Rocco Grimaldi

Rocco Niccolas Grimaldi (born February 8, 1993) is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Grimaldi was drafted by the 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.

Playing career

Grimaldi played AAA Hockey for Detroit Little Caesars during the 2008–2009 season, collecting 43 points with 17 goals and 26 assists in 31 games. He then played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program 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.