Rookie netminder ready for action
Joey Costanzo is about to get a lot busier.
The 16-year-old rookie netminder for the Niagara IceDogs has seen action in just two games this season, but with Tucker Tynan now a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds following a trade Monday, Costanzo figures to see much more playing time.
“We’re going to miss Tucker,” Costanzo said. “He was a great mentor to me and really showed me the ropes, but me and Rosey (Josh Rosenzweig) are going to do the best we can to hold down the fort.”
“I’m sure Rosey will do well and I’ll do my best to do my part.”
Costanzo was chosen in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2021 Ontario Hockey League draft, the highest selection for a goaltender in franchise history.
The IceDogs dubbed him their goaltender of the future at the time, but at 16 and with little experience, he is still a work in progress.
“You have to pay your dues,” he said. “I’ve been the No. 1 goalie on my team in my age group for so long, it’s definitely been hard not getting as many reps as I can, but to be the best you have to play behind the best and then eventually you’ll be the best.
“It’s been a learning process for me and now it’s a development process for me getting more reps. I’m just going to do everything I can to one day establish myself as the best goalie in the league once it’s my turn.”
Even with limited playing time, Costanzo feels he has progressed this season.
“It’s definitely underrated how much it helps sometimes not playing,” he said. “Learning and becoming hungry to play is a big process. There is a lot more to learning the game than just playing the games.
“Although I haven’t been playing a lot, I feel I’ve learned a lot and have progressed well as a goalie.”
Costanzo recently had a chance to get back on the ice at the Capital City Challenge in Ottawa. The tournament was held as a substitute for the U17 World Tournament which was not played this year because of the COVID pandemic. The camp is part of Canada’s Program of Excellence for the World Junior Championships.
“It was a great camp with 65 of the other best 16-year-olds from around the country,” Costanzo said. “It was a great experience meeting so many great players who obviously you are going to watch on TV someday in the NHL.”
Costanzo was a member of Team Black, which won the gold medal.
“It was really cool winning and meeting some new people. I really bonded with some guys from around the country.”
He also relished the opportunity to get in some game action.
“Obviously, I’ve been really puck thirsty. It was great to be back in net and get back in rhythm and play with guys my own age. It’s not up to the strength and speed of the OHL, but it’s still a lot of guys who have skill and have the potential to do great things in hockey and play in NHL someday.”
The IceDogs are at Mississauga Friday and home to Kingston Saturday.
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