Tomasino looking to seize new opportunity with Senators

New faces in new places, that’s been the feeling in Belleville to start the season, and with change comes opportunity.

Turnover is part of life in the American Hockey League, as players move between organizations and look for new opportunities. For Phil Tomasino, that journey has brought him to Belleville, where he’s beginning a new chapter with the Senators.

While hockey has taken Tomasino to different cities and given him the opportunity to play alongside some of the game’s best, much of who he is today comes from the people and experiences that have shaped him away from the rink.

For the 24-year-old forward, family has always been at the centre of that journey.

“Obviously, my parents,” Tomasino said when asked who had the biggest influence on him growing up. “I feel like everyone says this, but it’s true. All the money, time, and effort they put into me as I grew up was great. Going from work to driving me to the rink, I wouldn’t be here without my parents.”

His grandparents also played an important role, helping raise him and shape the person he has become. Their influence extended beyond hockey, instilling values that Tomasino continues to carry with him throughout his career.

His grandparents came to Canada from Italy, facing the challenges of building a life in a new country without knowing the language. Through hard work and perseverance, they helped provide for their family, leaving Tomasino with a lasting lesson about appreciating the moment while continuing to work toward something better.

“Just to enjoy every moment because you’re bound to have some ups and downs. So, for sure, enjoy it, but work hard, and things will pay off.”

It’s a mindset that has remained with him throughout his hockey journey, particularly during the more difficult stretches of his career. Growing up in Mississauga, Tomasino developed his love for hockey while looking up to one of the sport’s biggest stars: Sidney Crosby. Like many young Canadian hockey players, Tomasino had posters of the Pittsburgh Penguins captain on his bedroom walls. He would even ask his parents to get him tickets to Toronto Maple Leafs games specifically when Pittsburgh was in town, hoping to watch his childhood idol in person.

Years later, Tomasino went from watching Crosby from the stands to sharing the ice with him in Pittsburgh.

“Being able to play alongside him in Pittsburgh was great,” Tomasino said. “He’s such a special person and hockey player.”

The experience offered Tomasino an opportunity to see firsthand what separates an elite player from the rest. Beyond Crosby’s accomplishments, it was his daily habits and commitment to the game that left a lasting impression.

“He’s an elite player and one of the best of all time, so just getting the chance to learn from him and see him in his day-to-day routine was incredible,” Tomasino said. “He was the first guy out at practice and was always working, proving why he’s so great.”

For a player who grew up idolizing Crosby, the opportunity to learn from him was a full-circle moment. It also reinforced the importance of the work that happens long before the puck drops.

While hockey remains a major part of his life, Tomasino has learned the importance of finding time away from the game, too. When he gets a day to himself, his ideal routine is relatively simple. If the weather cooperates, he enjoys spending time in the pool, sitting in the sun, or picking up a book. He also enjoys gaming and watching television, although he has made an effort to spend less time gaming.

“When the weather is nice, I try to enjoy it as much as I can because whenever I get some sunlight, I feel a lot better,” Tomasino said.

Away from the rink, he describes himself as pretty low-key. He even joked about trying to learn the guitar a few years ago, admitting the attempt did not go particularly well.

“I feel like I get asked this a lot, and every time I do, I just don’t have an answer,” Tomasino said when asked what fans might not know about him. “I’m pretty low-key. I wish I played an instrument because, a few years ago, I tried to learn the guitar! It didn’t go too well, so maybe I’ll start with that again.”

That laid-back approach is balanced by a growing understanding of what it takes to succeed professionally. Although his personality has remained largely the same, Tomasino says he has continued to evolve in how he trains and prepares himself for the demands of the game. The past few years have brought their share of ups and downs, but those experiences have helped shape his perspective. Rather than getting caught up in what might come next, he has focused on controlling what he can each day.

“My goal is to try to be the best person and player I can be every single day and take everything as it comes by staying in the moment,” Tomasino said.

That outlook was not always easy to maintain, particularly early in his junior career.

Tomasino recalled struggling during his first season with the Niagara IceDogs, a difficult stretch that tested him mentally. With his NHL Draft year approaching, the pressure to produce added another layer of difficulty. Looking back, he recognizes how much that experience contributed to his development. The following season brought a turnaround, but at the time, it was difficult to see how the adversity might ultimately benefit him.

“Knowing that things worked out the following year is great, but in the moment, it’s hard to look at it that way,” Tomasino said. “I think being able to push through that adversity made me into the person and player I am today. If I hadn’t done that, maybe I wouldn’t be here today.”

It is a lesson that continues to guide him as he begins his next chapter in Belleville.

As a child, Tomasino said hockey was first and foremost about having fun. The friendships he built along the way remain among his most meaningful memories, with many of those relationships lasting to this day. As he progressed through junior hockey, however, the possibility of playing professionally became a more realistic goal.

Even then, the journey unfolded one step at a time. Now, with another opportunity in front of him, Tomasino is carrying those experiences forward. His family’s influence, the example set by his childhood idol, and the adversity he faced early in his career have all helped shape his approach to the game and to life beyond it.

If he could offer his younger self one piece of advice before beginning his junior career, it would be simple.

“Just enjoy the moment,” Tomasino said. “I would tell my younger self to enjoy it, keep working hard, and trust that things will work out.”

For Tomasino, that message applies just as much today as it did when he was a young player trying to find his way. In a league where change is constant and opportunities can come from unexpected places, his next chapter in Belleville offers another chance to put those lessons into practice.