As the 2024-25 hockey season got underway, Castlegar goalie Marlo DeRosa was struggling with focus on and off the ice and wondering if his hockey career was over.
While he had decent marks in school and attended French immersion from Grades 6 through 12, “Marlo could focus more on his work” was a frequent comment from his teachers.
With high school graduation behind him, DeRosa was suiting up for the Castlegar Rebels as a backup and practice goalie, but things were just not coming together.
“I was out of school and still struggling and that compounded with the hockey season starting and it kind of played a part in me getting cut from the team,” said DeRosa.
But an ADHD diagnosis has helped to turn things around for the 19-year-old who has been named as Alberta’s Heritage Junior Hockey League’s top goalie of the 2025-26 season.
The recognition was a confirmation to DeRosa that he was on the right track and all of his hard work was finally paying off.
“It meant a lot to me,” said DeRosa. “I came from a place where at the start of the season last year, I was debating whether I could continue to play hockey. So to go from that sort of mind set to do what I did this season is amazing. I am so grateful for my family and the coaches who gave me the opportunity.”
Before joining the Medicine Hat Cubs, DeRosa had spent several seasons with teams in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League but didn’t progress past backup positions.
Now a year and a half later, he says the treatments and strategies he’s adopted for coping with ADHD have helped him to accomplish so much more than before.
DeRosa says he is thankful for his hometown physician, Dr. Megan Taylor, for helping him through the diagnosis process.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this if I didn’t have the clarity that I do now,” said DeRosa.
And by “this” DeRosa means achieving the lowest goals-against average (2.35) in the HJHL, a league-best four shut-outs and a 14-3-1 record with a .917 save percentage.
Better focus, stability and consistent energy levels are changes he has noticed not just in play, but in life as well.
DeRosa has also found inspiration through tragedy.
While he continues to mourn the loss of his friend and fellow Rebel, Nathan Jackman, who was killed in a car accident in May 2024, DeRosa says Jackman is still close to his heart.
The two played together for several years in minor hockey, attended Rebels camp together and shared the first semester of their graduation year at Stanley Humphries Secondary School.
DeRosa, who wears Jackman memorial stickers on his hockey helmet, said, “I play in memory of Nate. He had so many friends in the West Kootenays. We miss him very much.”
DeRosa is enjoying his time in Medicine Hat and says the hockey-focused city has been very welcoming with a great fan base.
He is also managing to juggle hockey with work and college courses, something made possible by the HJHL’s evening practice schedule.
In his first year of college, DeRosa’s course load includes psychology, a choice influenced by his ADHD diagnosis journey.
“I had a full psychological evaluation, and that piqued my interest. I wanted to figure out how people behaved and how mannerisms work, etc.”
He hasn’t decided on a final career path, but is considering sports psychology or kinesiology.
DeRosa can play two more seasons in the Alberta league, but his real goal is to play for a college team. Once his academic finals are over, DeRosa plans to come home to Castlegar and work for the summer before lacing up his skates again next season.
“I’ve always had a passion for hockey. I love being on the ice.”
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