CONNOR MURPHY

Special to The Spectator

CORDELL JAMES

Hamilton Spectator file photo

Hamilton's Cordell James, a foward with the OHL's Barrie Colts, is No. 126 of the NHL Central Scouting's mid-season draft list.

Hamilton Spectator

He was enjoying a couple minutes between classes at his new high school in Windsor when he took a quick peek at his cellphone. There were a few text messages, which is hardly unusual for an 18-year-old. But then he noticed a Twitter tag pointing him to NHL Central Scouting's mid-season draft list.

So with just moments before he had to step into biology, he scanned the names until he got to No. 117. Which is where he stopped.

DiGiacinto, Cristiano. Windsor. OHL.

Translated: The talent evaluators in the NHL think he's a guy who could play in that league. The best league in the world.

"I didn't really know what to think about it," the Hamilton native laughs.

How could he? Back when the pre-season Players To Watch list was released in the early fall, he was nowhere to be found. Playing provincial Jr. A for the Hamilton Red Wings, he was Mr. Invisible as far as the NHL was concerned.

But what he's done since signing with the Windsor Spitfires in October has obviously changed that.

Today his 24 points in 34 games have him eighth in rookie scoring in the league but only because he hasn't played as many games as any the guys in front of him. He's fifth in points per game and has a solid plus-13, fourth among freshmen.

They're gaudy numbers. Makes you wonder if this is what he thought would happen when he joined a team after the season had already started.

"Honestly, no, I didn't expect this much," he says.

DiGiacinto says he was merely hoping to fight for a regular shift, get better by playing against stiffer competition and eventually work his way into the discussion about a pro career. For a guy who was ignored in two OHL drafts, even that seemed like a lofty target.

But he picked up a goal and an assist in his second game against the strong London Knights. Then collected two goals and an assist the next time out against Oshawa. January has been a struggle with only two points in six games, but his work had already put him on the big league's radar.

He's not alone among locals.

Hamilton's Cordell James, a forward with the Barrie Colts, comes in at No. 126.

Ancaster's Connor Murphy landed at spot No. 174 playing Jr. B with the Caledonia Corvairs. His place on the list is a massive compliment because guys just don't get drafted from that level.

Murphy found out about his inclusion the same way as DiGiacinto. Just before heading off to school he checked Twitter and saw something on the NHL feed about the list being released. A quick check found his name leaving him buzzing before class.

"It's exciting for sure," he says.

It's not the only good hockey news Murphy's received recently. Just before Christmas, the Grade 12 student at Bishop Tonnos — who carries a 98 per cent average — accepted a full-ride scholarship to the University of Michigan beginning either next year or the year after.

As for DiGiacinto, he says the number beside his name on the list isn't all that important except that it provides a new kind of motivation. Now that he has a ranking, he can try to move up and give himself an even better chance of hearing his name called in June.

That's the hope, anyway.

As for any celebrating, it didn't last all that long. Seconds after seeing his name he had to head into that biology class. Where you just know he wasn't able to concentrate very hard, right?

Actually, not true.

"I have a test tomorrow," he laughs again. "So I was concentrating."