Hockey a family affair for Adamo brothers

Kyle Adamo, left, and rookie Danny Adamo are playing together for the first time this season with the Fort Erie Meteors. Photo: BILL POTRECZ

Kyle Adamo and Danny Adamo are finally together on the ice.

The brothers grew up playing road hockey and mini sticks, but their four-year gap in age prevented them from suiting up on the same team until this season with the Fort Erie Meteors.

Kyle Adamo, who is in his fourth year with the Meteors, is a proven goal scorer and leader while Danny Adamo is in his rookie season after playing a handful of games as a call up over the last two seasons. 

“I never thought it would happen,” Kyle Adamo said. “I never thought we’d be able to play together and then when I saw the chances this year, I thought it was pretty cool.”

The younger Adamo, who is four years younger than his 20-year-old brother, appreciates their unique situation. 

“It’s really cool. This is probably the only time to be able to play together because of the age,” Danny Adamo said. “It definitely helps that he’s been on this team for so long, so he kind of guides me.”

Danny Adamo got a brief taste playing with the team last season, scoring a goal in two games, which opened his eyes to the possibility of playing together in his brother’s final season of junior eligibility.

“I didn’t really think that much of stuff like playing together but it was always kind of there,” Danny Adamo said. “I feel like it didn’t really pop up in our heads until last year.”

Kyle Adamo enjoys playing big brother but also gives Danny Adamo his space.

“I try not to (talk to him) at the rink as much, just to kind of let him do his thing and let the coach take care of it,” he said. “When I go home or like even when he was younger, I try to help him out as much as I could.”

Meteors general manager/coach Nik Passero knows a thing or two about playing with his brother — he suited up with older brother Anthony Passero on the Mets and now coaches with him as well.

“We’ve known the Adamo family close to 20 years now, so to see them both play here and both play pretty big roles, it’s really neat to see and they play hard for each other,” Nik Passero said. 

Kyle Adamo has seen his role on the team develop over the years.

“It was definitely a big role change. I was a grinder back when I started out, kind of a different player,” he said. 

Danny Adamo, meanwhile, has already shown he can play offensively at the junior level and is now working on becoming a complete player. 

“It’s a big change,” the Grade 11 student at A.N. Myer said. “This team and these coaches are very focused on defence and that was what I lacked last year, my defensive play. I think I’m getting better at it. Coach Nik and Anthony are definitely helping me out with it.”

Nik Passero feels Danny Adamo just needs to put in the work to become a well-rounded junior player.

“He’s very gifted offensively. You give him any room, it’s going to be in the back of the net and his defensive game in only a month has come very far. He’s committed to it. It’s something that’s probably new for him but he’s really putting in the work and the time and it’s made him a better hockey player for sure.”

The Meteors won their first two games of the season by shutout before dropping a 7-3 decision to Ayr at home Saturday.

Nik Passero said the result was an eye opener.

“I think I learned that we have a long way to go and it’s not a bad thing,” he said. “It’s just something that maybe I took for granted with all the returning guys but there’s definite holes in our game that we can work on and it gives us something to strive for.”

The Meteors are in Brantford Thursday and home to Caledon Saturday. 

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