Last week’s NHL draft saw a host of teenagers achieve one dream and begin the journey to the another.
Burnaby’s Massimo Rizzo aims to be in their position come next summer.
The Penticton Vees centre has had quite the journey in the past 12 months, and will see more opportunities and obstacles come his way in the next 12 before the 2019 NHL draft arrives.
It comes as no surprise that he embraces each challenge with the same passion that a Gen-Xer searches YouTube for kitten videos.
Having wrapped up his studies with a couple of classes at Burnaby Central Secondary, Rizzo enters the summer with a full plate. Within a few weeks, he’ll hit the ice with 43 others vying to make a lasting impression at Hockey Canada’s national men’s under-18 selection camp, with those chosen getting to represent Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.
“It’s so special. Any time you have a chance to represent your country is an honour and something I’m very grateful for. I’m very excited to go there and try out,” Rizzo told the NOW. “I think you just have to have confidence and play your game. You don’t want to really change how you play because obviously they picked you for a reason. You just go there, have fun and enjoy the experience and hope things work out.”
A product of the Burnaby Winter Club, Rizzo is coming off a season where he played his first season with the B.C. Hockey League’s vaunted Penticton Vees franchise, alongside Jonny Tychonick, who was selected Saturday by Ottawa with the 48th pick overall.
As a rookie – Rizzo played a handful of games as a call-up in 2016-17, including seven playoff games that saw the club win the league title – he took some time to adjust to the faster, more physical junior A hockey circuit. But as the season progressed, so did Rizzo.
Over the final 12 games, he notched two goals and eight assists.
The five-foot-10 centre accumulated 13 goals and 26 assists over 50 games, then chipped in four goals and six helpers in 11 playoff contests.
“I thought it was a tough start to the season, just getting adapted and making the jump,” he said. “As the season went on, I thought I gained a lot of confidence, trusted in myself and my abilities and by the second half I was playing a lot better and producing a lot more.”
Midway through the year, he got his first taste of international hockey when he was selected to play for Team Canada Black at the World Junior under-17 Hockey Challenge – joining former BWC teammate Sasha Mutala.
Together on a line again, the two clicked and made a positive impression despite the team’s seventh-place finish. Up against the likes of the U.S.’s Jack Hughes – ranked as the No. 1 prospect for the 2019 NHL Draft, and younger brother to Vancouver Canucks’ 2018 draft selection Quinton Hughes – Rizzo and Mutala produced, with the Tri-City American finishing fourth in tourney scoring, while Rizzo netted a goal and three assists over five games, including a goal and an assist in a 4-2 tourney-ending win over Sweden.
“It was probably the best hockey I’ve played so far. There were definitely a ton of NHL scouts and a lot of people watching,” said Rizzo. “That’s always cool and gets you hyped up just that much more. (Against that) competition and the other kids you want to prove yourself, and it worked out great.”
Although Penticton failed to defend its league title in the last BCHL playoffs, there were some important lessons learned and ones Rizzo aims to put into action as the club’s newly chosen captain for the upcoming season.
He also committed to attend the University of North Dakota, beginning in 2019-20, a program that has helped the likes of Brock Boeser, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, former Penticton captain Tyson Jost and Jonathan Toews.
“Just for me, the biggest thing is that (North Dakota) seem to develop NHL players better than anyone else. Just their history of winning and their record of developing (players) is surreal. I had a real good connection with all their coaches; they’re really good people and I got to know them a lot.”
That brings it back to a Canadian kid’s dream – of playing someday in the NHL. The draft last weekend was evidence of why boys sacrifice countless hours to hit the ice and the weight room, to have their name called and pull on an NHL team’s jersey.
It’s still as big a motivator and inspiration for Rizzo as it was when he was 12 years old. He credits a host of coaches for helping him climb the ladder – guys like Bill Hunt, John Batchelor and Maco Balkovec provided guidance, inspiration and the occasional kick in the pants to keep him focused.
The next year promises to be huge for the Burnaby native. Hockey has its own rewards, and winning is still goal No. 1. But it’s hard not to think about what that moment could be like after seeing friends and former teammates reach the podium on that one day.
“That’s the dream and that’s the goal,” Rizzo said of the NHL draft. “It’s only a year away now, but it’s pretty scary when you’re watching it as a kid and the guys look so old, and now the guys (getting drafted) are only a year older than me.
“It’s something I’ve worked for since I was a young age and something I’ve dreamed about, so hopefully I can hear my name next year.”
