Rivalry game helped Union land DeSimone

by Ryan Fay

Nick DeSimone, a defenseman for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, was one of the 2,254 in attendance at Messa Rink for Union's 4-3 win over Capital District rival RPI on November 15.

Experiencing of one college hockey's best rivalries helped sell him on coming to Union next season. He announced his commitment via Twitter two days after the game.

DeSimone

"It was pretty packed and pretty cool to see," said DeSimone, who was also recruited by Lake Superior State, RIT, and former Union head coach Nate Leaman's Providence Friars. "It was definitely one of the things that clinched it for me."

But the 19-year-old liked other things about Union as well.

"Just everything about the campus," DeSimone said. "It's pretty historic. The people that work there that I met were really personable. I feel like it's a really good fit for me."

He said Union first began to express interest after a showcase game against Mississauga on September 28. DeSimone registered a goal and an assist that day. The two parties kept in contact about once a week before escalating talks leading up to the commitment.

DeSimone, who leads all OJHL blueliners with 29 points (8 g, 21 a) in 27 games, said Union envisions him fitting in as an offensive defenseman. It's a well-timed match considering the program will lose at least one, and possibly two, offensive defenseman after the season.

The Dutchmen will graduate senior defenseman Mat Bodie, who has 11 assists in 11 games this season. Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who has four goals and eight assists in 11 contests, could sign with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft.

In the meantime, DeSimone will continue to hone his skills under Junior Sabres head coach/general manager Michael Peca, who recorded nearly 500 points in 13 NHL seasons before hanging up the skates in 2010.

"It's been great," DeSimone said of learning from Peca, who has been stressing keeping things simple. "You learn a lot from a guy who's been through it all and knows just about everything there is."

Related:
Q&A with Buffalo Junior Sabres head coach/general manager Michael Peca

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