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| June 28, 2008
By Doug Jones
Vegas update it's a Hot one!!!
|  Long Duong and Max NiCastro are in the house
It’s Saturday morning here in Vegas and Nick Lutu and I are working through the day at the Las Vegas Roller Hockey center. Nick and I were pleasantly surprised when NARCh president, Daryn Goodwin came into to spend some time with and inform us that NARCh will have 434 teams playing in San Jose at the finals, July 11th – 27th.
The feeling of jubilation and accomplishment has been shared by all of us. From the season opening qualifier in Vegas, to full circle and return here for our final qualifier of 2008, it’s been a fantastic year of meeting, talking, watching and enjoying a lot of hockey all over the country. The Gold and Silver divisions are completely SOLD OUT. We look forward to the best finals in the history of NARCh and the incredible hockey that awaits us in San Jose.
The morning here began with the welcome of familiar faces and programs qualifying and participating in the tournament. With the finals almost less than 16 days away, it’s offered the chance to see Shayne Arsenault and Scott Accongio with their teams here to make the cut. It’s also great to see the Vegas Aces program growing with several teams.
Got to watch one of my favorite players this morning, Long Duong with Team Arizona. In his first game of the day, Duong had the puck on his stick on a penalty kill. He accelerated around a forechecker and saucered a pass about four feet off the ground to his teammate which landed perfectly on the stick from his backhand. His teammate then streaked toward the net and fed Duong, who buried the puck under the crossbar. Both Nick and I looked at each other in amazement. In watching Duong, it’s always something about his game that leaves me surprised. Whether it be deking around two players twice his size or spinning off a player who is trying to play his body, he shows how good he can be. Off the rink, he is a great kid who will talk with you in regard to generally anything.
Had the pleasure today to speak with Max Nicastro, of the Tour Rebels. Max was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the NHL entry draft in Ottawa. Standing 6 ‘ 3 and tipping the scales at 195 pounds, Nicastro played for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. He finished the 2008 season with seven goals and thirteen assists for the Steel. In getting to talk with Max, he feels that roller hockey has helped him with his hands and his on floor vision. With the game four on four, it’s helped him develop the ability to move the puck and see his options more clearly. He credits it also with his speed and his foot quickness. As we talked about the excitement of being drafted by Detroit, Max discussed meeting and speaking with both Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom about the upcoming season. He is very enthusiastic about beginning to work out with Chris Chelios who lives in California (Max is a resident of CA). Max listed his biggest accomplishment besides being drafted as winning the National championship with the California Wave, Midget AAA. With Max being drafted, Detroit has taken two players in the first three rounds of the NHL 2008 draft who have strong ties to roller hockey. The other being Tom McCollum the former Buffalo Wings goaltender who went in the first round and was rated by Central Scouting as the number on goaltender in the draft.
Stay tuned for more updates from the World’s greatest roller hockey, NARCh!!!
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