2009-10 NEWS RELEASES

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

UOIT Ridgebacks men’s hockey adds another OHL grad to the lineup

Oshawa, Ont. – University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) Ridgebacks head coach Marlin Muylaert has another reason to smile heading into the 2008-09 OUA hockey season as defenseman Jeff Barletta is ready to join the Ridgebacks lineup for the 2009-10 season.

Barletta (Port Stanley, Ont.) comes to UOIT after spending three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the St. Michael’s Majors. His career with the Majors consisted of 103 games played where he picked up two goals, ten assists and 53 penalty minutes. Barletta was known across the province as a hard hitting blue liner who was responsible in his own end.

During the 2008-09 season, Barletta played with the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The 6’3” defenseman notched two goals and 17 assists in 40 games for Newmarket, helping the team to a play-off berth with a 28-20-5 record.

“Jeff is a defenseman who brings a bit of everything with him. He makes good defensive decisions and has some upside on the offensive end,” said Muylaert. “Jeff will be counted on to bring both of these attributes to our program and should be a real asset to our blue line corp.”

The addition of Barletta adds more depth to an already strong defensive recruiting class. Barletta will join goaltender Jason Guy (Whitby, Ont.) and defenseman John McCullough (Barrie, Ont.) as freshmen on the 2009-10 Ridgebacks squad.

The Ridgebacks are looking to improve on the 2008-09 season which saw the team finish with a school best 19 points, Ridgebacks rookie Josh Vatri being named the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Division Rookie of the Year as well as Vatri and defenseman Mike Noyes (Lucan, Ont.) being named to the OUA All-Rookie Team.

After visiting the campus for a tour, Barletta was so impressed with the facilities and hockey program that he has proceeded with his application for the fall of 2009 and is eagerly waiting his acceptance.

A QUICK LOOK AT JEFF BARLETTA

Position: Defense
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Port Stanley, Ont.

OHL Regular Season Stats with the Majors

Seasons: 3
GP: 103
Goals: 2
Assists: 10
Points: 12
PIM: 53

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca