He’s a minor celebrity, a former big wheel in roller hockey and an unorthodox practitioner of his trade. But for California goaltender Tommy Tartaglione, being uncommon is simply being optimistic about life.
“Being from (California) I have a little flare for dramatics,” said Tartaglione, 21, also known as Tommy T. “People tend to get excited about that”.
Tartaglione is one of the new recruits for the Trojan’s hockey team, which is trying to capture its fourth title as league champions.
The Trojans recently beat the NAIT Ooks 8-2 and 3-2, respectfully placing them second in the ACAC standings, with much of the credit going to Tartaglione’s goaltending.
“He looked like he had a lot of confidence,” said Brennan Strang, roommate and fellow teammate. “When our goaltender’s got confidence, it gives us confidence.”
Strang said Tartaglione’s personality sets him apart from other teammates, and it’s carried onto the ice.
“He’s got a lot of energy, and he’s got a good attitude on life,” Strang said.
Tartaglione said his zest for life comes from the support he has from his family and the example given to him by, his 14-year-old brother Ethan “Baby” Tartaglione.
Baby Tartaglione suffers from Cephalic disorder, a congenital disorder of the nervous system.
“Every day I call home and I can hear him laughing in the background,” said Tartaglione.”If you see pictures of him he’s always happy.”
Others have noticed Tartaglione’s flare for life and his unique style of play, which stems from the years he played roller hockey in his native California.
Ken Babey, Trojans head coach, said he is excited for Tommy to be here.
“He’s got a style of play, I think, that confuses the opposition,” Babey said. “I’m impressed with his ability to stop the puck. At the end of the day, that’s the key factor.”
Tartaglione, of Harbor City, Calif., spent three seasons in the Western Hockey League with Vancouver, Regina and Prince George, before finishing his junior career with the British Columbia Hockey League’s Surrey Eagles.
Tartaglione noted there was “a big wave of California players my age
coming up to Canada to play, and that was mainly because of (Wayne)
Gretzky” playing for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
Tartaglione honed his style watching the Los Angeles Blades of the long-defunct Roller Hockey International, and playing roller hockey until he was 14.
“It’s a completely different style,” Tartaglione says. “You’ve got to stand up a
lot more, because you can’t slide on the roller hockey floor. A lot of standing
up, and diving around making desperation saves.”
On Jan. 29, 2008, while playing for the Eagles against the host Powell River
Kings, he joined the rare group of goalies who’ve scored a goal.
“It wasn’t a dump-in,” he recalls. “It was a scrum along the wall, and the puck popped out right to the front of the net.”
“I can still clearly remember my defenceman looking back and saying, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to shoot.’
“It’s something I’ll never forget.”