To prepare for the final showdown, which will be a round robin before a one-on-one, best-of-three final, Roebuck plays between 2-4 hours a day against some high-level competition.
"Some days I'll go lower or some days I'll go over," he said. "Now, it's a little more over.
"There are sites that you can play other top guys. I've been doing that. In the gaming organization, SetToDestroyX, there are people in there and I'll play friendly matches. They'll give me feedback on weaknesses. I'm lucky to have those guys helping me."
The tournament is broken into three regions: United States; Canada; and Europe. In order to be one of eight qualifiers for the playoffs a player must win their entire bracket. On Easter weekend Roebuck triumphed in a field of 1,024 competitors.
Roebuck, whose gamer tag is JrPens91, went to Connecticut for the playoff round. He emerged from the United States bracket, along with John Wayne Casagranda (JohnWaynee90).
"I've got a couple things I'm working on (for the championship game), but I don't want to give anything away," Roebuck laughed.
Roebuck has exceled both on the ice and on the video screen, but his love of hockey came from watching the WBS Penguins during his youth.
"I grew up watching the Wilkes-Barre Penguins. It's neat seeing all those guys start off here and making names for themselves in Pittsburgh," said Roebuck, whose favorite player was Colby Armstrong.
But his love isn't limited to eastern Pennsylvania.
"Growing up my parents would usually make a yearly trip out to Pittsburgh to see a (Penguins) game," said Roebuck, who has family residing in the area.
Roebuck's most memorable game was during Sidney Crosby's rookie season when he collected his 100th point against the NY Islanders late in the year.
"I still have the ticket," he said.
Roebuck said he would love to play Crosby one day in NHL 18. But for now his focus is on winning the jackpot in Vegas.
For more about Roebuck, check out his bio by
clicking here
.
