By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
New Hamburg is sitting atop the PJHL’s South Doherty Division standings and the defending champions just got a little better with the addition of a familiar face.
The Firebirds have signed Matt Domm, a key piece of last year’s team that went deep into the playoffs.
The Baden native has been with the Firebirds since 2021, picking up 83 points in 156 games as a defenceman. The over-ager said despite attending Humber College in Etobicoke, he weighed the pros and cons of returning to the team. The pros won.
“That’s why I wasn’t playing with the team at first. I have been analyzing the workload to see what I can handle and so far, I have been doing well. I made the decision that I could drive back to New Hamburg and play with the team again.
Domm is attending his first year at college and taking fitness and health promotion. He admitted the team’s long playoff run last season has kept him hungry to go even further.
“That feeling from last year; it could have happened if we had a couple more bounces go our way. I went to the banner-raising ceremony and I watched the game against Woodstock. Knowing that I could be out there was really hard.”
He said after many long days of thinking, he finally decided to call the coach.
“I had to call up Shane (Gerber) and ask if there was any way I could come back. He said absolutely. There wasn’t much hesitation, which was nice.”
Domm explained he went back and forth on his decision for some time, trying to decide if he could handle his school workload and the commitment of Junior C hockey. Normally, teams have one practice per week along with a game or two on weekends.
“I don’t want to fall behind in school and I figured out how hard I needed to work to keep and still have extra time during the week, so I’m not at the rink 20 minutes before game time and still studying. It was mostly my decision.”
He laughed when he said he didn’t seek anyone else’s advice before he committed to the Firebirds.
“It may not have been the smartest decision, but that’s what I did!”
Domm added he is fortunate to have his parents nearby, something he plans to take advantage of as often as possible.
“They live close to the (Wilmot Recreation Centre), about a five-minute drive. I’ll come home for the weekend for games, stay with them for a couple of days, and head back to Toronto when I need to.”
In talking to Domm, there is no doubt he has been proud to play for his hometown team for the last three seasons. The team being in first place also didn’t hurt his decision to come back.
“There are a lot of factors that came into it. I played for New Hamburg for a few years and the players, coaches, staff, executive and volunteers are super welcoming, kind and selfless people. It’s a great place to play and those are the things I missed.”
This is Domm’s final year of junior hockey and he has been contemplating what he wants to do once he has his college certificate in hand.
“One of the aspects of the program in the first semester is me being trained by one of the students further along as a personal trainer. I think I could really enjoy and get behind either teaching people about fitness, be it one-on-one or in a class, just promoting good physical activity and promoting an active lifestyle.
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