In case we forgot... Rocco Grimaldi

Last season was a lost season for University of North Dakota's highly regarded and talented freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi - his season was cut short by a knee injury, more specifically by a rather rare condition called bipartite patella.

Definition: A bipartite patella occurs when the patella, or kneecap, occurs as two separate bones. Instead of fusing together in early childhood, the patella remains separated. A bipartite patella is usually not a problem; it occurs in at least 1 percent of the population, and perhaps more.

Rocc had season ending knee surgery to repair the aforementioned bipartite patella and is expected to be 100 percent to start the 2012-13 season.

In case anyone has forgot - this is what Rocco Grimaldi is going to add the UND hockey line-up. [Rocco Grimaldi's first collegiate goal against the Gophers]

I see Grimaldi as a top six forward that will bring an element of speed that UND hasn't seen in a very long time. Well, unless it was the Fighting Sioux playing against the Boston College Eagles in the NCAA Playoffs and we know how those games played out. When I think of small UND forwards, the name Jeff Panzer comes to mind.

I would compare Grimaldi to a Brian Gionta or a Nathan Gerbe type of players - very quick, smart and elusive type player that is going to be very dangerous when he gets behind the opposition's defense. I believe his speed is going to strike fear in the oppositions defenders and goaltenders.

Last season I had an opportunity to watch Rocco Grimaldi skate in practice – this was right before he made his season ending announcement that he needed to have season ending surgery to repair his bipartite patella – even at 75-80 percent, Grimaldi was an amazing skater that had an extra gear that we haven’t seen for a very long time.

Rocco Grimaldi on the Pipeline show

This past Tuesday, UND forward freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi was on the Pipeline show with Guy Flaming. [Click to listen]

For those that are wondering about Rocco's recovery from the knee surgery. There is some good news. Last week, Rocco said that he has been skating for 45 minutes three times a week.

Rocco was asked if he was disappointed for not getting drafted in the first round of the 2011 NHL draft.

“Friday was definitely an interesting day as well," Grimaldi said.

"Getting there obviously like you said I was a wild card and I was told that too. So I wasn’t surprised about that I might go first, second, third, fourth whatever. So I was kind of just sitting there not knowing anything, like I know that some kids have an inkling enough of where they might end up, but I literally had nothing… Like I had no idea, so I am sitting there waiting and waiting and you know I thought it was a possibility, I heard end of the first beginning of the second, was probably where I was about to go. You know, obviously you want to go as high as you can, not that it matters but that was me personally, the first day ended and I didn’t get picked and I will be honest I was pretty upset. I wasn’t a very happy camper.”

Roco was asked about his faith and if it has ever been an issue for any of his fellow teammates.

“No I don’t think so,” Grimaldi said. Especially not with teammates, or those close to me because they know the true me; they know that’s just me and how I live my. I believe in the Lord. That’s just my life, Jesus is my life, and they know that and respect that. We just both respect each other. If we have something between us that kind of boiling and kind of getting angry, you know it’s the respect factor.“

"For the people that don’t know me, I don’t know. I obviously gotten some critics I guess just from the things that I have said. Most of them being misconstrued but there is nothing I can do about that. I am not really too concerned about what others are saying about me. As long as the Lord has said good things about me I am not too concerned about other people say about me.”

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