Former Powell River Minor Hockey player Keaton Mastrodonato has signed his first professional contract.
On July 25, Mastrodonato inked a one-year deal with Texas Stars, an American Hockey League (AHL) club that plays in Cedar Park, Texas, close to Austin.
Mastrodonato was called up to the Stars after finishing his collegiate hockey career with Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he played for the Golden Griffins and was twice nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best player in collegiate hockey in the United States.
“I’m super-excited for this next opportunity to start this next chapter in my hockey career,” said Mastrodonato. “I can’t wait to get down to Austin and enjoy all that it has to offer, and on top of, obviously, the experience of embarking on my first professional season.”
Mastrodonato said his next professional commitment is the NHL prospects tournament in Michigan, from September 13 to 17. Then, he will participate in the Dallas Stars NHL main camp, September 20 through 24, which will be held in Cedar Park at his new arena. Following that will be his AHL camp in preparation for the 2022 to 2023 hockey season, which Mastrodonato believes, will begin October 13 or 14.
He can hardly wait.
“This is another great opportunity for me to go down to Texas and showcase what I have to offer, and going there, coming off a winning season in college, I'm just looking forward to bringing everything I have to the table and hopefully bringing more winning hockey to Texas,” said Mastrodonato, who is adept at playing both right and left wing, but is mostly known as a right-winger.
He had a taste of what pro hockey was like in the AHL last year at the end of the season, and is planning on bringing size and speed to the team.
“I bring a good shot and I can provide scoring when needed, but also, I play on the defensive side of the puck,” said Mastrodonato, who led the Golden Griffins in scoring for three consecutive seasons. “I'm looking to establish a role early on upon my arrival in Texas and kind of roll with that and do whatever it takes to help the team win.”
In preparation for the coming hockey season, Mastrodonato is actively training. He said he is going to continue to work out and skate on Vancouver Island. He’s following the program he was given from the Dallas Stars.
“I'm feeling really good right now,” said Mastrodonato. “I’m at that point of summer now where I'm really ramping things up, really working on the finer details of my game, and doing a lot of different skill development and power skating. So, I'm feeling really good with my game.”
Mastrodonato said he is grateful for all the support he has received during his years as a hockey player and appreciates everyone who has helped him get to where he is as he embarks on his first professional season.
Playing in the professional ranks has long been his goal.
It's every kid's dream to play pro hockey,” said Mastrodonato. “Ever since I was a little kid growing up in Powell River Minor Hockey, going through that system, I just kind of fell in love with the game, and watching through the Powell River Kings in the British Columbia Hockey League. Then watching, obviously, professional hockey in the NHL on TV.
“It's just something I've always strived towards since I was a little kid. Now the work begins and I’m just one step closer to that end goal of making the NHL.”
Mastrodonato spent two seasons in the BC Hockey League with Alberni Valley Bulldogs before attending Canisius College.
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