Apparently two helpers in your first game can turn some heads. While Connecticut Whale Ken Gernander spoke of being impressed with Tommy Grant in his first game this past weekend, senior brass must have been even moreso as the Rangers have signed Grant to an entry level contract.
Here’s the official release:
RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FREE AGENT FORWARD TOMMY GRANT
New York, March 29, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent forward Tommy Grant.
Grant, 24, tallied two assists in his professional debut with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Sunday at Providence. Prior to joining Connecticut, Grant appeared in 37 games with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) this season, registering 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points, along with 57 penalty minutes. He led the team with career-highs in goals, points, game-winning goals (five) and shots on goal (114), and ranked second on the Seawolves in assists and penalty minutes. The fourth-year player also tied for the team lead with four power play goals. Grant helped lead Alaska Anchorage to a WCHA First Round upset of the 17th-ranked University of Minnesota Gophers, tallying two points (one goal, one assist) in the two game series on March 11 and March 12. He also recorded two points (one goal, one assist), including one power play goal, in the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup two game series on February 25-26.
The 6-2, 195-pounder appeared in 134 career WCHA games in four seasons with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, registering 45 goals and 45 assists for 90 points, along with 179 penalty minutes. Grant led the Seawolves with a career-high, 17 assists, and ranked second on the team with 26 points in 2009-10. In his second season with the team, Grant led Alaska Anchorage with 15 goals and ranked third with 25 points. Prior to joining the Seawolves, Grant skated in 157 career British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) contests with the Victoria Salsa and the Westside Warriors, registering 53 goals and 57 assists for 110 points, along with 230 penalty minutes. In 2006-07 with Westside, he led the team and established BCHL career-highs in goals (36), assists (39) and points (75).
