Sometimes, young athletes arrive at St Charles College and proceed to make a name for themselves. And sometimes, their reputation is known before they even enter grade nine. Check Adam Di Brina as one of the latter.

A talented hockey and soccer player, this grade 11 student has excelled in both sports almost since the time he first took to the ice and field. Undersized a little in his younger days, Di Brina had to adjust his game somewhat.

“In soccer, when I was little, I wasn’t one of those guys that went into the pile – I waited for the ball to come out and then would run with it”, he laughs. Similar story in hockey. “The physical aspect was tougher – it was more frightful for me just going into the corners.”

A graduate of both St Andrew’s (JK to grade 6) and St Raphael’s (grades 7 & 8), Di Brina had outgrown those concerns as he hit his teenage years. Despite being blessed with enough natural athleticism to compete in a whole variety of sports, the talkative 16 year old pretty much limited his competitive involvement to just soccer and hockey.

Yet  athletics played little or not role in his choice to attend St Charles College. “My dad went there when he was my age, so I just followed along.” Already well known to many of his classmates when he first enrolled as a Cardinal, Di Brina wasted little time throwing himself headfirst into the high school sports scene.

“When I first got here in grade nine, I tried out for junior soccer, which started right away.” Given his involvement in high level athletics outside the realm of SCC, Di Brina knew full well the balancing act might not always be easy.

“Playing “AAA” hockey, coaches are not always too keen on players also playing high school sports.” Not that it would deter the current member of the Sudbury Kal Tire Jr Wolves. In fact, Di Brina approaches his involvement as a member of the Cardinals much the same way he would in donning his competitive soccer or hockey jerseys.

“I’m competitive by nature, so I’m going to take it seriously regardless of whether everyone does or not. I find with the seniors teams, they take it just as competitive as other rep sports I’ve played, maybe even more”, explained Di Brina.

Drafted by the Sudbury Wolves this past May, Di Brina retains athletic aspirations beyond the halls of St Charles College. But he also has dreams and goals to achieve as a Cardinal.

“It would be nice to go to an OFSSA – I’ve never been and it would be nice to go.”
 

Adam Di Brina, Soccerand Hockey
 

“I’m competitive by nature, so I’m going to take it seriously regardless of whether everyone does or not. I find with the seniors teams, they take it just as competitive as other rep sports I’ve played, maybe even more”
 

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