The Pittsburgh Penguins have loads of gamers at their growth camp, which opened Saturday in Cranberry, however one participant’s historical past with the area stood out above the remaining.
Matthew DiMarsico, who performed for Penn State final season, grew up in Wexford.
Final season for the Nittany Lions, DiMarsico had seven targets and 19 assists in 35 video games. He completed fourth on the crew in factors and second in assists for Man Gadowsky’s program.
His 19 assists have been second all-time amongst Penn State rookies.
The 6-foot, 181-pound ahead grew up enjoying within the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program.
“I’ve been on this rink for eight to 10 years,” DiMarsico stated about UPMC Lemieux Sports activities Advanced. “Then to be on the opposite aspect, the skilled aspect (and) going to see the place the actual Penguins play in observe and the services they get to make use of and the teaching, it’s been actually useful.
“However, on the identical time, it’s like a surreal second.”
“Surreal” was a typical reference utilized by DiMarsico. Whereas he was excited to be enjoying on the identical rink he did rising up, this time, a possible spot with the Penguins on the road.
“It virtually didn’t appear actual coming right here,” DiMarsico stated. “After which I walked on this morning, and I noticed the jersey and I noticed the tools and it was a extremely cool feeling for me.”
Earlier than enjoying with Penn State, DiMarsico performed in the US Hockey League with the Inexperienced Bay Gamblers. He additionally performed on the prep faculty stage with Avon Outdated Farms Boarding College close to Hartford, Conn.
“It was an enormous soar,” DiMarsico stated of the transition from boarding faculty to the USHL. “I obtained to play with some high-end NHL expertise, and it actually helped me deliver my sport as much as put together myself for big-time hockey.”
DiMarsico was impressed to play hockey with the assistance of his older brother, Michael.
“My brother obtained into hockey when he was actually younger. After which I used to be lucky sufficient to look at him play,” DiMarsico stated. “I used to be rising up through the (Penguins Stanley Cup run in 2009), and that sort of actually obtained me into it. And the Penguins have been aggressive since I used to be born.”
That success of the Penguins has translated to numerous hockey expertise from the Pittsburgh space, equivalent to Arizona Coyotes ahead Logan Cooley and New York Rangers ahead Vincent Trocheck, amongst others. Trocheck is a local of Higher St. Clair, and Cooley is from West Mifflin.
Sports activities run by means of the DiMarsico household as his father, John, performed faculty soccer at Military. Matthew DiMarsico will look so as to add to his household’s legacy and to the ever-growing listing of Pittsburgh-born NHL gamers subsequent season.
“Watching the Penguins compete and simply sort of rising myself as a participant … it simply retains the love for the sport nonetheless there,” DiMarsico stated.
Giustino Racchini is a Tribune-Evaluate employees author. You possibly can contact Giustino at gracchini@triblive.com.