Bruno Pullara - #37 Goaltender

Biography:

Bruno Pullara, whose upright style and rapier-like reflexes was a prototypical great netminder, recognized by the most notable visionaries of the game as the most quintessential, highly skilled and successful "orange ball" stopper that the sport has ever seen. In just over a decade of participation, "B.P.", who starred with the Fernview Rangers from 1990 - 1996, became the most decorated goaltender in the history of the Canadian Ball Hockey Association.

Bruno Pullara won five league titles in the most competitive elite leagues in Toronto, the Toronto Ball Hockey Association, and the Northwest Toronto Ball Hockey League, while being named the Outstanding Goaltender for a record (5) consecutive seasons in league play respectively.

Early in his career, he was the most sought after "last line of defence" as he backstopped both the Maple Precast Eagles (89) and the Toronto Topguns (91) to Canadian Championships before spearheading his own contingent of the Rangers to two Ontario Cups and a then record three consecutive National Championship Gold Medals from 1992 to 1994. Bruno added a silver medal in 1995 to bring his total haul to 5 gold and one silver in six trips to the Nationals.

Interview:

Bruno talks about the goals and hilites of his career...

1. What’s the biggest reason that you played ball hockey? 
I enjoyed the game because it was great fun and exercise. It was a wonderful way to spend your summer and play hockey. I really loved the game of hockey. 

2. As a goalie how did you mentally prepare for a game? 
I basically got to the rink early, I thought about whom we were playing and I concentrated on my own style and not let anything get to me. It was really just concentration before and during the game. 

3. What is the best advice that you have ever been given? 
My dad always told me that if you ever got to the top you had to work twice as hard because there was always somebody waiting to knock me off. He also told me to be humble. Take pride in what you are doing, but be humble! 

4. Who was your role model? 
My parents were my role models. There was my dad with his work ethic and my mother with her kindness and her ability to stay with a situation. 

5. When I was younger I.....
Always dreamed about playing in the NHL. I did play with several people who did make it and I saw that it was not such a pipe dream as I had thought. 

6. What was your favourite ball hockey team other than your own? 
Early in my career I liked playing the Wildcats and later on liked playing against the Topguns. The Oshawa Bruins were also a team that I liked playing against. 

7. What was your favourite thing about playing ball hockey? 
The camaraderie with the players before, during and after the game. It was especially true after the game with the Rangers. We very much like a family; we did things together both in and outside of ball hockey. That was the best part of it, we would just get together and all that. 

8. Outside of ball hockey what do you do? Do you have any other hobbies or interests? Is there anything that would surprise us? 
I still play recreational hockey as a goalie and I coach my son’s soccer team. 

9. Was there anything significant about the number that you wore? 
37? No, I don’t know where that came from. I finally chose 37 because it was different and I hoped it would bring me good luck. 

10. What kind of training regimen did you use? 
Early on in ball hockey I was training for university hockey, but then I just used the regular practices. 

11. Who is the best all-around ball hockey player that you’ve ever faced and why? 
I would have to say Claudio Lessio, because he had the ability to dominate a game, to take it over, he could pass, he could shoot, he was physical and very smart. The other player I would consider is Gus Kourousis, he was shifty, smart and quick with great offensive skills. 

12. What was your greatest personal athletic moment? 
It was when we won the three Championships with the Rangers. Also when I won MVP in 1988 in the Provincials as a pickup with the Topguns. I was also involved in winning the Canadian Championships five times and being in the hall of fame is of great importance to me. 

13. What was your most embarrassing athletic moment? 
When a I was a kid playing in a bantam ice hockey playoff game the referee called a goal and my dad did not agree. He came down and started freaking out and throwing stuff at the referee...

...In ball hockey the weirdest game I was ever involved in was the Canadian final in 1989. I was playing for Precast and the British Columbia team, the Astros, made me change my pads four times. With three minutes to go we were winning 2 – 0. They made us measure the pads and they were too wide. I had to change them. I got another pair from a girl’s team and the Astros did another measure. I went through three sets of pads and now we were two men short. They finally scored and we ended up winning 2 –1. At the end of the game, our coach, Luch DiLoretto threw the pads into the centre of the arena.
 

Career:

• 1985 - 89 Cheers/CML Raiders 
• 1990 - 96 Fernview Rangers