Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE – There was one factor that motivated Tom Kostopoulos to return to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the 2017-18 season.
Sure, the support of his family, teammates and Pittsburgh management meant a lot, as did his desire to win a championship.
But in the end, the 38-year-old was motivated to keep playing because he’s still having fun.
“I think I can still compete at this level, and I still enjoy it,” Kostopoulos said on Monday morning at the Toyota Sportsplex. “It’s boring right now that hockey’s done. I like coming to the rink every day, being around the guys and being around the sport.”
Kostopoulos began his pro career in 1999 as a member of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s inaugural team. He is the only player from that team still playing, and Kostopoulos is still going strong.
Last season marked the fourth consecutive year in which he played in more than 70 games, and he led the Penguins in goals (24) and points (54). While his play is showing no regression, Kostopoulos admits he wasn’t happy with not scoring a goal in five playoff games as the Penguins were bounced out in the first round by the Providence Bruins.
While the team finished atop the AHL in the regular season, Kostopoulos said the early playoff exit was one of the most disappointing postseasons he’s had in his career.
“I didn’t want to leave the game that way,” Kostopoulos said.
Nor were his wife and children ready to leave the Wilkes-Barre area. They’ve been here since 2013 and have become a part of the community. They made a lot of friends, and the kids like their school.
Being a Penguin not only works for Kostopoulos, it fits his family as well.
“The whole community has been good to my family,” Kostopoulos said. “My kids are on board. My wife is willing to do it for another year.
“If it didn’t work for them then I’d hang them up, but it does.”
After the Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs, several of Kostopoulos’ teammates expressed their desire to see the team captain return. Tom Sestito, himself a free agent, said he would make sure to talk to Kostopoulos and try to convince him to come back.
While support from his family meant a lot, Kostopoulos needed validation from his teammates that he had what it took to keep playing.
“Some of the guys were saying ‘Why quit now?’” Kostopoulos said. “My teammates’ perspective weighed a lot in my decision.”
And the viewpoint of his coaches, particularly assistant Chris Taylor, who ended his pro career in 2011 at the age of 39.
Kostopoulos said he spoke with Taylor at length about what it takes to keep playing at an older age, and those conversations also factored in his decision to return.
“He told me to keep playing as long as you can. He said he would’ve played longer if he could go back,” Kostopoulos said.
Although Kostopoulos has never won a championship in his 18 seasons as a pro and his desire to win one is strong, it’s not the only thing that motivates him on the ice.
To base his decision to keep playing solely on the chance to win a championship wouldn’t be fair, he said.
“I don’t want to put everything on that because there’s a lot more going on here,” Kostopoulos said, adding developing players is an important aspect for him as a team leader.
“It’s fun for me to watch that and help them if I can. A championship would be great, but it’s not the only thing. It’s important to have a fun atmosphere here where guys can develop and move up.”
For other sports stories, click here.
