The math wasn’t good for Mike Santorelli. There’s a study that’s determined the odds of going from minor hockey to a steady NHL paycheque is about one in 4,000. That didn’t deter Santorelli. The centre went from playing puck for both Burnaby Minor and Burnaby Winter Club to Junior A in the BC Hockey League with Langley and Vernon (43 goals, 96 points in 60 games) to three seasons at Northern Michigan University (110 points in 121 games). He played so well the Nashville Predators took note and took him in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 2004 NHL entry draft. But once again the math wasn’t good. Better, but still not good because only 15 per cent of sixth-round draft choices get to play 100 more games in the NHL.
But Santorelli beat the odds and the math improved thanks to plenty of perseverance. After spending a couple of seasons in the American Hockey League, Santorelli went on to play 406 regular season games for six NHL teams (Nashville, Florida, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto and Anaheim) scoring 64 goals and 138 points. In his one season with the Canucks he became a fan favourite netting 10 goals and 28 points in 49 games before getting injured and missing the rest of the season.
“As a child I always had aspirations and believed I would play in the National Hockey League,” Santorelli tells the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame. “As my amateur hockey career progressed, the reality of playing in the NHL was always in the back of my mind and started to become more realistic as I continued to excel at each level I played at.
“Excelling at the Nashville Predators development camp (in 2004) amongst other prospects made me realize, I had the potential to play in the National Hockey League one day.”
Along with the many coaches who mentored him, Santorelli credits his family — including his parents, uncles, aunts, godparents and sister Christina — in playing a significant role in shaping his hockey career which he is “forever grateful” for.
“Their belief, push and guidance gave me the confidence to push myself and strive for excellence and without them my dream of playing in the National Hockey League would not have been possible,” says Santorelli. “Hockey is a journey filled with triumphs and challenges and without their constant encouragement, reassurance and always being there to help me get through the tough times, I would not have excelled as a person or as an athlete.”
That list can also include his younger brother Mike, who the Predators picked in the fourth round of the 2007 draft which allowed them to play together for Nashville’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.
“We accomplished a lot together,” says Santorelli. “They say the last step to your goal is always the hardest and without Mark by my side in Milwaukee none of this would have been possible.
Hockey has given him plenty of memorable moments to cherish, especially ones he shared with his family. They were there in Raleigh, N.C., when he was picked by the Predators at the NHL draft. They were there, too, when he played his first game against the Canucks in Vancouver. His father, who grew up a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, got to be there for the team’s annual fathers trip “an experience we will both never forget.” And they were there when he played for the Canucks.
“As a kid my goal was to play for the Vancouver Canucks and to wear the hometown jersey. I will always look back on my career and remember playing in my hometown and sharing these experiences with my family and friends,” said Santorelli, who was signed after his stint with the Canucks by Toronto general manager Dave Nonis, a Burnaby boy inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 but who traded Santorelli back to Nashville later that season.
Santorelli’s story of perseverance is an inspiration to any kid who has a puck passion, or for any sport or activity.
“Your aspirations in life are attainable if you believe, have an extreme passion to excel and a relentless pursuit to perfect your abilities. It takes an unwavering obsession, commitment, a constant drive to push your boundaries and an endless pursuit of self-excellence to achieve your ultimate successes. It’s a process, so enjoy being in the moment and the journey will take care of itself.”
