Mike Rosati
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Michael Anthony Rosati (born January 7, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian-born Italian professional ice hockey player. Rosati became the first player to play in a game in the NHL after earning an Italian passport and playing for Italy.
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[edit] Early years
Mike Rosati started his career by playing in the Ontario Hockey League and was soon drafted by the New York Rangers in 1988 NHL Entry Draft (#131 pick). Rosati was initially placed in the ECHL, but after a disappointing season, decided to play in Italy. Rosati would find much more success in Italy, and played for the Bolzano Hockey Club. In the 90's Rosati would lead Bolzano to two Italian Hockey Championships, and would earn himself the place of goaltender for the Italian national hockey team, who would go on to compete in the 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics.
[edit] The 90s and the NHL Experience
By the second half of the 90s the Italian hockey movement had gone through a difficult period, and Rosati moved to Germany. It was here that Rosati played for Adler Mannheim of the DEL. In 1998, after two seasons of consistent play with Adler Mannheim, Rosati signed with the Washington Capitals. Rosati was the third goaltender of the team, behind Olaf Kolzig and Craig Billington. After the shift to the Portland Pirates farm team, it seemed that Rosati's chances to play in the NHL were fading away, and that he was destined to spend his career in the minor leagues, but the injury of the Craig Billington put him directly on the bench. On November 7, 1998 the incumbent Capitals goalie, Olaf Kölzig, suffered an injury and Rosati made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators in a match won by the Capitals 8–5. Rosati played 28 minutes and didn't allow any goal. Unfortunately, his solid performance was only an isolated case; he finished the season with the Manitoba Moose of the IHL. Despite a stellar stint with the Moose, Rosati decided to come back to Mannheim where he played four more seasons.
[edit] Retirement & Coaching
Rosati retired in 2004 while playing for a German second division team. In the 2004–05 season Rosati was the Adler Mannheim assistant coach and worked with Stéphane Richer and Helmut de Raaf (who played with Rosati for multiple seasons).
[edit] Player career
- 1984–85 St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHLB)
- 1986–89 Hamilton Steelhawks (relocated: Niagara Falls Thunder) (OHL)
- 1989–90 Erie Panthers (ECHL)
- 1990–96 Hockey Club Bolzano (Italian Serie A)
- 1996–98 Adler Mannheim (DEL)
- 1998–99 Portland Pirates (AHL) - Washington Capitals (NHL)
- 1998–99 Manitoba Moose (IHL)
- 1999–03 Adler Mannheim (DEL)
- 2003–04 Heilbronn Falcons (German 2. Bundesliga)
