Derek Grant (ice hockey, born 1990)
Canadian center who won a Calder Cup with Binghamton Senators.
Derek Grant (born April 20, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center currently playing for the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round, 119th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Grant played NCAA Division I hockey for the Michigan State Spartans from 2009 to 2011. During his freshman season, he earned CCHA Rookie of the Week and Rookie of the Month honors, and was an Honorable Mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team. After his sophomore year, he left Michigan State and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Senators on March 10, 2011. He was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, and helped the team win the Calder Cup that spring.
Grant made his NHL debut on February 16, 2013, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing five games before being sent back to the AHL. On July 10, 2014, he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Ottawa.
Born in Abbotsford, British Columbia, to Debi and Dean Grant, he began playing hockey with the Abbotsford Hawks atom team, winning silver at a 2002 Coquitlam tournament and earning MVP honors. After going undrafted in the WHL Bantam Draft due to his small stature, he joined the South East Flames of the B.C. Major Midget League. A broken arm in November 2007 sidelined him, but during recovery he grew to six-foot-three and 180 pounds. He then played for the Junior B Abbotsford Pilots in 2006–07, leading the team with 31 goals in 47 games. The Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors scouted him, but he committed to Michigan State. After that season, he played for the Langley Chiefs of the BCHL, where he recorded 21 goals and 30 assists by January, earned a spot in the BCHL All-Star Game, and was ranked 103rd among North American skaters for the 2008 draft. He finished the 2007–08 season with 24 goals and 63 points, was drafted 119th overall by Ottawa, and returned to Langley for one more season before enrolling at Michigan State.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 3
- Weight Lb
- 212
- Birth Date
- 1990-04-20
- Birth Place
- Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
- Team
- ZSC Lions
- League
- NL
- Prospect League
- AHL
- Former Teams
- Ottawa Senators / Calgary Flames / Buffalo Sabres / Nashville Predators / Anaheim Ducks / Pittsburgh Penguins / Philadelphia Flyers
- Career Start
- 2011
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Grant began playing ice hockey with the Abbotsford Hawks atom team, winning silver in a 2002 Coquitlam tournament and being named MVP. After going undrafted in the WHL Bantam Draft due to his short stature, he played for the South East Flames of the B.C. Major Midget League, where he broke his arm in November 2007. During recovery, he experienced a growth spurt, returning at six-foot-three and 180 pounds. He then played for the Junior B Abbotsford Pilots, leading the team with 31 goals in 47 games, and later joined the Langley Chiefs of the BCHL, where he was named to the Coastal Conference in the BCHL All-Star Game and ranked 103rd among North American skaters for the 2008 draft.
At Michigan State University, Grant played on the top line as a freshman and was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on October 12, 2009, and CCHA Rookie of the Month in October. He earned Honorable Mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team. In his sophomore season, he went scoreless in his first eight games before scoring his first goal in mid-November, earning CCHA Offensive Player of the Week on November 15, 2010. He left MSU after his sophomore year to sign with the Ottawa Senators.
Professionally, Grant made his NHL debut on February 16, 2013, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played for the Senators, Flames, Sabres, and Predators, and won a Calder Cup with the Binghamton Senators in 2011. He was named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Game and was AHL Player of the Month for January 2016. He also suffered a broken jaw and a shoulder injury during his career.
Reader's Guide
Derek Grant's career is notable for his journey from undrafted WHL prospect to NHL player, overcoming a broken arm and growth spurt. His collegiate success at Michigan State, including CCHA honors, led to a professional career that included a Calder Cup championship with the Binghamton Senators in 2011. Grant's NHL tenure saw him play for four teams, with his most productive AHL season in 2015–16 with the Stockton Heat, where he led the team in scoring, was named team MVP, and earned AHL All-Star and Player of the Month honors. His ability to contribute as a penalty killer and faceoff specialist made him a versatile depth player. Grant's path through multiple organizations and his resilience in recovering from injuries highlight his persistence in professional hockey.
Did You Know?
- Grant was named MVP of his atom team after helping them win silver in a 2002 Coquitlam tournament.
- He broke his arm in November 2007 and grew to six-foot-three during recovery.
- Grant scored a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal with 40 seconds left, during his rookie season with the Abbotsford Pilots.
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