After writing a Draft Prospect profile article on forward Sam Colangelo of the Chicago Steel, Flyers Nitty Gritty was lucky enough to catch up with him recently by phone in between a workout and him heading to the rink for some on-ice training.
This on-ice training was something that Sam was quite pleased about: being able to get back to some semblance of a normal routine again. Colangelo expressed that he was obviously quite disappointed when the stoppage of play occurred, beings that the Steel were on such a dominant pace: posting a league leading 41-7-1 record when the season ended. But, taking it in stride, he continued to work out at home, trying to stay in shape throughout the early parts of the pandemic. Sam tried to stay in touch with his teammates as best as he could, with all of them suddenly having a lot more free time; Now that they were not heading to the rink every day they took a new interest in video games, often meeting up online to play together. Something else that Sam took an interest in while not being able to play hockey- that also became a newfound skill he is currently cultivating- is learning to cook. Sam is lucky enough to have a pair of great teachers in this field being that his parents own a couple of restaurants in his hometown.
Now, with the rinks beginning to open back up (with stipulations), Colangelo’s full focus has returned to hockey- training and getting ready for the NHL Entry Draft. When asked about the one part of his game he still wants to work on, Sam stated, “If (I) asked (him) that 2-3 years ago, (he) would say (his) speed.” Though Sam has put a lot of emphasis into improving this part of his game, he still thinks he will continue to work to further develop a faster first three steps. This should elevate his game when transitioning from being on the offensive rush to getting back and helping in his own defensive zone.
When his league leading plus/minus numbers on the season were brought up, Sam agreed that, although he felt pleased with that feat, he was more proud of his league leading points-per-game average, and his 24 (out of 28) even-strength goals that he scored this season.
When discussing why Sam chose Northeastern University for his choice of college to attend next season, this Massachusetts native stated, “It was the school that reached out to me first, and after looking at a few other schools, and weighing my options with my family, it just seemed like the right choice.” A big influence for Sam’s decision was the chance to play in the Beanpot (an annual tournament held for the four major college hockey schools in the Boston area dating all the way back to 1952). Sam’s decision to attend Northeastern appears to be a wise one because his soon to be Alma Mater has won the Beanpot the last three years in a row. Sam will be heading to Northeastern as a freshman with an undecided major, but he is leaning towards attaining a degree in business administration.
A current NHL talent that Colangelo finds himself watching frequently is none other than the Flyers own Kevin Hayes, a player who was referenced by Flyers Nitty Gritty previously, as an example of whom Sam has a parallel style of play.
If drafted by the Flyers, Sam would look forward to playing with center Jay O’Brien (the Flyers’ 1st round pick back in 2018), whom Sam knows from playing against him previously. Colangelo also wanted Philly fans to know that, if drafted here, you could expect to see a highly-skilled forward who uses his high Hockey IQ and his big frame to get in position to both set up teammates and also put himself in the best position to score a goal, as well.
Solidified by this interview was the idea that Sam is not only well spoken for his age, but he oozes a wealth of hockey knowledge and understanding of the game that some pro players never attain. The Steel have shown this promising young prospect just what it takes to be a pro, and his hard work and determination to be better than he was the day before will lead him on the fast track to the NHL. So, it is easy to see why his name is jumping up most teams’ draft boards even since this author’s previous piece about him. Whether he ends up playing for the Flyers or another team has yet to be determined, but one thing is for certain; Colangelo will one day leave his mark on the NHL. He embodies what a hockey player should be: A great teammate, a 200ft player that never takes a shift off, unselfish with the puck, and is more than willing to use his NHL-size frame to play a little physically when needed.
