De Leo, Grimaldi Battling for Spot in Ducks Lineup, SoCal Hockey History

If you were growing up as a Southern California hockey player in the mid-2000s, there was a pretty good chance you were knew who Rocco Grimaldi was.
Same goes for Chase De Leo, for those SoCal ice kids in the 2010s.
After all, in that generation's formative days there just weren't many kids going from Orange, Los Angeles or San Diego counties to hockey's brightest stages. So when it happened, however rarely, people took full notice.
Now over a decade later, Grimaldi and De Leo could create another bit of Southern California hockey history in their attempt to make the Anaheim roster, potentially becoming the first pair of Ducks teammates native to the area.

In many ways, both Grimaldi and De Leo are quite similar, even beyond the obvious geographical connection. Neither of them has ever been the biggest guy on the ice - as Grimaldi stands 5-6 with De Leo measuring in at 5-9 - nor was either a first-round draft pick or heralded prospect. Both are quick to acknowledge they've had to fight and claw for every opportunity they've ever gotten in a constant battle to show their skill sets demanded a position among the game's best players.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog," De Leo said. "I've always said that. It has to be my mentality. If someone wanted the bigger, dumber, slower guy then, that's on them. I'm knocking on the door to take their spot."

Long before either first stepped on NHL ice, they each honed their craft at what was then called Yorba Linda Ice Palace, under the tutelage of Larry Barron, who is now the Ducks Skating & Skills Development Coach.
At the time, many in Southern California hockey circles considered Barron the area's premier development specialist as he helped guide many of the county's top local talent in advancing up the hockey ladder. Grimaldi, who first met Barron at six years old, swears by that assessment, saying he simply would not be here without his coach, and now friend's, tutelage.
"He's the best skating coach in the world," Grimaldi said. "I'll stand by that no matter what. He's one of the reasons I'm here, and I can't thank him enough for everything he's done for me.
Barron is well-known for his intensity. A brilliant skater in his own right, his past and present pupils will remember getting chased up and down the ice by, as De Leo put it, a "chihuahua going at a pit bull who just stole his toy."
"He's intense, and that's what I like," Grimaldi continued. "If a coach is investing that much in you, it means they care. He wants you to get better, no matter the age, no matter what level you're at. He wants you to get better and he just cares about you."
Barron remembers both fondly and relishes the opportunity to work with them again at the NHL level.
"Chaser just always worked and worked as long as I can remember and he just brought a humble approach," Barron recalled. "But at the same time, he also had a little big of swagger on the ice where he would put the hard hat and work boots on. He recognized very early he would have to have a higher work ethic to survive. I would give him a pat on the back or bark at him and he always treated me with the utmost respect, good days and bad days.
"Roc is one of the major influences on how I ended up here in California to chase my dream and build a business. And here we are again. Rocco worked extremely hard on his skating and was so diligent working with me. He was so passionate. Just loved the game, loved picking up a stick and loved doing the little things. That's why he's here today."

De Leo, who spent the better part of three seasons with the San Diego Gulls from 2018-21, officially rejoined the organization in July after a year with the New Jersey and Albany Devils. One of the most decorated players in the Gulls brief AHL history, De Leo saw his game blossom in San Diego, going from a checking line forward trusted with difficult defensive and penalty-killing responsibilities to one of the most dangerous scoring forwards in the junior circuit.
In the shortened 2020-21 campaign, he helped form maybe the AHL's most dominant line alongside Trevor Zegras and then Gulls captain Sam Carrick, full proof in his eyes that his game had another previously unseen level.
"I've learned there is a lot of stuff that is out of your control, but the one thing you can control is having a good attitude and working your butt off every day," De Leo said. "I feel like I'm still growing. I'm 26 years old…Sometimes it's tough to not get down but at this point in my career, I've learned to be a game changer and want the puck on my stick, not just always make the safe play. I want the puck and I want to score."
De Leo returns looking to accomplish a goal he's had since his days playing street hockey in his Whittier hometown, a permanent spot on the Ducks roster in front of his family and friends. He fondly remembers his days walking through the doors of what was then known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, urging his parents to hustle to their seats so he could see Wild Wing rappel from the rafters.

"Words can't describe the want and the hunger to make this team," De Leo said. "I grew up going to every single Ducks game. The wins, the heart-breaking playoff losses, watching Paul Kariya."
And even if it doesn't go his way initially, that desire will just grow.
"I'm willing to run through a freaking wall to make this team and, if I don't make it, I'm going to do whatever I can to get back."
The 26-year-old winger believes his game took another step forward during his year on the east coast. His head coach, Dallas Eakins, who was with De Leo for his first year in San Diego, agreed with the assessment.
"It's in him," Eakins said. "The year we acquired him, he led the American Hockey League in even strength points, I think. The American league is one thing and this one is another, but he can skate. He's got good hands…Since the last time I've seen him, he's gotten stronger and more explosive.
"The kid is a 10 out of 10 human being. His teammates warm to him immediately because he just comes in and he works. He is one of those guys who says, 'I'm coming in and I'm getting better today.'"
"I'm willing to go to the trenches for him," De Leo said of his coach. "He knows that I'm going to show up every single day and work. I'm going to do whatever I can to help the team win. Whether it's a big role or a little one, I'm here for it. I'm ready to go."

That extra bit of offense could be the difference between the minors and the big show for De Leo, who will undoubtedly be called on to provide a spark in a high-energy role should he make the roster, something he's more than comfortable doing.
De Leo has grown off the ice, too, both as a leader and someone who wants to pay back a community he feels has long supported him through thick and thin. He sees the growth Southern California hockey has made and wants to be a part of continuing its progress.
"I remember being one of those little kids on the other side of the glass," he said. "To be able to make a difference here, whether it's going to build playgrounds in Anaheim or speaking with kids in classrooms, that's so important to me. I want to keep building hockey in Southern California and make a difference."
Grimaldi comes back home with a well-punched hockey passport as a veteran of 494 professional games with six different teams. His calling card is his speed, quickness and tenacity, which has been on full display in the preseason. But like De Leo, Grimaldi also feels like he has more offensive ability than he's had the chance to show at the NHL level in the past, pointing particularly to last season when he posted 52 points in 44 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals
"At the end of the day, I got to play more," said Grimaldi, whose 1.18 points per game ranked 11th among AHL leaders. "I got more puck touches. I got more confidence from scoring goals and making plays. It's why I think I'm doing well right now."
Grimaldi's play has certainly caught the eye of the Ducks coaching staff, who expected his well-known work ethic to wear off on those around him.

"Arguably, he might have been our best player in both of his [first two preseason] games," Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers said. "He's making things happen and utilizing his speed...He has the puck a lot. He's not afraid to get in there, disrupt and get the puck back. He's made some great plays and provides a lot of energy for our team.
"If you had to say who is kind of reached out and grabbed you, he's probably the guy."
"I'm here to get better and I'm here to learn," Grimaldi said, humbly downplaying stellar start. "I'm trying to make the team, but at the end of the day, I can't think that far in the future. I'm just thinking one day at a time. How can I be the best player I can in practice today? How can I make an impact on the game?"

The good news for both is there are jobs available, especially in Anaheim's bottom-six, as General Manager Pat Verbeek outlined on the first day of training camp. And with less than two weeks until opening night, decisions are coming soon.
"I haven't been on many opening night rosters," Grimaldi said. "So that would be special for me. I'm just trying to do everything I can."