Rocco Grimaldi
Encyclopedia
Rocco Niccolas Grimaldi (born February 8, 1993) is an American
ice hockey
player who plays for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Grimaldi was drafted by the Florida Panthers
in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft
. At the age of five, Grimaldi started to play roller hockey in California. In 2005, Grimaldi and some of his family relocated to Michigan so that he could play against a better level of competition.
against junior teams in the United States Hockey League
. During the 2009-10 season, Grimaldi led the United States Under 17 national team in scoring with 40 points in 36 games. He was then promoted to the Under 18 team and helped the team win their second straight World Championship on April 10, 2010. In the gold medal game versus Sweden, Grimaldi had one goal and one assist as the United States triumphed by a 3-1 mark. Rocco Grimaldi scored twice vs. Finland on Friday, November 12 at the 2010 Men's Under-18 Four Nations Cup.
During the 2010–11 season, he led Team USA in scoring with 34 goals and 28 assists in 50 games. Grimaldi was eligible to be drafted into the National Hockey League
(NHL) in 2011
. Prior to the draft, there were concerns about his size. At 5'6", he is smaller than most NHL players. Grimaldi is not concerned about his size, and takes the questions about it in stride, "I think it’s fun." The 2011-12 Hockey Prospectus ranked Grimaldi as its #36 best hockey prospect noting that he "overcomes his diminutive size with off the chart intangibles and physical ability."
Grimaldi committed to the University of North Dakota
and entered his freshman season for the Fighting Sioux in the 2011-12 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who plays for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Grimaldi was drafted by the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...
. At the age of five, Grimaldi started to play roller hockey in California. In 2005, Grimaldi and some of his family relocated to Michigan so that he could play against a better level of competition.
Playing career
Grimaldi played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development ProgramUSA Hockey National Team Development Program
The National Team Development Program was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players in the country under the age of 18, and centralize their training. There are two teams in the program, an Under-17 squad and an Under-18 squad. The teams are both based in Ann...
against junior teams in the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. During the 2009-10 season, Grimaldi led the United States Under 17 national team in scoring with 40 points in 36 games. He was then promoted to the Under 18 team and helped the team win their second straight World Championship on April 10, 2010. In the gold medal game versus Sweden, Grimaldi had one goal and one assist as the United States triumphed by a 3-1 mark. Rocco Grimaldi scored twice vs. Finland on Friday, November 12 at the 2010 Men's Under-18 Four Nations Cup.
During the 2010–11 season, he led Team USA in scoring with 34 goals and 28 assists in 50 games. Grimaldi was eligible to be drafted into the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) in 2011
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...
. Prior to the draft, there were concerns about his size. At 5'6", he is smaller than most NHL players. Grimaldi is not concerned about his size, and takes the questions about it in stride, "I think it’s fun." The 2011-12 Hockey Prospectus ranked Grimaldi as its #36 best hockey prospect noting that he "overcomes his diminutive size with off the chart intangibles and physical ability."
Grimaldi committed to the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
and entered his freshman season for the Fighting Sioux in the 2011-12 season.
Personal life
Grimaldi was born in Rossmoor, California. He started playing organized hockey when he was five. When he was first exposed to the game, he thought it looked more exciting than baseball. Grimaldi is a devout born again Christian.Awards and honors
- U17 WHC All-Star Team (2009–10)
- U17 WHC Gold Medal (2009–10)
- U17 WHC Most Assists (2009–10)
- U17 WHC Most Points (2009–10)
- 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships2010 IIHF World U18 ChampionshipsThe 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships was the 12th edition of the IIHF World U18 Championship. The tournament was held in Minsk and Babruysk, Belarus between April 13 and April 23, 2010. Tournament games were played at the Minsk Sports Palace in Minsk and the Babruysk Arena in Babruysk...
Gold Medal (2009–10) - USHL All-Star Game (2010–11)