D’Agostini lands in Texas with the Allen Americans on a path to NHL
Andrew D’Agostini has been fortunate to play junior, university and pro hockey without straying far from home.
That is, until now.
The former Peterborough Petes netminder has signed a contract with the ECHL’s Allen Americans in Texas.
After two full seasons and part of a third with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast, the Scarborough native decided a change of scenery was in order.
He joined the Beast near the end of the 2015-16 season after graduating from the University of Guelph. He saw two games that season as one of 16 goalies used by the team. He played 25 games in his first full season as one of four goalies.
Last season, he played 20 games and was pushed aside a bit by injuries and Brampton’s affiliation with two NHL teams, the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.
The Americans are affiliated with the Minnesota Wild and he’s expected to compete with former Oshawa Generals goalie Jeremy Brodeur, among others, for a spot.
“I know how things work. I know that even with a contract I have to go and earn a job,” D’Agostini said. “I’m definitely excited for the opportunity but there is still a job to be earned.”
The 25-year-old is continuing his education as he’s doing a master’s in leadership online through the U of Guelph but he loves hockey too much to give up playing.
“I know I’ll always have opportunities to go over to Europe and experience the culture and lifestyle over there,” he said, “but I have not given up on the dream here in North America.
“A lot of people will tell you it’s too late or you didn’t get drafted to the NHL but if I’m not aiming for the NHL then I’m not going to reach my full potential as a goalie. Is it realistic that I’m going to get a sniff ? I don’t know. I’m going to continue to work for it.
“Maybe that lands me in a higher league in Europe or gives me an opportunity in the American league, where I’ve been I just haven’t played a game yet. I’ll continue to go at it as long as my body will hold up and as long as it’s creating these great opportunities for me.”
It was a mutual decision to part ways with Brampton, he said. The Beast were going to sign a more experienced goalie to go with potential players from the NHL affiliates, he said.
“I also felt I needed to kind of move on whether it was for the sake of my opportunities in hockey or just to experience something different,” he said.
Living in Texas will certainly be different. While he once spent a couple of weeks in Australia on a hockey trip a few years ago and played one game for the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones after a Petes season, D’Agostini has not spent a full year more than 90 minutes from home.
“I’m very close with my family, all of them, so I imagine there will be a D’Agostini fan bus heading down to Texas quite early in the year,” he said.
“I knew that this time would come. We’ll see how it goes. I’m sure I’ll still see plenty of them. My family has been very supportive over the years.
“My dad was at my first start in Sault Ste. Marie when I was 16 years old. He got up at three in the morning to make the drive. I have committed parents. I still hope to keep in touch in-person but, if not, technology makes it easier for families to stay in touch.”