Nashville Predators' release (predators.nhl.com)
Dave Poile interview (predators.nhl.com)
Nashville's draft picks (espn.com)
Entire 2010 NHL Draft class (espn.com)
Bitetto interview while with Indiana Ice (youtube.com)

Anthony Bitetto (Island Park, N.Y.), member of the men's hockey incoming class of 2010-11, became Northeastern's 42nd National Hockey League draft pick in program history on Saturday, June 26. The Nashville Predators selected Bitetto in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Two generations of Huskies were bridged together this weekend as Dave Poile (1967-70), NU's 25th-highest scorer in program history (82-36-118), called the shots for the Predators as the team's President of Hockey Operations/General Manager.

Bitetto becomes the Huskies' fourth active NHL draft pick, joining sophomores Justin Daniels (third round – 63rd overall – San Jose Sharks), Drew Daniels (seventh round – 194th overall – San Jose Sharks) and Steve Quailer (third round – 86th overall – Montreal Canadiens). Bitetto is Northeastern's only active defenseman drafted by an NHL club.

The Island Park, N.Y. native weighs in at 6'2, 205 lbs. and helped the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League capture the Clark Cup (USHL Championship) in 2008-09. Last season, Bitetto was sixth on his club in scoring from the blue line, registering a line of 11-29-40 in 58 games played. Defensively, Bitetto's five game-winning goals tied for first in the USHL and he compiled the second-best shooting percentage (.136) of any blue liner. Last year, Bitetto led his team in penalty minutes (99 PIMs) and skated his way onto the 2009-10 All-USHL Second Team. Bitetto served as an alternate captain for the Ice in 2009-10.

Nashville acquired its second-smallest draft class in franchise history – one that includes four forwards and a pair of defensemen. Bitetto was one of three Americans selected by Poile over the course of the weekend.

"We are really excited with the quality of players we were able to select in the later rounds on Day Two of the draft,” Poile said. “As usual, our scouts did a fantastic job, and for the most part, we got the guys we were targeting before the draft.

Poile oversaw the entire operation, but the Predators' scouting corps appears to be pleased with their selection of Bitetto.

“Bitetto is a good, strong, physical defensemen,” Predators North American Amateur Scout David Westby said. “He makes a good first pass, plays an in-your-face style of defense, finishes checks and has good jam defensively.”

Overall, Bitetto becomes Northeastern's 54th player to be either drafted or signed by an NHL team. The most recent Husky to join the NHL elite was defenseman Jake Newton. Newton signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Anaheim Ducks on March 17 after leading all NU defensemen with 22 points (9-13-22) in 2009-10.

Bitetto is the first-ever Northeastern student-athlete to be selected by Nashville.

Bitetto is anticipated to participate in Nashville's 2010 Developmental Camp, which officially opens on Tuesday, July 6 at Centennial Sportsplex with fitness testing. The first of four on-ice sessions is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7.

Northeastern officially kicks off its 2010-11 campaign on Saturday, Oct. 2 with an exhibition contest against Acadia University (Nova Scotia) at Matthews Arena. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.