Rohrer roaring with two goals, but 67 still fall on penalty shootout to Kingston

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All it took was the appearance of a compatriot of some notoriety, almost Austrian hockey royalty actually, for Ottawa 67 rookie Vinzenz Rohrer to be highly promoted.

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With Michael Rossi, the father of former 67 superstar Marco, watching from the bleachers in Section 11, Rohrer posted his first multi-goal game in a ’67 uniform to draw attention to the future No. 1 pick of the league. NHL, Shane Wright, at least for one night.

The 67 managed to keep Wright off the roster while Rohrer, arguably the second-best 67 in the history of little Feldkirch, Austria and the No. 1 pick of 67 in the 2021 import draft, put on a show with his first. game of multiple goals and the first -Selection of stars.

It just wasn’t enough, as Wright scored the only goal of the penalty shoot-out to take the Frontenacs past 67’s 4-3 on a penalty shoot-out in the Arena at TD Place on Tuesday night, with 1,752 looking. .

Feldrich is also home to the Rossi family, the two families are almost neighbors, and the 67 will have a strong exploration presence in the area for the foreseeable future on Rossi Sr., who is heading to Des Moines, Iowa, to see his son turn it on with the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild.

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“(Marco) was my best childhood friend,” Rohrer said. “We played mini-sticks all the time when we were kids and went on vacation with our families.

“We talked a bit when he went to Canada. Then when I came home, we would talk all the time about what it’s like to go play in Ottawa and Canada on the small ice. He explained the environment. He explained last year how to play against the best youth players ”.

The 67 setback gives Kingston a 3-2 lead in the 12-game season series between the two clubs. They don’t meet again until December 5 and then meet six times between December 30 and March 16.

Rohrer hit the 67 on the board when he stole the puck from a Kingston defender deep in the Frontenacs end and beat goalkeeper Levi Merilainen at 14:44.

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The Fronts got that back less than two minutes later, Francesco Arcuri scored on Will Cranley.

Less than six minutes from the second, it was Rohrer again with his fourth of the season to send the 67 up 2-1.

Seconds later, Rohrer almost had his third, Merilainen only got a part of his shot with the shaft of his stick sending the puck off the post.

Rohrer’s two-goal night also brings his points total to 12 in his first 13 games.

“I knew he was handy,” 67 head coach Dave Cameron said. “So the first thing I liked was their level of competence. He loves the game. He is passionate about the game. When you put a high level of skill with passion, you have a player.

“However, all I see is that he is that type of player who wants something to happen on every play. And you can not “.

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The 67 regained the lead at the end of the period and again Rohrer was in action, the 67 in the power play, with his linemate Vsevolod Gaidamak, the first choice of the 67 in the 2020 import draft, picking up his seventh in the young season.

The 67 were less than six minutes away from victory when Christopher Thibodeau drew 3-3 with a power play goal at 2:36 pm.

As for Rossi Sr., making the trip, well, he always enjoyed his trips to Ottawa to watch his son play for extended periods. He stays in constant contact with 67’s general manager, James Boyd.

Along the way, he also made some area connections and helped send four prospects to the CIH (Canadian Academy of International Hockey) in Rockland. Three are young Austrians while the fourth is from Italy.

“Austrian hockey is good, but to do it you have to come to Canada,” Rossi said.

“I think JB wants me to be his European scout,” he said as he laughed.

“Maybe to give them a little of that Rossi’s magic.

“Actually, we lived 500 meters apart and we used to go on vacation together. But not in the last two or three years when hockey got too busy for both families. “

Rossi quickly gets back on the road to see the recruits he has helped play in Salt Lake City, Utah, before finally heading to Des Moines to see his son.