Harriton’s Paolo Colavita is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The senior forward and captain is one of the leading scorers in the Inter County Scholastic Hockey League, with 28 goals and 15 assists in 11 games (as of Feb. 14). Harriton head coach Anthony Froio said, “Paolo has consistently been a leader and a strong example for younger athletes on the team about being a good teammate. Even in times of conflict and opposition, Paolo remains a positive voice and always expects the best out of himself and his teammates.”
Q: You have always played forward. What originally attracted you to the forward position? What do you think are the most important attributes of a good forward?
A: Growing up, Sidney Crosby was the player I loved to watch, and he attracted me toward the forward position. I think what puts good forwards aside from others is attitude. As a forward, being aggressive and hungry for the puck is the best attribute you can have. Skill and athleticism are always great attributes but the most important to me is your mentality.
Q: How do you view your leadership role as a captain?
A: Being captain is an amazing accomplishment, but it comes with responsibility. I play a big role for our team and I want to lead by good example. Some kids are just starting the sport for the first time on our team, and playing all my life, I am basically their role model and inspiration to get better. I love being a leader because on and off the ice, I get to form our team into the way I want to – a hard-working, fun team.
Q: What do you think is the strongest aspect of your game? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: I think the strongest aspect of my game is that I won’t back down from anything. No matter the play, or situation in the game, I’m going to be trying to go out there and give it my best to get the momentum in the hands of our team. I am a pretty skillful player but I play with an aggressive style that intimidates other players on other teams. I’m hungry for the puck. Skill can only take you so far, but effort and attitude is what makes players stand out. I am trying to improve my speed because I feel like I could always get faster.
Q: You also play for the Valley Forge Minutemen and have played for the Philadelphia Junior Flyers. What has been your favorite ice hockey experience outside of Harriton – can you share it with us?
A: My favorite hockey experience was when I was 12 years old. There’s a tournament called Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament that takes place in Quebec, Canada. I played for the Quebec Flyers and had one of the best experiences ever. A teammate of mine and I had to live with a family from the area for a week. Playing in the old Quebec Nordiques arena was amazing itself, but everything off the ice was what was the most memorable. The lifestyle that we adapted to and memories that were created in that week were what makes this my favorite hockey experience. We were basically living in Canada for a week and it really felt like I was playing in the pros. People from the town would come to our games, and this was the first time I played in front of a crowd the size of a semi-pro level game.
Q: You wear No. 32 for Harriton ice hockey. Is there a reason you chose this number?
A: I chose to wear the number 32 because of the best game I have ever played. When I was playing 8U, which isn’t intense or very competitive hockey, I put on the best performance in my life. I ended the game with 32 goals. It seems impossible for a team to even score that often, but I remember this game vividly and I couldn’t get enough of the back of the net. For my earlier years I wore the number 92, but when I came to Harriton I wanted to change it up, and this number stood out to me because of the remembrance of the 32 goal game. I was expecting to have more memories like that one.
Q: Who have been your biggest ice hockey mentors, and what was the important thing each of them taught you?
A: I have had some great coaches along my adventure of hockey, and they have all taught me many valuable lessons and skills. A few to mention, Bernard Centrella, Oscar Watson, Ryan Tyson, all had a big impact on my game and life choices. Bernard (Bernie) was the father of a good friend of mine, Andrew Centrella, and he felt like more than just a coach to me, since I would be at his house usually before and after games. He really tried to make me better and would get the best out of my abilities. Oscar and Ryan were great coaches, and really focused on looking towards the future. They connected hockey to life in so many ways, that they were not only coaches for hockey to me, they were coaches for life as well
Q: You played for Saint Joseph’s Prep as a freshman – what brought you to Harriton?
A: I originally attended Saint Joseph’s Prep for freshman and sophomore year. I really enjoyed my time at the Prep, and had great friends that I still talk to today. At the end of sophomore year, when the pandemic just hit, the idea of Harriton became reality. I had been in the Lower Merion school district before, and I knew everybody at Harriton. It made sense for me and my family to save the money and still get a great education. I sometimes miss Saint Joe’s but I don’t regret changing schools at all.
Q: What is your favorite academic subject at Harriton? What do you think you’d like to major in at college? Is there a particular career field that interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite subject at Harriton is Entrepreneurship. I would like to major in business at college. I think I have some great ideas but I just need platforms to present them.
Fun facts – Paolo Colavita
Favorite TV show: Money Heist.
Favorite movie: Happy Gilmore.
Favorite athlete: Lamar Jackson.
Favorite pre-game pump up song: Really got it – by Jerreau.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Flyers.
Favorite place to visit: Florida.
Favorite pre-game meal: Small dish of pasta and a smoothie.
Person I admire: “I admire my grandfather (Nonno). He was a very strong and wonderful man. He lived a great life and the things that he did for my family was amazing. He accomplished some amazing things, for example, he helped work on the original LOVE statue in Philadelphia. I miss him dearly and he will always be remembered.”
Family members: father Pasquale, mother Tara Cuda, sister Michela, brother Marco Colavita, dog Puck.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
