Center Michael Catenacci, the captain of the Toronto Marlies in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine on a hockey scholarship beginning in 2009.

Catenacci, 16, had approximately 30 goals and 40 assists for the Marlies and was the recipient of the Buck Houle Award for on-ice performance, leadership and loyalty.

The 5-foot-6, 165-pound Catenacci is “fearless” according to Marlies co-coach Scott Kerr.

“He was the best hitter on our team. He laid out more body checks than anybody on our team,” said Kerr. “He’ll take a hit to make a play and will play in the danger zones [in front of the opponent’s net]. He’ll drive the net. And with his size, he’s got a nice low center of gravity so he’s hard to knock off the puck.”

Kerr said Catenacci is “quick and sturdy” and is “one of the most coachable kids I’ve ever had.”

Catenacci was one of seven forwards selected from an Ontario Under-17 camp last weekend to participate in the provincial tryout camp later this summer.

“He’s strong defensively and has fairly good hands,” added Kerr. “He loves to practice and is the type of kid who will sacrifice himself for the hockey club.”

Catenacci is excited about the opportunity to play for Maine.

“It’s a great hockey town and there’s a lot of hockey tradition there,” said Catenacci. “The coaching staff is great. They believe in me and will help develop me.”

Despite announcing his attentions to attend Maine, Kerr said Catenacci will probably still be selected in the Ontario Hockey League [Major Junior] draft.

Kerr said if Catenacci had intended to go the Major Junior route instead of college hockey, he “probably would have been a late first-round, early second-round pick [in the OHL draft].”

But Catenacci said “the NCAA has better hockey programs” and that he intends to work on his strength over the next two seasons.

He will probably play for the Toronto Junior A Canadiens in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League next year.