“With the 99th pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, the Portland Winterhawks select, from Rink Hockey Academy, Dante Giannuzzi.”
For any young, Canadian hockey player hearing/seeing your name selected in the Bantam Draft is a dream come true.
Every player’s experience of how they find out they are drafted is just a little different. For Dante Giannuzzi, his wait lasted a little longer because, “I was in the selection process for our U16 Team Manitoba tryouts actually. We weren’t allowed to be on our phones during that time, so I kind of found out later on that day when we all got our phones back.”
Part of what made the draft experience memorable for Dante was “because a lot of us got to see where we went and when at the same time. It was pretty awesome.”
Seeing his name next to the Winterhawks was a welcome sight for Giannuzzi. “Going into the draft I was really hoping to get drafted by Portland. They were one of my top teams to get drafted by. I was really fortunate to get drafted by Portland. Ever since that day it has been great.”
As expected, the 16-year-old netminder’s phone blew up with text messages and phone calls. “Honestly, I just looked at my phone and had texts from everyone, so I wasn’t really sure who to answer first” Dante said. Who got the first response? “Obviously, it was my mom and dad, my brother, that kind of thing,” he said with a smile.
Later that year Giannuzzi represented Manitoba in the WHL Cup. Two current Winterhawks teammates, Tyson Kozak and Seth Jarvis, joined him as well.
The trio helped Manitoba capture the bronze medal. Giannuzzi posted the second highest save percentage in the tournament.
The WHL Cup proved to be the final evidence Portland needed in order to sign Dante as a 15-year-old. “I signed after the U16 tournament, and the WHL Cup. I guess I had a good showing there and Mike [Johnston] was there. We had some good conversations and decided to put pen to paper.”
Part of the confidence Giannuzzi showed at the WHL Cup came as a result of his time with Portland. He said, “After my first training camp I stayed an extra week in practice with the guys, but no contract came out of that. I felt good there and got a good relationship with the coaches.”
Signing with Portland was Dante’s goal “ever since I was drafted. My main goal was to obviously sign and play with the team as soon as possible. It just really motivated me. Ever since then I felt like my game progressed even more. I just felt like I had so much more motivation.”
Preparing for the 2018-2019 season, Giannuzzi knew there was an opportunity in Portland to make the team. Last year’s starter, Cole Kehler, graduated from the WHL and moved on to play pro hockey. Shane Farkas was projected to be the starting netminder, but the backup job was available.
After being drafted, and signing, Dante knew a spotlight was going to be on him as the Winterhawks searched for their next backup. “I just tried to keep it as usual as possible. It is in the back of your mind that people are always watching you” he explained. “I just always try to prepare as I would for any other game or practice, keep it as routine as possible. With it in the back of your mind a little bit, there is some motivation to prove yourself. I just tried to go out there and play my game; and fortunately it worked out for me.”
After a strong showing with Portland in training camp and preseason, Dante won the backup job and stuck with the Winterhawks when the season opened in September.
Hearing he made the team was “an amazing feeling and a dream come true. I had been working towards it so long” Giannuzzi expressed. “It has been my goal to play in the WHL ever since I was very young. Finally knowing you will be able to do it is awesome.”
The early season practices in Portland required some adjusting.
In practice he was facing shots from Vegas Golden Knights 1st round pick Cody Glass and eventual WHL scoring champion, and San Jose Sharks signed prospect, Joachim Blichfeld.
“My first couple of weeks here was pretty tough for me, with those two particularly. However, once you are here for a little while you start to get used to it and you improve a little. They are still tough of course, but you get used to it week after week. It really helped me improve, and I keep improving too.”
The rookie goalie complimented the leadership Glass and Blichfeld showed him, “It is amazing the things you can get from those guys and keep forever. They are great influences on you and they also help you improve so much.”
Another help for Giannuzzi, Shane Farkas.
“Shane has been a mentor for me; we have a really good relationship. He has been great whether it is showing me around, making me feel welcomed, and introduced me to the guys right away. He was teaching me little tricks and tips.”
Farkas started the first 11 games for the Winterhawks before Dante got his first opportunity on October 26th against the Spokane Chiefs.
His first win in the WHL actually came in relief a couple of weeks later, again in Spokane. Giannuzzi entered the game in the second period with his team trailing 5-3. Dante picked up the victory as he stopped four-of-five shots and the Winterhawks won a wild contest 8-6.
After the game he spoke with winterhawks.com about getting his first win, “It feels awesome. Coming into this game we were trying to win to finish the three-in-three off strong. Halfway through the game it was looking tough. I got in there and luckily got some action and got some saves. Sitting on the bench for a little bit, that is a little tough, but once you hop on the ice the adrenaline starts flowing through your body. You just stop one shot at a time and you’re fine. Everything goes to the team. I didn’t have to do too much today. They kind of helped me and Farkas out together.”
Many teammates praised the young netminder after the game, but Cody Glass offered quite the compliment, “Dante played his heart out. That is something you expect out of a 16-year-old; we love that kid.”
In the first half of the year, Giannuzzi appeared in four games for the Winterhawks.
While he was disappointed he didn’t get into as many games, he took everything in stride, “Overall, I mean sure, I didn’t play the number of games I would have liked, but I tried to treat every practice like a game and prepare like I would for games. I tried to stay focused, and I feel any shot is a good shot for me in practice; just trying to prove myself and show that I’m ready.”
While the team was on their eastern road trip through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, playing teams in the East Division, Portland acquired Joel Hofer from Swift Current.
During this time head coach and general manager Mike Johnston made the tough decision to send Giannuzzi back to Winnipeg.
“He is a young kid, a 16-year-old goaltender. Most goalies in our league don’t really start to emerge until 18 or 19,” Johnston said. “His first half [of the year] was to gain experience.”
Part of the experience was handling a difficult situation.
He joined back with Rink Hockey Academy (RHA) and played in the Midget Prep Division.
Rather than get depressed, down, or angry, Giannuzzi made a different decision.
“Obviously it was a bit of an unfortunate situation, and not the way we would have hoped things would work out. I just tried to make the most out of it. I took all the tips and tricks I got from the coaches, even working with the players here and their quality of shots, back and kept working and to prepare like I would here.”
His time with Portland proved to help him make an impressive run with RHA. He appeared in four games and held a 0.919 save percentage to go along with a 2.50 goals-against-average.
Giannuzzi also started two games at the CSSHL Championships where he and his RHA teammates faced the top two teams in the league.
In his two starts, he posted two wins, a 0.961 save percentage, a 1.47 goals-against-average, and one shutout.
“It just worked out for me. I was used to all the shots [in Portland], going there (RHA) I just brought it over with me, and I thought it went well” Dante explained. “Overall, I just try to keep it simple. I just try to play my game, which is just playing a simple game. I wanted to stick to what I know.”
When his season with RHA came to an end, Dante knew he was going to make a return back to Portland. The Winterhawks wanted to bring him back in as their third goaltender for the playoffs as well as to get additional practice time with the team.
Perhaps who was the most excited for Giannuzzi’s return to the Rose City was fellow rookie and Winnipeg native Seth Jarvis.
“He was obviously up for the first half” Jarvis said. “We have been playing together since we were probably five or six. I love that guy. So growing up you see him develop. I think he has definitely taken strides [this year]. When he went home and came back, I definitely noticed a big gain seeing him practice.”
Johnston commented on Dante’s return, “This year is all about experience, coming in now in the playoffs, seeing what it is like, handling shots, just trying to mature as a goaltender. He is going to get bigger and stronger, and that is what he needs.”
The five-foot-ten-inch 160 pound netminder agrees, “Overall, I think the biggest thing for me is my height. I get ragged on that a little bit by some people I know, but find that I make up for it in other areas. I really like working on screen work, and stuff like that where there are bigger guys in front of me. I’m always looking to improve in the gym to get stronger and faster.”
Being back with Portland though is an exciting time for Dante Giannuzzi, “It was huge for me, and a great experience that I was really looking forward to as soon as I found out. It gave me a little motivation for sure, going back from the Midget level back to the WHL level. I just tried to keep my game up to where it was. This is super exciting for me.”
All-in-all, in a year with highs and lows, Giannuzzi feels his rookie season has “been great so far. It has been a fantastic experience playing with so many great players, future NHL prospects, and people who will be in the NHL next year. Overall it has been amazing and the quality of shots is unreal. The speed of the game is amazing. It has been a great experience.”
Part of what is making Dante’s WHL experience so enjoyable for him is going through it with so many fellow rookies. “I have a lot of friends on this team. I really like the rookie group. We are a pretty tight group; I like all of those guys. Particularly Seth Jarvis, we have known each other for a very long time growing up together, so I like to spend time with him. I like to spend time with the team even when we are away from the rink.”
The experience and maturity Dante Giannuzzi showed in 2018-2019 sets him, and the Portland Winterhawks, up for a bright future.
For now though, he will enjoy the ride.
Jarvis agrees, “Hearing Dante was coming back up, hearing that I get to experience all this with a guy I grew up with, is obviously something I will never forget. I love that guy.”
