Zac Mizzi has taken on a bigger and more important role with the Fort Erie Meteors.
The 20-year-old Burlington native, who did a nice job for the Mets after being acquired from the St. Catharines Falcons last year, is an even bigger piece of the puzzle this season.
“He’s stepped his game up a little bit,” Meteors general manager/coach Nik Passero said. “Last year he found himself in a nice role in the three spot and he did what was asked of him and brought us a long way. I think this year we’re asking a little bit more of him as a 20-year-old and a guy with some leadership qualities and he’s really stepped up to the plate.”
Mizzi enjoys being able to contribute more this season.
“It definitely feels good,” he said. “It’s my third year in the league now and I feel like my game’s kind of coming together this year. I’m definitely more confident offensively and with the puck.
“I feel like I did really well defensively the past two seasons and this year I’m just looking at the offensive side to my game to be a complete 200-foot player.”
Mizzi has a pair of goals and three points in seven games and his production has earned him more playing time.
“In the last week-and-a-half or so he’s led us in ice time,” Passero said.
Passero said Mizzi showed up at training camp in phenomenal shape.
“I give him credit for having a good summer and coming back and doing well in fitness testing and then carrying it through the season,” Passero said.
Mizzi said the hard work in the off season has paid off.
“I trained pretty hard and I just really focused on my cardio — biking, running, skating and everything like that,” he said. “I definitely have more wind, more stamina. I feel more powerful with my stride so that can really help me this year.”
Mizzi is also happy to help out in the leadership department.
“Going back to my first year (with St. Catharines), those 20-year-olds really left a good impression with me,” he said. “It was a harder year personally, just with the ice time and all that, but the leaders in the room, the 20-year-olds, they had a lasting impression on me.”
He credits Nate Roberston with being particularly helpful.
“He was a really good leader and I try and model myself after him in the room, just always doing the right thing, just great a leader overall,” he said.
Mizzi is trying to savour every moment of his final season of junior eligibility.
“Yeah, this is probably my last go here. Every game, I kind of take it as like this might be your last time at the rink. I’m just trying to take every game as the biggest game of the year.”
Mizzi is in his second year majoring in sports management at Brock.
The Meteors had a tough weekend, dropping a 7-2 decision (Sam Tonelli, Aiden Zimmerman) at St. Thomas Friday and a 5-0 decision at home to St. Marys Friday.
“This weekend is on me and my staff,” Passero said. “We have to have the boys prepared to go to battle each weekend and we weren’t ready as a group.
“We have to find our identity, and we will work through it. There’s not a single good thing that came from this weekend, and that’s on our staff. Simply being a Fort Erie Meteor is not good enough. We need more from everyone in our organization.”
