Tuesday May 27, 2014

BELLEVILLE, ON – The Belleville Bulls are preparing for a new season and are excited to announce commitments from top draft selections Brandon Saigeon and Cole Candella. 

The two top prospects were standouts with their respective Minor Midget teams this past season, leading both of their clubs to successful records during the regular season and berths in the OHL Cup Tournament.

“Brandon and Cole were amongst the elite players at their positions on draft day,” said Bulls Head Coach and General Manager George Burnett. “Both are highly motivated and capable of making contributions in the OHL this season.”

A native of Grimsby, Brandon Saigeon was the fourth overall pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. The 6’1″, 184Ib. centreman had 28 goals and 29 assists in 40 games with the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Minor Midgets, winning an OMHA Bronze Medal in the postseason. Saigeon, who models his game after NHL veteran Jarome Iginla enjoyed a late season call-up to the Sutherland Cup Finalist St. Catharines Falcons Jr. B club.

An elite talent, Saigeon is one of few players to play two seasons in Minor Midget, having played a year above his age level during his Bantam aged season to lead his team in scoring. This past season, Saigeon was a standout again, pacing the Jr. Bulldogs to a record of 32-6-2 while capping off the year with an impressive OHL Cup performance where he had 4 goals and 5 assists in 4 games.

Joining Saigeon in his commitment to the Bulls organization is second round draft pick Cole Candella from the Vaughan Kings Minor Midgets. A smooth-skating defenceman at 6’2″, 181Ibs, Candella was the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

Hailing from Mississauga, Candella was a consistent presence on the Vaughan blueline last season, seeing plenty of icetime while recording 6 goals and 14 assists in 33 games. The strong puck-moving rearguard saw late season action with the Milton Icehawks Jr. A club and represented Team GTHL Red in the OHL Gold Cup this past month in Kitchener.

“With the emergence of developing talent from our 2013 draft in Justin Lemcke, Jake Bricknell, Adam Laishram and Maurizio Colella, we look forward to seeing Brandon and Cole lead the way for our 1998 born class of draft picks as we build a developing foundation for the years to come,” Burnett added.

For more information please visit bellevillebulls.com.