Luca D'Amato, a 5‑foot‑9 defenseman from Maple, Ontario, is set to join Bemidji State University’s men’s hockey program for the 2026‑27 season, adding depth and offensive flair to the Beavers’ blue line.
OHL Experience Shapes a Versatile Defenseman
D'Amato spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, splitting time between the Flint Firebirds and the Oshawa Generals, where he developed a reputation for both defensive reliability and playmaking ability.
His final two OHL campaigns were his most productive, yielding 29 goals and 77 assists across 176 regular‑season and playoff games, and helping the Generals reach the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals in each year.
USports Success and NHL Connections
Transitioning to the Canadian university circuit, D'Amato posted two goals and 23 assists in 35 games last season, a performance that caught the eye of NHL prospects such as Calum Ritchie and Beckett Sennecke, with whom he previously skated in the OHL.
The prospect of playing alongside teammates like Isa Parekh, Ben Vigneault and Mitch Wolfe excites the young blueliner, who says he is eager to contribute to a program that is aiming for its next wave of success.
A Milestone in a Growing Career
D'Amato will become the fourth Bemidji State player to have navigated both NCAA and USports competition, a testament to his adaptability and experience across North America’s hockey landscape.
Coach Tom Serratore and the rest of the staff see his arrival as a boost for a roster that hopes to contend for conference titles, and the player himself is already visualizing a future where he helps the Beavers win.