Game On Magazine - April 2017 Game on Preview Edition | Page 54

who left Manitoba to play for
the Notre Hounds Bantams in
2011-12, decided to play for
the NAHL’s Wenatchee Wild (a
team that eventually moved to
the BCHL), and he received a
scholarship to Brown.
So for Esteves, heading off
to Pennsylvania to play for the
Aston Rebels wasn’t the worst
decision he could have made.
“Gianluca was a great player
for us all year,” said Rebels
head coach Joe Coombs. “He
got better as the year went
along and certainly played his
most consistent hockey when
it mattered most.”
And yet, despite the fact
he played well last season,
improved as the campaign went
along and helped his team reach
the NAHL championship game
in Duluth, Minn.,
only to lose the
Robertson Cup final
to the Lone
Star Brahmas, Esteves’ phone
did not ring off the hook.
But back in July, it did ring
once. “I was at work in the Pro
Shop at the Iceplex one day
in the summer and my phone
rang,” said Esteves. “It was an
unknown number. I just was
sharpening skates so I picked
it up. It was the assistant
coach at Michigan State. He
said he had an open spot and
they liked what they saw with
Aston last year and he was
offering me a scholarship.
“It really caught me
off guard, especially this
late in the year. But I was
pretty happy to take on the
opportunity. Then, I had a
really good year last year. It
was different than what I was
used to, but it was fun and
successful and we made it all
the way to the final NAHL
game in Duluth. It
definitely turned out to
be the right decision.”
It’s been quite a
5 4 | G AM E O N | S E P T EM BER 2 0 1 7
It’s been an
especially
interesting
journey
considering his
parents weren’t
originally
“hockey people.”
journey for the 20-year-old
Esteves and he admits, it’s
going to be a big step going
from the NAHL to NCAA
Division 1 play. But after
a long career in minor and
junior hockey in Winnipeg,
Esteves is ready for the
challenge.
It’s been an especially
interesting journey
considering his parents
weren’t originally “hockey
people.”
“My parents aren’t exactly
athletic,” he said. “My dad,
Jorge, is from Portugal and
my mom, Rosa, is Italian. My
dad loved soccer but when he
came to Canada, he picked up
hockey pretty quickly and has
always liked the game. He got
me going in the game pretty
early in life.
“I started out at River
Heights Community Centre
and played three or four years
there. Then played for SJF (Sir
John Franklin C.C.), then the
Rangers and Monarchs for
City Bantam, then a couple
of games with the Monarchs
City Midgets but I got the call
from the (Provincial Triple
A Midget) Wild and played a
season with the Wild before
moving on to play two years
with the Blues.
“I’m really excited to sign
with MSU and move on to
play hockey at the next level.
I am also extremely thankful
to my parents and all of my
coaches and teammates who
have helped me get to where
I am going. I would especially
like to thank Coach Coombs
and the Rebels organization.”
For the summer, Esteves
has been working in the Pro
Shop at the Bell MTS Iceplex
and also with the kids at the
Jets Hockey Academy. He has
a younger brother Marco, who
played with the City Midget
champion Monarchs last
season.
He intends to take Business
Management at Michigan
State. Meanwhile, the
Spartans were 7-24-4 last
season so Esteves should get a
chance to play as a freshman.
“I’m pretty excited about
going to school and all the
opportunities that go with
it,” he said with a smile. “It
wasn’t something I was really
expecting at the end of the
season. I was hoping it might
happen, but I wasn’t expecting
it. I was pretty stunned when
I got the call because it was so
late in the summer, after they
usually have all their decisions
made. I’m very fortunate and
thankful for this opportunity.
Now it’s up to me to make the
best of it.”
Considering how far he’s
come and the decisions he’s
already had to make, he should
be ready for anything that’s
thrown in his way. ❍