NordicLife Culture + Taste + History + Events + Personalities Hot Shot Mats Zuccarello started ice skating on the ponds near Oslo as a child. Now, the 29-year-old is living his NHL dream as a powerhouse right wing for the New York Rangers. At age 18, Zuccarello made his Norwegian league debut, followed by time playing on the Swedish Elite League. He represented Norway at the Vancouver Olympics and soon caught the attention of several NHL teams. The New York Rangers signed him in 2010. " Zucca's " career has been fi lled with great success and challenge. In 2014, he led The Rangers in points and became the fi rst Norwegian to play in the Stanley Cup Final. But in 2015 a serious head injury from a puck nearly ended his career. Zuccarello came back strong for the 2015-16 season, and today he is Norway's all-time leading NHL scorer. Committed to giving back to his native Norway, he started The Zuccarello Foundation, which supports grass roots youth hockey teams. Follow Mats! Website: matszuccarello.com Instagram: @MatsZuccarello Twitter: @zuccarello36 sonsofnorway.com VIKING FEBRUARY 2017 7 PHOTO BY RONALD C. MODRA / NHL / GETTY IMAGES SPORThttp://www.matszuccarello.com http://www.sonsofnorway.com