Giannuzzi ready and willing to put in the work

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This article was published 06/09/2023 (762 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dante Giannuzzi was about 24 hours into his marathon drive home last spring, five years of junior hockey in Portland, Ore., in the rear-view mirror, when his agent called with good news.

Suddenly, an uncertain future had a clear direction. The Winnipeg-born goaltender signed an amateur tryout with the Manitoba Moose, setting in motion a chain of events that now has him on the cusp of starting his professional hockey career.

“It was amazing. Nothing like I had really experienced before,” Giannuzzi, 21, said Wednesday.

“It’s a first-class organization. I didn’t get in any games, but for me it was just about the experience and kind of soaking it all in, seeing what the lifestyle’s like. Being able to work with (goalie coach) Drew MacIntyre was phenomenal. We had two to three weeks together, and in that short period of time I feel we got a lot done and I learned a lot.”

Obviously the Moose liked what they saw as well, since they’ve invited Giannuzzi to their upcoming training camp later this month. Although there’s not a job opportunity for him just yet — Collin Delia, Oskari Salminen and the newly drafted Thomas Milic are all currently in the mix — he’s at least on the radar.

Enter the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, who recently inked Giannuzzi to a one-year deal for the coming season.

“I definitely got some relief there,” he said. “That’s the thing for me, just getting my foot in the door. Now I’m in an organization, I’m in the system and pretty much (can) go make a name for myself there.”

To get ready for the most important fall of his young life, Giannuzzi is currently working out at the hockey for all centre along with members of the Winnipeg Jets.

Gabe Vilardi and Adam Lowry were the first to arrive last week and start firing vulcanized rubber his way. When Giannuzzi steps on the ice Thursday morning, the group will include Alex Iafallo, Neal Pionk and several depth forwards and Moose regulars under the direction of Dave Cameron, who runs the organization’s hockey development program.

“Every little bit helps,” said Giannuzzi. “I remember a couple summers back I was skating with Blake Wheeler for a lot of the summer, and their little group they had. I found that really got me ready for the season in Portland. I think this is going to do the same thing. Just getting adjusted to the quick speed, quick shots, big bodies.”

He’ll also be able to pick the brain of someone such as Laurent Brossoit, who was signed by the Jets to be the backup to No. 1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck and has also arrived for the informal skates.

“It’s definitely a cool experience. Just interacting with those guys over the last week has been amazing,” said Giannuzzi.

“It’s such a different game from junior to pro. That’s something I kind of found out quick with the Moose. Just seeing how big the guys are, how quick they are, everyone’s trying to move up to the next level.”

Goaltenders — often referred to as “voodoo” by scouts and hockey executives because of how difficult it can be to predict a career path at a young age — sometimes take the long and winding road, which Giannuzzi understands comes with the territory.

“Pretty much every coach I’ve had has told me how goalies are late bloomers. Even when I was in Portland it took me a couple years to fully get into the swing of things and feel super confident like I did pretty much my last three years,” he said.

“It takes a little bit more time for goalies to hit their peak than it does for a forward or a defenceman. For me I always just go by trusting the process. As long as you’re doing all the right things, taking care of yourself, working out, getting to bed on time, staying hydrated, having a good diet, this and that, good things will happen.”

Giannuzzi appeared in 109 WHL games with the Winterhawks, posting a 59-32-12 record during that span. He admittedly wasn’t sure what was next after aging out and being passed over in the NHL Draft.

“Of course you would like to be at a higher level right away,” he said. “Like a lot of people, sometimes I’m a little impatient at things. But I’m super happy to have the opportunity to play pro this year. Just kind of get my foot in the door and see where it takes me.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg