Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello helps fulfill prom request of Bohemia’s Vincent Mutone
Catherine De Pinho and Vincent Mutone kiss while holding a sign and an autographed stick from Rangers' Mats Zuccarello during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 29, 2016. Zuccarello gave Mutone his stick during warm-ups, so Mutone and De Pinho will go to Connetquot senior prom together.
Vincent Mutone wanted to ask Catherine De Pinho to the Connetquot senior prom in a special way. So two weeks ago, he purchased two tickets to Monday night’s Rangers game.
“I wanted to ask her in a spectacular way,” said the 18-year-old senior from Bohemia. “We both love the Rangers and it was our first game together.”
During warm-ups, Mutone held up a sign that read, “Zucc! If you give me your stick she’ll go to prom with me!!!”
The sign drew the attention of the Rangers’ Kevin Hayes, who told forward Mats Zuccarello during the skate.
“The odds were a complete long shot, and I knew that,” Mutone said. “But I saw Hayes nudge Zucc and point at us in the stands. He skated around a few times and waved over to the equipment manager, who grabbed a stick . . . It was awesome.”
Zuccarello scored the Rangers’ first goal in a 2-1 win over Columbus.
“I was completely speechless the entire time,” Mutone said. “I’m a die-hard Rangers fan and it’s my first stick.”
Mats' Zuccarello's autographed stick reads, "Have fun at prom =) treat her right! Mats Zuccarello 36."
After the game, a Rangers representative escorted Mutone and De Pinho to the Rangers’ locker room, where Zuccarello signed the stick.
He left a message for Mutone on the blade: “Have fun at the prom. Treat her right!! Mats Zuccarello 36”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
