The classy Stampede forward grew up in a small town in Ontario called Fort Frances.
It is an ice hockey-mad community. Think frozen lakes and rivers and even more frozen temperatures.
"We reach numbers of, like, minus 40," Ross said.
"You got to be suited up to stay warm."
That is Celsius, by the way. Just breathing in that kind of weather is a challenge.
Queenstown is tropical by comparison — and the Stampede have been in hot form again this season.
They have made it through to the New Zealand Ice Hockey League finals and will host the West Auckland Admirals in the best-of-three series.
Game one is tonight, and the man who survived the big chill and learned to skate when he was 4 shapes as the one of the stars.
Ross has banged in 22 goals and made 20 assists. He is the leading scorer in the league with 42 points.
Not bad for a guy who thought his career was done.
The 29-year-old had not played any serious hockey for 18 months before arriving in Queenstown to play for the Stampede.
After college, he had two seasons in Sweden playing professional hockey and had a season in France playing for Morzine-Avoriaz.
"To be honest, after that I thought my hockey career was over and I was done playing," he said.
"But New Zealand has always been a place I wanted to come and I knew I could potentially get here through hockey, so I started looking into that.
"I reached out to one of the players on the team — Colin McIntosh — and got the ball rolling and the rest is history."
He got the ball rolling to get the puck gliding. Ross has been in outstanding form and the Stampede have been the form team.
"I think some of my experience really helps me down here. And one thing I try to use is my speed and I think that benefits me on the ice."
The Stampede are chasing a fourth consecutive title and will start as favourites, having won three of the four games between the two teams this season.
The games have been tightly contested, though.
The Stampede edged the Admirals in the second period of overtime to win 4-3 in Queenstown. They backed up the following day to win 6-5 in regulation time.
Later in the season, the two games in Auckland were split. The home team posted a 3-1 win, but fell to a 5-2 loss in the return game.
"They are a very competitive team and they are well-structured. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going be a fun few days.
"We’re really happy to have the home ice. It’s a big advantage for us."
The Admirals are a physical team and will try to out-work the Stampede, whereas the home side will try to play with speed.
NZIHL FINALS
Queenstown, starting tonight
