Corpus Christi, Texas – Being the team captain can be an exciting and overwhelming responsibility.
Corpus Christi IceRays forward Anthony Cafarelli has not only taken up the burden of wearing the ‘C’ on his jersey, but he has totally embraced the opportunity to be the leader of this year’s team.
In his second season with the IceRays, Cafarelli, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound forward out of Middleton, Massachusetts, leads the IceRays with seven goals, and is second behind Pierson Sobush in points with 13.
“It’s a pretty cool experience,” Cafarelli said. “Last year I got it when we made a change for our captain, and I didn’t expect it as there were a couple of older guys that had a voice in the room.“
And being that voice in the room is a spot he feels quite comfortable with.
“You’re able to get control of the guys and lead the way in what you want on the team, so it’s pretty cool,” Cafarelli said.
Cafarelli doesn’t feel any extra pressure with the ‘C’ on his jersey.
“I wouldn’t say it’s pressure, it’s the game of hockey, so you can control some things, you can’t control everything, but when we go down in a game, sometimes guys look to our leaders to pick them up and be positive on the bench and everything and maybe even get a goal back for us,” Cafarelli said of his role. “I wouldn’t it’s too stressful, but I do have to lead in a way.”
Last season, Cafarelli was 10th on the team with 25 points and tied for third with Sepan Kuznetsov in goals with 13.
“When we picked him up last year, I didn’t know anything about Anthony at all,” Corpus Christi IceRays head coach Sylvain Cloutier said. “As I got to know him last year, the way he practices and the way he played, he’s a competitor, and when he’s engaged, he’s one of the best players in the league. He can play physical, he’ll drop the gloves to be there for his teammates and we can count on him offensively. He’s a leader.”
To get to where he’s at, Cararelli, who went to school at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, has been moving up the ranks, having played with the Wenatchee Wild of the BCHL in the 2021-22 season, the Cape Cod Whalers 18-U AAA team in 2020-21.
Prior to that, he was with the NV River Rats 16U AAA in 2019-20 and Cushing Academy of USHS-Prep in the 2018-19 season.
During 2018-19, Cafarelli was also part of the Hockey Essentials Selects U16 team and played in seven games, with an assist and a point.
He was on a U14 team that went to Nationals as well. A moment he recalls fondly.
“We won our state’s championship and got to go down to Florida to have some fun and play hockey,” Cafarelli said.
With this year’s group, Cafarelli is the vocal leader, but he prefers to let his actions on the ice do his talking and do his talking they do.
“At this age, you kind of have your routine and you get into the grove of things,” Cafarelli said. “I have to get the boys ready for off-ice warmup, so you have to get through things pretty quickly like tape up my stick and get into my warmup gear.”
Cafarelli has produced a point in four of his last five games (three goals, two assists, five points) and six of his last eight contests (four goals, five assists, nine points).
“From Day 1 when he came in here last year, I knew if we had to make a change with the ‘C’ that he was going to get it,” Cloutier said. “’He showed that by the way he acts. He’s very professional on and off the ice, and that’s what we like about him.”
Cafarelli’s mom’s brother played hockey and his older brother Nick also plays as a senior at the University of New Hampshire where he scored three goals and added eight assists in 23 games last season, so hockey has been in his blood for a while growing up.
“You get to meet a lot of people in the hockey world, and some of my friends’ dads play in the NHL, and a lot of my buddies play D1 College Hockey, and some have been drafted as well, so it’s pretty cool,” Cafarelli said.
Division 1 hockey is a spot Cafarelli would like to see himself in down the road.
In terms of non-hockey ventures, Cafarelli can see himself in the business world, construction management or real estate.
For now, Cafarelli is enjoying the business of being the IceRays’ team captain.
The IceRays will return home for four straight games beginning with two against the Lone Star Brahmas, Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28 at 7:05 at the American Bank Center
You can watch this Saturday’s game on NAHLTV.com and can also catch it on Brewster Street Radio.
For more info on the IceRays visit goicerays.com.
