Jimmy Goffredo commits to RPI
The '03 RD will add his strong 2-way play and great mobility to the blue line next year
Last week, RPI picked up a commitment from Jimmy Goffredo of the Des Moines Buccaneers. Goffredo is a right shot defenseman listed at 5’11” and 186 LBs by the USHL. He has 1 goal, 5 assists and 6 points in 24 games this season. Last season, he played for the Austin Bruins in the NAHL where he had 13 goals, 24 assists and 37 points in 58 games. Goffredo committed to UMass Lowell in January but decommitted this fall.
Goffredo is a 2-way defenseman with “high-end skating ability.” In Neutral Zone scouting reports, they have described him as having “effortless mobility” with the ability “to skate his way out of any situation.” His lateral agility and ability to easily change directions was also lauded in scouting reports.
Defensively, Goffredo has a good stick and gaps well. He takes good angles to separate opponents from the puck, and he “can be physical and nasty at times.” Offensively, Goffredo is said to have a heavy shot and good vision. He can walk the blue line well and quarterback a power play. In one scouting report, they even say Goffredo “is an elite puck-moving defenseman,” and he “controls the puck with such patience and poise never panicking under times of stress or forcing pucks to any bad areas.” He is excellent at breaking out the puck “with his crisp passes through traffic” and is a player who “makes plays from the back end snapping accurate passes up ice to spring his forwards into odd-man rushes or using his legs to drive the rush and create a chance.” The scouting reports are extremely positive, and Goffredo projects as the type of player who can be relied upon to play in all situations.
With his ‘03 birthdate, Goffredo will age out of junior hockey following this season and will enroll at RPI in Fall of 2024. He will be able to make an immediate impact on the backend and play in all situations for the Engineers. Down the road, he seems to have top 4 upside and should have a quality career at RPI. Until then, we are excited to continue following him and his development this year. Congratulations to Jimmy and his family!