The Long Road Back For #20

Adam Capannelli was supposed to be one of the saviours. A pivotal piece of the puzzle to turn the Moncton Wildcats fortunate around. 

The highly skilled two-way forward returns tonight where his journey in the QMJHL begain. 

Adam Capannelli was confronted with the daunting task to be a leader and top offensive star in his rookie season. 

He along with countless other sixteen and seventeen year old’s were to be the future stars of a proud organization in the middle of an unprecedented rebuild. 

If you think back on it now that’s just crazy pressure for a core group of rookies to go through. 

They were all thrown directly into the fire. Nevertheless, that’s life during the downward spiral of junior hockey’s dreaded cycle. 

Capannelli finished second in team scoring in his first season with the Cats with 25 points, but finished the year with – 45 ranking. 

There was lots to learn when it came to playing both sides of the puck for the skilled speedy forward. 

You see Adam Capannelli was an integral component of the Moncton Wildcats turnaround and subsequent success. 

It’s often unfair to categorize, label or type cast players, especially when many of them are still developing, progressing and confronted with an enormous amount of pressure and high expectations. 

Adam Capannelli was a player that fully embraced his role and tried to help the Cats win every night. 

You could see that he cared about winning. 

He wore his heart on his sleeve. 

His competitive fire some nights lead to some ill-advised penalties, but at the end of his tenure with the Cats Adam Capannelli definitely lived up to the high expectations and projections placed on him when he was highly touted prospect coming into the league. 

Adam Capanneli was a catalyst for the Cats success. 

By the end of last season, Capannelli was called upon to play in every situation. A reliable, responsible two-way player with outstanding speed and compete. 

Capannelli was a key veteran and leader for a Cats team that made two consecutive runs to the second round of the President Cup Playoffs. 

The Cats don’t upset the likes of Rimouski or Baie-Comeau without Adam Capannelli’s contributions. 

Look beyond the numbers, look beyond the high expectations, Adam Capannelli had one hell of a run as a Moncton Wildcat. 

#20 was a huge part of the Wildcats success and gained the trust of John Torchetti almost instantly upon the former NHL bench boss’ arrival in the Hub City. 

Capannelli had a career year a season ago amassing 47 points in 59 regular season games and ended the season as +16. The versatile forward played both forward positions and was a key contributor on the power play and penalty kill. 

Adam Capannelli truly embraced any role he was thrust into you over his time in Moncton. 

That’s the true sign of maturity, growth and leadership. 

Sure the writing may have been on the wall with the Wildcats overage situation this season, but let’s be honest, it was going to be hard for any twenty year old to keep their job with the likes of Jeremy McKenna, Mika Cyr and Jonathan Aspirot penciled into the Cats 2019-2020 ghost roster. 

A lot has changed since the trade that saw Adam Capannelli go to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, but one thing is for certain you always know what you are going to get when the pride of Lasalle, Quebec steps on the ice. 

Hard work, dedication and a will to compete that’s unparalleled in the QMJHL. That’s what #20 brings every night. 

It’s been a long road back for #20, but he returns to Moncton where it all started tonight.

There’s no doubt November 29, 2019 has been circled on Capanelli’s calendar ever since the trade.

“I’m really excited to be back in Moncton for the first time since I was traded this summer,” confessed Capanelli. 

“Playing against lifelong friends and people that have watched me grow up is really exciting.” 

“It will be weird at first not wearing the red and blue, but I’m looking forward to the test. They have a lot of high caliber players,” admitted Capannelli. 

Capannelli has developed into one of the best two-way centers in the league over the past four seasons. 

The veteran center has worked tremendously hard to get to this point of his career and should be very proud of the type of player and person he has become over his tenure in the Q. 

Unfortunately Capannelli has only played ten games this season due to an early season wrist injury sustained when blocking a shot. 

In those 10 games, the speedy skilled two-way center has 6 points. 

As we all know this is “the year” for the Moncton Wildcats. 

It’s all or nothing. 

It’s taken four years to get to this point, but one should never lose sight of all those players that have come before, that changed and grew the winning culture for a franchise on the upswing of junior hockey’s cycle. 

Adam Capannelli was a Moncton Wildcat at the lowest, he faced all the adversity and pressure, he always took pride in donning the jersey and played a big role in helping turn things around here for the Cats.  

It might very well be Adam Capannelli’s final appearance in a city he has called home for the past three years. 

Tonight will be a very special night for a number of reasons, but we should never forget Adam Capannelli’s contribution to the game, the Wildcats organization, his journey in the QMJHL and the long road back to Moncton.