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Hard Work Paying Off for Gruden in Under-18 Season

By Becky Olsen, 10/24/17, 2:00PM EDT

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Gruden enters 2017-18 stronger, faster and ready for the challenge


Photo by Rena Laverty

One year can make all the difference on the ice at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. This rings true for Jonathan Gruden, who is having an outstanding start to his Under-18 season.

“We feel stronger. In the spring, we had a long spring training with Darryl [Nelson, team strength & conditioning coach] and that really helped us out,” the Rochester, Michigan native said of the year-to-year difference. “We spent time with each other, both on and off the ice and we’re closer together now. That is definitely helping this year.”

Gruden worked diligently over the summer to get ready for his U18 season. He knew how important it was to be prepared for the teams that they were going to face this season, especially the collegiate competition.

“I worked out a couple days a week back home,” said Gruden, who has tallied six goals in the first seven games. “I worked on my shot as guys are getting bigger, faster and stronger at the college level. It is so important to be able to get my shot off a second quicker so I worked on that. I skated in Farmington with [Total Package Hockey] with a couple of local junior pro guys and I worked out in Rochester with Rich Trombly, my trainer back home.”

“I came in [to the NTDP] at 155 pounds and right now, I’m 172. I have gained a lot of muscle. I’m a quicker guy so being able to have that extra step is important. I need to be able to win more puck battles in the corner which is important, especially in the college games. Getting stronger over the summer has really helped and it has transitioned well onto the ice this year.”

When it came time to picking a college, it was a no-brainer for Gruden. Miami University just felt right to him.

“I really liked the campus. When I went to go meet the coaching staff on my visit, they were phenomenal and the rink was great too. The facility is great along with the strength coach and the weight room. It was an easy decision,” he said.

Gruden was able to play against his future college team on Friday, Oct. 13 at USA Hockey Arena. It was a special experience for him as he even tallied a goal against the RedHawks.

“It was great to play them, especially against my future teammates,” he said. “I talked to a couple players and the coaching staff after the game and we had a good laugh. It was all in good fun. I wish we would have gotten the win but it was a cool experience playing against them.”

Jonathan's Favorites

Favorite NHL Team
Detroit Red Wings

Favorite NHL Player
Pavel Datsyuk 

Favorite Movie
Step Brothers

Favorite Celebrity
Will Ferrell

Favorite Musical Artist
Old Dominion

Favorite Netflix Binge
Riverdale

Favorite Book
Catcher in the Rye

Favorite Home-Cooked Meal
Steak and potatoes

Despite the 7-5 loss, Gruden took away several things from the game that he can use as motivation for the rest of the season.

“We got down 4-1. As a team, we regrouped in the second period and scored some goals,” he explained. “We tied it up and tied it up in the third again, but we just couldn’t get that extra goal. It was a great job by the team to keep it close but it would have been more fun to win.”

He knows that he and his teammates can take away some valuable lessons from the college games to start to have some success against them with 11 more games to play.


Photo by Rena Laverty

“We have to play with each other,” explained Gruden. “It is a faster pace in college hockey and we are playing against bigger and stronger men. One-on-one hockey is going to help us. We have to be able to move the puck with each other, and putting the puck in open spots for our teammates is important for us to be successful.”

Gruden is working with a new coach — Seth Appert — this season as well. He hears the same lessons each day in practice.

“I need to bring that intensity every day,” Gruden said his coach has told him. “Some days it will not be too easy for us, especially on a Monday coming off games over the weekend. We need to bring that intensity to practice every day and the details are huge. He definitely emphasizes that a lot. We need to be bearing down on those chances down in the corner or in front of the net. That is some of the lessons he has been teaching us so far.”

Nothing means more to Gruden than wearing the colors of his country. It also helps that his dad John served as an assistant coach for the NTDP from 2010-15, so early on he understood what it means to play for his country.

“It still gives me goose bumps every time I put the jersey on,” said Gruden. “To be able to represent something much more than yourself and represent the troops overseas who put their lives on the line for us so we can wear the sweater is a really cool experience.”

His dad also can provide some extra advice and assistance when it is needed. John played hockey at Ferris State University and then professionally in the American Hockey League, the National Hockey League and in Europe before beginning his coaching career. He currently serves as the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

“Some days are not going to be easy but you have to be able to bring that same work ethic every single day and never give up,” Gruden cited as advice from his dad. “It’s huge. He told me to be a great teammate — you have to be that great guy both on and off the ice. He has really emphasized that. He also told me to have fun so you want to enjoy the game you love.”

Thus far, that hard work is paying off.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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