A Story of Pro Hockey Overseas
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SPECIAL Euro Trip A Story of Pro Hockey Overseas by David Shoalts orty-seven years ago, after his dreams of a hockey career crested with a tryout with the Dixie Beehives of the old Metro Junior B Hockey League, Sam Del Monte, who took up the game at F the age of 12 after he and his parents immigrated to Toronto from Italy, made himself a promise. “I felt I never really got a chance to years old—but I felt I never really got opportunity. I followed through with play the game,” Sam said. “I grew a chance to develop in the game. My that.” up in Little Italy and I used to hack father really didn’t like sports and I Boy, did he ever. Sam went on to around on the street with a stick was the oldest of eight kids. So I made marry Barbara and the Del Montes and a ball. I played a little bit—I won a decision. Because I never really had had three sons—Dion, Daniel, and Da- a THL championship when I was 16 the chance, my sons would get every vid. None of them ever made the NHL, 68 ichill.ca | Oct./Nov. 2013 but all three played enough hockey in enough leagues and cities—from the Ontario Hockey League to the NCAA to the East Coast League to the American Hockey League to most of the leagues in Germany and Sam’s native Italy—to leave the entire family with a lifetime of memories. When he wasn’t selling anything “from cars and heavy trucks to life in- surance, milk machines and baby pic- tures,” Sam spent his time coaching his three boys. He did it so well that all three were offered scholarships from NCAA universities with Dion, the old- est, going to Dartmouth College and David, the youngest, going to Princ- eton. Middle child Dan was courted by Bowling Green but chose to play in Clockwise: Dan and Dave the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in- in victory, Dion and Dan in stead, suiting up for the Peterborough victory, Dion playing with the Petes and Sarnia Sting. Nürnberg Ice Tigers, Dave There was no shortage of skill playing in Bremerhaven. among the three brothers—they all led their respective teams in scoring the year before they went pro—but the NHL’s obsession with size meant none of them were drafted. “At that running from 1,200 seats to about culture. The pay was also better—the time, size was so important,” said 7,000, and the facilities were equally equivalent of $250,000 for top players Dan, whose junior career wound up in rudimentary. Even though the Del once you factored in a free apartment, 1995, the same year Dion graduated Montes were raised in an Italian family, car, and the team paying your income from Dartmouth with an economics there was still a culture shock, as Dan tax—but there was more pressure on degree. “Look at someone like Martin discovered in Asiago. foreign players. Each team was al- St. Louis—he was never drafted. He “You’re talking 3,000 people on lowed a fixed number of imports and had a great college career and still they had to perform or else they’d be got passed over. Size obviously isn’t top of a mountain,” Dan said. “You’re replaced. the only consideration when looking at a prospect but you could be a very On the plus side, the game was good small player and get over- easier on an athlete’s body because looked.” the schedule called for 40 to 50 But, if there was a place where “It’s a great place games a season compared to the size didn’t matter as much, it was in to play when things 100 that could be played in North Europe. The larger ice surface made America. skating ability and skill more valuable are going well.” “The fans are passionate,” Dion to teams than size alone. said. “They’re chanting and singing the Since Sam was born in Italy, Dion —Dion Del Monte whole game. It’s like a soccer crowd. and Dan were able to get Italian It’s a fun environment to play in. Obvi- passports and the door opened for ously when things aren’t going well—if the 1995-96 season to that country’s you aren’t performing or the team isn’t Serie A, which, at that time, was one performing or if you’re injured—there’s of the top leagues in Europe. Players not given a car because they were a lot of pressure. You have to learn to like Jaromir Jagr and Tony Amonte afraid you’d take the car and leave. deal with it. You’re expected to be one spent time in Italy the previous season There were as many farm animals on of the leaders as an import.” during an NHL lockout. Dion, who road as cars. This was the pre-Internet Dion tried life in the English Super was 22 at the time, signed on with Val days and it was five bucks a minute League the following year, and then Gardena while 19-year-old Dan landed for a phone call home. It was tough for sojourned in the North American with Asiago. a 19-year-old. After that year, I knew I minor leagues for the next two years. While the hockey was good and could play anywhere and be okay.” He headed back to Germany in 2000 the scenic views of the Italian Alps Both Dion and Dan left the follow- when he had the chance to play with were unforgettable, there was no ing season to play in Germany, where Dan in Freiburg, a city in southern mistaking the Italian league for the the facilities were better, but they had Germany on the edge of the Black NHL. The arenas were much smaller, to learn a new language and a new Forest not far from Switzerland. Oct./Nov. 2013 | ichill.ca 69 The Del Montes in their Bronko Hockey instructional gear. Together, they would win a champi- career a bit shorter, retiring in 2005 in Europe—it’s very competitive, onship in 2003, earning the team a at 25 to marry his wife and fellow especially for imports. And for many spot in the elite league the following Princeton alum Lynn, and get started of the players who do sign to play season. on his teaching career. there, it’s not easy to adjust to a new Three years later, Dan won another They may all have bounced around culture and new language. title with his younger brother David, the hockey world but none of the “There are a lot of guys who play who joined him in Bremerhaven, a three Del Monte brothers would trade pro in North America for years, then German port city on the coast of the the experience for anything. go over there and just can’t handle North Sea. It was David’s second pro “We got to see the world and it,” Dan said. “We learned as young season after finishing his economics those are experiences you can’t adults and pros to function well in degree at Princeton University and put a price tag on,” Dan said. “We Europe. We learned to speak Ger- playing in the East Coast Hockey played in strong leagues on teams man, for example. If you can adapt League (ECHL). that are managed and and learn, it can be a great experi- “I was looking at coached by people ence.” some of the pictures with extensive hockey Now that the three are retired from that year we backgrounds from all from playing, they’re helping develop won the title,” said “We learned over the hockey world, the next generation of players. Dan is David, who is now including some of the a scout for the NHLPA and, together a teacher at Garth as young best Germans to ever with Sam, coaches his son’s AAA Webb Secondary adults and play the game. We team in the Greater Toronto Hockey School in Oakville, played in large arenas League (GTHL). Dion works as a Ontario. “Looking pros to in front of big crowds professional skating and skills coach. back at it makes and competed with Together with David, the four Del you smile. I look at function well and against ex-NHL Montes run Bronko Hockey, a suc- that one of me and in Europe.” players and players cessful hockey school in Mississauga Dan holding the cup with national team ex- which runs on-ice camps and clinics together and it’s a —Dan Del Monte perience. However, we and produces the patented on-ice great feeling. It’s a also played in leagues resistance-training aid that bears the bond you’ll share where it is less profes- company’s name, the Bronko Belt. with your brothers sional and the facilities “It’s been a fun journey that we’ve forever.” are very basic. Where it’s like, ‘Listen, been able to take part in,” Sam said, Dion spent seven more seasons in there’s a guy named Dieter who owns looking back. “Their mother and I vis- Germany and retired in 2008, settling the schnitzel shop and he’s your GM.’ ited the boys in many of the different down and marrying his wife Tiffany in He’s not a hockey guy but he’s mak- places they lived. We got to watch 2011.