They are swarmed by teammates after the puck enters the net. Those with a knack around the net are often go-to guys for their teams and coaches rely on them to be impact players.
However, Josh Costello has a different approach to the game.
Costello will never be called a selfish player because he loves to dish the puck off to his linemates every chance he gets, preferring to help his team achieve success by being a crafty playmaker moreso than filling the net.
“I would rather score goals for the team instead of score one for myself,” Costello said.
The son of Corner Brook’s Lori and Keith Costello is a hard-working centreman for the host Corner Brook Royals putting out the welcome mat for the Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador bantam mega hockey championship being held April 20-22 at the Corner Brook civic centre.
Costello, who wears No. 91 for the Royals because his favourite player Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning wears the same, is a defence-first style of play.
He figures a strong defence is a key to the team’s success so his focus will be on doing his best to limit the scoring chances of the opposition when he’s on the ice.
He’s been playing the game since he was five years old and has one gold medal stashed in his bedroom, that prized item coming as a result of being a member of the Corner Brook team that claimed gold in A division at the provincial pee wee mega tournament one year ago.
One is nice, but two would be sweet, so he’s hoping to take advantage of the fact the team is playing at home in familiar territory with a decent fan base with family and friends on board to watch.
Claiming gold on home ice is all he wants right now.
“It’s where I played all my life and it’s where I’m most comfortable,” he said.
The tournament kicks off Thursday with action going all day long at both the Canada Games civic centre and the Kinsmen Arena II.