Rothman Gordon Stories: Hockey has become a family affair for the DeNardos

Hockey has become a family affair for the DeNardos

Doug DeNardo has always been a hockey fan. He remembers as a boy sneaking off to watch the games on a second television set, as no one else in his family was interested. Now that Doug is the patriarch, all of that has changed. And he's no longer relegated to watching a small TV set in a back room but is now front and center, often keeping score, running the clock, and minding the penalty box.

It all began when his son, Joe, was 12 and developed an interest in hockey. Doug's wife Sharon wasn't sure at first, but Doug convinced her to let Joe try it out. Says Sharon, "When Joe started playing hockey he took to the game like he was always meant to play. I enjoyed watching Joe play and now Kelsey too; hockey is certainly a major adrenaline rush!" Joe began with the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League (PAHL), playing with the Arctic Foxes and then the Pittsburgh Aviators. Doug went from being a cheering parent in the stand to managing the teams.

Two years after Joe started playing, a neighbor of Doug's (who also happened to be the Senior VP of Officiating for the NHL) showed up at the door with some skates. His daughter was looking for another girl to play hockey with, and he thought Doug's daughter Kelsey had the stamina to keep up. Soon Kelsey had the hockey bug and also played in PAHL.

As their skills increased, so did their playing. In addition to playing the amateur leagues, Joe and Kelsey have played for the Moon Area Hockey Association, part of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL). Joe is now in college and may play next fall at California University of Pennsylvania. Kelsey has high school ahead of her and four years of practice, amateur games, and scholastic games, usually six nights a week. Doug has also stepped up his involvement. After managing teams for the Aviators, he managed Moon's varsity for three years and became a board member of the Moon Area Hockey Association. He was elected their president for 2007-08. Because hockey is not funded by the school, Doug has instituted new fund raisers to help defray costs. He also functions as a scout and as transportation (the back of his SUV is often crammed with gear as the team travels.)

Doug has been approached about becoming a league rep and has been encouraged to get his coaching card, things that he may pursue when Kelsey is off to college. At least that gives him four years to learn how to skate!

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