Rossi puts on a show for 67’s again Spitfires

Austrian rookie forward stays on a roll scoring another two goals in victory

67’S 4, SPITFIRES 1 A wise, somewhat older junior hockey legend watched 5-9 dynamo Marco Rossi score a jaw-dropping goal during an intra-squad game at Ottawa 67’s training camp and turned to his sidekicks and said: “That kid is going to lead the (67’s) in scoring one day.”

Then, after clearing his throat a little: “On second thought .... maybe even THIS year” and asked that the remark be off the record.

Well 10 games into his still fledging junior hockey career, the just-turned 17-year-old is beginning to make that assessment prophetic.

Rossi scored his fifth and sixth goals in his past four games of the 10-game-old 2018-19 season as the 67’s ran their win streak to four with an impressive 4-1 win over the Windsor Spitfires on Friday night with 2,153 witnesses in the Arena at TD Place.

The two-goal game leaves Rossi leading all OHL rookies in scoring with nine points. And he’s a legitimate threat to become the first 67’s rookie to do so since Travis Konecny in 2013-14 with 26 goals and 60 points in 63 games to easily beat out current Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner, who was second with half Konecny’s goal total and 59 points.

Rossi is currently on a fourgame goal-scoring run which began Oct. 6 with his first twogoal performance and he also has an assist during the stretch for seven points in his last 12 periods.

“It started in Barrie with my first goal and it seems I’ve started to get more confidence,” said Rossi after his first of many first star selections to come.

Dare the hunt for a nickname begin. Right now, he’s just “Marco” but “Marco the Magnificent” or “Rocket Rossi” could easily apply.

And Rossi is really only getting started as he builds a resume towards a potential top two pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Rossi will attempt to extend his run Sunday afternoon against the Erie Otters with the 67s donning special jerseys with the Redblacks logo.

As for Rossi, who only turned 17 late last month, he hails from the tiny Austrian town of Feldkirch, and Rossi is already making a case toward becoming Feldkirch’s best athlete since ski legend Wiltrud Drexel in the 1950s.

Feldkirch borders on Austria and Liechtenstein, which is fitting because since arriving in Ottawa in late August, Rossi has bordered on either side of the spectacular every time he takes the ice. He lines up between Tye Felhaber and Austen Keating to form the league’s most prolific line to date.

“Keats and Felly are so good to play with,” said Rossi. “After every shift we’re always talking and it’s great that I’m able to play with them.”

The three have been together as a line for four full games plus one period and just could be a major reason for the 67’s current streak.

Both Felhaber and Keating rave constantly about Rossi’s “hockey IQ” and while maybe the two veterans don’t have an IQ on the same level, they are certainly smart enough to take full advantage of a good thing and Rossi is the one who makes the line go.

“Marco’s the real deal,” said Felhaber. “He really is.”

After a scoreless opening period, Rossi opened the scoring with a nifty tip on a shot fired from the point by 67’s defenceman Hudson Wilson at 7:55.

A little more than six minutes later, Keating fed a pass across the ice and Rossi buried it past the league’s best goaltender in Michael DiPietro.

Windsor’s Kyle McDonald halved the lead on a 67’s giveaway late in the period but the 67’s found a way to put it away in the third with Cedrick Andree continuing his strong play with 23saves.

Soon-to-be 67’s captain Sasha Chmelevski counted his second in his last two games, rimming a pass around the boards to Merrick Rippon at the point then getting the puck back behind the Windsor net and scoring on a wraparound.

Felhaber scored his ninth into an empty net to complete things