Hockey player Mark Rooneem strives to be a King

Hockey player Mark Rooneem strives to be a King (2)

Eestlased Kanadas | 07 Aug 2002 | EWR

The NHL is the goal of most of those kids that lace on skates at an early age. As is well known the National Hockey league is no longer the domain of Canadian or American born players, Europeans are increasingly filling out the competitive rosters and earning commensurate income.

Estonia has yet to produce a native born NHL’er, in fact most of the competitive hockey players on the national team have Russian heritage. Latvia can brag - two key members of the Carolina Hurricanes that made it to the Stanley Cup final this year are Latvians, who also have competed for the country in the Olympics.

When it comes to the NHL, however, an Estonian-Canadian has attained professional glory in the world’s elite pro league. Tom Edur took care of the defensive zone for the Pittsburgh Penguins before changing his goals to bringing messages of religious importance to the homeland of his parents.

While the NHL entry draft is no passport to stardom, being selected given the international competitive level is an honour and often an indicator of success to come. Hinton, Alberta’s Markus Tõnu Rooneem was chosen in the 2002 draft, 115th over-all by the Los Angeles Kings. The 19 year-old has been playing since the age of four, starting off as a “Tom Thumb” player in organized hockey. In an interview given to the Parkland Reporter Mark’s father Raivo said that his boys typically spent every possible moment on their own home-rink playing and practising.

Mark was drafted at the age of 15 by the WHL’s Junior A Kamloops Blazers, but had to wait until the age of 16 to play for the squad. He developed remarkably, increasing his point totals and ice-time every season. Being selected for the Kamloops side may have contributed to the development of his speed, which was described as “blazing” already at the age of nine, when Mark was the fastest skate on his team. The Blazers coach feels that Mark is likely faster than 75 per cent of NHL players right know.

Realistically, Mark will return to his Junior A squad for next season. Most entry draft selections do not crack an NHL squad on first attempt but are sent back for further development. Mark Rooneem has high hopes of staying with the Kings, and his summer will be busy, culminating with the Kings’ rookie camp before pre-season training camp. His efforts will no doubt be cheered by Canadians and Estonians in Alberta and beyond.

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Anonymous11 Aug 2002 15:41

Mark Rooneem on Raivo Roonemi poeg. Raivo on üks kuulsa Rooneemi pagaritööstuse asutaja poegadest.

lilian puust11 Aug 2002 00:21

Roonem on nii tuntud nimi Torontos.
Roonemi peenleiba, Roonemi rukileiba ja Roonemi kooke tahtsime kõik. Kas Mark Roonem on Toronto Roonemitega sugulane?

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