The Ice Wolves Den This week, Enzo Ramazzini is in the #PHNSpotLight

When you think hockey, you don’t think of New Mexico or Albuquerque, but maybe you should start. Even though he didn’t grow up with a local team to cheer for, Enzo still had someone to look up to and thinks playing for his hometown team is a dream come true. “My brother is a little older than me, when he got into hockey he was about 8 years old, that was right around the time I was born. Also, my Dad got into it and coached my brother and me growing up. My whole family did it.” Enzo said, “I looked up to my brother, when he was a kid they had high school hockey here. When I was a kid I would go on the road trips with him and seeing his relationship with his friends and teammates made me want to be a part of that. We didn’t have a team like the Ice Wolves growing up, then Stan Hubbard brought all this in. Obviously it’s a big thank you to him. Since the team started it was obviously my goal to play here and it’s amazing that I get to do it.”

Ice Wolves Head Coach Isaac Washburn says Enzo’s energy is contagious and being a two way player is a bonus. “Coming in this summer, seeing him at main camp and getting to work with him, he’s earned everything he’s got here. What’s really intriguing about him is the energy and work ethic he brings is pretty uncommon. He has a very high ceiling.” Washburn said, “He played defense in the past, it’s been a few years, but he thinks the game well, he’s good with the puck and strong on his skates. Switching from offense to defense was a pretty natural transition. His energy rubs off, it’s what I’ve talked to him about. There are going to be days where you’re asked to fill a role. Maybe you’re not going to get much ice time, but you need to find a way to bring the energy. Whether it’s on the ice or in the room, he always has a ton of energy.”

Enzo says his energy comes from his love for the game. “It’s a love for the game, love for the team and a love for the boys in the locker room. I want everybody to have the same energy I have. I want to get everyone as fired up as me and I want to have a great game. Let’s share the love here, let’s get it going.” Enzo continued, “It’s not just the boys, it’s the fans. I want to get them involved. We always appreciate having everybody here, especially the kids. That’s what I was doing when I was a kid, so I see myself in them. You grow up looking up to those guys thinking I’d love to do that and I’m fortunate enough to have this opportunity and hopefully some of them get this chance when they grow up. I just want to put on a show for the kids.”