Lively's Danny Battochio has always defied the odds and the
crafty goalie hopes to keep it up now that his OHL career is
over.
As a youngster, Battochio came up through the ranks of minor
hockey, never really registering on the radar screen of
supposedly keen OHL scouts.
He was passed over in two OHL drafts. In 2003, he was
invited to the Ottawa 67's camp.
As a 17-year-old walk on, Battochio, against all odds, made the team as the back up goalie.
He enjoyed modest success in 15 games, winning six of them.
His dream of playing in the OHL would come up against a
terrible nightmare.
On Christmas Day in 2003, Battochio suffered a seizure that
left him convulsing on the floor at his family's house. Soon
after, doctors discovered he had a blood clot or an
arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the left, front portion of
his brain.
It quickly put the net minder against the odds again as his
career was in jeopardy.
Battochio had to face the fact he might never play hockey
again, let alone live a normal life.
Again, he beat the odds to keep playing hockey. He had
successful surgery in January 2004 and after a few months off,
regained his status as one of the top goalies in the OHL.
"It was a tough spot to be in," said Battochio in a 2005
Northern Life interview.
In 2004-05, Battochio was handed the reins of the number one
goalie duties and took off, piling up 24 wins in just 40
appearances.
He really stepped up his play in the playoffs, helping the
67's scoot past the Sudbury Wolves in the second round and
eventually leading Ottawa to within one win of a berth in the
2005 Memorial Cup championship game.
For his encore, Battochio helped the 67's back into the
playoffs but lost in six games to the eventual OHL champs,
Peterborough. 
Battochio season wasn't over as he was awarded the Roger
Neilson Memorial Award as the OHL's Academic College/University
Player of the Year and the Bobby Smith Award as the OHL
Scholastic Player of the Year.
Battochio is a repeat winner of the Neilson award and will
graduate from the police foundations program at Algonquin
College in June.
"It's a great deal to me, winning these awards," said the 20-year-old. "Hockey doesn't always work out for everyone, and it's nice to have a education to fall back on. Winning puts the icing on the cake for me. I've worked hard to become a better player every year while maintaining good grades in school. Combining both isn't easy. Being recognized is a great achievement for myself."
Mixing both a successful hockey career and studies takes
discipline.
"It wasn't easy to do," said the puck stopper. "It takes
time management at its best to do both. You have to take your
priorities in order and stuff like this can be done."
Battochio loves debunking the stereotype that hockey players
only care about hockey and education is vital.
"There's smart players out there, but it's a matter of them
applying themselves," said the net minder. "I took advantage of
the opportunity given to me for school. Education is priceless
to have. It's all about commitment. If you have a head on your
shoulders and know what is right, and use it, you will do the
best at everything you do."
Battochio became immensely popular in Ottawa.
"Because of his hard work and his excellent play, he became a fan favourite," said 67's head coach and GM Brian Kilrea. "For two years he was our MVP and the backbone to our team.
He meant a lot to the franchise and our reputation because
he did so many school visits. His character really stands out.
He was so respectful of everyone, taking the time with kids and
always signed autographs."
Battochio has what it takes to play pro.
"He's fought the odds his whole career and I hope someone
gives him an opportunity," said Kilrea. "I am surprised he
never had offers before because he's such a gem. I hope there's
a lot more Danny Battochio's in the future for the 67's."
Despite not going far in the 2006 playoffs, Battochio enjoyed
his final OHL season.
"It was good...We got on a roll at the end of the season and
gave Peterborough a real scare," said the five-foot-10 goalie.
"The series could have went either way. The OHL experience for
me was unbelievable. I came a long way from not being drafted.
It worked out for the best for me. It's something I can carry
with me my whole life and use it as life experience. Last year,
the run to the Memorial Cup was probably my top memory. I am
going to miss my buddies and the routine, but life goes on."
Now, Battochio is turning his sights towards a university education and playing professional hockey.
