New beginnings in Bridgewater

There have been lots of huge modifications in Matteo Pellizzari’s life over the
previous seven months.

Back in April, the 15-year-old was enjoying for BC Hockey’s provincial para
hockey workforce, with scrimmages twice every week on Wednesdays and Saturday. Now,
he’s figuring out day by day and travelling throughout the nation for coaching
camps forward of his worldwide debut on the Para Hockey Cup in
Bridgewater, N.S., because the youngest member of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team.

“It’s kind of been a whirlwind, but it’s been really good,” the Vancouver,
B.C., native says.

Pellizzari was born with out his fibulas in each of his legs—a uncommon
situation referred to as bilateral fibular hemimelia. He turned a double-leg
amputee from the knee down when he was one 12 months previous.

“It’s the only thing I’ve ever really known,” Pellizzarri says about being
an amputee. “I honestly can’t imagine my life any other way.”

There have been many alternatives that Pellizzari has been in a position to pursue
as a consequence of his amputations. He is actively concerned within the War Amps Child
Amputee Program (CHAMPS) and was beforehand featured in a War Amps
industrial, brochures and on parade floats. As he received older, he began to
volunteer for CHAMPS to present again to this system that has given him so
a lot.

“They’ve made all of the distinction in my life. They’ve offered me with so
many alternatives,” he says. “They pay for all my leisure
prosthetics… they even truly paid for my first (para hockey) sled that I
ever received that was customized made for me.”

The help from CHAMPS opened the door for Pellizzari to attempt enjoying
a number of sports activities. He enjoys volleyball, working, swimming and {golfing}, however
his true ardour has all the time been para hockey. Pellizzari first received on the
ice when he was 4 years previous.

“I distinctly bear in mind the primary time I performed. I felt like I used to be going so
quick, it was so superior,” he says. “I fell in love on day one, it was a
love at first sight.”

At first, Pellizzari discovered the basics of para hockey with different
youngsters his age. However, it rapidly turned evident that he had a pure
expertise for the game, so he moved as much as enjoying with the grownup groups when
he was 9 years previous.

“I began enjoying with 30-year-old, enormous males that performed for Team B.C. and
I believed that was unbelievable,” the ahead explains. “I used to be awestruck. I
was positively the worst on the ice.”

With the ceiling raised to set new targets in para hockey, Pellizzari
continued to enhance and excel within the sport. His expertise additionally began to be
observed by members of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team. Veteran
defenceman Adam Dixon first met Pellizzari on the Cruisers Cup in 2021.

“[Pellizzari] was linked to Greg Westlake, the previous captain and considered one of
my greatest pals, and Greg mentioned, ‘Hey, come meet this kid, he’s a reasonably
cool man,’” Dixon says. “Obviously it took lots of dedication to fly in
from B.C. to play in a match in Mississauga for a weekend.”

In April, Pellizzari was invited to his first NextGen Para Hockey
Development Camp in Montreal, the place Dixon served as a mentor for the
members.

“That was when I really got to spend a lot of time with him,” Dixon
explains. “Obviously, with him being a double-leg amputee, I feel he’s a
excellent participant. He has all of it discovered… he’s already the very best child in
B.C.”

“As quickly as I went to NextGen camp, that actually opened my eyes (to the)
potentialities that I’ve within the sport,” Pellizzari provides. “It was actually
thrilling for me. It was so unbelievable seeing how Hockey Canada organizes
these occasions.”

One factor that stood out to Dixon was Pellizzari’s willingness to be taught and
not being afraid to ask questions with the intention to perceive every bit of
recommendation. Working with Pellizzari additionally reminded Dixon of his expertise
becoming a member of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team when he was 17.

“The those that I had watched on TV—Brad Bowden, Billy Bridges, Greg
Westlake—unexpectedly went from being my heroes to now my teammates, and
it was so humorous being reminded of that,” he says.

“He was utilizing Greg Westlake’s sticks that Greg had given him, and he had
by no means retaped them as a result of he didn’t need to take off the tape that Greg
had placed on there. I lower the tape off his sticks and mentioned, ‘Hey, we’re going
to discover ways to tape our sticks in the present day.’ (It’s) all these little issues that
I bear in mind being younger and being a fan of the game, and I can see that in
him.”

After a powerful displaying at NextGen camp, Pellizzari was invited to
choice camp for Canada’s National Para Hockey Team in September.

“Before tryouts occurred, [Pellizzari’s] dad truly tracked me down on
Facebook and had me name him, and simply requested for me to look out for him,”
Dixon says. “When he received there, he didn’t want anybody looking for him.

“He’s so mature. He’s so open to all the things. He hasn’t actually performed
high-level hockey in any respect, so all the things that we’re giving him, he has to
soak it up and he soaks it up so properly. He understands it and he applies it,
and I feel that’s a reasonably spectacular trait.”

By the top of choice camp, Pellizzari had earned a spot on the nationwide
workforce roster—a feat that took him fully without warning.

“I used to be pondering that is actually cool that they’re even contemplating me for
this,” Pellizzari says. “I used to be tremendous excited simply to play on the highest
stage in Canada, after which unexpectedly I made the workforce and that was
mind-blowing.”

As the youngest member of Team Canada, Pellizzari says all his veteran
teammates have been welcoming to him and supply him recommendation, however his
reference to Dixon has stood out. Dixon additionally considers Pellizzari to be
considered one of his greatest pals on the workforce.

“Adam Dixon, he’s been a mentor proper since NextGen camp. [He’s been] tremendous
useful [as I’ve been] discovering my option to Team Canada,” Pellizzari says. “I
suppose that enjoying with all these veterans goes to offer me with a
lot of perception for what I can stay up for.”

What’s it wish to stability being a member of Canada’s National Para Hockey
Team whereas in highschool? Well, Pellizzari says he’s nonetheless making an attempt to
determine that out and takes it at some point at a time. He has labored together with his excessive
college so he can full his exercise necessities for Team Canada as an alternative
of taking a bodily schooling class.

But as Dixon found, the younger ahead has the work ethic wanted to
sustain at school and sustain in his para hockey coaching.

“I used to be his roommate [at the] final [training] camp, and the child, all he did
was homework. He’s so accountable,” Dixon says. “For [my] first 12 months, I
would pack all my textbooks from highschool, put them in my backpack and
fly round with them, and they’d keep in my backpack. I’d by no means open
them.”

The 2022 Para Hockey Cup will probably be Pellizzari’s worldwide debut with Team
Canada, and he could have a giant group of followers cheering him on. His household
will probably be travelling throughout the nation to Bridgewater, N.S., to see him put on
the Maple Leaf for the primary time.

“Without my household and my pals, I feel that I positively wouldn’t be
the place I’m in the present day. They’ve made all of the distinction,” he says. “They’ve
actually set me up for fulfillment they usually’ve been tremendous encouraging for me.”

Looking to the long run, Pellizzari hopes his expertise with Team Canada
will give him the chance to proceed to develop the sport in his residence
province and throughout the nation. As considered one of a number of new gamers to Canada’s
National Para Hockey Team, he’s wanting ahead to rising as a participant
together with his teammates over the following 4 years.

“This is admittedly particular as a result of there’s so many younger gamers and we’re
constructing Team Canada this 12 months for the following Paralympics. We’re beginning
from the start, and I’m actually excited to be part of that.”