Grosenick wins pro debut (updated)

by Ryan Fay

Ex-Union goaltender Troy Grosenick made his professional debut on Sunday, stopping 30-of-32 shots and picking up his first pro win as the American Hockey League's Worcester Sharks defeated the Portland Pirates, 3-2.

Grosenick (Worcester Sharks)

"It's always good to get the call," Grosenick told the Worcester Telegram. "I didn't treat it different than any other game. Obviously, it's in the back of your mind, but you try your best to block it out. The guys did a great job in front of me, made my job easy and let me see all the pucks and I thought it was a great team win."

Worcester head coach Roy Sommer came away impressed with his rookie netminder.

"Good goaltenders usually find a way to win their first game in this league," Sommer told the Worcester Telegram. "I thought he saw the puck pretty good and he was on top of things. We didn't give up a whole lot, but we gave up a 2-on-0 — I don't know where the (defense) or everyone were — but a 2-on-0 with their best line on the ice, and he stopped them and I said 'It must be in the cards tonight.'"

Grosenick, who backstopped Union to ECAC tournament championships in 2012 and 2013, was named the game's third star.

The 24-year-old gave up his senior season at Union when he signed with the San Jose Sharks organization in April.

In other former Dutchmen news:

Defenseman Greg Coburn (Las Vegas, ECHL) potted his first professional goal in Las Vegas' 4-1 win over Utah on Saturday. Coburn's tally came on the power play.

Forward Wayne Simpson (South Carolina, ECHL) recorded his first professional assist in South Carolina's 3-2 loss to Reading on Saturday. Simpson followed it up by notching his second assist in as many games in South Carolina's 3-2 triumph over Reading on Sunday.

Forward Jeremy Welsh appeared in his first game with the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

Welsh saw limited action in the Canucks' 3-1 setback to Columbus. He played on the fourth-line, accumulating just 4:17 of ice time. Welsh fired two shots, and had a decent bid in the first period to become the first former Union player to score an NHL goal. But the wait continues.

The Ontario native was called up from Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, on Saturday. Vancouver acquired Welsh in a September trade with Carolina.

Forward Josh Jooris collected an assist for Abbotsford (AHL) on Sunday, but the Heat fell to the Texas Stars, 7-3.

Jooris is off to a quick start at the pro-level, collecting five points (1 g, 4 a) through his first seven games. He passed on his senior season at Union when he signed with the Calgary Flames organization in late July.

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