Gallardi enjoying the ride
By Bill Potrecz - February 22, 2022
It’s safe to say no one is appreciating the high school hockey season more than Matthew Gallardi.
The 18-year-old Niagara Falls native came back for Grade 12B this year and suiting up for the Saint Michael Mustangs varsity boys hockey team was at the top of the list of reasons.
“I stayed another year back to play high school and to get my grades up,” Gallardi said after the Mustangs edged the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-5 in a Niagara Catholic Athletic Association game Tuesday afternoon at Welland Arena. “I changed my mind what I wanted to do and one of my favourite things in high school is to play hockey.”
Gallardi, who still isn’t exactly sure academically where he will land next year, was thrilled when high school sports were given the green light recently after another COVID lockdown early in 2022.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s amazing playing back here. It sucked staying at home all the time. It’s great that we can do something other than just around the school.
“It’s awesome getting out and doing stuff now.”
Gallardi, who plays both forward and defence, is relishing his role as a leader.
“I’m the oldest and I’ve played a couple of years so that kind of gave me the role of leader the team and I love taking over and helping the guys out and leading them on to play the best they can,” he said.
The Saint Francis basketball community’s hopes of hosting the 2022 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations boys AA basketball championships March 7-9 in St. Catharines have been dashed by the COVID-19 pandemic.