By / Darren Steinke
It is possible that only the most hardcore hockey fans could truly appreciate the work of Medicine Hat Tigers checking forward Colton Grant.
When he arrived with the club as a rookie in the 2006/07 campaign from Standard, Alta., Grant was trying to make a team that was loaded with talent. Alumnus from that club like Kris Russell, Derek Dorsett, Darren Helm and David Schlemko have all spent time this season in the National Hockey League.
As a 17-year-old, Grant earned a spot on the checking line with veterans Jerrid Sauer and Kevin Undershute. That unit played a key role in helping the Tigers win the 2007 WHL title and earn a berth in the Memorial Cup championship game.
Now as a 19-year-old, Grant is still providing the Tigers with key minutes in a thankless role as a shutdown checker. Willie Desjardins, the head coach and general manager of the Tigers, said words don’t do justice on how big of a part Grant has played in the success of the team.
“He brings a great work ethic that we hope all our players will pick up on,” said Desjardins. “He doesn’t get a lot of publicity. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for things.
“He has been one of the reasons that our team has had some success.”
Grant admits his first season with the Tigers went beyond his own expectations. He played in 71 of 72 regular season games and all 27 combined post-season contests in the WHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup tournament. That rookie campaign provided an abundance of memories.
“A team like that doesn’t come around very often,” said Grant. “To go to the Memorial Cup first year in the league, you can’t really ask for much more than that.
“There are guys that have been in this league for five years, and they haven’t got past the first round.”
Two seasons later, Grant said he has a better appreciation for how special that rookie year was.
“I didn’t really realize how hard it was to win games in this league,” said Grant. “As you get older and as you get on different teams, you know, different make-ups of teams, it
gets harder.
“Every game is a battle. It doesn’t matter who you are playing.”
As a third year veteran, Grant has mastered what it takes to be top checker and one of the Tigers top penalty killers. He does admit he wants to become more of a contributor offensively.
In his last season of Midget AAA hockey back in the 2004/05 campaign, Grant had 19 goals and 23 assists for the Strathmore based UFA Bisons in 36 games. That was the last time Grant averaged over a point per game in a hockey season.
This season, he has 12 goals, 13 assists and a plus-five rating in the plus-minus department in 63 games with the Tigers. As an older player, Grant believes he has to make things happen offensively.
“You are kind of one of the guys, who has to make something happen in key situations on the ice and off the ice as well,” said Grant. “When you are younger, you look up to the other guys for them to make something happen on the ice. Now, I am one of those guys.
“I still want to keep that (checking role), you know, part of my game, because I think it is probably one of my best assets. Hopefully, that will take me somewhere.” |
