ERIC
GRYBA
Boston University
So. | D | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The Terriers need Gryba to keep using his hands
to move the puck instead of using them to impede
opponents.
Key Statistics: Gryba
had a goal and three assists last year, but those weren’t
the numbers the Terriers cared about. In 38 games, he
took 38 penalties, most of which were in the first half
of the season.
What He Does: The 6-foot-3,
215-pounder is a bruising, physical specimen on BU’s
blue line. He was fun to watch last year because he
had no qualms with heading into the corners or laying
out a forward at center ice. Gryba is an obvious talent
– evidenced when the Senators took him in the
third round of the 2006 draft – but he was raw.
Most notably, he often took freshman-like penalties,
getting caught out of position and trying to stop the
opposition with his hands. That’s when the whistles
blew.
The Bigger Picture: Boston University
is losing a lot of leadership on defense with the graduations
of Sean Sullivan, Kevin Schaeffer and Tom Morrow. And,
without John Curry in net, defensive play will be a
major point of emphasis. Gryba will need to step up
his game along with upperclassmen Matt Gilroy, Dan McGoff,
Brian Strait and Kevin Kielt.
Boston University head coach Jack
Parker: “We were very, very pleased with
[Gryba’s] freshman year. We wanted him to cut
down on his penalties, and he really did that in the
second half. He handles the puck well. He can really
move the puck. He’s a physical hockey player.
We need him to stay physical without the stick, stay
strong with his hands and not get those cross-checking
penalties and stick penalties, but we think we’ve
got that problem solved already. He brings a lot to
the table with his hockey sense.”
