Brian McGrattan
Brian McGrattan | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born |
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | September 2, 1981|||||
Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | |||||
Weight | 240 lb (109 kg; 17 st 2 lb) | |||||
Position | Right Wing | |||||
Shot | Right | |||||
Played for |
NHL Draft | 104th overall, | ||||
Playing career | 2002–2017 |
Brian McGrattan (born September 2, 1981) is a
An enforcer, he holds the AHL record for most penalty minutes in one season with 551, set in 2004–05 with the Binghamton Senators. McGrattan overcame an alcohol abuse problem that plagued him early in his career and has become a lead member of the NHL's substance abuse program and mentor to fellow players. Upon the conclusion of his playing career, McGrattan rejoined the Calgary Flames in a player development role.
Playing career
Junior
A native of
Playing the entire 2000–01 season with Mississauga, McGrattan led the IceDogs with 20 goals despite playing only 31 games.[5] He missed the majority of the season after suffering a knee injury in a January 1, 2001, game against the Kingston Frontenacs.[2] He began the 2001–02 OHL season as Mississauga's captain, but was traded to the Owen Sound Attack in October 2001, then to the Oshawa Generals a few days later. He was traded again, to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in January 2002.[4] Split between the four teams, McGrattan appeared in 60 games, scored 20 goals and 35 points, and had 159 PIM.[6]
Ottawa Senators
McGrattan was selected by the
Due to his size, McGrattan believed his best chance of making it to the NHL was as an enforcer. Dennis Bonvie, the all-time penalty leader in professional hockey, taught him to be a better fighter while the two were teammates in Binghamton.[7] After posting 173 PIM in 2002–03, McGrattan finished second in the AHL with 327 in 2003–04.[5] He then set an AHL single-season record for penalties with 551 in 2004–05.[8]
Having established himself as an enforcer, and with the Senators seeking to add physical toughness to their lineup, McGrattan earned a spot on Ottawa's roster for the 2005–06 season.[9] He appeared in 60 games with Ottawa where he recorded five points and 141 PIM. McGrattan scored his first NHL goal on November 19, 2005, against goaltender Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, and led the league with 19 fights.[4] His most famous battle came against Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs. McGrattan knocked his opponent down with one punch, which the Toronto Star called Domi's "most decisive loss in 10 years".[7]
His role with the team diminished over the following two seasons, as McGrattan appeared in only 45 games in 2006–07 and 38 in 2007–08. He had only five points and 146 PIM combined between the two seasons.[2] McGrattan made headlines midway through the 2007–08 campaign when he fought teammate and goaltender Ray Emery – himself a noted fighter – in practice.[10] McGrattan's on-ice performance had suffered over time in Ottawa as a result of a worsening drinking problem he had developed beginning early in his career with Binghamton.[1]
Phoenix, Calgary and Nashville
The Senators struggled late in the 2007–08 season, leading general manager
McGrattan was six months sober when he signed with the Calgary Flames for the 2009–10 season.[15] He recorded his first career "Gordie Howe hat trick" – a goal, assist and fight – on October 16, 2009, in a 5–3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.[16] The goal was his first NHL marker in three years.[14] He added only two assists to finish with four points in 34 games.[6] McGrattan also fought 14 times and was allowed to go to free agency following the season.[17]
McGrattan attended the
After beginning the 2011–12 NHL season in the Ducks' organization, McGrattan was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators on October 11, 2011.[20] The transaction resurrected his NHL career and earned praise from his former teammates who praised him as being a "great guy" and a hard worker.[21] McGrattan appeared in 30 games for Nashville, including his 200th career game on December 8 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[5] After two games with the Predators in the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, McGrattan was assigned to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals.[22]
After only six games in Milwaukee, McGrattan was traded back to the Flames, in exchange for
McGrattan was a regular in the Flames lineup throughout
A league-wide change in philosophy prior to the 2014–15 NHL season favouring speed over strength for a team's role players resulted in the near elimination of the enforcer role. As a consequence, McGrattan appeared in only 8 of Calgary's first 42 games.[28] The team ultimately placed him on waivers, and upon clearing, demoted him to the AHL's Adirondack Flames in mid-January.[29] With Adirondack, McGrattan abandoned fighting and tried to play an all-round game in the hopes of returning to the NHL.[28]
Leaving the Flames organization, McGrattan signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks,[30] and was subsequently assigned to the AHL's San Diego Gulls for the 2015–16 season. During a January 19, 2016, game against the San Antonio Rampage, McGrattan was knocked unconscious in a fight with Daniel Maggio. The incident, in which he fell face-first to the ice and had to be stretchered off the ice, renewed the debate over the place of fighting in hockey.[31]
After 14 seasons associated with the NHL, McGrattan opted to play the 2016–17 season in England and agreed to a one-year deal with the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).[32] In 42 games with the Panthers, he recorded 12 goals and 19 points while adding 138 minutes in penalties.[6] It was the final season of his playing career as in 2017, McGrattan re-joined the Calgary Flames in an off-ice role as a member of the team's player development staff to offer on and off-ice support for the team's players and prospects.[33]
Personal life
McGrattan married his wife Michelle in 2012.[5] His nickname is "Big Ern", after the Bill Murray character "Big Ern McCracken" in the movie Kingpin.[34]
Sober for four years by the time he began his second tenure with the Flames in 2013, McGrattan had also become a mentor and friend to former Nashville teammate Jordin Tootoo in Tootoo's own efforts to overcome similar addictions.[15] McGrattan's experiences led to a desire to help others; he works with the NHL substance abuse program to act as a mentor for others seeking the advice of a fellow player,[35] and plans to spend his off-seasons earning a university degree in addiction counseling.[15] McGrattan is also an advocate for anti-bullying charities and volunteers with Be The Game, a camp that supports underprivileged children.[5]
Career statistics
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
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Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1997–98 | Guelph Fire
|
MWJHL | 15 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997–98 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 25 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998–99 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998–99 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 53 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 153 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
1999–2000 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 25 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1999–2000 | Mississauga Ice Dogs
|
OHL | 42 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 166 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2000–01 | Mississauga Ice Dogs | OHL | 31 | 20 | 9 | 29 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Mississauga Ice Dogs | OHL | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 25 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 26 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 71 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 20 | ||
2002–03 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 59 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 173 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2003–04 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 66 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 327 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2004–05 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 71 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 551 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 28 | ||
2005–06 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 60 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 141 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2006–07 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 45 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2007–08 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 38 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2008–09 | Phoenix Coyotes
|
NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2008–09 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2009–10 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 34 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2010–11 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 39 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2010–11 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 19 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 76 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2014–15 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2014–15 | Adirondack Flames | AHL | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2015–16 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 58 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 144 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
2016–17 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 47 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 138 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
NHL totals | 317 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 609 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
AHL totals | 336 | 45 | 40 | 85 | 1379 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 30 |
References
- Career statistics: "Brian McGrattan player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c Radley, Scott (February 7, 2012). "He battled the bottle and won". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Brian McGrattan profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ^ Bell, Aaron, ed. (2012). 2012–13 OHL Media Guide. Ontario Hockey League. p. 153.
- ^ a b c d e Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean, eds. (2009). 2009–10 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 77.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wilson, Kevin, ed. (2012). 2012–13 Nashville Predators Media Guide. Nashville Predators Hockey Club. p. 88.
- ^ a b c d e "Brian McGrattan player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg; Kamchen, Richard (2013). Don't Call Me Goon: Hockey's Greatest Enforcers, Gunslingers, and Bad Boys. Toronto: ECW press. pp. 247–250.
- ^ Chaimovitch, Jason, ed. (2013). 2013–14 American Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book. American Hockey League. p. 56.
- ^ Graham, Tim (November 2, 2005). "New-look Senators combine skill and punch". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2013 – via Highbeam.
- ^ "Emery and McGrattan fight during practice". Ottawa Citizen. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ^ "McGrattan traded to Phoenix". Ottawa Citizen. June 25, 2008. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ "Coyotes sign McGrattan to one-year contract". The Sports Network. July 3, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ "McGrattan enters substance abuse program". Associated Press. December 13, 2008. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2013 – via HighBeam.
- ^ a b "McGrattan, Flames tough to beat". Boston Globe. October 18, 2009. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014 – via Highbeam.
- ^ a b c Francis, Eric (March 4, 2013). "Flames bruiser helping alcoholics in NHL". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ MacFarlane, Steve (October 16, 2009). "McGrattan scores Gordie Howe hat-trick". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ a b Shinzawa, Fluto (September 19, 2010). "Fistful of hope for McGrattan". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2013 – via Highbeam.
- ^ "Bruins ink McGrattan to deal". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ "Bruins Trade Brian McGrattan to Anaheim for David Laliberte, Stefan Chaput". NESN. February 27, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ "Predators claim tough guy McGrattan on waivers". The Sports Network. October 11, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Flynn, Douglas (February 10, 2012). "Brian McGrattan's Resurrected Career in Nashville Delighting Friends, Former Boston Teammates". NESN. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ "Nashville Predators Assign McGrattan To Milwaukee". Nashville Predators Hockey Club. February 27, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ "Flames acquire enforcer McGrattan from Predators". The Sports Network. February 28, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Francis, Eric (March 4, 2013). "Perfect 10". Calgary Sun. p. S2.
- ^ "McGrattan re-signs with Flames on two-year, $1.5M deal". Calgary Herald. July 4, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Cruickshank, Scott (March 28, 2014). "McGrattan reflects on career as he reaches 300-game milestone". Calgary Herald. p. E3.
- ^ Cruickshank, Scott (January 20, 2014). "Spezza couldn't believe old truculent mate McGrattan played peacekeeper". Calgary Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ a b Francis, Eric (March 17, 2015). "The fight is gone". Calgary Sun. p. S2.
- ^ Cruickshank, Scott (January 11, 2015). "Hockey's changes squeeze McGrattan out". Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
- ^ "Ducks sign McGrattan to one-year contract". National Hockey League. July 10, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ Goffenberg, Daniel (January 19, 2016). "Brian McGrattan knocked unconscious by Daniel Maggio in AHL fight". Rogers Sportsnet. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "Panthers sign NHL heavyweight Brian McGrattan". Nottingham Panthers. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ "McGrattan joins player development staff". Calgary Flames. September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ Johnson, George (February 28, 2013). "Flames gain a foothold in the heavyweight division by adding McGrattan". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ^ Odland, Kristen (March 5, 2013). "McGrattan grateful for fresh start". Calgary Herald. p. C3.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database