DAVE
GRIMSON
Sacred Heart
Jr. | D | Mozart, Saskatchewan
RIT's Al Mazur was the only Atlantic Hockey defenseman
with more assists than Grimson (21) last season.
Key Statistics: Grimson
became a solid two-way defenseman during his sophomore
season. He raised his point production from eight (4-4—8)
in his rookie season to 25 (4-21—25) as a second-year
player, ranking fifth in scoring among defensemen in
Atlantic Hockey. He certainly benefitted from playing
on the Pioneers’ top power-play unit, netting
two goals and setting up 13 with the man advantage.
What He Does: Standing
6 feet, 180 pounds, Grimson is not an imposing figure,
but he gets the job done on defense by positioning himself
well and excelling in one-on-one situations –
he earned a plus-eight rating last season. Grimson has
become a very good playmaker, and while he takes plenty
of swings (87 shots last season) he could stand to improve
his shooting accuracy a bit.
The Bigger Picture: Grimson’s
role should not change much – he is expected once
again to be on the top power play and hold down a spot
on one of the top two blue-line units. He may have to
focus a bit more on his defensive zone play as the Pioneers
replace three graduated defensemen and junior Stefan
Drew takes over for Jason Smith in net. Head coach Shaun
Hannah said Grimson could become one the top-tier defensemen
in the league by season’s end.
Sacred Heart head coach Shaun
Hannah on Grimson becoming an assistant captain: “We’re
excited because he has good leadership skills. He will
be a positive influence on his peers.”
