By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
The Veccias are not racking up the mileage on the family vehicles these days like they did over the last dozen or so years.
Deb and Rob Veccia can’t even begin to guess how many kilometres they put on their vehicles as they took their children, Zander and Addisyn, to arenas across Ontario.
But with both kids now in university – Zander at Western and Addisyn at Windsor – the family vehicles are spending more time on streets around Ridgetown than up and down the 401.
Zander is a freshman on the Western Mustangs’ men’s hockey team, playing just a 28-game schedule in the Ontario University Athletics, compared to the 68-game schedules during his three years in the Ontario Hockey League and 58 games in the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season.
Addisyn is still skating but in a much reduced capacity, mainly on weekends when she returns home to help coach at the Chatham and Ridgetown skating clubs.
The Veccias have been on the go with Zander since he started playing in the Ridgetown & District Hockey Association, including playing in an OMHA Zone championship in novice.
Zander went on to play ‘AAA’ with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones at the atom and minor peewee levels, and then played four years with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, based in Komoka.
Zander attended Blyth Academy in London in his Grade 10 and OHL draft year.
After an outstanding Minor Midget season with the Chiefs, Zander was drafted by the Mississauga Steelheads in the third round of the 2020 OHL priority draft, 43rd overall.
After losing his first year in the OHL to the pandemic, he went on to play three seasons with the Steelheads and Guelph Storm, totalling 40 goals and 104 points in 189 career games.
Zander played for the Collingwood Blues in the OJHL in 2024-25, scoring 21 goals and 26 assists, but injuries limited him to just 30 games in the 58-game schedule.
He was contacted by several colleges and universities across Canada, but decided to attend Western, where he is studying general business as a freshman before determining a career choice.
“It’s close to home, it has a great education status and a good hockey program, so (Western) is a good fit for me,” he said.
Zander said it has been an adjustment to return to the classroom after finishing high school and taking college courses virtually since the pandemic.
“The whole university experience has been neat, especially after being away from school so long,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of teammates show me how to study better than I used to and to understand that the schooling part comes first.”
The 21-year-old has also had to adjust to the Mustangs, as he has played in only 9 of their first 16 games.
After sitting out the season opener, Zander made an immediate impact with a three-goal performance – including the game-winner in overtime – in a 5-4 win over Toronto on Oct. 9.
He had another multiple-point game on Nov. 27 with two goals and an assist in a 7-6 win over Laurier, but he only had one assist in his other seven games.
“It’s a new thing for me,” Zander said about being a healthy scratch, which he never experienced in his minor or junior career.
He said the key is to keep a healthy attitude and be ready when he is in the lineup.
The Mustangs are 7-9-0, tied for eighth-place in the 10-team West Division, 15th out of 19 overall in the OUA.
Western returns from the break visiting Guelph on Friday and hosting Windsor on Saturday, 7 p.m. at Thompson Arena.
The Mustangs will be in Windsor on Saturday, Jan. 17, for a 7:30 p.m. game at the Capri Complex (former South Windsor Arena).
Addisyn, 18, is a first-year student in the nursing program at the University of Windsor.
Unfortunately, the university does not have a competitive skating team for Addisyn to represent the Lancers.
With her focus on her nursing studies, skating is on the back burner.
“It’s been hard, it’s something I’ve loved my whole life,” she said. “School keeps me busy, but skating is still on my mind.”
Addisyn said she skates when she can in Windsor, and she’s on the ice every weekend when she comes home, coaching in the CanSkate programs in Chatham and with her mom in Ridgetown.
“I have my nursing education, it’s very interactive and keeps me focused,” she said. “I go to the gym as much as I can, and I’m trying to keep skating.”
“I’m still keeping busy, but I have definitely found a good balance,” Addisyn said.
Addisyn began her successful skating career at three years old and, as she grew older, skated year-round not only in Ridgetown and Chatham, but also in London and Brantford.
She was coached by her mother, as well as Laura Smith in Chatham, Alison Purkiss and Teresa Hagar in Brantford, and, most recently, national coach Paul MacIntosh.
In recent years, she travelled to Brantford twice a week for four- to five-hour sessions.
Along with competing, she also achieved the rare feat of earning gold test medals in all four elements, completing the quadfecta with a gold in freeskate last spring after already earning her skills, dance, and artistic golds.
“It definitely took a lot of hard work. I wanted to get it done last year, and I’m glad I was able to … it’s such a great accomplishment,” she said.
Addisyn also volunteered as a program assistant at the Ridgetown Skating Club before earning her CanSkate certification at 16, and following her mother to coach skaters is a future goal.
Despite her busy skating schedule – along with competing in track and field in her four years at Ursuline College – her school work was still a priority as she spent many hours doing homework in the family car, travelling to and from arenas.
Addisyn graduated from Ursuline College last June in style, earning the Ontario Scholar designation, the school’s top English Award with a 97 average, a French language certificate, and the Lancer Award for overall commitment to academics, school activities, and her community.
While her concentration at Windsor is on her nursing studies, Addisyn has also found a way to continue skating competitively.
“Mom and I were discussing it, and there are a couple of competitions close to home that I can do for fun, with hopes to qualify for provincials,” Addisyn said.
She plans to compete in qualifiers in LaSalle later this month and in Lakeshore in February – and if she does well, she’ll head to a sixth straight Skate Ontario in Hamilton in March.
While both Veccias have slowed down from their previous athletic schedules, the sister and brother truly appreciate the time and sacrifices their parents have made over the years to help them achieve their dreams.
There were many times when their parents had to leave their jobs early – Deb, as Manager/Supervisor in the municipality’s Rec & Parks department, and Rob, as supervisor of the Tilbury and Wheatley arenas – to get their kids to the rinks.
“They’ve been such an essential part of my journey, driving me everywhere for training and competitions; they’re so amazing,” Addisyn said. “I’m so grateful to have parents who supported my dreams and ambitions. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Zander agreed.
“They rarely missed a game,” he said.
“If they did, it was because we were playing up in the Soo or there was a bad snowstorm … or my sister had a competition,” said Zander. “They gave up so much for us, they’re amazing.”
Deb, a competitive skater in her youth at the Ridgetown club, and Rob, who played three years in the OHL and spent over 20 years as an OHA referee and linesman, certainly understand the commitment and dedication required to succeed in athletics.
They were committed to ensuring their children had the opportunity to enjoy the same success in athletics.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Deb said. “Our family drives in the car was priceless time, the kids’ sports took us to places we would have never gone. We always said to make the best of every moment and experience.”
“Sports made them the amazing kids that they are … and we are so thankful for that,” ended Deb.
