DANBURY — Twenty years ago, one of the most formidable hockey teams in minor league history took the ice in Danbury, led by high school senior A.J. Galante.

Galante and his father, Jim, founded a hockey team known as the Danbury Trashers in the United Hockey League (UHL) for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. 

The Trashers gained recent attention in 2021 when a documentary was published on Netflix: “Untold: Crimes and Penalties.”

“It was a great documentary,” said Nonnewaug sophomore Cameron Packett, a hockey player. “I got to meet A.J. and he was a really cool guy. It’s cool that it is so close to us and that I still play at the same rink to this day.”   

This gained tons of popularity, even to a point when music’s biggest icon, Drake, was seen wearing a Trashers jersey with No. 17 Galante on the back.  

“The Drake situation was really surreal,” Galante said. “The day after our documentary came out, a random follower on Instagram messaged me and was saying how cool it was that Drake was following us. I reached out via DM and thanked him [Drake] for the following. He messaged back immediately, we eventually video chatted that same day. He couldn’t have been more humble. He told me his Certified Lover Boy album was coming out in two days and he wanted to wear a Trashers jersey on the night it released.”

Galante also hit the records as the youngest GM in sports history at the age of 17. 

¨It’s cool to have that title, but it wasn’t just about me; we had a great front office, staff and team,¨ Galante shared. ¨As I get older, I look back and truly realize how crazy it was. At the time when you’re in the situation, sometimes you don’t even think about what’s going on. I would say after the first two months of the first season, I was treated no differently than anyone else, regardless of my age.¨

Galante also remembers the struggle of getting everyone on board.

¨I did understand that there may be a lot of people who wouldn’t take me seriously,¨ Galante said, ¨but I couldn’t take it personally. I knew I had to work twice as hard to gain respect and prove myself, and I believe I did that for the most part.¨

This year, Galante joined the Danbury Hat Tricks of the Federal Prospects Hockey League as the senior advisor to GM with hopes to make a deep playoff run and bring the cup back to Danbury. 

“I have so many feelings about being back in hockey,” Galante expressed, “especially here at home in Danbury. I feel first and foremost honored. I feel a major sense of pride that something my father and I began is still going on over 20 years later and stronger than ever.”

President of the Danbury Hat Tricks and part owner Herm Sorcher shares why he brought Galante back into hockey operations.

¨Over the years I have gotten to know A.J. through our common bond of hockey in Danbury, and from there it grew into a great friendship,” said Sorcher. ¨As we continued to talk hockey, it became clear that A.J. has so much to give back to the game.

Sorcher and his partners decided it was time to bring Galante back to help with recruiting. He did this back in 2023 and brought in the toughest player in hockey: Daniel Amesbury. 

¨He is connected to so many different hockey circles and players are always reaching out to him,” Sorcher says. “What put it over the top was Daniel Amesbury. He was such a key player for us in the 2023 championship season and the reality of it was that he was here with the Hat Tricks because of AJ.¨

Galante is extremely grateful to be back where it all started for him. 

¨The Hat Tricks ownership and management group gave me a second chance at something I never thought would return,¨ Galante said, ¨and I’m very grateful and will do everything to make them proud of their decision to bring me on board.¨

This year the Hat Tricks look to add another championship for the second time in 3 years. Galante shares the challenges he faces to pick right back up where started 20 years ago

“At the same time, you can’t ever rest and coast on past accomplishments,” Galante shared, “so for that reason, I also feel an insane amount of pressure to do everything within my power to help keep Danbury hockey excellence going and bring a championship to the Hat Tricks.”