Cangelosi humbled by selection to play for Team USA By Matt Mackinder
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arlier this season, Austin Cangelosi was pulled aside by his Youngstown Phantoms’ coach An- thony Noreen after practice with the United States Hockey League team and was told he’d been selected to play for Team USA at the World Jr. A Challenge. Cangelosi was thrilled initially, but then responded
with a question. “To be honest, I had never heard of the tourna- ment, so I asked coach what it was and he told me,” laughed Cangelosi, a 17-year-old forward from Es- tero. “Next thing I knew, we’re on a plane to Seattle.” The World Jr. A Challenge, a prime showcase
for college and NHL scouts, took place Nov. 7-13 in Langley, B.C., and the United States took third place. The participants were made up of the U.S., two teams from Canada (East and West), Sweden, Russia and the Czech Republic. “Our coach with Team USA (Regg Simon, head coach of the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers) had seen me play during the season and apparently wanted me on the team,” said Cangelosi. “There was no tryout, no camp, no nothing. Our team was picked solely based on performance. I guess I’ve had a pretty good season so far.” Canada West won the World Jr. A Challenge and
that was a bitter pill for Cangelosi, who was joined on the team by Youngstown teammate Chris Bradley, to digest.
“Finishing third isn’t quite as good as good, espe-
cially when we went in as one of the favorites,” said Cangelosi, a former Jr. Everblades and Jr. Panthers
youth player. “It was a disappointment, but at least we won the bronze. No U.S. team had ever not won a medal and we didn’t want to be the first.” Even in Langley, Cangelosi was still humbled by
the fact he was representing his country on such a grand stage.
“The first time it hit me was when I put on the
USA jersey for the first time,” Cangelosi said. “It was just an honor. I tried not to think too much about it and just wanted to go out and play and help our team get a couple wins.”
Cangelosi had a goal and an assist in the bronze- medal game against Sweden. Back in Estero as a kid, Cangelosi said he learned the finer points of the game from coaches Troy Ad- ams and Dan Lupo and both saw potential in him at an early age. “Troy and Dan did so much for me,” said Cange- losi. “They helped make me the player I am today.” Now back in Youngstown, Cangelosi is finding his game after an early-season adjustment period. “Going from prep school hockey to the USHL was a big jump,” said Cangelosi, who played for Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts from 2009- 2011. “The USHL is an awesome league and the best players in the world are here. The game is played at a higher pace and speed than I was used to, but I think I’ve fared pretty well. I am having a lot of fun and I’m ready for the rest of the season.” Just a junior in high school, Cangelosi recently
committed to play Division I college hockey starting in 2013 or 2014 for Hockey East and national power- house Boston College.
“BC has all I’ve ever wanted from a hockey stand- point and from an academic standpoint,” explained Cangelosi, whose older brother, J.C., plays at Division III Connecticut College. “It’s a beautiful campus and I fit the style of game they play there.” Looking ahead to the second half of the USHL sea- son in eastern Ohio, Cangelosi has a few goals he’d like to see realized. “Realistic or not, I’d like to score 50 points,” said Cangelosi. “More than that, I just want to keep get- ting better and keep working hard.”
Estero native Austin Cangelosi is enjoying his rookie USHL season with the Youngstown Phantoms and has already secured a Divi- sion I scholarship to perennial powerhouse Boston College. Photo/Youngstown Phantoms
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