Feature Story

Sacchetti living hockey all day, every day

 

By Jon Garver

 

Welcome to Minnesota’s Iron Range – home of such things as Ironworld USA, the world’s largest floating loon and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. The Iron Range has also been home to some of the greatest players and teams in the state’s rich hockey history. Of all those great teams, Virginia was one of those schools that just couldn’t seem to get over the hump and reach the state tournament, until recently.

Paced by the dynamic duo of Matt Niskanen and a fresh-faced kid named Nico Sacchetti, the Blue Devils found their way to St. Paul for their first state tournament appearance in 2005. Today, Niskanen is a rookie in the NHL with the Dallas Stars, while Sacchetti resides in Omaha, playing in the USHL with the Lancers.

Like many players, Sacchetti has had to adjust to living away from home for the first time. And like others, Sacchetti had to make the decision not only to leave home, but also to leave his high school and teammates behind.

“There was a lot of time put into making the decision and I had to weigh the positives and negatives of each choice, but after being here for a couple months I know I made the right one,” Sacchetti said. “It’s been going really well. It was definitely a tough transition being away from home, but once I adjusted I fell in love with it. My life is hockey all day every day and I’d have it no other way.

“I think we have the best facilities and staff in the entire league; we get treated extremely well. Also, there’s a certain pride you feel when you throw on the Lancer jersey. So many greats have passed through the halls, and many more are to come and it’s something special to be a part of the tradition.”

After Omaha, Sacchetti will move to the next phase of his hockey life and fulfill a childhood dream by playing at the University of Minnesota.

“Being from Minnesota, I’ve always had the dream of wearing the ‘M.’ When I got to the age where I could commit I looked at various schools in the league and it was no question that Minnesota was the best fit for me,” Sacchetti said.

Beyond college, Sacchetti has a career in professional hockey to look forward to. Last summer, he was a second round draft pick of the Dallas Stars.

“The experience of being at the draft and hearing your name get called is something I can’t simply describe. You have to be there first-hand to see how special it really is. To walk down to the stage, hear the fans cheering, and put the Dallas jersey on; I don’t know if I will ever get that feeling again in my life,” Sacchetti said.

Going to Dallas could also lead to a reunion with his one-time teammate Niskanen, who Sacchetti referred to as the best player he’d ever played with.  But he is also smart enough to know that such a reunion is years away.

“I’ve got such a long road ahead of me; Dallas still seems like something I could only dream of.  Right now I’m just focusing on working as hard as I can every day and hopefully I’ll be able to experience that thrill one day.”

 

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