A year ago at USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp, Sam Colangelo might have been a step or two behind many of the top prospects in his age group.
The Stoneham, Mass., native used that as motivation to get to the gym and work on his physical fitness in an effort to elevate his skating.
“I’ve gotten bigger and stronger and with that comes being faster,” said Colangelo of his improvement over the past year. “At Select 16 camp, I wasn’t quite fast enough. Some kids were skating by me. I went back home and got in the gym. I worked on my legs a lot. I think it showed this year that I was bigger, faster and stronger.”
All that hard work off the ice paid off following this year’s USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp. Colangelo earned a spot on the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup from Aug. 6-11 in Alberta.
“It’s great to be playing for your country. I was really excited and honored when I heard my name called in that room,” said Colangelo of finding out he’ll be wearing the red, white and blue.
At Select 17’s, a weeklong showcase at the Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y., Colangelo scored three goals and five assists, including one tally in the All-Star Game.
“I thought I played really well in the All-Star Game, which is your last impression. I kept getting better as the week went along,” Colangelo explained.
The Hlinka-Gretzky Cup is the first major scouting showcase for the 2001 birth year as many of prospects enter their NHL draft year. However, Colangelo has to wait until the 2020 NHL draft due to being a late 2001, born in December.
Colangelo is no stranger to success. He was one of the top scoring threats for a Lawrence Academy team that won the NEPSAC Piatelli/Simmons (small schools) championship this past March.
“Winning that championship was amazing and something I’ll never forget. It’s the reason I want to stay and play in prep school,” said Colangelo, who was drafted by the Chicago Steel in the USHL Phase 2 Draft in May.
Colangelo will have the opportunity to continue to develop his skill-set under head coach Robbie Barker (Concord, N.H.), a former UNH star defenseman, at the Groton, Mass., prep school.
“Coach Barker is the best. I’ve known him since I was a little kid. I love the guy. He’s my advisor at school. I’m with him every day before school, after school and during practice. I love Lawrence. It’s been a great experience so far,” Colangelo said.
Colangelo, who spent a majority of his youth hockey playing for the Junior Bruins, has a multi-dimensional offensive skill-set. He has a very good shot, but he’s equally adept at setting up his teammates with his excellent vision.
“I’m a really good offensive producer. I like to have the puck on my stick. I have a good shot and really good hockey IQ,” said Colangelo when asked to describe his style of play and strengths.
Colangelo counts a former Boston Bruin as one of his role models as he looks to develop into a pro player someday. “I like to watch Tyler Seguin because he always has the puck on his stick and is really good offensively,” he said.
The one knock on Colangelo always has been his tendency to float and not be as consistent of a threat as he could be with the physical tools he has in the attacking zone. However, that area of his game and playing without the puck has improved significantly over the past two years.
Regardless, when his draft year comes, NHL teams will be watching closely. Players with his size (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) and offensive tools don’t just grow on trees.
It’s part of the reason Northeastern University offered Colangelo a scholarship to play college hockey for the Huskies last August. Having grown up just 20 minutes from the campus, it was an opportunity that was hard to pass up.
“The biggest thing for me was the Beanpot. Growing up I went to the Beanpot both Mondays for as long as I can remember. I love the coaching staff and love the city of Boston. Northeastern was the first school I ever toured. I fell in love with it and wanted to go there, so when they offered, it was a no-brainer,” explained Colangelo.
While Colangelo is still two years away from enrolling, he continues to be presented with great opportunities to develop his game. In addition to playing in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with the other top 2001-born prospects in the world, Colangelo is playing every Wednesday night in the Foxboro Pro League at Foxboro Sports Center.
“I love the league. It’s basically all skill, which I enjoy doing,” Colangelo said. “Every Wednesday night you’re playing against other teams with 10 to 12 commits. It’s fast-paced and I really enjoy it.”
