Introducing goalie Luca Di Pasquo
In today’s Penticton Vees’ Player profiles the Vees and Herald introduce you to goalie Luca Di Pasquo.
SCOUTING REPORT
Name: Luca Di Pasquo
Height: 6’1
Weight: 180 pounds
Position: Goalie
Glove: Right
Home: Livonia, Michigan
Age: 18
Vees Coaches: “Luca is an athletic goalie, who moves very efficiently and will rarely be seen out of position. He has great placement with his rebounds and keeps them to a minimum. Also, he has a calming presence in the net which will allow our team to play with trust and confidence. Finally, Luca is very skilled with the puck — he will be able to help with breakouts for our team with his strong passing ability,” said coach Fred Harbinson.
PLAYER BACKGROUND
Di Pasquo’s hometown of Livonia, Michigan may not resonate with Penticton hockey fans, but south of the border, it is a hockey hotbed. “There are about four to five rinks within easy driving distance from my house, and I live about 30 minutes away from both Detroit and the University of Michigan — there’s great hockey being played in my neighboyrhood at least every weekend,” Di Pasquo said. “My Dad and uncle both played hockey growing up, so I was in skates as soon as I could walk. I fell in love with hockey the day I touched the ice, and my love for the game has only gotten greater since.”
Di Pasquo is quite close with his family.
“Both my parents are from Sault St. Marie, Ont., so naturally they grew up around hockey. My older sister, who is the most impressive of the family, is a 3rd-degree black belt in taekwondo, just graduated early with a university degree and is now off to law school. Probably the best time we have all together is during football season in the fall; we have a big barbecue and watch the Sunday night NFL game.
“My dad is my biggest inspiration. Growing up, my sister and I always had what we needed, when we needed it. He put his life on pause to give us every opportunity we could ever need. On top of being a cancer survivor, he never fails to put a smile on our face. When times get tough or I feel like quitting, I think of every sacrifice he has made for my family, and use that to keep pushing.”
RECENT HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS
Last season, Di Pasquo played for the Maryland Black Bears in the North American Hockey League and posted impressive statistics of 16-11, a .924 save percentage, and a 2.34 GAA. He was named the NAHL Goaltender of the Month for October 2021 and earned a scholarship to Michigan State University the following month.
His favourite hockey moment wasn’t a save or a win, but a rare goalie moment, “I was playing for the U16 Honeybaked team, and with a few seconds left in the game, I caught the puck, dropped it, and shot it down the ice into the net. It will forever be one of my favourite memories not only in hockey, but in life.”
Di Pasquo admires NHL goalie Marc Andre Fleury, “My favourite NHL hockey team is the Pittsburgh Penguins. I grew up watching Fleury, who was a huge influence for me in becoming a goalie. I loved his all-yellow pads and the Pittsburgh baby blue jerseys. Even though he has been traded a few times since his days in Pittsburgh, he still remains my favorite hockey player.”
BEING A VEE
Di Pasquo looks forward to being the Vees’ starter this season. “I am really excited to be a part of the winning culture in Penticton. I believe being a part of a team where everyone is focused on working hard and improving their game is a recipe for development and growth. I am excited to be pushed by my teammates to be my best and help make my teammates better as well.”
The Marc-Andre Fleury flair for the dynamic does clearly excite him.
“I think the fans in Penticton will really appreciate my puck handling abilities. Puck handling is one of my strongest attributes and is something that is becoming rarer to see goalies do. I love making stretch passes or helping my defense clear the zone.”