Happy Birthday, Adam Fantilli!
Turning 19 years old on Thursday, Oct. 12, the day will be remembered as the start of the 2023-24 regular season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was also the NHL debut for Fantilli, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner last season at the University of Michigan and the third overall draft pick in the NHL draft last June.
In Fantilli's first game, it didn't take long to make an impact.
At 8:24 of the opening period, Jake Bean's goal tied the game at 1-1 and Fantilli picked up his first career point with the primary assist on his third NHL shift. Kirill Marchenko picked up the secondary assist.
Jake Bean's goal ties the game at 1-1 at 8:24 of the first period. Birthday boy Adam Fantilli picks up his first career point on the primary assist. Kirill Marchenko gets the secondary assist. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/NXLBhQRp4H
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 12, 2023
The Blue Jackets wound up on the short end of the stick, dropping the season opener 4-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers, but what did Fantilli think about the evening?
"It was really cool," Fantilli said. "Every kid dreams about stepping out there on that ice so was really grateful to be able to do that. Not the result we wanted. A couple things we got to clean up. I know we've got more but overall it was really cool to get out there."
What will Fantilli remember about the night?
"First lap was pretty cool," Fantilli said. "Having the puck drop to settle in, was able to relax there and just play hockey. I was happy to be able to do that. Lot of external stuff going on but I was just happy to play hockey and get the first one in the books."
ROOKIE LAP FOR FANTILLI pic.twitter.com/CAqkF5Fn9D
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 12, 2023
Fantilli on his first-period assist.
"Yeah, was coming down the left side," Fantilli said. "Marchenko kicked it out to me. Kind of had a shot through a screen type of deal and I just went to get it off and get it on net. Wasn't the best shot ever but it ended up going off the pad and right to (Bean's) area there and I was really happy for him to be able to pop that one."
Even though it's the first game, at the end of the day, it's just another hockey game, right?
"I think it's always just hockey, to be honest with you," Fantilli said. "I'm not really trying to get too high just because it's the first game. I try to play the same way every time, try to go in collected and confident. You don't want to have the jitters because then you're not playing your game. So I just try to stay calm and collected there and just try and do my best on my shift."
How did first-year head coach Pascal Vincent view Fantilli's debut?
"Excellent," Vincent said. "I think this guy is a driver. I think he's a guy that will compete every shift. He never makes a mistake of not working. Really impressed with him."
In the second period, while both teams were skating 4-on-4, Alexandre Texier and Fantilli had a 2-on-1 break but the puck rolled on Fantilli before he could get a shot off.
For the night, Fantilli finished with one assist and was plus-one with two shots and two blocked shots. He played 13:40 and 1:48 on the power play and was 5-for-10 in the face-off circle.
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Columbus Blue Jackets on 2023-10-12:#CBJ pic.twitter.com/ik9GT2ZDTm
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) October 13, 2023
Fantilli and the Blue Jackets go for their first win on Saturday, Oct. 14 when they host the 1-0-0 New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena.
