Helping Out and Giving Back While Rehabbing

Peter Nicastro wishes he was playing football. Sadly, last year’s Canadian Football League Eastern Division Rookie of the Year and Eastern Conference all-star center has been sidelined with a horrific knee injury. The surgery and subsequent rehabilitation kept him out of action for the 2022 season thus far. The 6’2”, 305 lbs.

Nicastro is still around football. When time permits around his off-season rehabilitation, he is helping offensive line coaches Paul Carson and Aldo Laratta with the young Dinos offensive line.

“Peter (Nicastro) has gone through the process here (University of Calgary) so he understands what it takes for the players to be successful. Now he has been a professional, he can offer some maturity to our guys. It is great to have him out,” stated Carson who coached Nicastro during his entire tenure with the Dinos.

Nicastro’s credentials with the Dinos are impressive. A three-year starter, he was a key component on the 2019 National Championship’s team offensive line earning Canada West all-star status at guard. In 2017 and 2018 he played both guard spots and center. He earned the reputation as one of the most physical players in the Conference and has carried that through to the next level. Peter is one of three players from the 2019 offensive line that are on CFL rosters, the others being Logan Bandy (Saskatchewan Roughriders) and Tyler Packer (practice roster BC Lions).

The 23-year-old Nicastro’s presence has been appreciated by players such as “red-shirt” freshman guard Brady Szeman, who is in his first season of Canada West action after dressing for just one game in 2021.

“It is great to have him (Peter) out. I have learned a lot from him being present,” stated the 20-year-old 6’2”, 280 lbs. Szeman who also benefited of having his neighbor, former three-time CFL Western Conference all-star center Angus Reid, work with him in his hometown of Vernon, British Columbia in the off season.

Sophomore offensive tackle Sam Carson has also benefited from Nicastro’s presence showing Sam the nuances of playing in the interior of the offensive line.

“He (Nicastro) has shown me how to be a better player. It is good to have a current CFL player give reinforcement,” stated Sam who saw Peter develop into the player he is now.

“People helped me out when I was young. It is good to come out, be around football and help the young players develop,” stated Nicastro who was drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2021 CFL Draft.

The Dinos will host the University of Alberta Golden Bears on Friday, September 16 at 6 PM at McMahon Stadium.