To be a ‘hard worker’ is to be one who separates themselves from the rest.  The path for a hard worker is often not an easy one.  The road is often riddled with harsh and sometimes impassable challenges that a hard worker must push through in order to achieve their success.  Sometimes hard work slips under the radar and true heroes are passed by unseen, even though  they are doing all the little things right, and keeping the team afloat.  Other times hard work is recognized and it allows those who deserve that recognition to bask in its rewards.

Head Coach, Jim Mosso, of the Vermont Lumberjacks Elite, has been named one of the coaches for the EHL Elite Division All-Star game as voted on by his peers around the league.

“It is nice to be recognized when you are working hard. To build a team in year one and have it turn out to be as successful as some of the programs that have been around for years is a challenge,” Mosso said.  “I am proud that we were able to put a team together that is competitive and can win games against some of those big name teams.  We were able to accomplish something incredible in just my first year here.”

Coach Mosso is also the Assistant General Manager to the Lumberjacks program and couldn’t be happier to help grow and make the program one that any player would want to come to.

“It is an honor to me and to our organization to be considered a professional organization and a role model around the league,” Mosso said. 

Hard work does pay off, and Coach Mosso will not be the only one headed to the All-Star Game from the Vermont Lumberjacks.  Forward Kyle McDonald, and Defenseman Nick Cramer will accompany their Coach as well as play for him in the All-Star game.

“I’m very proud of the two of them.  They were chosen by coaches from around the league to be put in the pool of players for this game and I was proud to pick them to be their coach. They have been working hard and they deserve it,” Mosso said.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this game. I came up from high school hockey not knowing what to expect and I set a lot of goals for myself.  For this to be attainable and actually be realistic at this point is huge,” McDonald said.  “It has given me a lot of confidence.”

“I’m proud of myself, this year. I have come a long way and I have been playing well. I feel I really earned the spot,” Cramer said.  “It’s great that Coach Mosso will be our coach as well, he is a great coach, we all love him and couldn't be happier.”

Lumberjacks Play By Play, Harrison “Buzz” Buzzatto, will also be present at the All-Star game broadcasting the game on Fast Hockey for all to hear.

“It is a great thing for me, having not been here long, to come to Burlington, make my home with the Lumberjacks and then be given the opportunity to host the All-Star game. It is a great achievement and one that I am very proud,” Buzzatto said.

The Elite Division All-Star game will be on Monday, February 1 at 1:50pm at Rodman Arena in Walpole, MA.  Tune into Fast Hockey for the game!  And, as always, GO LUMBERJACKS!