Matteo Gennaro is shooting to score an important goal in his hockey career.
“This is my contract year so I’m really determined to finish the second half of my season strong and sign my first pro contract,” said the NHL draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets.
The 19-year-old centre from St. Albert leads the Calgary Hitmen in scoring at the Christmas break with 11 goals and 26 points in 28 games.
“I’ve been fairly consistent this first half. I’ve treated every game like it’s a really important showing for me and I’ve just really focused on winning my battles and competing every shift. That way the puck ends up on my stick a lot more often than it would be if I was just a little more lackadaisical out there,” Gennaro said. “I just found myself this first half of the year creating a little bit more opportunities just because of my intensity, getting in on the forecheck and causing turnovers and that ultimately just ends up with me having the puck on my stick. After that I just play. I feel like I’m a pretty gifted hockey player offensively and I’m a fairly creative player and that's why I’ve got some of the statistical numbers I have.”
The seventh round (203rd overall) selection by the Jets in 2015 attended Winnipeg’s training camp before returning to the Hitmen as a man on a mission.
“I felt like I did pretty well there. This year was my second training camp so I felt a little bit more comfortable and kind of knew what to expect,” Gennaro said.
“You have a little exit meeting after they send you back to junior and they pretty much tell you how they thought you did and where they saw you fit basically in the group of 50 or so players they have attending camp.
“They just told me going back to junior this year I have to have a real solid year and be a leader on my team. I’m an older guy now, I’m 19 years old, and I’ve just got to be a difference-maker every game. They said focus on your compete level and your intensity and winning your puck battles and let your skills take over pretty much.”
Gennaro continues to receive feedback from the Jets as they monitor his progress with the Hitmen.
“They have player development people who keep in touch with you and are always giving you insight on how you’re doing, just pretty much letting you know the things you have to work on and things they basically expect out of you and your game. There is always conversation with your NHL team,” said the 127th ranked North American skater in the 2015 Central Scouting final rankings.
This is Gennaro’s fourth Western Hockey League campaign after making his major junior debut with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2013/14 and in 230 games the six-foot-three forward has compiled 50 goals, 115 points and 118 penalty minutes.
“I still remember being 16 years old in this league. Time really flies,” said the second round (41st overall) pick by the Raiders in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.
“As a rookie you’re still getting adjusted to the league, you’re kind of just getting your feet in the water and just learning the ropes a little bit. You’re not playing as much as a veteran guy obviously so that year kind of goes by fairly quickly,” said the silver medallist at the 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge as the top scorer for Team Pacific with four goals and three assists in seven games.
“You rush into your 17-year-old year and that’s obviously an exciting year because you’re a returning player and you expect a little bit more of yourself. It was also my draft year so you’re pretty motivated for that year. It ended up being pretty positive for me and I ended up getting drafted.
“You go into your 18-year-old year coming off a training camp (with the Jets) and that’s pretty exciting. It helps a little bit with confidence and just overall improvement as a player so that was a pretty fun year as well. I ended up getting traded that year and coming to Calgary was pretty exciting. It was a little bit of an adjustment as well being closer to home and everything else, so it was a bit different for me.
“Now half the season is done in my 19-year-old season so it does really go by quickly. At times you’ve got to stop yourself and enjoy it because it’s crazy to think this could potentially be my last year in the WHL and that’s how it works.”
In 174 games with the Raiders, Gennaro posted 33 goals, 70 points and 86 penalty minutes before he was shipped to the Hitmen, along with defenceman Ty Prefontaine and a sixth-round selection in the 2016 WHL bantam draft, for right-winger Layne Bensmiller and defenceman Loch Morrison at the January trade deadline.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here in Calgary,” said Gennaro, who has been flanked on a line in recent games with Beck Malenstyn and Tyler Mrkonjic, 20, of St. Albert.
Gennaro and Mrkonjic played together with the 2010/11 bantam AAA Sabres and 2012/13 midget AAA Raiders before reuniting with the Hitmen (13-16-2).
“It’s a pretty cool feeling to have a guy like Tyler here and a couple of other St. Albert kids in the WHL. It’s something special. St. Albert is a relatively small city compared to other places in Canada but hockey is very important here and it’s definitely a hockey city,” said Gennaro.
The St. Albert Catholic High School graduate is living the dream while aspiring to experience the achievement of success.
“I’m having unbelievable amounts of fun. Hockey is my passion and it’s always what I wanted to do,” Gennaro said. “Junior hockey is big in the sense you build a lot of relationships with tons of different teammates, coaches and your billet families and they’re a huge support to you and I’ve been pretty blessed that way. I’ve had three billet families now over the years and they’ve all treated me really well and making me feel welcomed.
“I’ve established so many relationships and tons of great memories. It’s a really fundamental time in your life where you can take some of those friendships and memories and they’re going to help you along the way in life.”
