From cleats to skates, Zaikos returns to the ice
Anthony Donisi, Contributing Writer
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Sports
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Senior Tommy Zaikos, a Toronto native who played as a defenseman on the men's soccer team, has decided to participate in his Canadian pastime and try out for the men's club hockey team.
"Soccer has been taking up all my time," Zaikos said. "Now that it is done, I can try to play again."
Zaikos came to St. Bonaventure four years ago on a soccer scholarship. He has been playing soccer since he was three years old and hockey since age five. His high school, St. Michael's, has produced more than 100 NHL players, but something about Bonaventure brought him here for soccer.
The soccer season kept him off the ice.
"I really miss the game (of hockey)," Zaikos said. "It is hockey season, and I just get sick of watching it on TV. I wanted to play again."
Zaikos has been on the team for two weeks now. He practices with the team two times a week and said he is trying to get back in his groove.
"My hands are there," Zaikos said. "I know what I want to do, but my body won't physically let me do it. It is a huge transition going from running to skating."
Zaikos might get the chance to skate in the lineup for the team's game tonight. He still tries to get in some competitive play. His last came in a tournament two years ago when he went home for Christmas break.
"I still have been skating every year," Zaikos said. "I'll go for family or open skate. Yet, it still doesn't have a puck, stick and equipment. I will have to get used to again."
The weekend of Nov. 20, the Bonnies played Rutgers in a double-header. In the first game, the Bonnies struggled and lost, 9-0. In the second game, junior Luke Marchiori tallied the only goal for the Bonnies, as they finished with another defeat, 7-1.
"(Rutgers is) very well coached," captain Josh Thomas said. "That's why they are one of the top teams in our division."
This is St. Bonaventure's fourth loss in a row, since coming off its first win against Oswego Nov 7.
"I try to pump up the team," Thomas said. "The team already knows what it needs to do, and we are just hitting a cold streak."
The Bonnies have suffered some key injuries, resulting in the losses of assistant captain Sean O'Neil, junior Casey Krug and senior Matt Gropp. During the last month, these players have been coming back, and the team is readjusting.
"Hopefully we can keep the team going since we're not short shifted anymore," Thomas said. "There (are) a lot of losses we have that definitely should have been wins."
The Bonnies kick off Winter Weekend with a home game against rival Cornell, hoping to start a turnaround before the second half of its season starts. Tonight's game is at 7:30 at the William O. Smith Recreation Center in Olean with buses providing student transportation from campus, starting at 6:30.
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