Rupp's Remarkable Debut | PODCAST

Mike Rupp wanted to play in the NHL since he was 6 years old. Even though he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio - not exactly a pipeline of hockey talent - no one in his family doubted that he would make it.
On Jan. 12, 2003 - the day before his 23rd birthday - Rupp was called up to New Jersey to make his NHL debut. Needless to say, the Rupp family was left scrambling to make sure they could be a part of this special moment.
"I got called up the night before the game. The next day we had eight different family members that got DirectTV installed in their house," Rupp told the Speak of the Devils podcast. "They tipped the guy $100, they put the dish on top of the house, just for the game that night against the Florida Panthers."
Rupp's opportunity came because of an injury to another player. Heading into that contest, Rupp was torn between wanting to enjoy the moment, but also extending his stay in the League.
"You want to take advantage of the opportunity, but at the same time I don't know if I'm ever going to play another game. It could be just one game," he said. "I remember thinking to myself, 'what can I do to buy myself Game 2? What can I do?' I was scared. I didn't know if this was it. Do I savor this moment? How do I absorb this because it might end? At the same time, you're trying to prolong it as long as you can."

In his first-career NHL game - on his birthday - Rupp scored not one, but two goals against the Panthers.
"I was very fortunate in that game to get a couple feeds from my teammates, and I was able to score two goals," he said. "I felt at least I bought myself the next game."
Rupp didn't just buy himself Game 2. He bought himself Games 2-26, finishing the year with New Jersey and eventually scoring the Stanley-Cup winning goal that summer.
But it all started because of that first game, which he was able to share with his family members in Cleveland - thanks to some last minute satellite installations.
"Even if it all ended then, I played. That's all I ever said I was going to do; I was going to make it," Rupp said. "That was a really proud moment that everybody got to be a part of with me that supported me along the way."
Other topics Rupp discussed on the podcast include…
New Jersey Devils Official Podcast
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Mike Rupp | Speak of the Devils