Trade Grants goalie chance to shine Swan Valley has all-star in net as MJHL playoffs begin By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023

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This article was published 23/03/2023 (902 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two years ago, Kobe Grant’s hockey career was going nowhere.

He was the third man in a three-goalie rotation with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings, playing only two games (both shutouts) in 2020-21 and waiting for a break.

That respite would come months later when former BCHL bench boss Barry Wolff, now the GM and head coach of the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders, traded for his rights.

It was a deal that changed Grant’s life.

As an MJHL rookie in 2021-22, Grant shared the crease with the since-departed Dylan Black and played 34 games, posting a 12-18-0 record with a 3.49 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

The Stamps subsequently made a first-round playoff exit.

This season, the 20-year-old Sicamous, B.C., product has flashed star potential, earning first-team all-star recognition while registering a 2.69 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and 26-14-3 record while leading the Stampeders to a first-place regular-season finish in the West Division.

“It’s kind of crazy,” said Grant, earlier this week from Swan River where the Stampeders will host the Dauphin Kings in the opening round of the MJHL playoffs Friday. “I remember two years ago just worrying so much about even getting into the league. And then now, I’m taking it one day at a time and trying not to think about the results rather than thinking about the process.”

Wolff said Grant’s competitive drive has set the stage for his star turn.

“He just hates to get scored on or lose,” said Wolff. “He’s just square to the puck and he challenges really well and gets into position so shots just hit him. Side to side, he’s just made some unreal saves this year.”

“He (Grant) just hates to get scored on or lose… He’s just square to the puck and he challenges really well and gets into position so shots just hit him. Side to side, he’s just made some unreal saves this year.”–Barry Wolff

Grant, for his part, doesn’t regret the season he spent languishing in Prince George.

“In hindsight that was definitely good for me to kind of learn that mental toughness and then get that practice experience in, which I think everybody really needs,” said Grant.

Here’s how the West semifinals shape up:

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Stampeders vs. Kings

Dauphin is not the powerhouse that won a league championship in 2021-22, but head coach Doug Hedley’s crew will be a formidable foe, nonetheless.

The Kings won four of six regular-season meetings with the Stampeders, including three OT decisions.

“Dauphin is really structured,” said Wolff. “They play hard. They never never give up — we’ve lost to them late in the third period and overtime. They’re definitely going to be great competition in the first round.”

Grant’s all-star season coincided with a rise to prominence by the Stampeders defencemen, led by Warren Marcotte and second-team all-star Adam Rajsigl, who had 52 points in 53 games.

Dauphin counters with blue-liner Owen Wareham, a first-team league all-star.

“It’s pretty special to have so much offence coming from our D-corps that really supplements our forwards and I think going into playoffs, that’s going to be something that really helps us,” said Grant.

Wolff guided the Stampeders to an appearance in the league final in 2018-19 and he’s hoping the current club can go one better, winning the first league championship in franchise history.

The top line of Jakob Jones, Justin Keck and Trey Sauder is very dangerous, featuring 30 goals from Jones and Keck’s team-leading 31.

“His release is unreal,” said Wolff of the elusive Jones. “He just gets it on his tape and you’re not sure if he’s shooting or not, but then all sudden bang, he lets that shot go. His accuracy is above average for sure and when he gets in the right area, he can score.”

Blizzard vs. Oil Capitals

OCN missed the post-season a year ago but earned the second seed in the West after productive seasons from forwards Riley Zimmerman, Alex Bernauer and Ashton Paul, all of whom averaged more than a point per game.

“We’ve had a battle to get where we are,” said OCN head coach Doug Johnson. “And we’re just excited for playoffs to start. We know it’s going to be a grind. We know nothing’s going to be easy, but we’re confident in our abilities, if we play our game, to come out with with a series victory.”

Johnson believes dealing effectively with the six-hour travel time between OCN and Virden is crucial.

“I just think travel takes its toll on people coming up to The Pas,” said Johnson. “Obviously, getting off the bus takes a toll on us when we go on the road and when we’re on the road obviously we want to be a little more defensive-minded, control the puck a little better. But with 17-, 18-, 19-, 20-year-olds, that’s easier said than done.”

“We’ve had a battle to get where we are… And we’re just excited for playoffs to start. We know it’s going to be a grind. We know nothing’s going to be easy, but we’re confident in our abilities, if we play our game, to come out with with a series victory.”–OCN head coach Doug Johnson

Virden won four of six games between the teams during the regular season, including once in OT, but finished one point back in the standings.

Forward Nolan Chastko, named to the MJHL’s all-rookie squad, led Virden with 43 points.

“We knew he was the guy that could shoot the puck well and play smart and was good skater,” said Ramsey, who essentially rebuilt his roster on the fly after losing eight overagers and five other veterans, including star centre Carson Buydens, from last year’s squad. “And so the fact that he did so well here doesn’t surprise us one bit.”

Chastko plays on a top unit with Dean Gorchhynski and Colten Miller but the Capitals will need balanced scoring to be successful.

“We need contributions from everybody offensively,” said Tyson Ramsey, head coach and GM in Virden. “We have guys that have started to put the puck in the net a little bit more consistently down stretch here, but we’re certainly not a one-line or two-line team.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca