VITALI HEADING TO TRINE

The Utah Outliers are pleased to announce that Michigan native Gianni Vitali is heading to the NCAA after making his decision to commit to Trine University. The 6’ 2” playmaking center was a nice addition to the roster for the Outliers, contributing heavily on offense and at the face off dot. At the WSHL showcase, the line combination of Vitali and Brandon Krumpschmid really impressed coaches and scouts, and now the dynamic duo will have a chance to join forces at the college level together.

When asked about his time in Utah, Vitali stated that it was a great fit and somewhere he was able to improve. “I enjoyed my time in Utah, everyone in the organization was amazing from the owner on down. They truly care about every player and the training and grind every day definitely improved me as a player. I was very well coached and loved by everyone associated with the program. The WSHL was a league I didn’t know much about but quickly found out it was filled with a lot of talent. I believe I made the right choice in going there when I did.”

Assistant Coach, Austin Balko had this to say about Vitali’s commitment. “G is a perfect glue guy for any team. Having joined us from the NAHL, we knew we were getting a talented player, but did not know just how impactful he would be both on and off the ice. He embraced what we did here and was a key player for us every shift, and off the ice he was the guy in the room that kept everyone in high spirits. I think he will do the same at the next level. It was great that Trine got a chance to see him at our WSHL Showcase where he had an outstanding weekend.”

Head Coach, Paul Taylor added, “G showed a lot of development while with our team. I thought his game really took off as he became a better athlete from the off-ice training. His on-ice speed flourished and added another layer to his game. He is a smart player and has a nice set of hands. He scored some really big goals for our team the first half of the year. I am excited to see him take his talents to the NCAA level. 

We look forward to following Gianni at Trine as he helps the program create a winning tradition.