A Big Day For Grzelcyk

Matt Grzelcyk lets go a shot at
UMass earlier this season.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Today USA Hockey released it's preliminary roster for the World Junior Championships that will be held in Ufa, Russia in less than a month. One current Terrier, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was on the roster. BC's Johnny Gaudreau and Providence College goalie John Gillies were the only other Hockey East players to make the cut. In total, 15 of the roster's 24 members come from college backgrounds.

In 13 games played, Grzelcyk is third on the Terriers roster in points with 11. He had 10 total points last year as a member of the USA U18's. The Charlestown native has two goals (both against BC) and nine assists.

Today Grzelcyk was also named Hockey East Rookie of the Month for November. My take on Grizz is that he has more than closed the gap that Adam Clendening left when he decided to forgo his college eligibility. I'm not the first one to say this, but Grzelcyk reminds me a lot of a former Number Five to don the BU sweater, David Warsofsky.

The two play a very similar style of hockey. The element that made Dave very effective is the same that makes Grzelcyk a standout offensive defenseman. They possess the ability to skate with the puck and make quick, heads up passes. Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt that both of them were blessed with some of the softest hands I've ever seen play at BU.

The one knock on Grzelcyk would be that he sometimes holds on to the puck a little too long and that tends to get him in trouble in his own zone.