Alumni Profile: Adam Russo
Adam Russo was an Acadie-Bathurst Titan through-and-through after playing his entire major junior career wearing the Bathurst threads. The Montreal, Que., netminder spent four seasons playing for the Titan, from 2000-01 until 2003-04, before his hockey journey brought him to the professional ranks in Europe. But, before we cross the Atlantic, let’s zero-in on his achievements at home. Russo was drafted 29th overall in the second round of the 2000 QMJHL Draft by Acadie-Bathurst and lead the team to some great heights during his time in Titan territory.
In his rookie season, Russo suited-up for 35 games during the 2000-01 regular season (where the Titan finished 10th overall in league standings) and then pulled-off an 11-5 record in 19 games in the 2001 playoffs. It was the first of back-to-back President Cup final appearances for Russo and Acadie-Bathurst. In heartbreaking fashion, the Titan lost their 2001 championship series in four straight games to Val-d’Or. The following 2001-02 season, Russo would hit the ice in 61 regular season games posting a 41-16-1 record and helping lead the Titan to the No. 1 spot in league standings that season. During the playoffs, Russo went 10-6 in 16 games and once again, brought Bathurst to the President Cup championship series, however, this time they faced-off against the Victoriaville Tigres. Russo anchored Bathurst to Game 6 of the President Cup final against Victoriaville, but the Tigres, unfortunately took the series 4-2 to win the President Cup in 2002.
Overall, Russo suited-up between the pipes for 256 career games, regular season and playoffs, finishing with a 138-91-7 record along with a goals-against-average of 2.90 and a .903 save percentage with the Titan.
Personally, Russo had an award-winning career in the Q between the 2000-01 to 2002-03 seasons. The netminder cracked the league’s All-Rookie Team in his first year in the league, and made its Second All-Star Team the following year. When awards season rolled around in 2003, Russo was named the goalie with the best save percentage and goals-against-average in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He also earned a spot on both the league and CHL’s First-All Star Team’s.
Following his time playing major junior, Russo embarked on a professional hockey career which not only saw him play for Canadian and American teams, but also brought him overseas, where he suited-up for teams in Italy and one in France.
During the 2006-07 season Russo and his squad Meran/Merano captured the Italy2 Championship and the following season Russo won the Italian Supercup Championship and Italy Championship with Meran/Merano. After joining the France-based team Tours in Ligue Magnus, Russo was named to the French All-Star Team and won a gold medal at the World Championships by 2009. The backend of Russo’s career saw his permanent return to North America, where he competed for various team throughout different leagues such as the International Hockey League, Central Hockey League and Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey. Russo was named to the LNAH All-Star Team and was the league’s Best Goaltender back-to-back during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Russo remains a fan-favourite in Titan territory and one of a handful of goalies in our 25-year history who have backstopped Acadie-Bathurst Titan teams into the final round of the QMJHL President Cup championship final series.
