Although the Rome Free Academy hockey team has a group of underclassmen this season, they sure haven’t played like that.

Sure at times they can have tough periods where their inexperience at the varsity level can show up, but for the most part this team plays above their ages and are in a good spot to make a solid run into the postseason as the Section III tournament is rapidly approaching.

There are many reasons as to why the team is 8-2-1 in the Division II East standings and 10-5-2 overall this season, but one might come in the form of one of their two veteran leaders on the team in senior defensemen Matt DeMatteo.

DeMatteo, who is a fifth year varsity player, joined the team as an 8th grader for RFA head coach Greg Cuthbertson — much like some of the younger players on the team — and has grown up for his coach out on the ice and developed into a leadership role that the players have been trying to mold themselves after to get better for the team.

"Physically he’s grown up over the years and he is one of the strongest kids out on the ice for me," Cuthbertson said. "In a one-on-one battle if it came down to him, he will find a way to get the puck. He doesn’t lose to often," he added.

"He works really hard at becoming stronger and I think the other guys on the team have really feed off that," Cuthbertson added.

"He’s definitely a leader by example with the things that he does in the offseason and just one of those kids that’s an animal in the weight room. We look towards him when we show these younger guys what it takes to be at the top of their games at the varsity level," Cuthbertson said.

"I mostly do my job," a modest DeMatteo said.

"I do mine and I make sure they do theirs. I find that the younger guys really like to compete with me a lot and I like that because it makes me better and it makes them better. They work hard and it helps us come out with wins in the end," he added.

DeMatteo and goaltender Mike Endres are the lone seniors on the 26-man roster as the Black Knights carry eight juniors, eight sophomores, six freshmen and two eighth graders.

DeMatteo said at times it was tough being one of the only seniors on the team, but said he didn’t lead them with his words, but helped guide them with his play.

"I had to show them what I needed to get through to them," DeMatteo said.

"It comes down to who wants it more. Our team has enough talent to compete with the best of the best and the deciding factor will be who is going to work harder to see who wins," he added.

The senior said that he thought the point of the season that it all turned around was a 6-3 home win over Cazenovia.

Rome was trailing 3-1 before they unleashed their offense with a five goal explosion in the final period to come away with the victory. DeMatteo finished with two goals and the go-ahead goal off an assist from Robbie Waller in that game.

"It was just an amazing game and it really showed what we had," DeMatteo said.

Even though DeMatteo is a defensemen, Cuthbertson said that his senior can’t help himself sometimes at getting involved with the offense while playing on the team’s top scoring line this season with the Reilley brothers, TJ and Garrett, along with Max Bartell, which are the top three scorers in points.

"It’s a powerhouse line and it’s a fun line to play on," DeMatteo said. "We have all been playing together for along time and most teams can’t handle our chemistry out there because we all know what each of us is going to do."

So far the tight knit group has paid off for him, DeMatteo is fourth on the team with 10 goals and had also added eight assists to net 18 points in 17 games. But Cuthbertson said it has been his elevated play on defensive side that is what is going to really lead the Black Knights to as far as they can go this season.

"Matt is an offensive defensemen," Cuthbertson said. "He likes to jump into the offense role, but he has really started to harness his craft by understanding the defensive end, he is staying in the right position and we see that offense come when we need it. He’s worked a lot with that and its helped us as a group," he added.

Paid off it has.

Through the Black Knights last nine games, the team has allowed only four goals in a game twice and has averaged 2.33 goals allowed per game while sporting a 5-3-1 record.

"He’s been a scholar athlete every year that he has been with me and we always want our kids to be like that. He really takes care of business in the classroom," Cuthbertson said. "Definitely a great student-athlete. He’s a very disciplined young man and comes from a good family," he said.

DeMatteo, whose parents are Gary and Mary DeMatteo of Seifert Street, has been playing hockey since the age of three and says he has been playing along side his teammate Kyle Williams for at least 10 years now and says that when he leaves, the team will be left in good hands and follow their guidance.

"Kyle is a great defensemen. He’s been my partner for many years now and he knows me very well. It’s nice knowing that when we are out on the ice, I got his back and he’s got mine," DeMatteo said.

Cuthbertson and DeMatteo each agreed that the defense has played their best hockey of late, and both credit their goalkeepers Endres and Anthony D’Urso for the team’s success this season, as well.

"It’s great to have two great goalies each night for us. It really gives us a lot of confidence. We know that if we make a mistake they will take care of the rest," DeMatteo said.

The Black Knights have three games left on their season with the next coming tomorrow night at the Whitestown Community Center against Westmoreland starting at 7:30 p.m.