Photo Credit: Eliteprospects.com
Hockey is a business first and foremost, and players who play in the sport know that. Some players come to love their teams, and become fully vested with the area the team plays in. Brandon Contratto formerly of the Delaware Thunder was this type of player, until unfortunately he was traded to the Battle Creek Rumble Bees this past Monday, just one day after the Thunder lost 5-1 to the Watertown Wolves.
Contratto has played the sport of hockey practically from birth, and he is no stranger to moving to play the sport he has come to love, “When I went over to Europe. My first year pro was during the lockout,” Contratto said to me after Sunday’s game, “My first season was in the Czech Republic. I’ve been around the league probably the longest of anyone on our team. You get used to the level and what not.”
The 29-year-old in Contratto was the second leading scorer on the Thunder to Ryan Marker before he was traded to the Rumble Bees. Contratto would skate in between defenders, and opponents alike. He bopped and weaved for 10 goals, and 24 assists in just 27 games played for the Thunder.
This playmaker in Contratto is a well versed player that knows what it takes through his experience, of course, to succeed in the sport of hockey. He has played with some current Flyers, and a great former Flyer, as well, “I’ve met a lot of good guys because of playing in Europe,” Contratto said, “Chris Stewart and Wayne Simmonds were in Germany, and it was great to play against them. I’ve heard a lot about Stewart being amazing in the locker room.”
Playing hockey, and excelling in this sport appears to be a natural thing for Contratto. He dazzles on the ice, and the fans love him for his hard-work. Contratto doesn’t forget about the people that matter to him most either, “My family has been going everywhere,” Contratto stated, “My wife played women’s pro hockey, so she knows the game. The one thing about this league is you become family with each and every guy. A roster rotates like every team in the league, but you form a quick bond with everyone else.”
Where ever, the future leads Contratto, he is definitely a player any team would covet. He’s a class act, and always comes to the rink prepared. There is little doubt he will excel with the Rumble Bees, and the skies the limit for a player in Contratto.
