Mike Galantini Heads to Finland with More Than Football in Mind

They say never forget where you came from. That family always has your back. Your best fans are they ones still wearing your high school jersey. 

“I want to implant the idea of where I come from upon my Finnish teammates, because the Valley is full of some great people. People will forget what you do and forget what you say, but they’ll never forget the way you make them feel.” –Mike Galantini

If it isn’t clear, there’s much more to life than football for the former Holy Cross College superstar. But it’s not that there’s more he’d like to achieve other than football. Mike Galantini just wants to make sure that he can be a great football player while striving to better people’s lives around him. Yes, it is as inspiring as it sounds.

If you speak with Galantini, it’s clear football is his life. His one love belongs to the field he’s known since his first blue and gold helmet. An obsession is how he describes it. A passion he only wishes to spend every moment perfecting.

There is no aspect of the game he does not study. Ask most players how they would be able to move from league to league in Europe and they couldn’t tell you. Ask Galantini, and he’ll explain each step it takes to reach the Canadian Football League from the Maple League.

That’s where his journey takes us. Yes us. We are the small town in Northeast Pennsylvania he left. The fans that will forever remember his #55 Valley View High School jersey. The hundreds of new Porvoon Butchers fans.

On Sunday, May 1, amongst the midst of “it’s May” memes and NFL undrafted free agent signings, Mike Galantini accepted a contract to continue his football career overseas. His future team, the Porvoon Butchers, the most successful team in Finland.

The 6-time Maple Leaf Champions, the Butchers have established themselves as powerhouses in one of the largest American Football Leagues in Europe.

“I truly try to be that guy that has the motor,” Galantini said. “I want to be able to play as hard as I can for longer than anyone on the field.”

That’s exactly what the Butchers are getting in a player. Galantini has shown nothing but greatness since becoming a Crusader at Holy Cross College. Being a two-time Davitt Award winner, an honor given to the team’s best defensive lineman, Galantini has left his mark at Holy Cross and hopes to do the same in Porvoon.

Galantini brings way more than great skill to the Butchers, though. His goal isn’t to just become the best, but impact each person he meets along the way. To bring his “Valley mentality” with him wherever he goes. It’s clear that Galantini is determined to leave his mark in more ways then one.

“I just want to be a brother to every one of my teammates,” Galantini said. “The reason I’m so passionate about defense is because it’s one big brotherhood.”

There’s no question Galantini will build significantly on the Butchers’ brotherhood.

Like he said, people will forget what you say and do, but they will never forget how you make them feel. Well, it’s clear that Mike Galantini has all the ability to make an impression on and off the field.

The Butchers truly got a superstar football player. The football world got an exceptional person. The Valley got a true inspiration.