Michael Stellato had spent 14 years playing competitive ball hockey and was approaching a major career milestone when tragedy struck. The 35-year-old was killed in a construction workplace accident in Pickering, Ontario, on Monday, November 2. His death has left the Greater Toronto Ball Hockey League mourning a longtime player who had become a familiar face to teammates and opponents across the sport.
Stellato was working for the Crupi Group at a construction site when a reversing dump truck struck him. According to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793, fellow workers immediately tried to save his life. Emergency responders also arrived at the scene, but Stellato suffered fatal injuries. The truck driver was taken to a hospital after experiencing shock.
News of his death has affected people beyond the construction industry. For years, Stellato had been part of a ball hockey community where players regularly competed, formed friendships and represented different teams. His involvement in the Greater Toronto Ball Hockey League stretched across approximately 14 years, making him a recognizable figure among those who followed the sport.
The numbers from his playing career show just how much time he had devoted to the game. Stellato recorded 712 points in 599 games, averaging more than one point per appearance. The league also noted that he had never played below Tier 4, meaning he consistently competed at a high level.
During the current season, he represented the Toronto Bullets and Metro Orangemen. His career had also included appearances for other teams, giving him the opportunity to compete alongside and against numerous players throughout the Greater Toronto area. For many of them, his death means losing someone they had shared years of competition with.
The league announced a special gesture in his memory. Stellato was due to receive recognition for his 600th career game during a Wednesday-night event at The Hangar. Although he died before reaching the milestone in person, the GTBHL decided to credit him with the appearance in recognition of his long service to the league.
That decision carries a personal meaning for the players who knew him. Six hundred games represents years of showing up, competing and sharing the rink with teammates. Stellato’s 599 recorded appearances and 712 points were impressive achievements, but the friendships he built throughout those years were also an important part of his time in the sport.
His professional life was equally important to those who knew him. Stellato was a longtime member of Local 793 and worked for the Crupi Group. Union Business Manager Mike Gallagher expressed condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, describing his death as a devastating loss for the membership.
Police and officials from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development attended the Pickering construction site. Independent investigations were underway to establish the cause and circumstances of the accident. No final determination had been announced about how the dump truck struck Stellato.
Local 793 also encouraged members to support one another while dealing with the loss. The union made counselling services available through Members Health and provided the contact details of its Director of Health and Safety, Brian Alexander, at 416-936-0059 for anyone needing assistance.
At just 35, Stellato had built a life that connected two very different communities. At work, he was a member of a close-knit union and part of the Crupi Group workforce. On the ball hockey floor, he was a longtime competitor with nearly 600 games behind him.
His teammates will remember the years he spent playing the sport, while his coworkers will remember the time they shared on the job. His family and friends now face the difficult loss of someone whose life ended unexpectedly. The 600th-game recognition will stand as a tribute to a player whose contribution to the Greater Toronto ball hockey community will not be forgotten.