As the clocks go back, the nights draw in and the weather turns cold and miserable, things are heating up in the EIHL. For the Belfast Giants it means weeks of facing the same few Scottish teams evolve into regular trips further south and hosting new faces. We caught up with Patrick Grasso to find out how the team is feeling as they dive into league action.
Iowa native Grasso grew up playing for his hometown team, Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL (the top league in US junior hockey) before heading off to University of New Hampshire, who he’d ice for in NCAA competition. A stint with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder and some games for Utica Comets and Cleveland Monsters in the AHL followed before last season he landed in Austria with HC Innsbruck and also spent some time in the Swedish Allsvenskan playing for Vasteras IK. A path which has now led him to the ice at the SSE Arena and a season in Belfast.
Having landed in the summer, ahead of the Giants CHL campaign, Pat has had plenty of time to settle in and get to know the city while it was still (relatively) warm and sunny. “I’m starting to get comfortable with my way around town,” he told me when we spoke last week. “Having guys here who were part of last year’s squad really helped, and we’ve got a great group of new players too. It’s been a lot of fun exploring the city together.”
For Grasso there was also some incentive to follow in family footsteps, his cousin Patrick Mullen skating out for the Giants in the 2019-20 season. “I knew how much fun he had here, so when the opportunity came up, I reached out for advice. He had nothing but good things to say.” Grasso said of Mullen’s time in Northern Ireland. “We get treated so well” he adds, commenting on how the club look after their players.
Now, with their CHL adventure, and what felt like an endless run of games against Fife, behind them, the Giants are facing up to league action. A tough loss against Guildford on Sunday was nonetheless a reminder to Pat that there are more than three other teams in this competition. “I was starting to believe that was just a myth,” he joked. “This week we’ll play some of the top contenders, and it’ll be a great test for us.” Has he, I wonder, been checking out some of those teams and how they are playing? “The staff does a great job with video and scouting. We take it one game at a time”.
Head coach Adam Keefe has been shuffling lines early in the season, but Grasso feels the roster’s depth is a strength. “Anytime you build chemistry early, it makes things easier,” he says. “We’ve got guys who bring different skills, and that competitive environment helps us put the best group out every night.”. As for where he sits in the mix… Primarily a right winger, Grasso describes himself as “more of a shooter” and prefers playing alongside a strong, puck-protecting centre. “I like someone who can make plays and give me space to use my quickness.” Early in the season that meant a role alongside Jake Gaudet and Jordan Kawaguchi, a trio who looked dangerous in early CHL games. As Keefe has looked to light a fire under his team, Pat finds himself being centred by Nic Guay with David Goodwin operating on the left wing. It’s a trio who have all the tools to be lethal for their opposition and if Grasso can find space Goodwin can certainly feed him the puck.
Despite a mixed start across competitions, Grasso is focused on consistency in league play. “Every game is like a playoff game,” he notes. “Every point matters, whether it’s October or April.” Early-season adversity – including injuries and lineup changes – has tested the squad, but Grasso sees it as an opportunity. “It gives guys chances to step into different roles. You’d rather face these challenges now than in March or April.”
Off the ice, the fan support has been a highlight. “The crowds are incredible,” he said. “Weekday or weekend, they always bring the energy. It’s inspiring.”
With the season heating up, Grasso remains confident: “It’s going to be intense, but we’re ready for it.”
