Ice not so slippery for hockey’s Leo
Utah Statesman: What got you into hockey?
Roberto Leo: One of my best friends growing up, his dad actually played minor league hockey and he invited me to one of the minor league games. I checked it out and fell in love with it. There’s no other sport like it.
US: How long have you been playing?
RL: I started street hockey when I was 10 years old. After a couple of years, I got into ice hockey.
US: Where do you hail from?
RL: Valencia, Calif., born and raised. Valencia is by Magic Mountain, the theme park.
US: Was there an ice rink in Valencia?
RL: There wasn’t, but when I was growing up, I played in an ice rink in Los Angeles – it’s where the Kings practice actually – one of the few rinks in Southern California.
US: How far away was the ice rink from where you lived?
RL: It was about a 30-minute drive from my house, so not too bad.
US: Which comes first, hockey or school?
RL: You’re going to get me in trouble with that one. It used to always be hockey, but now I’m in the landscape architecture program and I really like it, so it’s a pretty good balance. But hockey will always be my first love I guess.
US: Have you ever tried figure skating?
RL: Never figure skated. Never put them on just to free skate, it was always hockey skates.
US: How has the hockey team been doing this year?
RL: So far we’re off to a great start. We’re not undefeated, but we’ve got a young team so doing this good this far into the season is great. We’re only going to mature as the season goes on.
US: Have you ever seen the “Mighty Duck” movies?
RL: Of course, everybody who’s played hockey loved the Mighty Ducks growing up, so I can’t really get around that question. I think everybody who hasn’t played hockey has seen them for the most part. They used to be classics.
US: Which one is your favorite?
RL: Probably the original. It was huge in Southern California too. That’s what helped hockey become huge in Southern California – that and the L.A. Kings.
US: What kinds of things do you do outside of school and hockey?
RL: Just hanging out, really, with buddies. I like all the outdoor activities like going up the canyon. That’s what I like about going to school here. I like to do anything competitive, I guess you could say. I hate losing.
US: Do you have any weird pre-game rituals?
RL: Hockey’s famous for crazy and nasty rituals, but I actually don’t have any. I guess if you could ask Coach [Jerry Crossley] what my ritual was it would be being the last person dressed before every game.
US: How long does it take you to get all that gear on anyway?
RL: For most people it takes a good 20 minutes, and it really only takes me about five to 10 minutes to get dressed, but I like to sit around for a while.
US: Does hockey have many plays or strategies?
RL: Most people actually don’t know. but there’s really a lot of flow to the game. From good positioning comes good flow of the game. The beautiful thing is that you’re in a structured position in different zones of the ice and if the puck comes into your zone. you break out of that position. That’s what creates the flow of the game – being creative and getting out of that position. After you break that position. you get to decide what to do with that puck. It’s like a moment of anarchy in the game. All the extra stuff that goes on is stuff that we as individual players have to decide. But there’s more structure than people think.
US: Where have you travelled?
RL: I’ve been to London, England. I’ve been all over the United States for hockey, and Mexico and Argentina. I plan to see the whole world after I’m done with school.
US: What’s your dream job?
RL: Being a landscape architect somewhere, and then maybe a little side job doing something with hockey. Nothing too crazy.
US: What’s your favorite hockey team?
RL: My favorite team is the L.A. Kings. I’m from there, I got to hold it down.
US: Who’s your favorite hockey player?
RL: Alexander Ovechkin, plays for the Washington Capitals. He’s got nice hands, awesome play.
CAPTION: Roberto Leo, a defender on the USU hockey team, takes the puck in the corner and looks for a teammate to pass to. Leo is second in scoring on the team with 10 goals and three assists for 13 points.