Antonio Di Paolo

It has been a season of struggles for the La Ronge Ice Wolves, but an Oct. 23 trade with the Humboldt Broncos has given the club a nice building block for the future.

Antonio Di Paolo was part of the Bryce Fiske trade and since arriving in La Ronge Di Paolo has blossomed with the added ice time and responsibilities.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound rearguard has already surpassed the totals he put up in parts of two seasons with the Broncos as the Saskatoon product has three goals and 10 assists in 29 games with the Ice Wolves compared to two goals and eight helpers in the 40 games he suited up with Humboldt.

Prior to making the jump to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Di Paolo spent one year with the Beardy’s Blackhawks of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Di Paolo dressed for every game for the Blackhawks that year collecting five goals and adding five assists in 44 regular-season games and then adding one assist in four post-season tilts. Di Paolo also got his first taste of Junior “A” hockey that year when he was called up for one game with the Broncos.

Having just turned 19 in mid-January, Di Paolo still has two years of junior eligibility remaining. While the Ice Wolves are in an uphill battle to get back to the post-season for just the second time in six years, the addition of Di Paolo certainly gives the team someone to build around for the future.