From a young age, Anthony Angello had dreams of one day playing professional hockey alongside the best players in the World.  Now, the 26-year old has played at the junior, college, and professional levels, including the NHL, and continues to be grateful for each opportunity to play the game he loves.

Angello was born Albany, NY, but was raised not far away in Syracuse, where he played the majority of his minor hockey.  He saw tremendous success at a young age, showcasing enough of his talent to be drafted directly out of high school by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (145^th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.  Because Angello was still young and developing, the Omaha Lancers of the USHL took on the Penguins prospect following high school.

“The USHL is a very good developmental league,” said Angello.  “I had actually already committed to Cornell University, but their Associate Coach, Ben Syer, was instrumental in connecting me with Omaha and their organization. At the time, that was my best option, and he was spot-on with that. They played a pro-style 60-game schedule, which was a grind.”

Even while playing in Omaha, Angello was committed to continuing his development in the NCAA with Cornell. With a prestigious program that has developed NHL talent such as Matt Moulson and Riley Nash, a determining factor for Angello was the opportunity to play immediately, while also getting an education from a top Ivy League school.

“I actually reached out to Cornell first to get recruited by them. I knew that I had some other options, such as being drafted by the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, but academics was something that I wanted to pursue. When Cornell came out to watch me, I guess they liked what they saw.”

Angello remembers the acceptance process being a lot quicker than some might imagine.

“When coach Mike Schafer called me to offer me a spot on the team, I took it immediately. I didn’t even talk to my parents about it, I just told them that I was going to Cornell. It was actually a pretty emotional moment.”

Following two seasons with Omaha, Angello found immediate success in the NCAA, leaving Cornell after three successful seasons with 70 points in 102 games. Following his third season in 2017 and under contract with Pittsburgh, he was assigned to the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre / Scranton to finish the season with the Club, appearing in two Regular Season games plus two playoff contests.  Although the team lost in the first round to the eventual Calder Cup Champion Charlotte Checkers, it was his final game that Angello will never forget.

“I scored not only my first professional goal against Charlotte, but two in that same game. Being right out of college, that was a surreal feeling. I still remember that first goal.  I give a lot of credit to Teddy Blueger for that one. I still have the puck in my room and I look at it every day.”

Fast forward to the present, where Angello is now completing his fourth full season of professional hockey, and still as a member of the prestigious Penguins organization, having split time between Wilkes-Barre  / Scranton and Pittsburgh throughout that span.

Angello has become quite fond of Wilkes-Barre / Scranton, while developing a strong bond with the community and its fans. While the transition took some time, the forward has grown to love the situation that he is in.

“The city has essentially become a second home for me, with all the time that I spend here. Most players strive to be in the big city, but you spend so much time here that you develop that relationship and bond. I’m still only a couple of hours away from my family in Syracuse, which is a huge bonus. The fans and the Booster Club have been great to me since I have been here.

The organization itself has also been A+ to me, especially being back and forth so much with COVID-19 Taxi Squads. The way that this organization treats and values their development system is amazing.”

During the 2019-20 season, Angello had his first opportunity at the NHL level, getting called up by Pittsburgh to make his debut on January 31^st, 2020, against their biggest rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers.  Angello, who played eight NHL games that season, remembers each moment from that experience, from entering the locker room to getting accustomed to the NHL, thanks to arguably the World’s best player, Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby.

“I’ve looked up to Sidney since I was very young.  He entered the NHL in 2005 when I was 9 years old. Watching him play, I was just blown away each time. Now I’m in a position to play alongside him on the same team, 15 years later, working towards a common goal.  It’s pretty cool.  Sidney took me out to dinner my first night and just made me feel welcome and at home. We didn’t talk a lot about hockey, he just wanted to know all about me. It shows the class-act that he truly is.”

Having been around the pro game a while now, Angello utilizes his experience to make himself, along with others around him, better each day. With an opportunity to reminisce, Angello is proud of the career that he’s had thus far, and remembers the moments that helped transition him into the player that he is today.

“When I was in the eighth grade, I took part in a National Select festival, where I was supposed to be one of the top players there. Long-story short, I did not perform well at all and was cut in the first round. That was such an eye-opening experience for me, and it taught me to never take anything for granted.  No days off. That big failure changed my entire work ethic and mindset towards achieving. The next year I made it to State, and then Nationals the following year.”

What’s helped Angello, along with his many teammates, to enjoy their careers on and off the ice, is their experience with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), the union which represents all AHL and ECHL players.  As Angello explains, while many younger players may not be aware of the various programs and assistance offered through the PHPA, having a reliable source like the PHPA which has been around for well over 50 years is crucial for the leagues to function sufficiently.

“I think that the PHPA has done a great job overall, and it shows in their relationship with not only the AHL and ECHL, but how they work together with the NHLPA and NHL and other Player Associations such as the NFLPA in trying to create the best possible situation for the players. It really makes the players breathe easier and allows them to focus more on hockey. It’s not just beneficial for the players, but for their families as well.”

From a young kid in Syracuse, NY, to an integral part of the Penguins’ organization whose played over 30 NHL games thus far, Angello gets to live his dream each day.  Playing professional hockey is something that only a small percentage gets to experience, and Angello is grateful for the opportunity that he has worked towards throughout the years.

“I think it’s so important to make sure that you continue to have fun. It takes a lot of commitment and dedication to make it this far, and if you can enjoy it and look forward to getting to the rink each day, if you’re motivated to achieve your hopes and dreams, it just makes everything ten times easier, and the success will follow after that.  Just make sure that you continue to smile.”