Maine Hockey Journal

Grimaldi assigned to Portland

The Florida Panthers, NHL affiliate of the Portland Pirates, today announced the assignment of forward Rocco Grimaldi to the Pirates.

Grimaldi, a 5-foot-6, 160 pound center from Rossmoor, California, began the season on Injured Reserve with the Panthers after sustaining an injury during Florida’s Training Camp. The 22 year-old is in his second professional season. He played seven games with the Panthers last season and scored his first NHL goal on November 22, 2014 against the Nashville Predators.

In the AHL last season, Grimaldi played 64 games for the San Antonio Rampage, netting 14 goals and adding 28 assists for 42 points, which was fifth most on the team.

Last season, he became one of the only players in hockey history to play an AHL game and an NHL game on the same day. On November 18, 2014, Grimaldi skated in a game with San Antonio against the Oklahoma City Barons in the morning, but was recalled by Florida after the second period. He joined the Panthers later that day in Los Angeles and played for them that night against the Kings.

A Panthers Second Round draft choice (33rd overall) in 2011, Grimaldi played three seasons of NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey at the University of North Dakota before turning pro. Before that, he played two seasons in the US National Team Development Program. He won a Gold Medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, netting two goals in the Championship Game against Sweden, including the game winning goal.

Via Portland Pirates

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