By Katie Hamlin | AHL Rhythm
Building chemistry with teammates takes time. Only some players in the American Hockey League are lucky enough to be able to spend multiple seasons on the ice with their friends.
But some players — like the Syracuse Crunch’s Nick Abruzzese, Tommy Miller and Matteo Pietronillo – Build bonds across multiple organizations.
The three became close friends while playing for the Toronto Marlies the past three seasons. They spend time together at the rink and on the road. They had dinner together and even served as roommates.
After last season, Abruzzo, Miller and Pietronillo weren't sure if their journey would take them back to where they were.
“Whenever you meet some of your best friends that you met three years ago, you leave thinking you'll never see them again,” Miller said. “You hope your paths will cross soon, but you don't know if they will. It's nice to have two guys here, especially those two.”
Abruzzese was the first player to sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning this offseason, signing a one-year deal on July 1. Pietronillo also signed a new contract on July 1 – a one-year AHL contract with the Crunch. Two days later, Miller signed a one-year AHL contract with Syracuse.
When each player signs for the 2025-26 season, they will update their friends and everyone will have a chance to share the good news.
“I remember my wife and I called Nick and told him we were going to Syracuse with him,” Miller recalled. “He said, 'Oh, funny joke.' We said, 'No, we're serious, we signed there!'”
“I remember calling Nick and telling him we were expecting our first child and we were going to be in Syracuse,” Pietronillo said. “He called me back a few hours later and asked if he could take care of the kids. We had no idea, but it was a blessing to be able to do that and spend a few years together.”
In retrospect, it's no surprise that these three ended up joining an organization like Crunch.
“It speaks volumes to the culture and the type of place that Syracuse is,” Miller said. “They bring in people with character. You want to be around those people and surround yourself with that culture.”
Like any friend group, these three have their own unique personalities. They all agree that Pietronillo is the most outgoing of the three, calling him the funniest person on the team. Miller is described as a soft-spoken, hard-working man, while Abruzzese is described as a man with an old soul.
Strong character.
Their friendship makes the trio's transition to a new city and team easier and more comfortable. They look after each other and even provide spare rooms when necessary. Abruzzese was the third roommate to live with Pietronillo and his wife for the past month before moving in with Miller and his wife on Sunday.
“It's fun,” Pietronillo said. “Cooking together, driving to the rink together, just getting on him a little bit. He was like a brother. Some fun times and things that we'll look back on and remember throughout our careers.”
For Abruzzo natives, it helps to have people around you to spend time with somewhere away from the rink, whether that's eating or just hanging out.
“I had him over for dinner and we talked while we ate dinner and then watched the football game and didn't say a word. That's how Nick and I are sometimes, and it's nice,” Miller said. He wanted him to feel at home when he was with him and made sure he knew this was his house now too.
“This morning, my dog didn't even want to be around me,” Miller said with a laugh. “Whenever Nick walks into the bathroom, she's waiting for him outside the door. She doesn't even care about me.”
“One of the things we’ve done well in Toronto over the past few years is making sure we spend time together off the ice to grow our friendships and connections,” Abruzzese said.
A key element of their friendship was cooking. The three take turns preparing meals for the others each week. Both Abruzzese and Miller agree that Pietronillo and his wife, Delaneythe best in the kitchen. He cooks, she bakes, a perfect one-two punch.
The strong friendships off the ice have translated into success on the ice, with the Crunch having their best October in franchise history.
As the team continues to come together and the relationships in the room develop, these three will be at the core as they continue to prove that hockey is more than just a sport.
