamo who hopes to turn pro with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins this upcoming season:
“I was also [small] growing up, kind of late bloomer and I’m still kind of growing into my body,” said Lombardi, who is participating in the Wings’ development camp this week. “It’ll obviously take time. It kind of helped me growing up, being so small, because I had to deal with it at such a young age, and I dealt it with my whole life. It’s always going to come up, but there’s a lot of small players who’ve played. I’ll try to make it work if I can.”
What Lombardi does lack in size, he’s made up for in playmaking and pure offensive ability.
Lombardi took a major step forward this season, posting a career-high 45 goals and 57 assists for 102 points (in 67 games) with Flint in the Ontario Hockey League.
That gained him a late-season reassignment to minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids, where Lombardi had one assist in two games in his pro debut.
“As soon as I got there, I realized what a cool place it would be to play, obviously,” Lombardi said. “The games, what I took from them was how prepared they are, even with two games left (in the season). Everyone was preparing real well and you’re eating well. I have to get stronger at that level, and it’ll be an adjustment, but I’m excited to make that.”
