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. He was the first Italian goalie to play in the NHL.
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[edit] Early years
He began playing on Canadian minor leagues and soon arrived the call of New York Rangers in 1988 NHL Entry Draft (#131 pick). Initially he was shifted on farm teams and decided to move in Italy at the Hockey Club Bolzano where his talent burst out: two Italian Hockey Championships and the achievement of Italian national hockey team who will lead throughout the 90s and in 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics.
[edit] The 90s and the NHL Experience
On second half of the 90s the Italian hockey movement gone through a difficult period and Rosati moved in Germany, playing for Adler Mannheim. After two seasons, on 1998 he was signed by Washington Capitals to be the third goalie of the team. After the shift to Portland Pirates farm team, it seemed that his light was fading away spending the rest of his NHL career on minor leagues, but the injury of the second Capitals goalie 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 on a match won by the Capitals 8-5. Rosati played 28 minutes and didn't allow any goal. Unfortunately, his good performance was only an isolated case; he finished the season in another farm team and decided to come back in Mannheim where he played for four seasons.
[edit] Retirement & Coaching
He retired in 2004 when he was playing for a German second division team. On 2004-05 seasons he's been the Adler Mannheim assistant coach and worked with Stéphane Richer and Helmut de Raaf (who played with Rosati for some 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)
