HHG Player Spotlight: VITO CARLO
Vito Carlo of Las Vegas played the usual sports as a young kid but hockey grabbed him when he was 4 and it hasn’t let him go.
During a visit from his grandparents, his grandfather, who is from Canada but now lives in Cleveland, asked him if he had ever skated. Vito said no but was willing to try it. So his grandfather took him to the rink.
“I got the hang of it right then and there,” he says. ”Then he took me to an ECHL game and I knew I wanted to play.”
The 1998-born Vito says “I still call him to this day. I want to keep him posted. He’s really proud of me and happy.”
His most memorable moment in hockey came when his youth team, the Las Vegas Storm, won a title at the bantam level. It was the first championship team he’d ever played on. Making it all the sweeter is the fact he scored a goal in the championship game. That he didn’t mention being named the Vegashockey.net AAA player of the year in 2014-15 as his most memorable moment underscores his team commitment.
After playing four games for the Las Vegas Storm of the Western States Hockey League during the 2014-15 season, the 6’2”, 185-pound forward played 23 games the next year, recording four goals and five assists. He also played part of the season for the independent West Coast Renegades AAA U18 squad.The 2016-17 season was split between the Storm and the Atlanta Capitals of the North American 3 Hockey League.
In preparation for the coming season, Vito works out with a personal trainer for the first three days of the week, then skates the next three. On Sundays, he does neither. That day is reserved for family.
His training is more than physical, though. He’s also working on the mental facets of the game by “keeping a positive mindset 24/7 and eliminating all negativity.”
After junior hockey, Vito’s next hill to conquer will be playing for a Division 3 team. If he had to name a dream school, it would be Worcester State in Massachusetts.
“I really want to play college hockey,” he says. “I want to give back to my parents. By playing college hockey, I feel like I’d be giving back to them for all the hockey they paid for and all the travel.”
In the meantime, Vito is looking forward to training camp in Western Canada with the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Apparently it’s been a long summer for him and can’t quite wait for the season to roll around.
“I’m ready to get the year started,” he says. “I feel hockey should be a year-round sport.”
