Jul 24 2007
While most Chronicle readers spend their summer days dreaming of the beach, one local hockey player is keeping his mind on ice.
Jordan Grant will make the jump to Junior A hockey for the 2007/08 season. The leap in leagues also marks the first time this young puck pusher will move away from home to pursue the game he loves.
Grant, a forward who spent last season shoveling in goals for the Kerry Park Islanders confirmed his spot in the BCHL?s Merritt Centennials? lineup in June.
When The Chronicle checked in with Grant in April, the 16-year-old had his heart set on a spot with the Duncan-based Cowichan Capitals, but when the opportunity arose to sign on with the Centennials, the offer was too good to pass up.
?(Islanders? coach) Jim Ingram basically said ?You?d be stupid if you didn?t go,?? says Grant.
The 5?10,? 170 lb Grant, who turns 17 in August, will have to leave his friends behind for his final year of high school, but will get a chance to reunite with them for Ladysmith Secondary School?s graduation ceremonies in June.
During regular season play with the Islanders, Grant?s pucks found the back of the net 23 times. He matched his goal scoring with an equal number of assists. He potted another 11 goals in the Islanders? playoff run.
Grant has already marked off the games the Centennials will play against the Capitals on his calendar and relishes the opportunity to show the hometown crowd how he can perform at the next level.
The forward has no illusions about why the Centennials snapped him up.
?The coach pretty much said he wants me to score goals,? says Grant. ?That?s my job.?
The clincher for Grant in joining the Cents was the team?s strong record of helping players secure scholarships to play for andattend college in the United States. The Merritt team has been averaging four to seven university hockey scholarships each year for the past few seasons.
Grant says Merritt is going to field a young squad in 2008, so despite his comparatively young age, he figures he?ll get plenty of ice time.
