Former C.R. RoughRider Pat Cannone to make NHL debut at age 30

CEDAR RAPIDS — The National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild recalled forward Pat Cannone, a former Cedar Rapids RoughRider, from the minor leagues Monday, and he is expected to make his NHL debut during the team's home game Tuesday against Colorado.

Cannone, 30, played for the Riders in the 2006-07 season, recording 18 goals and 55 points in 57 games. He played four years at Miami (Ohio) before embarking on a professional career late in the 2010-11 season.

This was his sixth season in the American Hockey League, where he had four goals and 16 points in 29 games for the Iowa Wild.

'It's going to be great,' Cannone told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. 'A lot of emotions running high. I just need to keep those in check and just try to play my game and go from there.

'You play for (this), you work hard for (this). It was a long time coming, and I look forward to the opportunity.'

Cannone will be the 19th former RoughRider to play in the NHL. He will be the fourth this season to make his debut, following forward Nick Lappin (New Jersey Devils) and defensemen Ivan Provorov (Philadelphia Flyers) and Anthony DeAngelo (Arizona Coyotes).

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