Page 22 - Washington Little Capitals Season Program 2016-17

HOW THE LITTLE

CAPS HELPED ME

REACH THE PROS

BY ANDREW PANZARELLA

I was extremely lucky to even end up playing for the Little Capitals in
the first place. I remember trying out for Little Caps as a first year
Squirt player, and being surprised at how many good players were at
camp. I was never a standout on the ice, but I was always just so
excited to be playing.
On nights before a game I would barely sleep, because I was looking
forward to playing the next day so much. The only thing that could
ever get me out of bed before sunrise was knowing that I would be on
the ice soon after. I think that my enthusiasm for the game translated
into how I played on the ice, and I ended up making the team as a
Squirt Minor.
In a wonderful stroke of good luck, my coach that first year of Little
Caps was Mark Tinordi. Mark had just finished playing a 13 year NHL
career and, as luck would have it, had a son who was my age. His son,
Matt, became one of my best friends, and we would go on to play for
Little Caps together until we left for junior hockey over 8 years later.
Having Mark as a coach for every one of those years was by far the
best thing that could have ever happened to me, as a player and a
person.
As a kid, I idolized Mark. He had an amazing career playing defense in
the National Hockey League, where he was a lethal combination of
toughness and skill. I had a highlight tape of him from his playing
days that I would watch. It?s not often that you get to learn from
someone who has accomplished exactly what you dream of doing.
Mark also taught his players the value of respect both on and off the
ice. He always treated people fairly, and did everything the right way.
I was also lucky to play with the same core group of players throughout
my years with the Little Caps, all the way from Squirt Minor to
Bantam. Growing up, these guys were my best friends. Virtually every
weekend I would be hanging out with someone from my hockey team,
even when we didn?t have any games or practices.
There is a group of around eight former Little Caps players I grew up
with whom I still talk to and see daily. Some of my favorite memories
as a kid include playing mini hockey in hotel hallways, and talking on
walkie talkies as we played ?manhunt." Going to the Pee Wee
tournament in Quebec has to be one of the coolest experiences of my
childhood as well. The players stayed with billet families for the
tournament, which we thought was the coolest thing ever.

After a successful NCAA Division 1 career with University of
North Dakota, where he twice helped his team reach the
Frozen Four, former Little Cap Andrew Panzarella is now in
his second season in the ECHL. Last season, he played for the
Idaho Steelheads and this season for the Quad-City Mallards.