Westlake grad lands in hockey heaven

Photo courtesy of Detroit Red Wings FUTURE STAR- Max Nicastro, an 18-year-old Thousand Oaks resident, was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round, pick No. 91 overall, during last weekend's NHL Entry Draft. Ever since Thousand Oaks resident Max Nicastro began playing hockey at age 5, his favorite player has been Detroit Red Wings star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom.

Now, Nicastro has the opportunity to play on the same line as the legendary defender.

On June 21 in Ottawa, Nicastro, 18, was selected with the 91st overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft by the Red Wings.

Nicastro said he was pretty sure he would be drafted but was shocked when the 2008 Stanley Cup champions selected him with the final pick of the third round.

"I actually had to go to the bathroom, but our family adviser told me that it was bad luck to go before the end of a round," Nicastro said. "I was still literally about to get up to go when I heard my name called.

"I was thrilled to be picked by such a great team, and I immediately hugged my parents, who were sitting with me. It was a great feeling."

Nicastro's mom, Robin, was also excited.

"I just kept saying 'Oh my God,'" Robin Nicastro said. "My husband, Mark, and I were quite elated. As parents, you always want to support what your children want to become, but ever since we can remember, all Max ever wanted to be was a hockey star."

After Nicastro's name was announced, he walked up about 15 stairs to a platform where many Red Wing representatives were waiting for him. One of the first people to greet him was legendary former Red Wing captain Steve Yzerman.

"Stevie Y came up, introduced himself and welcomed me to the team," Nicastro said with a laugh. "I told him that he didn't have to introduce himself- I already knew who he was."

The remainder of Nicastro's weekend consisted of him getting a chance to see the Stanley Cup trophy and having dinner with exRed Wings Hall-of-Fame coach Scotty Bowman.

"The first couple of nights I was so stunned it didn't really hit me that I had been drafted by the NHL champions," Nicastro said. "As I started to call my friends back home a couple days later it finally began to sink in."

Nicastro's great weekend comes just a week after he graduated from Westlake High. Nicastro spent his freshman, sophomore and junior years at WHS before he moved to Chicago last fall to attend school and play with the United States Hockey League (USHL) team, the Chicago Steel.

Last season Nicastro played 58 games for the Steel, scoring six goals and recording 14 assists as a defenseman. Nicastro will play one more year with the Steel before he attends Boston University in the fall of 2009.

While Nicastro plays at Boston University, he'll be property of the Red Wings and can be called up to the team at any time.

"I would like to go to college for at least two years," Nicastro said. "The Red Wings told me that, on average, they usually call someone up after three years in college, so that's what I'm trying to do."

If Nicastro does get elevated to the big club, he may have the chance to learn from two of the best defensemen of all time- Lidstrom and Chris Chelios.

"Well, my goal is just to get to the team first," Nicastro said. "Whoever is on the team when that happens is going to be a great player, and I'll be able to learn a lot from them. Lidstrom should still be there, and I'm hoping that Chelios sticks around a few more years so I can play with him, too."

Nicastro said he grew up a Los Angeles Kings fan, but he doesn't mind playing in Hockeytown.

"I'm still a Kings fan, but I've always liked watching good, exciting hockey," Nicastro said. "Detroit definitely fit that category."

Before Nicastro leaves for his second season in Chicago, he'll be giving back to the RollerDome in Thousand Oaks with his MAXimum Youth Roller Hockey Camp.

The camp takes place at the RollerDome from July 28 through July 31. Nicastro was one of the first kids to skate at the RollerDome in the mid-1990s.

"It's great that I now have the ability to teach some of these kids how to play better," Nicastro said. "When I was 5 years old I had no idea that I would be coming back to the place years later in this circumstance."

Robin Nicastro said Max has come a long way since he first began playing hockey.

"Max always used to be in the front yard with his hockey stick and a puck," Robin Nicastro said. "I'd say we've lost about three garage doors and 15 windows due to Max shooting. It's all paid off now."