Claudio Lessio - #90 Center

Biography:

The Power CenterLook in the sky! It's a bird! Its a plane! No its...........

He's faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound......disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet who fights a never ending battle for truth, justice........

#90 Claudio Lessio may as well have had a large "S" emblazoned on the front of his uniform as he was arguably the most enduring dominant forward in the history of the game. The 6'1" and 185 pound centerman, who made his Tier I debut in 1983 as a member of the Toronto Red Wings, did not take long to make his mark in the sport as he claimed his first of five OBHA AAA Championships (as an Associated Player) with the Budget Wildcats who won the Ontario Cup that year. He was the leading scorer and MVP of the tournament in Mississauga where his offensive prowess was immediately recognized by those who saw him play, continually thwarting defenders and goalies alike in spearheading the "Cats" to victory.



Claudio, through a migration of teams (Red Wings and Athletics) in 1984, became a member of one of the most storied franchises in the game of ball hockey, the Midas Athletics, where he quickly began his onslaught on the record books and emerged as one of the most decorated players of all time at the various levels of competition. He was a 'big game' player, a perennial scoring leader who was also a three-time OBHA and CBHA All-star who was often selected the MVP for his team. His club accomplishments place him among the sport's elite. League (1984 - 87 & 89 Topguns - TBHA, 1990 - Frasca Topguns - NWTBHL) OBHA (I 983 - Wildcats, 1984, 1987, 1988, Midas and 1991 Frasca Topguns) CBHA (1984 Midas Athletics, 1989 Maple Precast Eagles, 1991 Frasca Topguns)

Lessio was honored with the President's Award in both the TBHA and NWTBHL respectively and the recipient of the inaugural Golden Jet Award for a lifetime of excellence in the sport of ball hockey. This indelible athlete possesses an extensive list of personal accomplishments that has indeed made him one of the premier practitioners in "Orange Ball" history who has earned his rightful place in the CBHA Hall of Fame.
 

Interview:

1. Tell us about yourself. Where were you born? Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Toronto, March 20th 1959. I was raised in Willowdale, Ontario. I now live in Maple, Ontario with my wife and son. My son is playing competitive AAA ice hockey in the GTHL league. I have been coaching him from the young age of 4 years old. I presently work in Woodbridge, Ontario area as a High School Physical Health and Education Teacher. I coach many school teams and run an intra-mural ball hockey league. 

2. When did you first start playing ball hockey? Any memories playing as a kid?
I used to play ball hockey on the street with all my neighbors as a kid. We would play for hours. We then competed against other streets. We then started a four team league with a tennis ball injected with water (to minimize the bounce) at Goulding Park in Willowdale, Ontario in the mid 70's. My memories as a kid was we were the team to beat and at dinner time my dad would come out and chase me to get inside. We always used the line "Next goal wins!" and of course that goal never came. 

3. What's the biggest reason that you played ball hockey?
I really loved the game of hockey. I have been a Maple Leaf fan all my life. My neighborhood was full of boys and we all enjoyed playing street hockey whenever we got together which was 24/7. We enjoyed each others friendship, the competitions we had and it kept us out of trouble. From street hockey I got introduced to organized ball hockey from team mates I used to play ice hockey with.

4. How did you mentally prepare for a game?
Because I played ice hockey at an elite level in the winter months, and worked out during the season, when it came to ball hockey I had a head start physically. Mentally as I was inside the dressing room I would put my game face on thinking of the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. It would help me think of all the things I needed to do on the floor to help my team mates win the game.

5. What is the best advice that you have ever been given?
Always respect your opponents and be humble, because what goes around comes around. On any given day anyone can win that’s why you play the game. Life is the same way, treat people the way you want to be treated.

6. What skills do you think are most valuable in ball hockey?
Anticipation! Knowing where the ball is going to be before it gets there and knowing what you are going to do with it before you get it. Speed and endurance are also important skills because speed allows you to anticipate quicker and move faster around your opponents. The team skill that is most valuable is heart! Each individual on the team has to want to play for each other and give it his all for his team mates and for his team as a whole.

7. Who was your role model?
When it comes to athletics my role model would be Wayne Gretzky. He always seems to be at the right place at the right time. He always seems to say the right things. He is always in the spot light for the right reasons. My role model for life skills are my parents. They always told me there is no short cut in life, hard work and discipline is the key to all successes. When I was younger I…. Was "invincible!"

8. What was your favourite ball hockey team other than your own?
The Toronto Wildcats, from the TBHA in the 80's. My first year playing ball hockey I was one of there three pickups in the Ontario's held in Mississauga, Ontario. I remembered the team being very dominant and we easily won the Ontario's that year (1983). We then represented Ontario in the Canadian championships held in British Colombia. We lost a heart breaker in the semi-finals, a game we dominated from start to finish. It was from this experience and this team "raising the bar" that helped me and my team the following year win my first Canadian Ball Hockey Championship Title.

9. What is your favourite thing about playing ball hockey?
Just getting together with your team mates, "your buddies", "the boys", whatever you want to call it in the dressing, on the floor and especially after the game win or lose, just hanging around replenishing the body fluids and sharing stories.

10. Was there anything significant about the number that you wore?
I always like number 9. But I like two digit numbers because it fills out the back of the sweater, giving the impression you were bigger, so I added zero to it to be original (o for original ) and created 90. My son also wears a two digit number in ice hockey.

11. What kind of training regimen did you use?
Because I played ice hockey at an elite level, I was on a weight training program three or four times a week. I would work on cardio vascular endurance and free weights. I concentrated on lower body development especially my legs. I can attribute my speed and power I had in ball hockey due to my weight training program. 

12. Who is the best all-around ball hockey player that you've ever faced and why?
I would have to say Jon Pickering. I played against him for a couple of years and then he was my team mate. Jon played defense and had the ability to control the game. He had a great shot from the point, was shifty and made great transition passes from defense to offence. 

13. What is was your greatest personal athletic moment?
The Midas Top Guns in ‘84 were the first team to win what is known as the Triple Crown, that’s winning the league, the Ontario's (which was the Ontario's) and the Canadian championship in Newfoundland. I was honoured to be selected on the (All Canadian) team that year. Also being one of the first inducted into the OBHA Hall of Fame. Another memorable moment was having a new trophy introduced, "The Golden Jet Award" named in my honour in the NWTBHL. 

14. What is was your most embarrassing athletic moment?
I think the most embarrassing time for me in ball hockey was when we had won the Ontario Championship. We were playing Oshawa and they had these guys from the American Hockey league and lot of fighters. They were after us because they could not beat us on the surface. There was a huge brawl and both teams were suspended from going to the Canadian Championships. We had nothing to do with the brawl and we eventually went to the Championships. It was embarrassing because violence took away from what was supposed to have been a happy moment.

Career

• 1979 - 81 Goulding Park Leafs
• 1982 - 83 P & P Express 
• 1983 - 84 Toronto Red Wings 
• 1984 - 86 Midas Athletics 
• 1987 - 88 Midas Topguns 
• 1989 - 91 Frasca Topguns 
• 1992 - 93 Maple Precast Eagles 
• 1996 - 98 Vaughan Leafs