By Earl Seitz

Blazers first round bantam pick in 2016 won’t be joining team, name Penticton Vees captain

May 15, 2018 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Every year Western League teams take a certain amount of risk in the bantam draft —– players they draft don’t turn out as billed, or they elect other options to continue their hockey careers.

You win some, you lose some, and the Kamloops Blazers lost this one.

They won’t be getting 2016 first round bantam draft pick Massimo Rizzo in the near future, if at all.

Rizzo, who the Blazers took with the 15th overall pick and had been hotly pursued for two years, has elected to return to the Penticton Vees next season, and likely go the NCAA college route with his hockey future.

In the season he was drafted by the Blazers, Rizzo scored 60 goals and 137 points in 61 games.

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Last season with the Penticton Vees, Rizzo, who turns 17 next month, had 38 points, including 13 goals in 50 games.

Today the Vees named Rizzo their captain for the 2018-19 season.