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Belleville Senators

Ciampini and Scarfo Reunited in Belleville

April 10, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Belleville Senators News Release


Two close friends. Two teammates. Again.

It started when Daniel Ciampini was entering his senior year at Union College in 2014. Ryan Scarfo was a wide-eyed freshman entering the world of the NCAA.

"When he was a freshman, I was a senior, my coach brought me into the office and said 'that Scarfo kid is yours for the year. Take him under your wing and teach him how to play college hockey,'" Ciampini said. "We were roommates on the road, we became really close, our families got close too. It's crazy how the game works and comes in cycles."

Four years later the two were reunited with the Belleville Senators. Scarfo, coming out of university after completing his four years, teaming up with Ciampini who had split time with six teams in the AHL and the ECHL since graduating.

"I picked him up for dinner when he came into town and it was just like we hadn't left," Ciampini said. "I talked to him here and there, in the summers, and he would call me for advice but he's a good player. He deserves this opportunity."

Scarfo signed an AHL deal for the 2018-19 season with Belleville on March 14 but also inked an amateur tryout agreement with the team for the remainder of the 2017-18 season where he's tallied an assist in 10 games so far while seeing time on the Senators' power play and penalty kill. Ciampini has six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 46 games, all a career high.

"He's been a huge help for me and shown me the way a little bit," Scarfo said of Ciampini. "It's nice having someone here that you know and can get me associated with everything."

In Ciampini's junior year, Union captured its first ever NCAA title, beating Minnesota 7-4 in the final, and featured a line-up that included future NHL players Shane Gostisbehere, Daniel Carr and Mike Vecchione as well as Mat Bodie and Max Novak who have both played in the AHL.

That meant Scarfo's freshman season was being part of the defending champions.

"I think the biggest part about it was it put the program on the map and more importantly was such a huge accomplishment for a small school to become a national contender and national champion," Scarfo said. "The championship paved the way for guys like myself to believe a small liberal arts school of 2,000 students could compete with the best of the best.

"It was a privilege and honor to play for a National Championship team and when you step into that it makes you want to keep the winning culture going."

And in Ciampini's mind, there's an extra sense of satisfaction playing in the NCAA rather than the Canadian Hockey League where you could be shipped out of town at a moment's notice. It's not just about winning. It's what you represent and that's something Ciampini, and Scarfo, are bringing to Belleville.

"It's the pride you have for the jersey you wear," Ciampini said. "You can't get traded. Once you're there, you're there. If you leave the school, that's on you.

"You own that culture, you own that team."

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