The Port Moody Panthers today announced the signing of 2006-born defender Lucas Crescenzo for the 2023-24 Pacific Junior Hockey League season.
Crescenzo spent the 2022-23 season with the Burnaby Bulldogs Under-18 A1 team in the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association. It was his first season with the Bulldogs U18 A1 squad.
He also played for the Burnaby Bulldogs U18 A2 team in 2021-22 while being an affiliate player for the A1 team. That season he was also an affiliate with the Vancouver North East Chiefs in the B.C. Elite Hockey League’s U17 AAA division, scoring one goal in one game played. He’s excited about being part of the Panthers for his first season of junior hockey.
“The chance to play at a higher level of competition is a great opportunity,” said Crescenzo, who’s from Burnaby. “Also, the Panthers have a strong reputation for player development and are committed to helping their players reach the next level.”
Crescenzo looks to use the jump to junior hockey as an opportunity to improve his game. “My goals are to challenge myself and contribute positively to the team’s success. I want to continue improving and learning defensive positioning, using my size and agility to effectively shut down forwards and protect our zone.”
He sees himself as a blueliner who likes to play the body and prides himself on making life difficult for opposing forwards. “Defensively, I take pride in my physical presence in front of the net and battling along the boards to regain possession. On the offensive end, I’m always prepared to join the rush and contribute offensively while maintaining a responsible two-way game,” Crescenzo added.
Crescenzo joins forwards Wesley Suszezwiez, Marcus Lindholm, Mark Wu, and Nicolas Lee, defenders Matthew Kim and Ethan Chu, and goaltender Ty Angus as seven incoming players to sign with the Panthers for the 2023-24 PJHL season.
