LSSU points leader never takes a day on the ice for granted

By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Sports Information Director

Domenic Monardo was 18 years old when he suffered a broken neck and was faced with the possibility of never playing hockey again. His amazing recovery has led to big payoffs for Lake Superior State hockey. These days, the sophomore forward never takes a day on the ice for granted.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Mondardo, who currently leads the Lakers in points with eight goals and seven assists. “It made me rethink hockey, my work ethic, and made me work on my weaknesses…When I was faced with not being able to play hockey again, I was more scared of not playing than having it happen again. I was in a neck brace for five months. I slowly started working out. My mom and stepdad were the best things that could have happened there, especially after the doctors told me I would never play hockey again. They made sure to stay positive. If they were thinking that way (that I wouldn’t play again), they didn’t show it.”

Monardo credits trainer Richard Clark of the Athlete Training Centre in Mississauga, Ont., with helping the young athlete return to hockey. Monardo still trains with Clark during the off-season. Clark’s impressive success stories include John Tavares, who was the New York Islanders’ first-round draft pick in 2009, 30-goal scorer Matt Moulson of the Islanders, and several college, minor pro, OHL and Team Canada players.

“It’s a hockey specific training center,” Monardo said. “There’s five days of lifting a week, plus one hour on the ice and one hour of stick handling. There’s always a net set up. He’s just a great inspiration the way he pushes everybody in the gym. And it shows. Everybody who’s gone there is successful.”

Monardo is equally indebted to his mom, Andrea Monardo, and stepdad, Dominic Faga. His father, Tony, died when Domenic was 10 years old. Monardo has and older sister, Lauren, and a younger sister, Ali.

“My mom developed into a hockey mom and had to step in from when I was 10 on,” Monardo said. “If I had played the worst game of my life, my mom would rate me a 10 out of 10. My stepdad would give me the straight answer…He came into my life when I was about 14 and playing travel hockey. He came from a family where sports weren’t too important, but he grew up always loving hockey. It means a lot that he embraced it. My real dad would be doing the same thing.”

Monardo’s positive outlook on life and hockey is infectious. He appreciates the recognition he has received, including the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Humanitarian Award in 2007-08 and LSSU’s rookie of the year award in 2009-10, but hopes the best is yet to come.

“That gave me confidence to work throughout the summer and know I would come into a little bigger role this year,” he said. “I’m really focused on that role and capitalizing on my opportunities.”

Monardo is one of four Lake Superior State sophomores who have combined to total 14 goals and 19 assists as the Lakers are 5-9-2 through 16 games. Six of the Lakers’ first 10 opponents during the 2010-11 season were nationally-ranked when they played LSSU.

“Everything is going great this year,” said Monardo following LSSU’s back-to-back shutout victories over Ferris State. “It shows that hard work pays off…With our class coming in, people weren’t sure what to expect of us. That motivated us, if anything. It’s nice to see all of us doing well, not just in points, but as players and the type of leaders that Coach wants.”

Monardo filled senior Will Acton’s spot on the penalty killing unit when Acton was out of the lineup due to illness. He noted that senior teammate Rick Schofield brought out the best in him.

“His smarts on the ice and his talent level, and his skill – if I can get open, I know I am going to get the puck,” Monardo said of Schofield. “He has that kind of hockey smarts.”

LSSU is currently ranked seventh in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in scoring, averaging 2.5 goals per game.

“I think we can score a lot more goals,” Monardo said. “With guys like Schofield, Acton, and (Fred) Cassiani, it’s unbelievable what they can do. With the experience we have, we need to find the net a little more, and shoot like Coach tells us to. We need to get the bounces going our way a little more and bear down on our opportunities.”

Monardo noted that any CCHA team is capable of beating any other team, and he won’t take the up-and-coming Bowling Green Falcons lightly. But he thrives on the “playoff-type atmosphere” that envelopes the team during games against nationally-ranked powerhouses.

“It seems like everyone is ranked the week before we play them,” he said. “That will help us down the stretch.”

Monardo noted that the highlight of his collegiate career, so far, is his fifth-round, game-winning shootout goal against Michigan State on Jan. 9, 2010.

“It was significant to me, too, because Michigan State was the first college game I ever saw,” he said. “It was the first place where I kind of fell in love with college hockey and knew that was what I was going to do. It was crazy to think ‘I am finally here.’ It was definitely a proud moment.”