Wide Shoulders?

SHOWTIME FOR ROCCO

He is the smallest guy on the team with the coolest name the biggest heart and plays the most exciting brand of hockey. And he finds his fanny directly on a hot griddle here in frozen Ufa, Russia. USA's Rocco Grimaldi has been given a spot on the first line with John Gaudreau and J.T. Miller since the second day of minicamp, and they have contributed 0 points, nada, flat line.  TSN commentators shake their head at Grimaldi's unwillingness to pass.  And he is needed more than ever.  

USA takes on Canada in what is shaping up as a critical game for the Yanks, in a tournament in which their defense is outscoring their forwards.  Should Grimaldi hold his spot on that first line, he must start finding his linemates with the puck, and soon, or he will find himself off the hot seat onto a cold one, chilling on the end of the bench.

As a tiny 17 year old he was a very late cut for the Buffalo WJC, and a nagging knee injury kept him out of Alberta last year.  This is Rocco's coming out party, the little big man that has won gold at every junior World tournament except the U-20.  The time has come to produce, or face the sobering knowledge of one's limitations.  He has been ignoring and skating through limitations his whole life. He must do it tonight, or face the consequences.  Pressure makes diamonds.