Most hockey players will go to any length to continue playing the game, but few have gone to the lengths DU junior Emil Romig has.

The swift-skating winger grew up in Austria, played hockey in the Czech Republic during high school and the traversed the central part of the United States, first to play juniors in Indiana and Texas, then landing in Denver three seasons ago.

The affable Romig took time during the build-up to the Frozen Four to talk about how his path through hockey brought him to Colorado and a few of his favorite things in this edition of One-Timers.

How did you land at DU?

It’s an interesting story. I grew up in Austria and when I was 15 I went to the Czech Republic there. I kept going to school. After I graduated from high school I had to make the decision (about) what now? I decided to go to the United States to play in Indiana (USHL) for a year. I didn’t have the best year. I’m still thankful for the experience. I think I was struggling to adjust to the American lifestyle and to the American style of playing hockey. After that I wanted to get a fresh start. I asked them to release my rights, and I got picked up by Fargo by the USHL. I went there and we didn’t have a great preseason so I got let go. Basically no other teams had an import spot open or maybe didn’t see enough in my. So I ended up going to the North American league (NAHL) down in Texas in Corpus Christi. That ended up being the best thing – I had a great year there. I loved playing there. I think I developed a lot. I got a chance to go in and be a top player.

After a year coach Montgomery gave me a call and asked me if I wanted to try the program here. I didn’t have to think twice. The program here is so storied.

What were your transitions like?

Huge. I had such a good time in the Czech Republic. It was a smaller town, about 80,000 peopld. I got there and didn’t speak a word of Czech, and the people there weren’t that fluent in English. There were two guys on the team who spoke English so those were my go-to guys. But the guys were so awesome about opening their arms and taking me in. It was just great. I took Czech lessons and became fluent. But in the beginning on bus rides they’d put on movies and without even asking they’d put on subtitles for me. It really helped me to adjust. I was living in a hotel there for three years, which was really interesting, but I’m really thankful I got the chance to do that.

Was the transition to the United States easier?

On the one hand I kind of knew what to expect but at the same time I had more troubles transitioning here than the Czech Republic because I was so far away from home. And it didn’t start out that well. I just had trouble adjusting to the way hockey was played here. I didn’t have the greatest year (in Indiana). I’m still thankful I got to have the experience. It ended up working out.

Do you have a favorite pregame meal?

I love the stuff you get here. Some chicken breasts and ranch. Some rice, corn.

Do you have a favorite hockey player?

I always loved watching (Alexander) Ovechkin. That’s when I started watching the NHL when Ovechkin came into the league with (Sidney) Crosby. I always admired how Ovechkin finds ways to score goals. … I always try to watch guys who are smaller, more my size (Emil is 5-foot-9), to see how they play and what they do to get by. (Martin) St. Louis and (Brad) Marchant, their intensity and the pain he is on the ice to other teams.

Is there a piece of gear you’re particular about?

I never really cared because the stuff we get here is so unbelievable. In the Czech Republic we got stuff handed down from the players above us. So everything we would wear would be stuff guys had worn for five years before us. It didn’t get washed so think about that.

The sticks were sticks our pro team broke that would get glued together with a carbon piece inserted. You could play with it but that’s what we had. When I was young my parents had to buy all of my gear. I played with wood sticks until I was 15 then I transitioned to the more high-end stuff. I’m just so thankful I’m in a situation like this now.

So I don’t really care. (Equipment manager) Nicky (Meldrum) is awesome. If we have problems with something he’ll fix it. But I don’t have to have things like this or like that.

Are you a music fan?

Of course. But I like every kind of music. I can’t listen to one kind non-stop. I have to switch it up. I usually just put my iPod on shuffle and listen to everything in there.

Do you have a favorite sport other than hockey?

I’m a big sports fan in general. I love watching anything that’s on TV. I’m not the biggest basketball fan but I like watching March Madness. I got into American football and even baseball. My roommate who is not on the hockey team – I also live with Trevor (Moore) and Matt (VanVoorhis) – is the biggest overall sports fan. You can sit next to him on the couch and he will tell you everything. He’s a big baseball fan. I like watching golf, but I suck at golf. I like going out in the summer and being with the guys.

Do you have any playoff traditions?

Well, I try growing a beard but it doesn’t seem to work out for me. I try to do everything I do normally.

What is the breakfast of champions?

I’m not a big breakfast guy so I just get a bowl of cereal or oatmeal, maybe a cup of coffee, maybe a cup of tea. I’m good with that.

Who has a better mullet, Evan Janssen or Jaromir Jagr?

You have to go with Jagr. It’s an all-time great. You see the pictures from back in the 90s, it’s great. It’s always funny when Janny grows out his hair and usually when the season ends he cuts his hair in some weird-looking way. That’s always awesome. You should see it – it’s usually pretty funny. (Janssen talks about that among other things in his One-Timers)