Grosenick era ends as goalie signs with Sharks

by Ryan Fay

Troy Grosenick has played his last game for Union.

According to reports, the junior goaltender has opted against returning for his senior season and has signed with the San Jose Sharks. Where and when he'll make his pro debut has yet to come out.

After playing sparingly as a freshman under Keith Kinkaid, Grosenick earned the starting gig the following season after Kinkaid signed with the New Jersey Devils. He responded by winning 22 games while posting a 1.65 goals against average and a .936 save percentage in 34 games. That kind of play resulted in an All-America honor and made him one of ten Hobey Baker finalists, but the award ultimately went to Minnesota-Duluth's Jack Connolly.

Grosenick's junior season wasn't quite as strong but plenty good enough with 17 more victories along with a 2.12 goals against average and a .923 save percentage in 34 contests. The Wisconsin native played his best in March when the Dutchmen were making another postseason run, going 6-1 with a 1.61 goals against average and a .946 save percentage.

All told, Grosenick played in 71 games at Union, going 39-16-9 with a 1.89 goals against average, a .930 save percentage, and seven shutouts. The 39 wins rank second in the program's Division I era (trailing only Kris Mayotte's 46) while the goals against average and save percentage marks rank first.

It's the right time for Grosenick to test the pro waters. He proved last year wasn't a fluke, he turns 24 before next season, and can't wait forever to go pro. He would have been the oldest player on the Union team had he returned.

Grosenick's starting job will almost certainly go to soon-to-be 20-year-old Colin Stevens, a junior next season. The Niskayuna native has performed well when called upon the last two years, including a 1.62 goals against average, a .931 save percentage, and three shutouts in 12 games this past season. In place of an injured Grosenick, Stevens blanked Clarkson, 4-0, on March 2nd to help Union clinch home ice and a first round bye in the ECAC playoffs.

There may be some growing pains with Stevens in his first full season in goal, but his upside is very high and if he develops as I expect him to, I don't think Union will miss a beat in goal. He's further ahead in his career than Grosenick was at the same age. Some observers have noted Stevens, lean and lanky at 6'4, 170, could stand to add some more weight. That may be even more important in anticipation of a full playing load.

Grosenick's departure leaves Union with two goalies, Stevens and third stringer Dillon Pieri. The only known goaltending recruit is Joe Young, but he isn't supposed to come until the 2014-2015 season. It's possible he could arrive a year early, as Stevens did when Kinkaid went pro. Young, who turns 19 later this month, posted a 2.71 goals against average and a .907 save percentage in 30 games for the EJHL Boston Junior Bruins this past season. If Young doesn't come early, another goaltender will be brought in.

Union has now lost players to the pro ranks in three straight years. Aside from Kinkaid two years ago and Grosenick now, Jeremy Welsh signed with the Carolina Hurricanes last spring with a year of eligibility left on the table.