Diodati earning his keep for Blackhawks
Adrian Diodati didn’t let a slow start to his junior career deter him.
The 17-year-old Niagara Falls native didn’t score in his first 11 games as a Thorold Blackhawk, but recently began to find the back of the net collecting all five of his points (three goals, two assists) in his last seven games.
“I didn’t think I was playing badly, obviously it’s frustrating when you’re not putting up points, but I was just trying to help the team anyway I could, blocking shots, getting in hard on the forecheck,” he said.
Thorold coach Scott Barnes felt Diodati just needed a little good fortune to go his way earlier in the season.
“Honestly, I think it’s just things are starting to go in for him,” Barnes said. “He’s been playing the same way right from the get-go. I have him playing on a really good checking line (with Dylan Pergentile and Grayson Gare) that can play against top players and he’s on our top penalty killing unit and he’s getting a little bit of power play here and there.”
Barnes said Diodati is already a trusted defensive player.
“He’s getting a lot of time and he’s a just a guy I really trust in all situations,” Barnes said. “He’s a really good two-way guy. He’s got good size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and makes good decisions with the puck usually.
“He’s a big body that gets to the net. He’s a young guy, but he plays the right way.”
Diodati, a who attends A.N. Myer Secondary School, takes pride in his overall game.
“I’ve had pretty good coaches growing up who always focused on good structure so I’ve brought that up to the junior level,” he said. “I just try to get back in the D zone and help anyway I can, pick up guys, block shots and just keep it simple.”
Diodati said he can enjoy that aspect of the game, even if the puck isn’t going in for him.
“I think if you’re really focused on it it can be hard but if you’re just out there enjoying the game, they just start coming easier,” he said. “Just pick up the game, see how teams are playing and put yourself in the right spot. Enjoy the game and they come pretty easy.”
Diodati, who played for the Southern Tier Admirals two years ago, knew of Barnes through summer skating camps and also practised off and on with the Blackhawks last season when permitted during the various stages of COVID lockdowns.
“He wanted me to join team this year and it was a good fit for both us,” said Diodati, whose older brother Owen Diodati attends the University of Alabama on a baseball scholarship. “I just wanted to put myself in the best position to play at the next level and I think this was spot to get me to the next level. It’s local and I grew up watching all the junior B teams so it was the best fit.”
Diodati doesn’t spend too much time concerning himself within the older opposition in the league.
“I try not to focus on that, it’s more of a mental thing,” he said. “I’m a pretty big kid so I just have to go out there with the mindset that I’m going to be one of the biggest and one of the best out there.”
The Blackhawks fell to 6-12-1 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League play with a 4-1 loss at home to the Caledonia Corvairs Monday.
The Corvairs improved to 9-6-2-1.
Hawk talk: Dalton Wright, Liam Loftus and Nathaniel Krbavac did not dress for the Hawks . . . Defenceman Tyson Wassink has been dealt to the Cambridge Winterhawks of the Midwest Conference . . . The Hamilton Kilty B’s rallied with three goals in the third period to defeat the Fort Erie Meteors 7-5 in the other Golden Horseshoe game Monday.
Corvairs 4 Blackhawks 1
Caledonia forward Mason Mantzavrakos with two goals, including a short-handed marker.
For the Thorold Blackhawks: Nathan Kelly (7).
For the Caledonia Corvairs: Mantzavrakos 2 (7, 8); Terry Bridgland (4); Calvin Crombie (3).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Thorold on Nolan McDowell (24), Caledonia on Noah Fortuna (45); Power plays: Thorold 0-for-5, Caledonia 1-for-4; Penalty minutes: Thorold 21, Caledonia 16.
Up next: The Blackhawks are at St. Catharines Friday.
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