Doctor with Fond Memories of Playing Days Plans to Give Back

E 2 SPORTS I SATURDAY SPECIAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2020 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bruno Zarrillo, a former star with the River East Royal Knights, stands outside the Terry Sawchuk Memorial Arena. From playing with River East buddies to a storied career on European ice JASON BELL JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The Pembina Valley Twisters celebrate defeating the St. James Canucks in game seven of the MMJHL final in 2019. BRUNO Zarrillo had no inkling a two-year stint in the Manitoba Major MMJHL ● FROM E1 Junior Hockey League would be the passageway to a long and successful professional career overseas. EMBINA Valley is the reigning “I don’t think I ever thought about P champion after defeating the going anywhere in the game at Canucks in a thrilling final ser- that point, I played because I just ies, played nearly 19 months ago. The loved hockey. I’m grateful for (the Twisters completed an improbable MMJHL),” Zarrillo said recently. “It comeback in late April 2019, scoring was God’s destiny for my life. It’s five unanswered goals in the second Zarrillo holds a photo of himself from his crazy how door after door after door playing days. half of Game 7 to register a 5-4 victory kept opening for me after that. over St. James. “I got into a good spot in Europe first year with River East, and the trio Stonewall, St. Vital and St. James and was able to turn it into a career. guided the squad to the league champi- each has a lone championship, while Sixteen years, it’s crazy.” onship. That year, he had 56 goals and the Railer Express, founded eight One of the finest players in MMJHL 82 assists. years ago, are looking for their first. history, Zarrillo, now 54, played his mi- A year later, Zarrillo potted 63 goals Miller recalls every detail of the Jr. nor hockey in North Kildonan, racked and 76 assists as the Royal Knights Canucks’ sensational run to the cham- up ridiculous scoring stats — 119 goals successfully defended the crown. pionship in 1998, even a few he didn’t and 277 points — in just 77 games over “Some weekends I’d have 20 points, see with his own eyes. two seasons (1986-88) with the River it was crazy. Not stealing points, those “I remember the seventh game East Royal Knights and then took his were honest points. It was the (Wayne) against the Hawks (in the final) and offensive talents to Italy, Germany and Gretzky era, everything was wide open there was about a minute left and we Switzerland. and I had great linemates. We had a were trailing. I couldn’t take it any- He played for Italy in three Olympic strong team, so points came easy,” he more and walked out and sat down in Games and 11 world championships, said. “The best memories are of me the hallway. There was a big roar and SUBMITTED and won 10 league championships in and the guys I grew up with. I got to all of a sudden someone comes by and Pembina Valley’s Elijah Carels was wearing the C when the league shut down in his final season. Europe. play with my younger brother (Carlo), says, ‘Miller, they just tied the game,’” Zarrillo, who operates a hockey acad- who was a goalie.” he said. “Then it went into overtime “They’ve made a life decision that “After I got traded for the second emy in Winnipeg, was inducted into Bonni said Zarrillo is, indeed, among and we won, and it was amazing. I they are going to play hockey but also time to La Ronge (four hours north of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the league’s all-time premier players. never thought, honest to gosh, it would go to school or work. I’ve had doctors, Saskatoon) it got to the point where I 2009. “He never had the hardest shot, happen. lawyers, plumbers, electricians, teach- didn’t want to move around anymore. His love affair for the game began wasn’t the best skater, wasn’t the big- “The goaltender, Kris Fillion, was ers, from all facets of life on my team. That’s not the life I wanted. So, I came on the outdoor rinks at Gateway Recre- gest guy. But he had that intangible unreal and he was the MVP of the play- They are unsung, no one hears about back and played for the Twisters,” Eli- ation Centre, playing with his friends where he could read the ice. Back then offs. He won it for us, whether you like these boys. They are contributing jah said. “When I went to the Twisters, in the early 1970s and, after several I compared him to the way Gretzky it or not. It was Kerry Ross who scored members of the society,” he said. 16 of the guys I had either played with years of competing at the highest lev- saw the game, in the sense that he in overtime. I loved every one of my “The best feeling I get to this day before or knew of them. It was pretty els of minor hockey, he was back with was this scrawny kid with tremendous teams but that one stands out. They is someone comes up to me and says, refreshing knowing I knew so many many of those same familiar faces vision,” said Bonni. “What paid off for came together when it was crucial.” ‘Mike, how’s it going?’ And you vaguely faces going in. with the Royal Knights under head Bruno was that he went to Italy and Charleswood had claimed four remember them because over 20 “I really didn’t have any idea of what coach Barry Bonni. played in their B league but stuck it consecutive championships (1993-97) years you have a lot of players com- it would be like, because when I was “I tried out for the Manitoba Junior out and then really made a name for before the drive for five was snapped ing through. But they say, ‘It’s me, growing up the MMJHL was pretty (Hockey) League and had a good himself over there.” by St. James. The Hawks went on to Johnny so and so, and I played for you far away from where I lived. But when camp, I thought, but I didn’t make the After obtaining an Italian passport, win four in a row again (2008-12) while in 2000-whatever. I’m married, I have I went there it was pretty surprising, Kildonan North Stars. I was going to Zarrillo played one season with lower- the Royal Knights matched the feat two kids, I’m a dentist, a plumber, or I just a lot of guys that were the exact Red River College (in business admin- tier Latemar HC and then joined HC years earlier (1986-90). own my own business.’ It’s really some- same as me, players that wanted to istration), so I decided to just play with Bolzano, sizzling with 133 points in his Barry Bonni, the River East orga- thing special.” stay close to home, go to school or work my buddies,” Zarrillo said. “You know inaugural season and 114 the next. He nization’s driving force for nearly 40 but still play a good level of hockey.” how hockey is. You start out together played seven years there and five with years, said it’s not the championship NE of the league’s current stars, Elijah was instrumental in the Twist- and pretty soon there’s AA, AAA and the Cologne Sharks in Germany’s elite banners that are most gratifying. Elijah Carels, is content to help ers’ run to the playoffs during the 2018- you all start getting split. Then, all of O league — including one under former “One of my assistant coaches asked out on his family’s cattle and 19 season but was sidelined for the a sudden, here we are at 18 or 19 and Winnipeg Jets 1.0 head coach Bob Mur- me why I still do it. My response was, grain farm near Bruxelles, about 160 championship series against St. James we’re all back together again. doch — among his nearly 600 games ‘Somebody has to.’ It’s too important kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, after suffering a broken collarbone in “That’s what the MMJHL is for. It’s played in Europe. for the community. It’s hard to let go,” while picking up some carpentry work the second round. Last year, he won for guys who want to continue to play During the 1996 world championship, said Bonni, the club’s president and on the side. the league scoring title (38G, 44A) and at a decent level of hockey and go to Zarrillo led Group A in scoring with general manager for the last 20 years. The 21-year-old forward had spent was named most valuable player dur- school. That’s what it’s traditionally eight points in five preliminary-round Two of his sons, Ryan and present big chunks of four seasons with Pem- ing the shortened 2019-20 season. been known for and why it’s been so games, one ahead of legendary NHLer head coach Blake, have worked behind bina Valley and was wearing the C in He’s far from ready for his MMJHL successful. I really think the MMJHL and former Jets 1.0 sniper Teemu (the the bench. this his fifth and final year before the career to be over, and he’s crossing is the most stable of all those leagues.

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