The Adirondack Thunder are coming off their first season in which they didn’t qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. This of course being the case despite hitting the ice for 63 games last season. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a few new faces signing the Thunder, and today, we will get to know defensemen Steven Ruggiero who signed with the Thunder back on July 23rd.
Who Is Steven Ruggiero?
Steven has already tasted success as he won gold in The Five Nations Tournament in 2013 and then would be a part of the U.S. World Junior Team that won gold in 2014. “It was great for me. Going to Five Nations at the beginning, it was my first introduction to playing as an American overseas and kinda seeing some of the talent over there and I really think it showcased the competition and some of the up and coming prospects you wouldn’t normally see on a daily basis in the United States and being able to play with the USDP and go to the classic was even more special and unique and every game was filled with clipboards and scouts galore and the pressure was on more than it would be in a normal season and you get to learn how to teach yourself how to handle adversity and overcome the ups and downs of a tournament like that,” Ruggiero said.
His professional career began in 2015 when he was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round. “It was great. It was obviously a surreal experience, I went down to the Draft that year, it was in Florida and I went down with my parents, sister, and a few friends of mine along with my grandparents, so I had a nice little crew with me, it was definitely a little bit of a stressful experience as I wasn’t sure as it got into the later rounds if my name was gonna get called, but once it did get called, I was obviously stoked about it and it’s something I’ll never forget and I’ll cherish it forever,” said Ruggiero. After finishing college at Lake Superior State University, Steven spent most of last year with the Ducks ECHL affiliate, the Tulsa Oilers. He appeared in 57 games with the Oilers, putting up five goals and four assists in nine games. He also appeared in one game with their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.
Why Is Steven Excited To Play In Glens Falls?
It may be his first season with the Thunder, but Steven is already familiar with the playing style of some of his new teammates. The Kings Park, New York native played against Charlie Curti when he was with the United States Development Program and Nick Hutchison, from nearby Hicksville, New York, was a player he got to play a lot when he was younger and looked up to him as well.
When asked about getting to play in Glens Falls, Steven said, “I’m really stoked about it. I think it’s gonna be a great opportunity, there’s something special about being able to play in your state, the townspeople and everyone around Adirondack has experienced the highs and lows of having real high-end hockey around and it’s been around for a long time and I think that really speaks to why the team’s always been so good.” He also mentions that playing with the Tulsa Oilers in a physical Mountain Division has toughened him up as a player and that it’s a part of his game he’s excited to bring to Adirondack and that he prides himself on his defensive game.