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Hockey: Johnny Ambrogio keeps busy with Fox Valley Hawks, St. Charles North football

Despite missing six games, Ambrogio has already scored six goals

And this is all before he's scored six goals thus far for the Hawks despite missing six games this season. Hockey has long been a love. “I was three years old and my family and I were in North Carolina for a wedding,” Ambrogio said. “And I remember putting on figure skates then. they did not quite fit because I kept tripping over the toe of the skate. So, my mom got me to try on hockey skates and they fit perfectly, and it just sort of took off from there. So, the passion for hockey started first for me.” While tee ball was another early sport, football was not far behind. “I started football when I was in third grade, actually,” Ambrogio said. “I really did not like it at all. But it was hard not to play it since my dad and several cousins played it. So I picked it up again when I was in seventh grade after my gym teacher, who was the coach at my school then, convinced me to come out for it. I also knew if wanted to play high school football I was going to have to start early but I still was not crazy about it. Only played half a season then. Went back out in eighth grade for it and stuck with it.” (Photo provided)

By STEPHEN GORDON

And this is all before he's scored six goals thus far for the Hawks despite missing six games this season. Hockey has long been a love. “I was three years old and my family and I were in North Carolina for a wedding,” Ambrogio said. “And I remember putting on figure skates then. they did not quite fit because I kept tripping over the toe of the skate. So, my mom got me to try on hockey skates and they fit perfectly, and it just sort of took off from there. So, the passion for hockey started first for me.” While tee ball was another early sport, football was not far behind. “I started football when I was in third grade, actually,” Ambrogio said. “I really did not like it at all. But it was hard not to play it since my dad and several cousins played it. So I picked it up again when I was in seventh grade after my gym teacher, who was the coach at my school then, convinced me to come out for it. I also knew if wanted to play high school football I was going to have to start early but I still was not crazy about it. Only played half a season then. Went back out in eighth grade for it and stuck with it.” (Photo provided)

For the North Star’s it was a good thing Ambrogio kept up with football. This season, playoff wins over Normal Community, Rolling Meadows, Wheaton Warrenville South and Mount Carmel gave Ambrogio the chance to play in a state championship football game. “I knew he was going to miss some time on the ice,” Hawks coach Phil Gabrielsen said. “But I had no problem with that. I knew for him it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime kinds of experiences and I was fine with that.” Between defensive end in football and a forward on his hockey team there is no hesitation as to where Ambrogio has the most fun and continues to have. “Oh, for sure, without a doubt in my mind, it’s hockey,” Ambrogio said. “Hockey I feel actually helped me become a better football player if anything from my balance to my speed. It’s done wonders.” Ambrogio, who hopes to major in business management in college, credits his parents for his time management skills he has developed. “For me I try to manage my time as best I can,” he said. “But I give a lot of credit to my parents for that especially when I am just playing hockey. There were days when I’d go to football practice then right to hockey after. Or days when I had a football game then a hockey game the next day. It was not easy, but I did it with a smile on my face because you never know when all of this will end, and I do not want to have any regrets.” (Photo provided)