Just An Ice Guy

Reprinted with permission from the Melrose Parker Plus
Written by Tina Valentino

If it were up to Bob Nardella, his story might never be known. When the Sun-Times profiled him recently, he mentioned to hid mother that it was "no big deal." He considers himself to be simply "lucky"; his reserve and quiet humility are among his greatest attributes, but so is his fierce competitiveness, passion for the game of hockey and dedication to every sacrifice that the game has asked of him since he was four years old.

The son of Robert and Geri Nardella of Melrose Park, Bob hung up his baseball glove, his Gaels uniform and packed up his memories of playing winter street hockey with friends Jimmy Sorce and Joe Partipilo and his first two years at Holy Cross High School to go off alone to Des Moines, Iowa to follow a dream. Completing his junior and senior high school years in Iowa, he headed off to Ferris State University's Division 1 program, "where people watch you play and hopefully you get drafted," Nardella explained.

While the NHL never had the foresight to net Nardella because some scouts thought he was too small at 5'8", Nardella's resume is more impressive and career longer than many he knew who were fortunate enough to get the call from the NHL. "I'm still playing and they're not, so I guess I did something right," he laughs. It doesn't hurt that his mom goes to church before every game either.

He did more that something, that's for certain. At age 29, he may never have been the Chicago Blackhawk he dreamed of being as a young kid, but he has reached a few goals they haven't- and scored a few more than many, too. As a member of the Chicago Wolves, has led all Wolves defensemen; ranked 13th among IHL blueliners and tied for 10th among rookies with 49 points in the 1994-95 season. He tied for 1994-95 Wolves team led in post-season scoring and shots per period. As of December 16th statistics, Nardella has tallied 4 goals and 12 assists in 25 games played. Ironically, Nardella's Wolves teammate, Tim Breslin, was also a teammate back in 1977 when Nardella was a nine-year old player for the Chicago Jesters Squirts.

Numbers aside, Nardella's finest moments on the ice came during his five professional seasons in Europe, winning in 1991-92 with the Italian Alta Badia team; in 1992-93 with the Alleghe team and in 1995-96 with the Milan team. Winning with the Alleghe team ranks among his most enjoyable seasons and as an American and Italian citizen reflecting back, he savors the months he spent there, the relaxed lifestyles of its citizens and the breath-taking beauty of this mountainous Italian resort area-and the distant cousins in nearby regions that he met that he had never known before. Last season, however, might be classified as an emotional "tie," as the Melrose Parker was in the midst of a human powerplay: completing and winning the German Ice Hockey League championships and reveling in the birth of his, son, Robert, named for his father, who has always supported him.

Concentrating on home and away games with the Wolves, has given Nardella little time to dwell on the excitement ahead of him in Nagano, Japan. "The closer it gets, the more excited I'll get. I would like to have my family with me and that preoccupies me right now. I don't really think it's going to be possible because of the distance and expense, but we'll see."

Gearing up for world championship play is in Nardella's hot-blooded love for the sport and the Olympics will put the Italian team to the test as six "dream teams" are already being touted as the real contenders. The United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and the Czech Republic are the teams to beat since all are allowed to use their professional status players now. An optimistic Nardella reminds the wary, "We might just be able to do it."

According to preliminary scheduling, Men's Ice Hockey games in which Nardella will play are set for Saturday, February 7th, Sunday, February 8th and Tuesday, February 10th.

Win or lose beneath the 10,000 foot-high peaks of Nagano, Nardella will leave the "Roof of Japan and its staunchly traditional Asian society with memories and bonds of friendship that will b e frozen in time for the rest of his life. Hopefully, it will take the place of memories he missed working to be the best he could be, the Halloweens he practiced, forfeiting the luxury of trick-or-treating, the Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations booked with tournament play instead of silly child's play. His mother recalls the many nights Bob would beg the Veterans Park Police to leave the lights on at the Bataan ice rink so he could skate a little longer. Other nights, his mom would sit in the car with her headlights on the rink so Bob could skate "just another half hour."

Geri and Robert Nardella also have three daughters who are exceptionally proud of their "baby brother." Bob's parents made the sacrifices right along with him, working extra jobs, driving extra miles. Still his mother maintains, "Everything that happened or happens, is a family commitment. Together, wherever, we'll be there. We'll just pack up and leave." Among the sacrifices those around him have made, a few belong to his wife, Alicia, who met Bob while he was finishing high school in Iowa and patiently waited nine years for him to finish college, finish traveling and working in Europe. Now, whenever possible, she travels with him and takes their son with for inspiration.

Bob McAuliff, President and Chief Operation Officer for the Chicago Wolves, Mike Nardella, Bob's uncle, Hockey Operations for the Wolves, and the entire staff have applied a grass-roots and energetic philosophy into running the business of the organization. Mike Nardella, also of Melrose Park, is well-known and respected in hockey circles as a respected high school coach and former general manager in chicago; using all of its resources, the Wolves franchise encourages the team in its efforts to help the underprivileged and to reach people of all ages within the community through reading programs, hospital visits and fund-raising programs.

This year alone, nearly 30,00 children will be involved in the Wolves' "Read to Succeed" program. The Wolves' Hat Trick program, designed to raise funds for the schools and organizations while promoting educational enrichment, has been spearheaded by two sponsors who have operations in Melrose Park: Jewel-Osco, based in Melrose Park and Target, with a successful retail operation here.

Though many equate hockey with penalties, high-sticking and slashing, Bob Nardella's not a big fighter. Playing a different brand of hockey, using his speed and his head to make a difference, his philosophy is basic and tough in its own right: "I know what my role is on the team and I try to do my job." Looking back, "It has had many valleys and hard times. I've missed all of my friends. It's abut practice. And, if it's going to happen for you, it'll happen." It's happening. It is, as some might say, a very "cool" thing. With the world's eyes on the Olympics, hearts in Melrose Park will be pumping fast for Nardella as he takes to the ice. From Bataan Park to Nagano, Japan-the fact that the rink is bigger and smoother, and the lights much brighter cuts no ice for Bob Nardella. He's just an ice guy who loves the game.