Terrier Archives: Big Defenseman Deserves Big Praise

Occasionally, we'll dig deep into the archives of Two Man Advantage literature to provide you with a historical perspective on a current event.  This time we're going all the way back to February of 2007, with a look at a column we had about an emerging young fan favorite of a defenseman.  It only seems fitting to remember Eric Gryba's freshman year on the eve of his final weekend playing at Agganis Arena.  As always with archives, please excuse the crappy writing, and just enjoy the sentimentality of it all.

-----------------------------------------------------

February 7, 2007

Some hockey players are known for lightning speed they use to get in behind the defense. Others gain recognition for their ability to make the puck look like it’s attached to their stick by an invisible string. Some are known for their cat-like ability to pounce on the puck to make a critical save.

And then there are players like Eric Gryba.

The 6’3”, 215 pound mammoth of a defender patrols the Terriers’ zone, looking more like a Mack Truck than the typical hockey player. When fellow big man Tom Morrow was sidelined with an injury, one BU fan remarked, “I feel like Gryba may have swallowed Tom Morrow whole. He just looks enormous out there.”

Gryba is not exciting because he amasses points in bunches, instead bringing the crowd to his feet with his intensity. Every time he steps on the ice, he is looking to make a big play. This hard-nosed style of play makes him the most penalized player on the Terriers, and the fourth most penalized player in all of hockey east with a total of 60 penalty minutes.

While his brute strength and aggressive nature earn him plenty of minutes in the penalty box, it also earns him respect and a reputation among fans.

“Gryba spends more time in the box than David Hasselhoff spends in the sand,” one BU student said, laughing. “He spends more time in there than Greg Luganes spends in the water.”

During the semi-final game of the Beanpot tournament against Northeastern, a group of fans grunted Hulk-like chants such as “Gryba smash!” and “Gryba Angry!” in the direction of the fiery young defender.

Despite the similarities to the giant green superhero in size and strength, the two have nothing in common when it comes to knowledge of the game. Gryba seems to be in the right place to break up a play every time he steps on the ice, agitating even the most talented offensive adversaries.

There are times, however, when his temper becomes more detrimental than a playful method of teasing.

In the December 1st game at Boston College, a game that was eventually “fogged out,” Gryba received a five minute major penalty and an ejection for hitting a B.C. player from behind into the boards. As he walked into the tunnel, Gryba smashed his stick against a wall, frustrated at forcing his team to kill such a long penalty. Luckily for Gryba, the game, and thus his ejection, was wiped from the record books just minutes later due to unsafe ice conditions.

Too often the two or four penalty minutes he earns in a game overshadow his stellar performance on the ice. More than the stereotypical hockey thug, Gryba possesses a tremendous amount of raw talent and a seemingly innate hockey sense.

He has already shown a knack for the dramatic, as he netted the game-winning goal against Merrimack on January 20th. Gryba ripped a slap-shot from the top of the offensive zone, showing that strength is good for solid shots, not just big hits.

Gryba’s talent made him a selection in the 2006 NHL draft, picked by the Ottawa Senators before he ever skated in Division I hockey.

With every game, the bright young star seems to shine a little brighter, directing his energy towards positive plays and more useful penalties.

He has a chance to step up on a dramatic stage this Monday night at T.D. Banknorth Garden against Boston College in the historic Beanpot final.

The Eagles would still do best to avoid making him angry. He might just turn into the Hulk.

Thanks For The Memories, Eric

flickr.com