Del Bianco's helpers give assist to local youth

Christian Del Bianco loves to lend a helping hand.

And his offer has often been made literally twice as nice in one fell swoop during his nine-year career with the Calgary Roughnecks.

For every assist the superstar goaltender contributes to his team's effort, Kidsport pockets $500-plus to help out Calgary youth.

A win-win, for sure.

“I'm proud that this program is entering its fifth year,” Del Bianco said of the Assists for Kids program, backed by Ascent Consulting Ltd. and the Roughnecks Foundation. “It's a great cause, and it obviously helps our ability to win games, and I think it's just something that I really take pride and enjoy.

“My goal is 20 assists this year, so we'll see if I can make that happen.”

That would be one more apple than the 19 he put up as a personal-best last season.

Heading into Friday's pivotal meeting between the Roughnecks (5-7) and the rival San Diego Seals (9-4) on Westjet Field at Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m., TSN+), Del Bianco has amassed 15 helpers in 12 games on the 2023-24 National Lacrosse League campaign.

And the NLL record is certainly within reach, that being 23 set by Colorado Mammoth goalie Erik Miller in 2003 and tied by the Rochester Knighthawks' Pat O'toole in 2007.

“Earning assists is a fun part of my game, in general,” said Del Bianco, who s now totalled 88 career assists. “I obviously enjoy it, right? I don't think there's many times that I'm as fired up in the game as when our guys score in transition.”

Particularly if it's off his pass, often a beauty long bomb over top of the enemy defence.

For instance, his three such assists last Friday night helped the Roughnecks rally from multiple four-goal deficits. Unfortunately, it was ultimately a stinging 13-12 overtime loss to the host Georgia Swarm.

But heartwarming is that it still meant $1,680 for the kids: $500 per from Ascent Consulting, with Del Bianco himself and the Roughnecks Foundation throwing in $30 apiece for each helper.

“We always joke about it,” said Del Bianco who, with the help of the Roughnecks, founded Assists for Kids with an idea brought up by the father of his fiancée, Hannah. “Shane Simpson scored an empty-netter a couple games back, and we kind of joked that he was doing it for the kids. But he was probably doing it for his goal totals.

“I think it's a fun little thing that we kind of joke around on the side. And it's obviously pretty awesome cause it goes to.”

Pretty awesome describes just how easy Del Bianco makes it look, especially the long-haul passes.

“In peewee, I felt like I was a little guy and that was kind of one of my stronger parts of my game compared to other goalies my age, so I just stuck with it,” said the 26-year-old native of Coquitlam, B.C.

“And then obviously just kind of messing around playing with a player's stick every once in a while, all the guys kind of joke around and make fun of me when I shoot the ball. Just keeping a stick in your hand, whether it be coaching or playing all the time, probably contributes to it.

“Even after practices, I'll be shooting on our other goalies once in a while, and I know they just hate it. Every chance they can, they'll make fun of me. So it's just fun, right?

“I think it's one of those parts of lacrosse where no matter how old you are, you're still kind of a big kid.”