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UPEI Panthers hockey goalie in final year with team, hopes for chance at playing professionally

  • reegmacaulay
  • Oct 27, 2023
  • 6 min read

Updated: Dec 6, 2023

October 27, 2023


Jonah Capriotti is hoping he will get an offer from a professional hockey team later in the current season. (Reegan MacAulay)


Jonah Capriotti was sitting and reflecting in the locker room on a Friday night.

He was surrounded by loud music, smelly equipment, and plenty of conversations.

Everyone in the room was pumped.

“We have to dial it in. Just roll with the moments. Just keep going. Don’t take your foot off the gas. Keep using all the energy that we’ve been given,” Capriotti thought.

Outside, there were chants and cheers. People were lined up waiting, hands held out in a fist. The scoreboard clock was approaching zero.

A buzzer sounded. Capriotti stood and led his teammates to the ice.

The crowd cheered. Over a public address system came, “FANS, WELCOME BACK TO THE ICE, YOUR UPEI PANTHERS!”

The day was Friday, March 17, 2023.

The UPEI Panthers men’s hockey team was hosting the U SPORTS Men’s Hockey National Championships at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.

It was the first game of the tournament – against the best team in the country. The University of Calgary Dinos.

One of Capriotti’s fondest memories of his career.

Years earlier, he was a young goalie playing minor hockey in Ontario.

He was doing well and had the attention of several high-end junior hockey teams – but a stigma kept affecting him.

He was undersized.

On average, hockey teams like to play goalies who are taller than six feet.

His work ethic was still noticed by the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, who drafted him in the 15th round of the 2014 draft.

He would never play for them – or any other team in the league. He attended a few more training camps, but always fell too short and remained stuck at lower levels.

Meanwhile, his parents were preaching education as a top priority.

“Education comes first because you never know; hockey’s probably not going to be a job opportunity in the future. You might as well have a backup option just in case,” they said.

In 2017, Capriotti took their advice and committed to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, mixing hockey and education.

Between that year and 2020, he finally had his big break. He won 16 out of 24 games played and was projected to be the starting goalie for the 2020-21 season.

And then COVID-19 happened.

With education as a more realistic route, Capriotti took a gamble and moved back to Canada to pursue another love.

Animals.

“I want to try to go to vet school. I’m going to apply to them, and I don’t care if hockey is going to work out or not,” he thought.

Although professional hockey was out of the question, Capriotti still applied to every veterinarian program in the country that had a hockey team.

After a while, one person contacted him back – UPEI Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson.

“We have a goalie who's injured and a goalie coming in that’s touted to be the number one guy. You’re most likely going to be the third goalie.

“You have to just show up and show us what you got,” MacPherson said.

“Know what? Great. At least you’re giving me an opportunity. That’s all I need,” Capriotti said.

Capriotti committed to UPEI and made an immediate impact.

At the end of training camp in late 2021, he had earned the starting goalie role. In the regular season, he played 16 games and won half of them.

His love for hockey had crept back into his life when he least expected it – but education remained a top priority.

Then came the 2022-23 season, a time when all P.E.I. hockey fans came together.

He finished the season with 13 wins in 21 games played and, on average every night, saved over 90% of shots taken against him.

His team finished third in the standings – its best result in years.

UPEI was looked at as a potential championship contender and were tasked to play the sixth-seed University of Moncton Aigles Bleus in round one – they lost the series.

Their season wasn’t over yet, however. They still had to host the U SPORTS championships.

The Panthers were scheduled to begin the tournament against the best team in the country, the Calgary Dinos.

Capriotti knew he and the team took Moncton for granted, but he hadn’t lost hope.

“If Moncton can beat us out in three games, why can’t we beat out the best team in the country in one game?” Capriotti thought.

Indeed they did.

At the final buzzer on that Friday night, Capriotti was bombarded by his teammates at his net.

They won the game 4-2. The biggest hockey game of his career – on a national stage. An upset for the ages.

Despite losing the next two games, Capriotti remembers how much fun he had.

“It was unbelievable. I’ve never had a crowd that was even close (to that energetic). They supported us so much and it was crazy how they sold out the place.

“The scores might not have been indicative, but to win over the number one team in the country and see the crowd’s reaction was amazing,” he said.

The YouTube live stream replay of UPEI's 4-2 quarter-final win against the University of Calgary Dinos at the 2023 University Cup on March 17. (CBC Sports/U Sports)


A new season has begun for Capriotti. He is now in his final year of eligibility playing for UPEI.

He still finds it hard to believe how fast time’s flown by.

“I never really thought the day of finishing university would come. It wasn’t until the last exhibition game right before our first (regular season) game, that I said it’s going to be my last first game of the season,” he said.

He said he wouldn’t change anything about his time at UPEI.

“It’s been a fun time. I’m excited about this last year. I’m going to be sad to see it go.

“It’s going to be a stepping stone in a different part of my life. I think that’s a good thing, where I can say okay, you had your excitement, your fun. Now it’s time to get on with either your professional life or play professional hockey,” Capriotti said.

This year’s team has taken on a different approach than last year – there are 18 new players and only six returnees, including Capriotti.

The team is back to a rebuilding stage – but Capriotti doesn’t believe it’ll hurt his chances at seeking attention.

“(The changes are) a factor into trying to grab attention from professional teams, but I think my leadership is a huge attribute to have.

“We still want to win games and be at our absolute best every day. I’m happy with what we have, (where I’m at), and I’m satisfied with the type of culture (the other leaders) bring along,” Capriotti said.

Before the season, Capriotti was promoted by head coach Forbes MacPherson to assistant captain.

“I think Forbes realized that he sees that I can be a leader and he can see that I compete every day. He has a lot of trust and I have a lot of trust in him,” Capriotti said.

It was different from what MacPherson had in mind while first talking to Capriotti.

“The plan was he was going to be our third goalie. Obviously, he flipped the script upside down. Things worked out. He’s taken over and been the guy (to rely on) here for a couple of years,” MacPherson said.

He refers to Capriotti as a born leader.

“He’s the same person he was the minute he landed (on P.E.I.). He brings a lot to our culture. He checks a lot of boxes as a student, as an athlete, as a person. Once you get to know him, he’s a very mature, solid person,” MacPherson said.

As the season goes on, he wants to secure Capriotti an opportunity professionally.

“I would definitely support him. I’ll be making as many calls as possible to make it happen. I see no reason why he won’t get an opportunity,” MacPherson said.

Assistant captain Kaleb Pearson agrees.

“He has proved his abilities through his time at UPEI and would a valuable piece to any team. If not, his hard work in the classroom will help him manage and excel in anything he chooses to do,” Pearson said.

Pearson was also a rookie when Capriotti first arrived at UPEI – he immediately noticed Capriotti’s maturity after meeting at the airport.

“It was nice to have someone who you’re close with who is always new to a team just like you. He has always had structure in his life and it has shown,” Pearson said.

Kaleb Pearson scored four goals for the UPEI Panthers men’s hockey team in a 10-2 win against the Dalhousie Tigers on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Note: Jonah Capriotti played in goal this game, saving 22 of 24 shots against him. (Reegan MacAulay)


Capriotti and Pearson have now played together for three years. From being unknown rookies to becoming relied on as top players, they have adjusted well to the island.

“He’s someone who has been a really good role model to me and other guys on the team. He is a best friend and an important piece of my life,” Pearson said.


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