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Rosenberg stepping up in Sych’s absence

Oct 26, 2016 | 12:00 PM

Almost two years ago, Ryan Rosenberg and the P.A.L. Junior Islanders were embarrassed in a midget game at Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational in Calgary, Alta.

Held annually beginning on Boxing Day, Mac’s tournament is one of the most prestigious midget level tournaments in the world, played in front of thousands of fans and often hundreds of scouts.

The Junior Islanders put together a last minute team and Rosenberg didn’t expect anything to come of the lopsided loss, but after the game he was approached by North Stars head scout Randy Buffie.

“I don’t know what Randy was thinking, but my team got blown out 7-1 or 9-1 and he pulls me out and goes, ‘We really like you,’” Rosenberg recalled after Tuesday’s practice at the Civic Centre. “I was debating between here and the Pembroke Lumber Kings in the [CCHL] and the president and [former coach] Kevin [Hasselberg] were constantly calling me and my family so we thought this was the right place to come and it paid off.”

Rosenberg hails from the community of Dix Hills, N.Y., which is on Long Island, roughly 45 km east of Queen’s, the most easterly borough of New York City. Dix Hills is one of several communities that are part of the town of Huntington, which has a population of over 200,000.

Despite, growing up just 30 kilometres from the home of the New York Islanders, the 19-year-old found himself becoming attached to their cross-town rivals.

“I did grow up an Islander fan … but as I grew older [my dad] started taking me to Ranger games and I fell in love with them,” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg’s favourite goalie is Ranger Henrik Lundqvist. His favourite defenceman is Ranger Ryan McDonagh. His favourite forward is Ranger Kevin Hayes. And Carl Hagelin – before he was traded away.

“I actually have [Hagelin’s] jersey,” Rosenberg said. “When we traded him away I was heartbroken. Everyone keeps telling me when I had really long hair that I actually looked like him, just not on the ice.”

It’s true, on the ice the North Stars’ 6’3” defenceman looks much different than Hagelin, a 5’11” speedy forward, now playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

When asked to describe his game for someone who has never seen him play, the words “hard working” and “compete” spring to mind.

“If anyone is near me with the puck, they probably won’t win that battle,” Rosenberg said.

But like all reliable defencemen in today’s faster game, the ability to move the puck is crucial.

Rosenberg is already more than halfway to last season’s point total of 13, with seven assists through 15 games. Many of those assists have come by moving the puck to the forwards in the neutral zone before the opposing defence can get set.

“The best part of my game is always the first pass out of the zone,” Rosenberg said. “I take pride in getting it out of the D-zone.”

Over the weekend, the North Stars coaching staff had a hole on their defensive depth chart after they were told defenceman Connor Sych would have to miss the next four games because of a suspension.

Sych had previously been paired with captain Kendall Fransoo, a veteran of 200 SJHL games.

So ahead of Friday’s game against Humboldt, they made the decision to plug Rosenberg into that hole.

“It’s a lot easier on the ice,” Rosenberg said, of playing with Fransoo. “He’s a great captain, a great leader and he talks a lot to me so it’s pretty easy to know where he is on the ice and make plays. So far it’s been working out.”

Indeed it has been working out, as the pairing has not allowed a goal in the two games since being put together (Rosenberg knocked on wood when bringing this up).

The coaching staff has also enjoyed what they’ve seen so far.

“They’re a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure,” North Stars associate coach Braeden Johnson said. “They’re two big bodies that play a very tough, defensive style of game and that’s what we like to see out of both of them.”

Off the ice, it’s immediately clear that Rosenberg likes to keep the mood light.

When asked what his goal song would be, he quickly said This is Hanukkah by Adam Sandler, an ode to his Jewish heritage. “Really get the boys laughing,” he explained. He even has a new nickname this season, instead of “Rosie,” it’s now “Raheem,” his Jewish name.

Johnson said it’s important having that kind of personality in the dressing room.

“It’s a long year and if you don’t have that kind of stuff in the dressing room it makes it even longer,” Johnson said. “So we appreciate those guys that can joke around and keep the mood light when things get tough.”

Speaking of tough, the North Stars early season schedule saw them play 10 of their first 14 games on the road. Now, however, they’re about to play a string of games at home.

“It’s always hard to start a season on the road and kind of build the momentum that we need,” Rosenberg said. “Now that our next 10 of 13 are home we’re really going to, I feel, take off and take over the lead in first.”

Tonight the North Stars are searching for their fourth straight win against division rival Kindersley. A win tonight, coupled with a Humboldt loss, puts Battlefords just one point back of first place.

 

Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11