Merritt BC – Team social media coordinator Katie Campbell caught up with former Centennials forward John Schiavo in a “Where Are They Now” interview:
You played with the Centennials in the 2014-15 season, what was it like playing in the BCHL after the USPHL Premier league? – It was a really good step for me, going into a higher league. The BCHL has bigger fans and bigger rinks to play in which is really nice.
In your season with the Centennials, you played 58 games, notching 30 goals and getting 32 assists in the regular season and played four games in the post season scoring a goal and getting an assist. If you could pick your favorite moment about playing the regular season and the post-season what would it be? – The regular season was probably the best season for me, but the post season was probably one of my favourites because I ended up scoring a wicked goal against the Vernon Vipers after being set up from Gavin Gould and Diego Cuglietta, but the best part was scoring the goal in the Vipers rink, (Kal Tire Place).
What was your favourite thing about the Centennials organization? – The community was just fantastic. I still have friends in Merritt and made friends from my time there. I just love the fact that everyone loves hockey and just how close everyone in the town is.
What is the one thing you miss about Merritt? Either with the Centennials or the town? – Definitely miss the tight knit community. Everyone there was super close and you don’t get that with a bigger city.
A couple of years ago, you attended the NYI Rookie camp, what was that like for an experience? – It was a huge experience for me, absolutely fantastic for me. It was really great being apart of the camp. It was also great having a team that’s basically in my backyard here in New York. It was super cool playing with NHL draft picks and seeing what it’s like and having the perspective of a pro hockey player.
If you had to give advice to a junior hockey player now, on how to further his career past juniors, either to College hockey or even the NHL, what would it be? – Work hard and have fun, that’s probably the two biggest things. If you have the passion and the love for the game of hockey, the sky is pretty much the limit.
What are your future goals? – I want to play in the NHL. It’s not going to be easy but I’m going to be working hard to achieve that goal. The end goal is to play pro and be in the NHL.
What are you doing now? – I just finished my season with the Kansas City Mavericks. I’ll be spending the off season here at home in Long Island, New York, TRAINING, coaching and starting a clothing line.
