Brothers on the blueline
By Bill Potrecz - November 2, 2021
Thomas and Luke Gualtieri both man the blueline for the Fort Erie Meteors, but that is where the similarities end for the St. Catharines-born brothers.
Thomas is a 19-year-old, stay-at-home rearguard who plays it safe while the 17-year-old Luke is possessed with offensive skills he gladly and often puts to good use.
The differences are not lost on Meteors assistant coach Anthony Passero.
“Thomas is smart, calm and does everything right,” Passero said. “You don’t notice him out there which is probably the biggest compliment you can give a defenceman. He’s good offensively —not probably as good as Luke — but he does everything right. Whatever you need him to do, he does.
“He’s very quiet kid where the other one is a little louder.”
Meanwhile, Passero feels Luke has all the tools to be an impact player.
“He is the full package,” Passero said. “He brings speed, skill, strength. His care for the game is above anybody’s, it rivals anyone in the league, and he wants go to the next level.”
Passero’s assessment is proven correct statistically — Luke has three goals and nine points in 11 games while Thomas, who is content to take care of his own end, has picked up a pair of assists.
Thomas agreed with Passero’s appraisal of their talents.
“We both have good skating abilities. He likes a lot of the physicality and has a hard shot, where my game is more focused on stops and good defensive play,” said Thomas, who previously played for the Welland Junior Canadians.
Luke, who was a 10th-round pick of the Flint Firebirds in 2020, feels the difference in their games is more in the way they approach things.
“I think we have like a really similar skill set, but it’s all just in our mindset,” he said. “He’s always been very careful in the defensive zone — he cares a lot about the defence — where I’ve always been geared towards wanting to score goals.”
The brothers played together previously at the high school level with the Denis Morris Reds and briefly when they were younger in minor hockey.
“It’s definitely a unique experience,” said Thomas, who is an accounting major at Brock. “I’ve never played with him at such a high level before. High school is nice but to play at this level is great.
“I’m glad we could play (together) for at least one year.”
Luke said the familiarity of being on the ice with his brother — they grew up playing street hockey and mini sticks together — is a big plus.
“I think we have a connection on the ice because we grew up with the same development. I always know where he is what he’s thinking.”
Luke attended camp with the Firebirds this season and said it was an eye-opening experience.
“It was definitely different than anything I’ve ever had,” he said. “Some of the guys are even NHL draft picks and just to see the speed and the way they compete. I was on the ice maybe four times with them but I I feel it was the same style.
“It definitely gives you hope when you are matched up against them and you see the kind of work they put in and what it takes to get there.”
The Meteors, who are off to a 5-5-1 start, are home to the Thorold Blackhawks Saturday and in Caledonia Sunday.