Villalta family well represented in Sault St. Marie hockey

Craig Bakay | Mar 29, 2017

Godfrey native Matt Villalta was named Vaughn OHL goaltender of the Month and OHL Rookie of the Month following a stellar May with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with a 1.34 goals-against average, a .957 save percentage and a 5-1-0-0 record including one shutout. (The Greyhounds are currently up 2-1 in their best-of-seven first round playoffs series against the Flint Firebirds.)

He finished his rookie season with a 25-3-0-0 record to go along with a 2.41 gaa and a .918 save percentage. He’s the OHL’s first 17-year-old rookie to win 25 games in a season since 2006-2007 and the 2.41 gaa sets a new Greyhounds record.

Of course dad Lawrence is very proud of his son’s accomplishments but he says “we’re a quiet family” and knows it’s a long haul.

“Matt just needs to stay focused and committed to continue on,” he said. “There is a lot of talent (in the OHL) and as a rookie, he’s still a work in progress.”

But actually, Matt isn’t the only Villalta playing junior hockey in the Soo. Matt’s twin brother Wyatt is a defenceman for NOJHL (Junior A) Soo Thunderbirds and to have both sons playing in the same city is a huge plus for the family, Lawrence said.

“They both have great coaches and great billets,” he said. “This is an especially big thing for our family.

“We just feel blessed that the boys can share this experience together.

“We sent them nine hours away but we sent them to a good place.”

Although Lawrence played a lot of sports himself, hockey wasn’t his top game, but that’s OK, the boys like it and he’s there to support them wherever he can.

And, he’s done his best to teach the boys there is more to athletics than statistics and such.

“I told Wyatt ‘you’re only going to be this age once – you gotta have fun.

“‘Enjoy it while it lasts.’”

He said he’s become quite impressed with The Soo as “a great hockey community” but stresses this advice for young hockey players “character in a hockey player is just about everything.”