▁As ▁a ▁junior ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 – 0 8 , ▁he ▁was ▁named ▁All - New ▁England ▁and ▁New ▁England ' s ▁Most ▁Im pro ved ▁Player , ▁was ▁named ▁to ▁the ▁All - H ockey ▁East ▁Second ▁Team , ▁and ▁was ▁N ort he astern ' s ▁Most ▁Val u able ▁Player . ▁Vit ale ' s ▁college ▁career ▁concluded ▁when ▁N ort he astern ▁lost ▁to ▁Corn ell ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁NCAA ▁tournament , ▁N ort he astern ' s ▁first ▁trip ▁to ▁the ▁NCAA ▁tournament ▁in ▁ 1 5 ▁years . ▁He ▁finished ▁his ▁career ▁at ▁N ort he astern ▁with ▁ 3 4 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 6 0 ▁ass ists ▁for ▁ 9 4 ▁points ▁and ▁ 2 6 8 ▁penalty ▁minutes ▁in ▁ 1 4 3 ▁games . ▁ ▁Professional ▁ ▁Pitts burgh ▁P engu ins ▁On ▁April ▁ 3 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁Vit ale ▁signed ▁a ▁one - year , ▁entry ▁level ▁N HL ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁Pitts burgh ▁P engu ins ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 – 1 0 ▁season . ▁He ▁also ▁signed ▁an ▁Am ateur ▁Try - Out ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁Wil kes - Bar re / Sc r anton ▁P engu ins ▁for ▁the ▁remainder ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 – 0 9 ▁season . ▁ ▁He ▁recorded ▁his ▁first ▁professional ▁goal ▁and ▁assist ▁on ▁April ▁ 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁against ▁the ▁Alb any ▁River