Merritt Centennials All-Time Greats: The Story of Casey Pierro-Zabotel

MERRITT — Casey Pierro-Zabotel was born in Ashcroft November 8th 1988 and spent 2004-2008 with the Centennials organization.

As a young 15 year old Pierro-Zabotel was already playing in the BCHL. His modest 6 goals and 12 points in 58 games with the team would be just the beginning for a player destined to take the league by storm.

Pierro-Zabotel would follow up with a 20 goal 35 assists 55 point season at just the age of 16 an already almost point per game player. That Centennials team was special with the team hovering around .500 with a record of 18-17-0-5 on January 7th 2006

they would go on an absolute tear losing only one more regulation game for the rest of the season and finishing 33-18-1-8.

That’s a record of 15-1-3 to end the season.

Pierro-Zabotel would shine as a 16 year old in the playoffs scoring 9 goals in 9 games and adding 3 assists. The following season was something dreams are made of.

Pierro-Zabotel would light the league on fire with 51 goals and 65 assists good for 116 points in 55 games.

That would get the attention of the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins would draft him 80th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in round three.

In his final season with the Centennials, the 2007/08 season he would prove almost too good for the BCHL. Pierro-Zabotel would score 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points in just 17 games with the Centennials. The team struggled mightily that year finishing 13-38-1-8

He would join the Vancouver Giants of the WHL mid season and go on to score 19 goals and 29 assists good for 48 points in 49 games.

He had proven his worth on a stacked Giants team that finished 49-15-8. That team featured a 16 year old Evander Kane who is still having success with the Edmonton Oilers.

The following season his 20 year old Pierro-Zabotel lit up the league with 36 goals 79 assists and 115 points in 72 games. He was first on the team while an 18 year old Evander Kane finished second in points behind him.

The Giants were a dominant 57-10-5 that season and at their peak had a record of 32-2-3, a jaw dropping record in the standings.

Despite this Vancouver was unable to get a WHL Championship that year and that would be his final season of junior hockey. While Pierro-Zabotel was never given a chance in the NHL he had a successful career as a pro hockey player none-the-less.

His first season of pro hockey he would play with the Wheeling Nailers for two seasons as an almost point-per-game player.

While he wasn’t able to get any traction in the AHL he had a successful run in the ECHL as an offensive threat. Pierro-Zabotel played for the Cincinnati Cyclones, Bakersfield Condors, Gwinnett Gladiators from 2009-2013.

His best season came with the Gwinnett Gladiators where he led the team with 22 goals and 53 assists good for 75 points in 66 games.

It was a good bounce back season for Pierro-Zabotel as he only had 35 points in 71 games the season prior with the Bakersfield Condors, which seemed to be below his career average. After a brief stint with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL where he notched a goal and assist in 2012/13 he would try his luck in Europe as some players do.

Pierro-Zabotel would play 33 games with the Lausitzer Foxes in Germany scoring 5 goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 33 games.

He would return to the Gwinnett Gladiators in the 2013-2015 seasons returning to his point per game form again getting a 3 game stint in the AHL with Norfolk. Pierro-Zabotel would finish the 2015 season with the Florida Everblades joining them for a 12 game playoff run where he would pitch in 4 goals and 6 points.

He would try his luck with the Allen Americans the next season where once again he was a successful playmaker. That year he would go on a heck of a run in the playoffs

with the Americans scoring 16 points in 24 playoff games. The move would prove a successful one as the Allen Americans were the defending Kelly Cup Champions and they would win the Cup again as

Pierro-Zabotel was rewarded for his hard work and commitment to stay in the game of hockey.

His Championship luck wouldn’t run out there as the following season he joined the Colorado Eagles and won it all again. A back-to-back champion in the ECHL at the twilight of his career and what a way to end things on a good note.

He would play two more seasons with the Allen Americans and finish off his career with the Adirondack Thunder.

He tied a career high with 24 goals in his final year but will forever go down in history as one of the best to ever lace them up for the Centennials and a back-to-back Champion.

Pierro-Zabotel seemed to win wherever he went and will always be the pride of Ashcroft, British Columbia.