Rosenberg stepping up in Sych’s absence
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.”