Hockey Roots

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins center Joe Vitale can thank his two older brothers for his hockey career. Growing up in St. Louis, Vitale looked up to his older brothers and wanted to be just like them. Whatever sport they played he wanted to play as well. One day, when Vitale was very young, his brothers came home with hockey equipment and the rest is history.

Since then, Vitale has worked his way up through the junior ranks, completed four years of college while playing with Northeastern and is currently a prospect in the Pittsburgh system.

How old were you when you started skating?

“I was about five when I got started. My two older brothers started playing hockey and I pretty much did everything they did. If they played soccer, I played soccer. If they did the pole vault in track I wanted to do that. One day they came home with hockey equipment and I wanted to play hockey to.”

Did you play on the same team with your brothers?

“Growing up I always had to play on my brothers teams – they were two and four years older than me, because my parents couldn’t do all the travel. It was too hard on them. I was always playing up and that always pushed me.

Where did you start playing – rinks or ponds? “Started skating at the Affton Ice Rink in St. Louis. I played there all the way through juniors so it was like my second home.”

What was the biggest lesson you learned about hockey back then?

“The biggest thing is it’s just a game. Sometimes you get really caught up in the emotions of it and the fact that you want to continue to the NHL. It’s my job now, but my dad and people around me reinforce it and keep it in perspective. It’s just a game. There is more to life – your family and your health. When you think of it that way it helps you relax more when you play.”

Who was your favorite NHL player growing up?

“Jon Casey (goaltender with the Minnesota North Stars). I never watched hockey but I went to Minnesota with my brother and Jon Casey took us into the locker room after the North Stars beat the Bruins. He was just the nicest guy I ever met. When you think of pro players you think big egos, but he was the most humble, caring guy. He took us in, authographed pictures and we had fun. That’s one thing I picked up from him – how he carries himself off the ice. I want to model myself after that. That’s what made him my favorite player.”