Published in Next Magazine, May 20, 2010
"Making Saves With Style"
By Jeff Kagan
By Jeff Kagan
When Peter Tomasello was a kid, he was infatuated with Wonder Woman. After school, he would watch Lynda Carter “in her satin tights, fighting for your rights,” man-handling, then roping up rugged thugs with a golden lasso -- and with fabulous hair and make-up!
All of that excited Peter, but what he enjoyed the most was when she would stop bullets with her indestructible Amazonium bracelets (found only on Paradise Island). Peter would go to the kitchen cupboard, break-out the Reynold’s Wrap and fashion his own Amazonium (err…aluminum) bracelets to his limber wrists, and soon he’d be stopping whatever was hurled upon him by evil foes.
Today, at 33, Peter is no longer stopping imaginary bullets. These days, he’s stopping hockey pucks. Peter is the starting goaltender with the Wizards, a recreational ice hockey team in the New York City Gay Hockey Association. Peter has played 83 career games for the Wizards and has a goals-against average (GAA) of just 3.23, including 10 shutouts. Peter also has five assists, which shows his skill at sending the puck up to his defensemen, a rare quality in goaltenders. Last season was a heartbreaker for the Wizards, with four overtime losses. This season, the team is more determined to bring some gold to their green uniforms.
All of that excited Peter, but what he enjoyed the most was when she would stop bullets with her indestructible Amazonium bracelets (found only on Paradise Island). Peter would go to the kitchen cupboard, break-out the Reynold’s Wrap and fashion his own Amazonium (err…aluminum) bracelets to his limber wrists, and soon he’d be stopping whatever was hurled upon him by evil foes.
Today, at 33, Peter is no longer stopping imaginary bullets. These days, he’s stopping hockey pucks. Peter is the starting goaltender with the Wizards, a recreational ice hockey team in the New York City Gay Hockey Association. Peter has played 83 career games for the Wizards and has a goals-against average (GAA) of just 3.23, including 10 shutouts. Peter also has five assists, which shows his skill at sending the puck up to his defensemen, a rare quality in goaltenders. Last season was a heartbreaker for the Wizards, with four overtime losses. This season, the team is more determined to bring some gold to their green uniforms.
Peter does agree that there is a strong link between his childhood obsession with the super hero and his affinity for goaltending. “I was infatuated with Lynda Carter, “ says Peter. “That’s probably why I’m a goalie. I used to love blocking bullets like Wonder Woman!”
Although he doesn’t wear tights or a red, blue and gold strapless singlet (at least not on the outside), Peter does his best to keep the essence of Wonder Woman alive while stopping pucks, by using his cool sense of style. It can be said that Peter has the most stylish goalie pads in the world, and apparently these are only found on Paradise Island, as well.
Peter’s pads are with covered with luxurious leather made by Louis Vuitton. He was able to get some of their material and have the pads re-upholstered, going from frumpy to fabulous! Peter feels these pads are very special. They don’t give him any extraordinary powers or abilities, but they do have an effect on the other skaters. Referees skate by and smile, wings wince and forwards frown, knowing they have a tough task ahead of them -- having to get the puck through those pads, for fear of damaging such beautiful, hand-crafted objects. Most opponents don’t respect the pads as much as Peter does, and they fire away, 40-50 miles per hour. But in most cases, the pucks bounce off of Peter, just as the bullets bounced off of Wonder Woman. And that makes Peter’s team very happy.
Vince Aita, Captain of the Wizards says, “Pete gives our team a huge boost in confidence. Anytime you look back and see him in the net, you skate that much harder knowing the better goaltender in the game is on your team." Wonder Woman had the same effect at the Justice League.
Learn more about Peter Tomasello, the Wizards and NYC Gay Hockey Association at www.nycgayhockey.org.
Quickies
Ow! My face! Big Apple Dodgeball’s teams Eagle, C-in2, and Duplex are all duking it out for first place, with only two weeks of play left this season. All have played strong and with two weeks of regular play remaining, it's anyone's game. These ball-throwers have a tournament on May 24th where one “dodgy” team will be crowned champions of the season. And don’t miss the End Of The Season Party at Therapy on May 27th! The Mariah Scareys are kicking ass and taking names in the straight dodgeball league for NYCSSC. They are neck and neck for first place, and with the competition heating up, they are making quite the name for themselves for not being in Kansas anymore…
He shoots! He scores! NYC Gay Hockey Association quickies: The Spiders and B-17 Bombers kicked off their Spring 2010 season this month with a shut-out win for the Bombers, but they lost this past Saturday in a crushing 7-1 loss to those pesky Scapegoats. Sadly, the Spiders were squashed with a very tough loss as well. Keep your eyes on the ice for Brian Harrington, star skater on the Wizards Hockey team – he’s about to reach his 500th game! Goaltender Peter Tomasello is one shut-out away from a record of 50! The Wizards beat the Hornets in Game 1, 4-1. The NY Stonewallers Ice Hockey Team is hosting a Bachelor Auction on May 19 at 6pm at Splash. Hosted by the Outrageous and sassy PEPPERMINT! Win Great Prizes including Yankees Tickets, Tickets to a Broadway Show, Gym memberships, Dinner at a hot NYC restaurant, 50-50 Cash Prize Raffle and more!
Nailed it! Congratulations to the newly elected Executive Board of the Gotham Volleyball League: Seth Eichenholtz (Commissioner), Josh Christensen (Vice Commissioner), Lew Smith (Treasurer) and Craig Skelton, (Secretary). Keep up the great work guys!!
Why is a pool table green? The NY Gay Pool League is rackin’em up for their Spring 9-Ball Series Tournament. The games are on Mondays or Tuesdays each week at various locations. Cost: $30 and there are $1000 in cash prizes divided amongst the top 4 teams.
I Want To Ride My Bicycle! Three of the Fast and Fabulous made it all the way up to The Orchards, a 300-year-old farm store in Pomona, N.Y. and a distance of 80 mile roundtrip on Sunday, May 9. It was a chilly and quite windy ride. On arriving at the farm store, the proprietor advised the riders: "Folks are coming in to buy a nice plant or flower for Mom on Mother's Day. Hell, I tell 'em, weather's cool enough, buy her a cord of wood!" From left, Bob Nelson, Erica Jacobs and Terry Farrow.
Dribble & Shoot! The New York City Gay Basketball League is in the final weeks of their Spring Season. A-Division: Bone Lick Park, led by Captain Jesse Gauf, remains undefeated and is looking to hold on to the #1 seed. B-Division: The Natural Burn Killahz led by Captain Burnie DuRant, Jr. is the team to beat! In other basketball news, the NYCGBL just returned from the Coady “Roundball” Classic in Chicago, a national tournament in the Windy City. No trophies but more fun than any baller should have.
For a complete listing of all LGBT Sports & Recreation Organizations, check out www.oobnyc.org.
To have your sports new reported on, email contact@oobnyc.org.
To have your sports new reported on, email contact@oobnyc.org.
