Former state, national championship hockey player making progress
Saugus native Mike Vecchione has been playing professional hockey since April 2017 after leading Union College as its captain to the Division 1 NCAA championship. But after stints in the Philadelphia, St. Louis and Colorado organizations, Vecchione has been catching the eye of the powers that be with the Washington Capitals, while playing for their top minor league affiliate in Hershey.
Vecchione ranks second on offense for Hershey this season with 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists – team leader in assists). The 5-10, 193-pound forward is just four points shy of tying his AHL career high in points for a season (2017-18: 40 points).
The Caps recognized his explosiveness, and called him up two weeks ago to replace Lars Eller, who was out after being diagnosed with COVID. Vecchione knew it was going to be a short term stay with the big club until Eller cleared the protocols. But he liked what Caps coach Peter Laviolette had to say to him prior to being sent down after only about five days with the parent club. It gave him hope that he might be returning soon.
Vecchione elaborated on his status after arriving back in Hershey, while also answering other questions posed by the Saugus Advertiser and Wicked Local Saugus in the ensuing text.
You were called up to the Capitals two weeks ago, what goes through an athlete’s mind trying to understand the process?
Well, in my case, they had told me that Lars Eller tested positive for COVID, so he had to go into protocol for the week. So going to Washington, I knew it was a temporary stay, because he was obviously out and they needed an extra forward for the road trip to Columbus and Carolina. These things happen all the time, and as a player in the American Hockey League you know you have to be ready at the drop of a hat, especially with the COVID protocols.
Unfortunately, most of the time, you have to wait for an injury to happen to get a call-up. Then, you have an idea of who would be going up pending on the position of the player that’s injured. But in today’s day and age, you can have one guy or a handful of guys test positive for COVID, and now the Caps need a bunch of guys. You just never know what’s going to happen, and you have to be ready for when it’s your time.
Is it discouraging, or do you take the approach you just might be on the cusp of staying permanently with the big club?
I wouldn’t say it was discouraging, because I knew going in there it was a temporary thing. I was getting a lot of texts and everyone was excited for me, which I really appreciated, but I tried to explain to everyone that Eller would be back in five days, so don’t get your hopes up.
However, in these situations, you try to make the most of what they give to you, and have a positive impact on the team. I’ve been waiting five years to get a call-up like that, so when it happened I was extremely excited.
In previous years, I’ve watched guys around me get the call when I thought I deserved it, which was discouraging, but that’s usually out of my control. I try not to let it get to me. I just go about my business, and keep grinding. In this case, when the Caps called asking for the best available player, my coaching staff in Hershey went to bat for me, and told the Caps I was their guy, which hasn’t been the case in past seasons. To hear that, it definitely meant a lot to me that my coaches respect me to that degree, and I also thought I deserved that opportunity.
I feel like I’m on the cusp. I definitely felt like I belonged out there with those guys. It was nice to be up there to get a feel for how it is, while also gaining some trust from the Caps coaching staff in case I do get a call from them again, but in the meantime I’ll be in Hershey.
What are your thoughts on the season to date? Do you think you’re playing better now than in past AHL seasons?
This season has been a rollercoaster. I’ve been hurt a few times. I have had different linemates every week, because of guys getting called up or guys getting COVID, and the scheduling has also been less than ideal, so things haven’t been easy for us as a club.
We are struggling to score as a team right now, but I’m sure things will come together to give us some stability. I’m having one of my best seasons. We have a great group of guys, and it’s a mix of young players and veteran guys, so that kind of balance has a huge impact on the team as a whole.
I certainly came into this season with a chip on my shoulder, because I didn’t have many offers during free agency this past summer. That fueled my fire way back in July, so I was excited to get things underway in Hershey. I have been playing great. I feel like I’m playing better, because I just have more confidence than in previous years, and that has a lot to do with the coaching staff giving me more responsibility, as well as more opportunities to succeed, and I have been capitalizing on all of it. I was able to gain their trust at the start of camp, and that goes a long way with coaches. If you work hard and you’re responsible on both sides of the puck, the coaches give you a longer leash and more freedom to play your game.
What did the Capitals tell you before they sent you down five days after calling you up?
Peter Laviolette, the Caps head coach, called me on Saturday night to give me the news. He’s a great coach, and even a better person. He just doesn’t send you down; he actually has a conversation with you to explain Peter Laviolette things.
Like I said before, I understood I was replacing Eller, so there wasn’t much to say, but he told me he wished he could have played me more. (The Columbus game) was a divisional rivalry game that had playoff implications, so I had a feeling my shifts would be few and far between. He told me I played well with the time I was given. I had three shots in only 5 minutes and 30 seconds of ice time. I also created chances, so I made the most of what I was given, and that’s all he could ask for. He told me that it was a testament to my work ethic that I was there with the Caps, so I have to continue to do what I’ve been doing.
Does this yo-yo approach in pro sports have an effect on athletes like yourself?
This yo-yo approach is just part of the game. We as players understand that is the way things go. Things happen so quickly, and you just try to be as best prepared as possible when your number is called.
Yeah, it’s stressful not knowing what’s going on, but it’s part of the game’s beauty. Anything can happen at any time, and that’s exciting. My main focus is to be the best player I can be for the Hershey Bears, and that’s it right now. You can’t focus on things out of your control. You might hear of an injury or someone getting COVID, but you never know who’s going to get the call-up. But if I continue to play the way I have been playing, then hopefully I’ll get another crack at it. I’m happy I was rewarded for the work I’ve put in this year, but that’s just the start of it. You always want more, and also have that drive to push to the next level. That’s probably one of the main reasons why I’ve gotten this far in hockey, and that won’t change until I retire.