  New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto #4 warms up. (Sunmedia/Greg Henkenhaf) |
It was a great night to be a Del Zotto male at the Air Canada Centre, the pre-game jitters easily surpassed by the thrill of it all.
For 19-year-old Michael, the New York Rangers defenceman playing well beyond his youth and experience, it was a homecoming.
For father Steve, part of a 70-strong throng making the trip down from suburban Stouffville to see the first big-league game in his hometown, it was years in the waiting.
All those hockey dad days and nights have been rewarded with the pride of watching from afar as his boy develops into a man in one of the flashiest hockey markets in North America.
"Ever since he was probably a 4-year-old, when Michael wanted to be a hockey player," Steve Del Zotto said yesterday when asked how long the family had been anticipating this night. "As he got older, he got hungrier, and when he got drafted into the OHL even hungrier.
"He was pretty determined to make this happen."
It has been a common lament of Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson that the trappings of Saturday night hockey in Toronto often conspire against the home team.
With so many players coming home and anxious to impress, the visitors are often more fired-up than they would be in most rinks.
When the visit falls on the weekend and a rookie is involved, it's an inspiring story to join Coach's Corner in the living rooms of the nation.
And his is one of the best tales of the young NHL season.
Del Zotto not only has muscled his way into coach John Tortorella's lineup -- he anchors the point on the top power-play unit -- prior to last night led the league in scoring by rookies and defencemen and scored his third goal of the season in the second period.
Steve, his wife Lee and Michael's older brother David were part of the big rooting section last night. Three proud grandparents also procured tickets as did aunts, uncles, cousins, former schoolmates and minor hockey pals from Stouffville, Richmond Hill and Markham.
"The messages started about three weeks ago, about how everyone is excited for this game," Del Zotto said following the Rangers' morning skate. "I'm glad I made it this far and I'm glad they can come and watch."
Del Zotto is well-known to junior hockey fans in Ontario. The Rangers' first-round pick (20th overall) in 2008 joined the No. 1 pick in this year's class, John Tavares, in the blockbuster OHL deal that sent both from the Oshawa Generals to the London Knights last season.
The Rangers have a decision to make about him in the next couple of days, but there likely won't be much deliberating. After he plays his ninth NHL game tomorrow, management must declare whether he stays in the bigs or returns to the Knights.
"Just leave him alone," Tortorella said, only half-jokingly. "Obviously, with the amount of games you play, the travel, all the things for a young kid to understand, he's handling it very well. There will be bumps in the road, but the most encouraging thing about Michael is that he doesn't just test the water, he tries to make a difference.
"For a young kid starting in the National Hockey League, that's good stuff."
It's been quite a rush for a youngster not old enough to legally enjoy much of the Big Apple's offerings. But at 19 years and 100 days, he already made history earlier this month when he was the youngest defenceman in Rangers history to be in the opening-night lineup.
"It's happened so quickly and I don't know that it's all really kicked in," Del Zotto said. "I'm just having a blast right now."
He wasn't the only Del Zotto who could claim that last night.
ROB.LONGLEY@SUNMEDIA.CA
