A Boston Bruins 2024 draft pick made news this week, changing his plans for the 2024-25 season. Fifth-round selection Jonathan Morello was committed to Clarkson University for this season but has decided to remain with the Dubuque Fighting Saints and will not join Clarkson this fall. Morello attended the Bruins rookie development camp in July and showed good skating ability and some promise as a late-round pick at center.
The 6-foot-3, 192-pound center spent two seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with the St. Michael’s Buzzers and 41 goals with 56 assists in 101 total games. This past season, Morello was a stellar playoff performer with 21 points in 11 games. The Toronto native was the 97th pick in the USHL Draft by the Fighting Saints but elected to stay in Ontario and became a Clarkson commit. Now, Morello has decided to play in the USHL for this season, with no word on whether Clarkson is still in the mix for the 2025-26 season.
The 98th-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting, Morello was described as “An open ice threat who is easily one of the fastest skaters at the Tier 2 level in Canada. His edges and how he powers out of his turns are elite for this level and project well for future levels. When pucks are chipped to open space, he rarely arrives second. His speed and length create turnovers on the forecheck and extend plays along the wall”. (Cap Friendly)
Morello was one of two centers selected by Boston after the Bruins chose 6-foot-7 pivot Dean Letourneau in the first round with the 25th overall pick. Letourneau will attend Boston College and begin his freshman year with the Eagles.
