Former East Boston hockey star Anthony Camiolo will be inducted into the Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 4 during a ceremony at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge.
“This is a special and wonderful opportunity for former student athletes to come together and share time and memories with teammates whom they may not have seen for 10,20,30 or 40 years,” said Suffolk University Director of Athletics Jim Nelson. “As was the case with out previous three Hall of Fame award ceremonies, this event will honor a host of highly qualified and deserving individuals and one team whose legacy will live on forever.”
Following is a summary of Anthony Camiolo’s stellar hockey career at Suffolk University:
Combining lightening speed and the uncanny ability to put the puck in the net, Camiolo was a star-studded performer during his time as a Suffolk University hockey player.
Camiolo got his start while participating in a program just returning to intercollegiate status in 1980 after a three-decade absence from the Suffolk campus. His scoring ability, competitiveness, and knowledge helped the Rams post two winning seasons, despite playing a schedule that included many ECAC Division II teams.
Camiolo, a left-handed center, was always the fastest skater on the team. He could easily be found at the ahead of the pack, zeroing in on the goaltender with relentless pursuit. Once close to the net, he would utilize a variety of shots to light the lamp.
As a junior, Camiolo, who grew up in East Boston, served the role of assistant captain and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. In his senior campaign, a knee injury didn’t hamper him from playing in every game.
One of his most memorable moments was when, as a freshman, he recorded three goals and three assists against Saint Francis College in Biddeford, Maine. On that special night, he did everything but drive the Zamboni between periods.
Beyond speed and scoring, what separated Camiolo from his peers was his work ethic. He was the first player to show up for practice every day and the last one to leave. He loved the sport and was always looking for ways to improve his game.
Although Camiolo made a name for himself as a proven scorer, his passing skills and unselfish assists where equally his trademark. Above everything else, however, he was proud of his team’s identity. “We were just a great bunch of small, scrappy guys who played hard and never quit,” he fondly remembers.
Camiolo resides in Malden, and works as an Assistant Vice President with State Street Bank Financial Services in Boston.