Brian McGrattan
AHL penalty minutes record holder and NHL enforcer turned mentor.
Brian McGrattan, born September 2, 1981, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who also worked on the Calgary Flames' player development staff. Drafted in the fourth round (104th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in 1999, he never signed with them and instead joined the Ottawa Senators organization in 2002, making his NHL debut three years later. Over his career, he also played for the Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames. A classic journeyman, he suited up for five different American Hockey League teams and finished his playing days in 2017 with the Nottingham Panthers of England’s Elite Ice Hockey League.
As an enforcer, McGrattan owns the AHL record for most penalty minutes in a single season—551, set in 2004–05 with the Binghamton Senators. He battled alcohol abuse early in his career, eventually overcoming it, and now serves as a key figure in the NHL’s substance abuse program, mentoring other players. After retiring, he returned to the Calgary Flames in a player development role.
Growing up in Hamilton, Ontario, McGrattan was a top scorer in minor hockey before moving to Toronto for bantam and junior play. He spent five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League from 1997 to 2002. In 1997–98, he played 25 games for the Guelph Storm, who won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions, though he didn’t appear in the playoffs. After just six games with Guelph the next season, he was sent to the Sudbury Wolves, where he racked up 153 penalty minutes and 17 points in 53 games. The following year, split between Sudbury and the Mississauga IceDogs, he posted 32 points and 245 penalty minutes.
Playing the entire 2000–01 season with Mississauga, McGrattan led the team with 20 goals in just 31 games, missing much of the season after a knee injury on January 1, 2001, against the Kingston Frontenacs. He started the 2001–02 season as Mississauga’s captain but was traded to the Owen Sound Attack in October 2001, then to the Oshawa Generals days later, and finally to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in January 2002. Across those four teams, he played 60 games, scoring 20 goals and 35 points with 159 penalty minutes.
After the Kings declined to sign him following his knee injury, McGrattan attended the Detroit Red Wings’ development camp before signing with the Ottawa Senators on June 2, 2002.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1981-09-02
- Birth Place
- Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 4
- Weight Lb
- 240
- Position
- Right wing
- Shoots
- Right
- Played For
- Ottawa Senators / Phoenix Coyotes / Calgary Flames / Nashville Predators / Nottingham Panthers
- Draft
- 104th overall
- Draft Year
- 1999
- Draft Team
- Los Angeles Kings
- Career Start
- 2002
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
McGrattan played five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) between 1997 and 2002, appearing with the Guelph Storm, Sudbury Wolves, Mississauga IceDogs, Owen Sound Attack, Oshawa Generals, and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was a member of the Storm's J. Ross Robertson Cup winning team as OHL champions in 1997–98. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1999 but not signed, he joined the Ottawa Senators organization in 2002. He spent three seasons in the AHL with Binghamton, where Dennis Bonvie taught him to be a better fighter. McGrattan set the AHL single-season penalty minutes record with 551 in 2004–05.
He made his NHL debut with Ottawa in 2005–06, scoring his first NHL goal against Martin Brodeur and leading the league with 19 fights. His most famous battle came against Tie Domi, which the Toronto Star called Domi's 'most decisive loss in 10 years.' McGrattan's role diminished over subsequent seasons, and his on-ice performance suffered due to a worsening drinking problem. He was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008, played only three games, then voluntarily entered the NHL's substance abuse program and spent over two months at an Arizona rehab centre.
After getting sober, McGrattan signed with the Calgary Flames for 2009–10, recording his first career Gordie Howe hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks. He later played for the Boston Bruins organization, Anaheim Ducks organization, and Nashville Predators before being traded back to the Flames in 2013. He finished his playing career in 2017 with the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
Reader's Guide
Brian McGrattan's significance lies in his dual legacy as a record-setting enforcer and as a figure who overcame personal struggles to become a mentor in the NHL's substance abuse program. His AHL record of 551 penalty minutes in a single season stands as a testament to his role as a feared fighter, a role he deliberately cultivated as his path to the NHL. His most famous fight, a one-punch knockout of Tie Domi, was described as Domi's most decisive loss in a decade, cementing McGrattan's reputation.
More notable than his on-ice toughness is his journey from alcohol abuse to recovery. After entering the league's substance abuse program in 2008 and spending over two months in rehab, McGrattan achieved sobriety and returned to the NHL. His positive influence in the locker room was cited as a reason the Flames re-acquired him in 2013. He later became a lead member of the NHL's substance abuse program and a mentor to fellow players, using his experience to help others. Upon retiring, he rejoined the Calgary Flames in a player development role, completing a transition from enforcer to developmental guide.
Did You Know?
- McGrattan holds the AHL record for most penalty minutes in one season with 551, set in 2004–05 with the Binghamton Senators.
- He scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils on November 19, 2005.
- McGrattan fought teammate and goaltender Ray Emery in practice during the 2007–08 season.
- He recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) on October 16, 2009, against the Vancouver Canucks.
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