Jerry D'Amigo started playing hockey at the age of 6 in the STHA. Jerry is a left-wing player that was part of the USNTDP U18 Team, played with R.P. I., and was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009. Jerry has played in the NHL and AHL with the Toronto Marlies, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, and Rochester Americans. Currently Jerry is playing with the Frankfurt Lions in Germany.

Check out this Q and A with Jerry D'Amigo! 

Q: What made you want to start playing hockey and at what age did you start playing?

I was 6 years old and in the apartment above our house lived a hockey referee. It started with him teaching me about hockey and we used recycling bins as goals with a roller hockey ball to get into my first house league. 

Q: What has been your favorite hockey moment?

There are definitely a couple that stick out, but for me the best was being told I was going to be called up to play my first NHL game and then playing in one because that was my goal/dream as a young hockey player all along to play in the NHL.

Q: Do you have any game day superstitions or rituals that you do?

I used to make sure I did everything the same when I was a younger pro like eating the same foods or doing the same warm up but now I listen to my body more and what I think it needs that day.  I try to stay away from rituals but something that I always do for a game is make sure I get a pre-game nap and have a good meal, then before every game I make sure I say a prayer to God to protect me and give me strength.  

Q: What advice you would share with youth hockey players?

To them I say HAVE FUN!  Hockey back when I was their age and still to this day is and should be fun.  The reason I am still playing at a high level still is yes because I am talented and work hard but also because I have that inner kid inside of me that loves the game and loves competing against others to win.  It is not a job to me it is a passion and that's what all young players should have inside them.  Yes, it will take a lot of hard work and extra hours to get better at the game but at the base of every dream there is something driving that and for myself that was the love of the game and excitement each day I was on the ice.  

Q: What advice can you share with hockey parents? 

As a parent now I am very observant of how parents are with their kids in hockey and look back at how my feelings were with my parents throughout my years of playing.  The one thing which always stuck in my mind with my Mother and Father was that the decision of me wanting to play hockey was never their decision fully.  It was always based in if I wanted to play and play with a purpose.  Hockey is a big commitment for families financially and with their time, so my parents wanted reassurance this wasn't just something to pass my time or fill up a season. So with that, my advise is to not push you kids into something unless they want to be involved in it because that takes away from the love and passion that comes with any sport.  Also, I never played hockey after the season was over, I always put away my gear after hockey was over and grabbed my baseball glove. Then once it got close to the hockey season I couldn't wait to be back on the ice.  There has to be a separation of over-consumption of one sport so that the love stays within the game and so your kids can develop other talents off the ice in other sports. For me that was hand-eye coordination with baseball.