1-On-1: with Robbie Russo

Roadrunners defenseman Robbie Russo joined Adrian Denny and Kim Cota-Robles on this week’s Insider Podcast after signing to rejoin the team. To hear the complete interview and more on Robbie’s favorite pizza place in Tucson that he can’t wait to return to, download the complete episode below.

Listen to “Backing It Up With Robbie Russo” on Spreaker.

How’d you get back with the Roadrunners, great news to see, you were a fan favorite and last were with us during the 2019-2020 season; we thought we were going to win a championship that year, but things changed in the world; it’s good to have you back for round two.

I agree with you, the year that Covid shut everything down, we had a really good team, we had all of our guys down; a lot of good players. That was a little disappointing, but not much you can do about it; and this year entering free agency, the Roadrunners called and I was excited to come back aboard.

What’s new in the last four and a half years?

The last four years I’ve been in Utica, New York for most of the time playing there in the New Jersey Devils minor league system; so a little different than Tucson and at the end of the month I’m getting married. We’re getting married in Chicago on the 27th, her name is Ellen. She’s planned probably 95-percent of it and I’ve helped out where I can. We met in Florida, but were both from Chicago.

What are the Honeymoon plans?

We’re going to St. Lucia for a week after the wedding, neither of us have been down there in the Caribbean; we’re both excited.

Roadrunners Rapid Fire Questions: Robbie described the below in one word or one sentence:

Returning to the Roadrunners: Excited
The 2019-2020 Roadrunners that you last played on: That was a great team.
The TCC: Wild
Your personality for fans that have never met you: Quiet
Your style of play for fans who have never seen you: Offensive
Head Coach Steve Potvin: Creative
Assistant Coach John Slaney: Intense
Notre Dame: Elite
Chicago: The best
Pizza: Thin crust
Summer: Too short
Tik-Tok or Instagram: Insta
Defensemen who score hat tricks: I’ll take one
Zamboni: Necessary
Road Trips: Let’s keep ’em under 10 games

What about our coaches Steve Potvin and John Slaney excite you to come back to Tucson that you remember from your two seasons here?

I’m looking forward to working with them again. They both work really hard getting you prepared for games and they run a good practice. They both communicate really well; whether you’re looking to get better at something or you’re looking at another team and they’re both great guys.

Is there anyone currently with our organization that you have past associations with or that you know?

I know Kevin Connauton, because he was with the Coyotes organization when I was. I’ve played against Andrew Agozzino a good amount, I’ve never really met him. I feel like that I’ve played against more guys than I actually know or have gotten to know that are on the team right now.

Tell us a little about how you came up, we know you went to Notre Dame.

I grew up in Chicago until my last two years of high school when I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan with the US National Development Program and played junior there, it was a great place to play; I had a great time there and then went to Notre Dame for four years. My first three years pro were in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That was a really good start to my career; as a team we were really successful, we won the Calder Cup (2017) my second year. And after that, I showed up in Tucson.

What are you doing in your down time? Video games? Reading?

I guess on my off day, I like to go outside, go for a walk, I’m pretty relaxed.

What was it like playing 19 games with the Detroit Red Wings during the 2016-2017 season?

It was really cool, it was a dream come true. The team I was on, that was the last year at the Joe Louis Arena, that was a pretty big deal. There were a lot of guys who were retired, who are in the rafters (numbers retired) that came back for the last couple games, so that was really cool, something I’ll never forget. The legacy at the “Joe” is pretty unmatched.

Was your family able to come out and visit Tucson when you were here the first time and are they looking forward to coming out either for the first time or again?

They came out 2-3 times a year and they’re very excited to get to Tucson during the Chicago winter months, they’re looking froward to it.

Are there any places on the road that you’re looking forward to getting back to again in the Pacific Division or even Texas that we go to?

I remember San Diego had some good dinner spots, Texas as well. Colorado, Ontario and Bakersfield, it always seemed like we were getting out of those places to get to the next city. But I’m looking forward to getting to Palm Springs to see what that’s like.