You’ve probably seen Matt Campanale around the UNH campus. Actually, if you’ve ever been to an UNH hockey game I can guarantee you’ve seen Matt Campanale. Matt is a senior defenseman (number 24!) and has been playing since freshman year. Matt was signed by the Islanders’ AHL team and recently got an opportunity to play with the Islanders against the Bruins at the Garden! We asked Matt about this life changing opportunity.
You were just signed with the Islanders, that’s so exciting! How does it feel to be part of an NHL team?
Growing up it was always my dream to play in the NHL, so when the opportunity came up I was extremely excited. Even though it was only for one game it was definitely one of the best experiences in my life.
So are you playing for the Islanders full time?
No probably not, I signed a tryout contract with their AHL affiliate and that only lasted until my last game with Bridgeport. So this summer I’m going to go to their tryout camp and a few others and am just hoping to get signed with one of them.
Tell us about your first NHL game? Were you nervous?
Actually, before the game I was a lot calmer than I thought I would be. After my first shift is when the nerves really kicked in, I came back to the bench shaking. I think that’s when it actually sunk in that I was playing in the NHL. It was pretty crazy that two weeks before I was playing in a Hockey East tournament against Merrimack at the Garden and then I was playing against the Bruins. The speed of the game is a lot faster and the guys are bigger and stronger. At one point I almost found myself face-to-face with Chara, but luckily he got off the ice to change. I think I did okay for my first NHL game and it was pretty cool to get my first NHL penalty out of it as well even though it was only a delay of game penalty. Hopefully it won’t be my last.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to the younger guys on the UNH team?
I think the advice I would give is to work hard no matter what. Things might not always be going your way but you have to push through because in the end it will payoff. Also in my situation I got extremely lucky to get the chance to play for the islanders, so you have to be ready for anything and make the best of your opportunities. Most of all enjoy college hockey as long as it lasts because it goes by too quick.