. ▁Louis ▁Blues ▁minor ▁ice ▁hockey ▁team . ▁ ▁Vit ale ▁graduated ▁from ▁Christian ▁Brothers ▁College ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁St . ▁Louis , ▁Missouri , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁three ▁state ▁champion ships ▁and ▁two ▁und efe ated ▁seasons . ▁He ▁also ▁played ▁for ▁the ▁St . ▁Louis ▁Jr . ▁Blues ▁of ▁the ▁Central ▁States ▁Hockey ▁League ▁for ▁two ▁seasons , ▁including ▁a ▁national ▁championship ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 – 0 4 . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 – 0 5 , ▁he ▁played ▁for ▁the ▁Si oux ▁F alls ▁St amp ede ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Hockey ▁League . ▁ ▁On ▁July ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Vit ale ▁was ▁draft ed ▁by ▁the ▁P engu ins ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 th ▁selection ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁N HL ▁Entry ▁D raft . ▁He ▁en rolled ▁in ▁N ort he astern ▁University ▁and ▁began ▁his ▁college ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁fresh man ▁for ▁the ▁H usk ies ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 – 0 6 . ▁He ▁was ▁named ▁Hockey ▁East ▁Ro ok ie ▁of ▁the ▁Week ▁in ▁February ▁and ▁received ▁N ort he astern ' s ▁Ed ▁Arr ington ▁Memorial ▁Ro ok ie ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁Award . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 – 0 7 , ▁he ▁was ▁named ▁alternate ▁captain ▁of ▁the ▁squad ▁as ▁a ▁s oph om ore ▁and ▁was ▁named ▁to ▁Hockey ▁East ' s ▁All - A cadem ic ▁Team .