Buffalo Grove’s DeSalvo a winner on and off ice

Anthony DeSalvo is a straight-A student, has never had a “B,” and gives a large part of his academic success to … hockey, believe it or not.

“Ever since I was 5 years old, it was understood that I was to come home right away (after school ended) to do my homework before hockey that night,” DeSalvo said. “If I happened to have a night off (from hockey), I became programmed that I was going to have to prepare for anything coming later in the week whenever I had the time.

“Although rudimentary, I have never strayed from this system over my entire career and I attribute my academic success to that structure.

“Over the years, we had weeks with every weekday filled with a practice or game (starting) no earlier than 8:40 p.m., and during these few weeks, I never went to bed earlier than 1 a.m., simply because I refuse to let my academics fall in any manner.”

DeSalvo, a senior, plays center for the co-op BG/H/W team – a mix of DeSalvo and eight others who attend Buffalo Grove High School, along with nine who attend Hersey. The “W” in the team name represents Wheeling High School, though there are no Wildcats on the varsity this season.

DeSalvo, who sports uniform No. 12, lives in Arlington Heights and is in his third season playing varsity hockey. He shoots right-handed and plays between sophomore left wing John Cappuccitti and senior right wing Dan Easley — both of whom attend Hersey.

“I think one of the biggest attributes that I (bring to) the team is … my work ethic,” said DeSalvo, the team captain. “I have strived throughout the season to set an example for the rest of the players and push them to the next level.

“I think that my work both on and off the ice has caused my teammates to jump on board and maximize the capabilities that our team possesses.

“ Although I am not known for leading with words, I feel that my leading by example not only made me a captain, but influenced others to have a similar drive and mentality toward the game.”

BG/H/W is 27-6-4 and a legitimate contender to end Rockford’s 15-year reign as the top Combined Division team in the state. The state championship game is March 23, and the Combined Division title will, for the first time, be decided at the United Center.

“I feel that the season has gone as planned,” DeSalvo said. “Going into the year, we were well aware of the talent that we were going to have to work with, and I feel that we have been able to make a big dent in our league over the course of the season.

“With such a young group, and so many more players with deep hockey backgrounds, I feel we have taken our season to the next level, and I am pleased to have been the leader of a team as talented and hardworking as ours.”

DeSalvo has scored 38 goals and 30 assists, and was selected a Metro Central All-Star. Plus, he was invited to try out for the Illinois team that this spring will participate in the annual America’s Showcase in Pittsburgh.

As a junior, he was a Metro Central all-star and also played in the All Metro All-Star Game.

Plus, DeSalvo is a two-time winner of the Metro Northwest Sportsmanship Award.

“The biggest strength of my game is my aggression and work ethic,” DeSalvo said. “Every time I step on the ice I am looking to give more than I have left in me, and I never like to sit back and watch the plays unfold. Although my asthma has hindered me a few times throughout the season, I have been able to adjust my game to play smarter, allowing me to keep my aggressive playing style.”

DeSalvo said his weight training at school and in the offseason has been a big influence in his success. He also hones his skills at home.

“Training in my basement has also been a major influence on my stick handling this season,” DeSalvo said. “Most days of the week I am in my basement simply stick handling a ball around poles, old gear, and often times my own brother to make the puck seem that much more natural on my stick when I hit the ice.”

DeSalvo’s 14-year-old brother Michael plays center for the BG/H/W junior varsity team.

“I love watching my brother play hockey,” Anthony said. “Often times I have parents of his team comment about my near-perfect attendance at (Michael’s) games, (usually) with my homework and notebooks in hand.

“I am always going to the games because I love to watch the sport at any level, and it is great to see my brother develop his game to follow my career as a hockey player, and probably surpass it. I am dreading, however, having to sit in the stands during the upcoming spring league while I watch him play with next year’s team.”

DeSalvo’s academic accomplishments are equaled by others on the team, too. Teammates Zach Anzelmo and Nick Nolan also are straight-A students and 11 players are honor roll students.

DeSalvo said his most difficult subject over the years is AP Physics but it is also a reason he enjoys it so much. He plans to study engineering but is still undecided on his college choice.

“I definitely plan to play club hockey in college,” he said. “After playing for 13 years, I don’t think I will ever be able to give up the game completely.”