Tristan Bertucci wanted to play closer to home this season, but more than anything, the Dallas Stars prospect wanted the chance to play for an OHL championship.
This, says the talented defenceman who spent the first three seasons of his junior career with the Flint Firebirds, is why he’s here in Barrie.
“It was one of the two biggest reasons I came here and probably the biggest one,” says the veteran blueliner who was acquired by the Colts in a blockbuster three-way deal with Flint and the Niagara IceDogs before the season.
“I would love nothing more.”
Bertucci’s fortunate to have reached that peak once in his hockey career when he and his Toronto Marlboros U-15 teammates won a Greater Toronto Hockey League minor hockey championship in 2019.
Drafted seventh overall by Flint in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the Vaughan native came close to another championship when the Firebirds reached the Western Conference finals against the Windsor Spitfires in 2021-22 before bowing out.
With the six-foot-two, 187-pound defender set to turn pro after this season, Bertucci knows that the opportunity to hoist a championship trophy doesn’t come along often at any level.
With the Colts set to open their Eastern Conference best-of-seven semi-final playoff series against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday night in Barrie, that opportunity he and his teammates have now isn’t lost on him.
“It’s truly something special to win,” said the Stars’ second-round pick (61st overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. “My motivation comes from all the hard work each and every one of my teammates put in every day. That’s been our goal from the moment I got here.
“Losing in the conference final my first-year kind of put that taste in my mouth of what it feels like to be that close and just fall short, so that’s where my motivation comes from.”
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The price to acquire the defensive stalwart was a steep one for the Colts, who gave up blueliners Jack Brauti and Blair Scott, along with picks in the second (Barrie 2026), third (Windsor 2027), and fourth rounds (Kingston 2025).
A deal that has turned out to be well worth it, says Marty Williamson.
“He’s been outstanding for us,” the Colts’ general manager and head coach said of Bertucci. “You never vote for who your MVP is, but he would definitely be in that conversation. It really showed when he had mono how much we missed him. We got through the first couple of weeks, and it really started to be a factor of what this guy does for us.
“He’s a wonderful young man on and off the ice. He’s so comfortable. This is a guy you want on your hockey team and we’re pretty happy we paid the price we did.”
Bertucci was a force at both ends in Barrie’s first-round series win over the Niagara IceDogs. Offensively, he scored twice and added six assists for eight points in the five-game series.
Defensively, he was assigned with shadowing Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He. As if that wasn’t enough, he even made the save of the series, knocking down in the crease what was to be a certain go-ahead goal by Niagara in a 3-3 tie early in the third period.
He then got the puck out of his zone, where Anthony Romani would go on to finish the astounding play with a tap-in at the other end to give Barrie the lead en route to a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Just part of the all-around package he offers every time he steps on the ice.
“You saw it in the first round where he really took care of Kevin He for us, and we didn’t want that speed to be too much of a factor, and I thought he did an amazing job on him,” Williamson said of Bertucci. “His gap is good. He’s a hockey player that is going to be able to play pro hockey.
“If you need some offence from him, he sure can do that. But if you ask him to stay and take care of this guy, defence is important. He’s got no problem doing that.”
Bertucci relishes playing a leading role. The dependable guy who can help protect a lead, kill a penalty or help drive the offence when the Colts are behind.
“I’ve had many coaches, and even my dad, tell me you’re a defenceman first. It’s in the name of your position,” said the 19-year-old. “You got to play defence first or else you’re going to be a liability out there, so definitely defending first.
“If you can defend well that leads to the offensive stuff and that gives you the ability to join the rush and create offence. Why not try to be the best at everything in every part of the game.”
Like any player on a new team, it took a while for Bertucci to adjust to a new team with new teammates and systems. He took his game to a complete other level when defenceman Beau Akey left for the Canadian national junior team camp and the world junior hockey championships in December.
“I thought I played the same all year, but when a guy like Beau and all the other guys that went to world juniors — high calibre players, big players on our team go away — everyone has to step up,” said Bertucci, who finished with seven goals and 37 points in 52 games this season while finishing with a career high plus 28. “I was just trying to do my part to fill the load there.
“(Beau) logs a lot of minutes, so with him gone, certain guys need to step up. I definitely took it upon myself to really step up and just try to take on a bigger role.”
A veteran with experience, Bertucci knows it was important for him to not just play his role but be the guy that his team can count on in key situations.
“I’ve been a go-to guy and a leader on a team,” he said. “I feel like I’m at my best when I’m kind of leading the charge, taking over the game.”
It was no coincidence that the Colts went through some of their biggest struggles in the second half of the season when Bertucci missed six weeks with mono.
He admits not being out there to help his teammates was difficult. Before coming down with the disease, he had never missed more than two weeks of action with any teams.
“That’s super tough just kind of watching and not being to be out there with the guys fighting and battling,” said Bertucci. “Not being able to play the sport you love and kind of just sidelined, watching them. It’s super tough.”
He returned with four games remaining in the regular season, but despite the lengthy layoff, Bertucci took little time to get right back to his game.
“I just needed to get my legs back and get my motor going,” he said. “You don’t lose the playmaking part of that. It’s just your feet and your timing and everything, so it took me a couple of games to get back to normal.”
Bertucci knows there remains a long, difficult road ahead in these playoffs. The Frontenacs will be a much more difficult opponent than the IceDogs.
Still, this is what all the blood, sweat and work was all about this season. This is what he’s here for.
“It would be really special, especially with this group of guys,” Bertucci said of hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup. “Just battling and we’ve worked hard all year. It would truly, truly be special.”
