Monday, November 24, 2008

Grimaldi is Well Rounded

MWEHL Player Profile

Rocco is a tenacious and fearless center forward who works hard at every practice and in every game. He prides himself in being a spark for his team and uses his consistency, speed, and determination to make a difference every time he steps onto the ice. He is respected for his vision on the ice, his passion for the sport, his relentless work ethic, and his tremendous leadership and maturity.

Rocco was privileged to have played 3 years in a row at the Quebec Pee Wee World Championships in 2004, 2005 & 2006, to have been selected Brick Tournament MVP, and for being featured in Sports Illustrated for Kids. Rocco has won 6 national roller hockey championships, playing both offense & defense and has earned numerous team titles, MVP honors, & "Fastest Skater" competitions. He was named both MVP and High Scorer at the 2007 Michigan State Ban Major Finals, at the 2007 NAHL Midget Minor Showcase in Minnesota, and recently at the 2008 Michigan State MidMinor Championships. Rocco recently earned the 2008 U16 National Championship Title w/ his Little Caesars Team. Rocco began travel hockey in California at 5 years old and has earned the majority of these achievements while playing up in older age divisions.

Rocco is a 10th grade, high honor roll student at Oakland Christian High School, with a 3.94 GPA. He has served as Class President, played on his school soccer team,& has volunteered at the Salvation Army Camp & Grace Centers of Hope in Michigan. He was awarded the U.S. President's Certificate for Educational Excellence in academics, leadership, and character, and for the past 2 years, he was recognized for achieving in the top 10th percentile in the nation on the ACT Explore Test. Rocco aspires to be drafted to the NHL and afterwards, he plans to attend Bible school and to become a Pastor of a church.


Some people look at these players that are going through the Major Junior draft process and just focus on the hockey player and not the person. Rocco seems like an all around teenagers. I am even more impressed just reading his biography then his stats. Whatever route he chooses whether it's the NTDP, OHL, or the USHL, he should succeed.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

He's no Saint. Maybe he wants to go to Bible school and pastor a church to make amends for 3rd-man-in opportunistic hits on opponents last year. He's probably seeking forgiveness for his role in a cowardly attack that almost ended another player's career. Of course, he's still young & everyone makes mistakes. When hits are fair, whatever happens happens, but when a coward goes around trying to land punches on guys who are already mixing it up with someone else, it doesn't seem like he should be getting a free ride in the blogosphere or other media. Sure he's got great skills, but he's got growing to do in more ways than one before you start fawning over him so much.