“You have a lot going through your head when you hear that you almost died.” Marco Rossi, who was seriously ill with Covid-19 in December 2020, has won his toughest fight. The 20-year-old is healthy again and has finally made it to the NHL.
On Friday night, the Feldkirch native made his debut in front of his parents Claudia and Michael as the eighth Austrian in the best ice hockey league in the world. In the jersey with the number 23 of the Minnesota Wild, which “picked” him on October 7, 2020 in the NHL draft and carefully introduced him to the first team via the farm team, the Iowa Wild (23 scorer points in 21 matches).
“You were my motivation”
Rossi started without a goal and without assist, but like Thomas Vanek in 2005 (then in the dress of the Buffalo Sabers) with a victory in the NHL. Minnesota ended in front of 17,850 spectators in the TD Garden in Boston with the 3-2 against the Bruins a negative series of five defeats.
“I looked up to all Austrians who had played in the NHL before me. They were my motivation. I always said to myself: I’m from Austria too, I’ll make it too,” explained Rossi, who – albeit with teething problems – kept my word.
“The doctors said I shouldn’t do any more sport,” says the Feldkirch native, who was diagnosed with myocarditis as a long-covid consequence. Fortunately, today he is the old man again – or, as he himself says, “the better Marco” – and more than a year later he is where he has always wanted to be.
The national player had an ice time of 16:19 minutes and was also allowed to participate in the power play – a matter for the gifted players. The reviews were positive across the board. “Each of us delivered a solid performance – we won it as a team, the boys played their part,” said Minnesota striker Mats Zuccarello. Coach Dean Evason, who had to cope with many failures, was “proud of everyone”.
Rossi himself surfed a wave of emotions. “The whole day was exciting, now it feels very good. For me, a childhood dream has come true,” said Rossi in an interview with Sky. “It’s nice that my parents were there. Because they really did everything for me.”
Because Minnesota’s top attacker Kirill Kaprisow injured himself in Boston, Rossi should also be on Sunday night (2 a.m.). Then it gets really atmospheric at the home premiere in the 17,954 spectator “Xcel Energy Center” in St. Paul. The Washington Capitals are advancing – with none other than Alexander Ovetschkin.
Michael Raffl knows the Russian superstar very well from their Capitals times. Now the 33-year-old Villacher is storming for the Dallas Stars, on Epiphany he contributed his fourth goal of the season, the interim 1: 1 (13th), to the 6: 5 success after penalty shootout against the Florida Panthers.
These are good times for Austria’s figureheads.
Source: Nachrichten
