Canucks Q&A: Aaron Volpatti chronicles journey from burned unit to NHL

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Aaron Volpatti knows how to make the most of measured minutes.

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Like one of his fourth-line shifts as a pugnacious checker and fearless fighter, the former Vancouver Canucks winger took a break from a current provincewide promotion tour to be the latest subject of our weekly Q&A series.

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Volpatti’s unimaginable journey from undrafted wannabe to the National Hockey League — preceded by physical and emotional scars from a reckless gas-and-fire pyro incident during a team camping trip at Bluenose Mountain outside of Vernon in the summer of 2005 — is depicted in the -ranging and riveting biography: “Fighter: Defining The NHL Odds.”

Whether it was a pay-it forward devotion to continue his relationship with the Vancouver General Hospital Burn Unit, which will receive a portion of book sale proceeds, or to provide a path of encouragement for those afflicted by adversity, the book has a far- reaching purpose.

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“It’s always been a side project for me,” said Volpatti, 37, who now teaches programs on visualization. “It’s being comfortable with opening up and I can help people. A big part was to empower people because I was pretty down and depressed, thinking hockey might be over and my identity was taken away.”

The Revelstoke native had to fight his way into the BC Hockey League before suffering second- and third-degree burns to two-thirds of his body after that telling trip tragedy with Vernon Vipers teammates. He suffered burns to his right hand, arm, legs and face, and the mangled skin on his abdomen and endured excruciating pain from skin grafts that required wearing a pressure suit to control scarring.

Volpatti had a loss of purpose when told he would never play again. But he did.

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He earned an NCAA scholarship to Brown University in Providence, RI, where he not only majored in human biology, but as captain piled up 32 points (17-15) and 115 penalty minutes in 37 games during his fourth season to catch the attention of the Canucks.

At the outset of the 2011-12 season, he aligned with Max Lapierre and Dale Weise on a bang-and-crash fourth line before a shoulder injury morphed into a labrum tear and surgery to end his season.

He played 54 games in Vancouver over three campaigns — amassing just four points (3-1) and 81 penalty minutes — and was claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals. He then suffered a neck injury in 2012-13 that required surgery and ultimately ended his career.

Q: What was your first reaction to being on fire?

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A: It was a very odd, out-of-body type experience. I was never in any pain until the shock wore off. I was in an extreme sense of panic and that fight-or-flight kicked in and I just bolted, rolled around and tried to put out the fire.

There was this eerie sense of calmness, too, and that’s probably what death feels like — an eerie peacefulness to the whole thing. There was no pain. I just remember feeling very warm.

Q: No cell service, so how was a ride to VGH?

A: It was one of the most terrifying 30 minutes of my life once the shock wore off — the pain was unbelievable and I was blacking out — and a lot of trauma for sure.

Q: Did six weeks in The Burn Unit seem like forever?

A: I was supposed to stay longer, but it got to a point where I said I was going to leave if they didn’t let me. Once the skin grafting was done, the rehab was the big part.

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Q: When could you take the next step and walk?

A: After the hospital, it was another six weeks where I got around on my arms because I couldn’t stand up because the blood would rush to the grafts on my legs and bleed out.

I had to keep them elevated and it was another six to eight weeks of a wheelchair and a hunched-over hobble for five minutes.

Q: What light went on for a drive to press on?

A: My coach in Vernon got a call from Brown and that’s when everything changed. I flipped a switch, visualized with the mindset and reframed everything.

Q: What drove your final NCAA season?

A: When I came to Brown, I wasn’t that good. I knew my role and pro hockey wasn’t even on my radar. The NCAA was the NHL, that was my mountain top. My perspective on life had changed. I went through hell and back to get that scholarship. I lived life and had a blast, but still worked my ass off.

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But a coach said if I worked on layers to my game, I could have a solid five or 10-year career in the AHL and maybe a shot in The Show one day. He said he never saw anybody hit like I could.

I then became obsessed and lived at the rink 12 hours a day. It gave me a crazy sense of confidence.

Everything just clicked. I came out of nowhere and nobody knew who I was at 24 years old. I was one of the top NCAA free-agent prospects.

Q: How did you dominate your 22 NHL fights?

A: I had a boxing background as a kid with throwing both hands, so there were a few factors. I just did things nobody else wanted to do. I fought some big boys (Mike Peluso, Ryan Reaves) and I had to. I liked the spur-of-the-moment stuff and I enjoyed it.

Q: What was it like playing with Lapierre, Weise?

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A: A blast. That was so much fun and the moment I felt like I’m here for good. We weren’t contributing offensively, but the game was different. Now, the fourth line needs to contribute. Back then, as long as you’re creating energy and it was a bonus if you put one in. We provided the sandpaper.

Q: What did Ovechkin marvel at your resolve mean?

A: A big part of my book was that nobody really knew about the journey. For OV to say those things and support me meant a ton. He’s chasing history and I was fortunate to play on two teams with great players and it was pretty special.

OV is one of a kind. He plays so hard and is fun to be around and a good person.

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