Tom Mele of the Norfolk Admirals is currently playing in his 6^th season of professional hockey.  After playing four years of Division I hockey with American International College (NCAA – AHC), Mele began his professional career in 2011 with the Fort Wayne Komets of the Central Hockey League where the team would go on to win the Ray Miron President’s Cup Championship.  Two seasons later, he would savor a Kelly Cup Championship in the ECHL with the Alaska Aces.

Growing up in the Bronx, New York, Tom and brother Steve played countless hours of hockey together.  In 2014-15 they shared the rare opportunity to play pro with each other in Tulsa.  Tom has served as a PHPA Player Representative and known as a noteworthy contributor to hockey communities everywhere he has played.

We asked Tom 10 Questions…

1. What have you enjoyed most during your 5 years as a professional hockey player?

These last 5 seasons have been great. I feel like I have been very fortunate and blessed to do what I love for a living every day. I’ve played with some great players over the years, but having won 2 championships in such a short span would definitely have to be what I’ve enjoyed most.

2. In an email received here at the PHPA, you mentioned being involved with a hockey school. Discuss some details about that (when, where, your specific role).

I work for a company called Pro Ambitions Hockey in the off-season as one of their head hockey school coaches. I travel all over the country from Florida to Alaska running camps. My brother (Steve) and I also have our elite level conditioning camp in New York for junior, prep school, and future college players, teaching them professional habits and how to grow with the game.

3. What do you enjoy most about working with children?

I love working with kids. It’s tough sometimes because you only see them for a week at a time depending on which city we are in. I always remember that one coach from when I was in their shoes. I’ll never forget the positive impact he had on me, so those are always my intentions when working with young players. I would like to get into coaching when I retire as well so these experiences are good preparation for the future. 

4. Are you involved with any other off-ice initiatives?

I do a lot of work in the community during the season. I enjoy it a lot and we have so much free time when we aren’t traveling that I think it’s important to give back. Teams do a great job with getting players involved in the community and I try to get involved with it as much as I can. Whether it’s visiting a school to go read to kids, helping them with their homework, or visiting a big sponsor of the club. It just feels great to give back to those who support what you do day in and day out. Giving back to those who make it possible.

5. Describe your off-season. What do you like to do with your downtime? What is your picture-perfect idea of relaxation? What do you look forward to most about the off-season?

My off-season is pretty hectic with traveling and coaching in the months of June, July and the beginning of August. After that, my brother and I return to NYC to start training and spend time with our family and friends. We live together in the summer and spend a lot of time golfing and taking the boat out. Every year when the season ends we usually take a vacation with our mutual friends just to unwind after a long year of hockey. That is probably the part of summer that I look forward to most. I also love the beach, so we go out to Long Island as much as we can. 

6. Have you developed any funny nicknames over the years?

Too many nick names to even list.

7. If you could be a professional in any other sport what would it be and why?

I played little league baseball and basketball growing up like any typical NY kid but I was never good enough to take either sport any further. I played soccer too, but I despise running, so that was easy to eliminate. I love golf and wish I was better at it. I wish I had more time to work on my game but that is one sport I could see myself getting up everyday and playing for a living. I really enjoy being outside in the summer and some of the courses you see those guys play on TV are beautiful. I think it would be a pretty cool experience playing some of those courses.

8. What advice would you give young hockey players looking to become professionals? Looking back on your career thus far, what is the most important thing to consider/do to become a successful pro hockey player?

I could be cliché and just say ” keep working hard to achieve your goals and anything is possible” but it’s so much more than that. There are so many great players out there who say they want to play this sport professionally someday but don’t really know what it takes until the opportunity is presented to them. The one piece of advice that I think is most important is be patient and work as hard as you possibly can. Not just physically but mentally too. Learn how to think the game better than your competition. Soak up every bit of knowledge that your coaches or players playing at higher levels are trying to instill in you. Become a student of the game; understand that everyone develops at different paces and to just stay the course.

9. Who has been the most fun teammate you’ve ever played with throughout your career (and why)?

That’s easy to say, my brother. We were lucky enough to play two years in college together and him be my center for almost all of my senior season. When I got traded last summer, we had the chance to play together for half of the 2014-15 season in Tulsa (ECHL). That was a very special opportunity for both of us as well as our family. 

10. Give our readers a look into a typical game day of yours. Describe any rituals or superstitions you may have.

I think my game day is pretty similar to what most guys do. I like to get up early and eat breakfast, usually head to the rink for morning skate or a bike ride depending on our schedule and always finish up with an ice bath. After that, a bunch of us will usually go out for lunch and then head home for an afternoon nap before heading to the rink later in the evening for the game. Earlier in my career I was a bit over the top with every little move I made or what I ate and when I ate it etc. But, now as I’ve gotten more mature I just keep a routine and eat anything as long as its healthy.