Dallas Stars: Antoine Roussel On His Way To Being A Daddy
By Josh Clark
If you haven’t heard already, the Rooster is expecting a Rooster Jr. in the near future. What an exciting time for the Frenchman.
It’s been quite the offseason for Antoine Roussel. After helping lift the Dallas Stars to their first Central Division title ever and first playoff series win since 2008, he’s preparing for quite a large role this upcoming season.
But it’s not on the ice. Instead, it’s at home with his new wife, Alexandra. The two married this summer after seeing each other for a long time, and they are expecting to add one more member to their new family here in the next few weeks.
“A lot of stuff this year. Big stuff,” Roussel told Stars Inside Edge. “Very exciting. The [baby’s] room is all done. It’s just a matter of time now.”
Roussel and his wife will be having a baby boy, and he is due in just around a month. This would give Roussel just enough time before training camp to get things settled down with the new family.
It’s funny to think that when the media talked to Roussel back on exit interview day in May, he was rather quiet about all of his offseason plans (and for good reason).
“Nope. Just seeing my grandparents in France for a week and then nothing else,” Roussel said of his offseason plans on exit interview day back in mid-May.
The Dallas Stars will now have a Rooster Jr. to look forward to down the road. I wonder if he will be as scrappy as the current Rooster. My bet is on yes.
This newborn Rooster will be able to watch his dad fly across the ice this coming season as the Stars try to build on the lofty expectations that have been set for them in the upcoming season.
Coming off of a Central Division title and Western Conference regular season champions title, the Dallas Stars are in a prime spot to make a run. They lost some minor assets this offseason to free agency and trade, but landed a big splash with defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
Now Dallas will look to not only reclaim the titles they received last year, but also make a run at the Stanley Cup that has alluded them for 17 years now. Roussel will hopefully play a significant role in the Stars making that run.
Roussel has been pretty consistent since joining the Dallas Stars during the lockout season. Over the past three seasons, his goal totals have been 14, 13, and 13 and his point totals have settled at 29, 25, and 29. His games played totals have leveled out at 81, 80, and 80.
Last year, Roussel found some strong chemistry with rookie center Radek Faksa and veteran winger Ales Hemsky down the stretch and ended the season with the two players on the third line.
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“I really hope we are going to start together,” Roussel told Stars Inside Edge. “I think it is a great combination of skill, power, and aggressiveness. I like to play with those two guys. It is fun, but I will play anywhere they want me to play.”
Roussel has proven over the past few years that he is a pretty easy player to mesh with and scale throughout the lineup. His physicality and ability to get under the opposition’s skin as well as a scoring touch make him a valuable asset to the Dallas offensive squad.
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And now he will be able to drop the mitts and score goals with his son watching from the stands (maybe once he’s a little older). Something tells me that Rooster Jr. won’t have any trouble with bullies in school.
Just about 40 days until training camp starts. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Can you?