Piling up the points isn’t the only way to secure a college scholarship.
Take Westside Warriors forward Alex Grieve. If he continues to play well against the British Columbia Hockey League’s top-line scorers, some NCAA Division One school is going to make sure he does just that.
The 19-year-old from Calgary routinely lines up against the Mark Zengerles, Denver Mandersons and Colton Becks of the league. It’s a job that may not earn a guy headlines, but it’s important to all coaches — and the scouts notice, too. Does he worry about getting a scholarship, about scouts not perhaps seeing his numbers pop off the stats page?
“If you think about it, just like thinking about goals, it kind of messes you up,” says Grieve, who’s favourite team is, not surprisingly, the Calgary Flames and his favourite player is their captain, Jarome Iginla.
Grieve likes to see himself as a player like, well, Iginla.
“I think I’m a skilled forward but I like to get in the dirty areas, get some gritty goals, get in their face.”
Warriors coach Darren Yopyk, formerly an assistant at NCAA Merrimack, believes Grieve has done well in this checking role and if he keeps it up, it will be noticed by university scouts.
“His confidence level is getting better and he’s accepted the role he’s got,” said Yopyk. “He can be pretty smart, pretty responsible defensively. Most teams have one line that does the bulk of their scoring and if you can shut down that line, you can be effective, and I’ve been trying to mold him into that role.”
But aren’t the scouts looking for the big numbers?
“We talk about that all the time,” said Yopyk. “Guys seem to think they need to put up big points to get to the next level. But in my mind, and in my experience from the other side, sure the points might help, but the exposure in this league, in this conference and with this organization – the exposure is there.
“If you aren’t doing the little things right, the points won’t matter,” said Yopyk. “They (scouts) are watching your complete game.”
Grieve also recognizes team success will help his cause.
“I should have more offensively, but I’ve had a different role, playing against the other team’s top lines,” Grieve said this week. “It’s definitely OK by me – whatever gets the team the win. And the farther you go with a team, the more chance you’ll get seen.”
Grieve has still managed some respectable offensive numbers this season, with nine goals and seven assists in 25 games, including an overtime winner in Burnaby on Nov. 7. Last season he had 24 points in 49 games, so he’s on pace to easily surpass that total despite his defensive role.
Grieve, who has also developed into one of the best face-off men in the league, played his minor hockey in Calgary. He says a highlight of those years was playing in the famous Mac’s Midget tournament. He also fondly remembers the Flames’ run to the Stanley Cup final and some fun on the Red Mile in 2004.
But what if this hockey thing doesn’t work out?
“My brother is a police officer, so I think I’d like to do something like that, or maybe be a firefighter,” said Grieve.
For now, he hits the ice every night to douse the fires started by the league’s best players.
