Trio of Rangers selected in NHL draft
Damiani and Mascherin are picked up by Dallas, while Winnipeg takes Vallati
Rino Damiani was getting nervous.
It was midway through the fifth round of Saturday’s National Hockey League draft and son Riley had yet to hear his name at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
“I just had to go to the bathroom,” he admitted. “I’m not good under pressure.”
With the hometown Dallas Stars on the clock, he thought he found his break.
“I didn’t think Dallas was going to pick him,” said Rino. “I thought, just let me go to the bathroom and get this over with.”
The father of three bolted to the washroom and when he came out he got the surprise of a lifetime.
“I see on the TV in the concourse that Riley is on the floor with a Dallas uniform on,” he said.
As it turned out, Damiani was selected in the fifth round (137th overall). He was one of three Kitchener Rangers taken in the draft.
Leading scorer Adam Mascherin took a gamble by opting back into the draft after he couldn’t come to terms with the Florida Panthers, who selected him in the second round two years back.
Mascherin went in the fourth round (100th overall), also to the Stars, while the Winnipeg Jets took Rangers defenceman Giovanni Vallati in the fifth round (153rd overall).
Elora’s Mitchell Hoelscher, of the Ottawa 67’s, was a sixthround pick by the New Jersey Devils. The centre played minor hockey for the Waterloo Wolves and later dressed for the Elmira Sugar Kings.
Damiani met Stars management and did a media blitz for about half an hour after his name was called. Then he finally got a chance to see his dad (and mom Jen) in the parents lounge in the arena. “He just said he was proud of me and that he loved me,” said Damiani. “He said he was sorry for having to go right at that time.”
The 18-year-old was anxious, as well.
“It’s stressful,” admitted Damiani.
“I was just waiting and waiting. It’s the biggest sigh of relief when you hear your name. All the weight came off my shoulders. Now the work begins.”
There were a few extra cheers from the hometown crowd as the Mississauga native slipped on the green, black and silver Stars sweater.
Later, more fans offered congratulations as he walked around the city with his parents.
By then, the family was laughing at Rino’s timing.
“When I get up to go to the bathroom at Kitchener games he scores,” his father said. “I think I brought him some good luck.”
Damiani planned to spend Saturday evening by his hotel pool with his folks.
On Sunday, Dallas Stars development camp was slated to start.
For Rino and Jen, it seems like just yesterday that their middle child was playing for the Mississauga Rebels.
Now, he has realized his dream. “It’s unbelievable,” said Rino. “He did it all himself.”