Matt Grant seems too big to have slipped through a crack.
But it appears that that is what happened to the 6-foot-3, 16-year-old right winger. After impressing at Moose Jaw Warriors training camp, Grant and 17-year-old centre Sam Fioretti both signed Western Hockey League standard player agreements with the Warriors Monday.
“Our scouts did a very good job. Neither were drafted, they were listed and both came into camp and made a very good impression and became a priority for us to get signed,” said Warriors director of hockey operations Alan Millar.
Grant, a late ’93 birthday, spent last season playing junior B hockey with Comox Valley in the Vancouver Island league. Grant is from Ladysmith, B.C. and hailing from a town of 7,500 on the island may have contributed to him not being drafted.
“Where I live on Vancouver Island, no one ever gets drafted,” said Grant. “No one on my team in my draft year got drafted.”
Drafted or not, Millar feels Grant offers a tantalizing blend of size and speed.
“Matt skates extremely well and has some good skills,” said Millar. “He certainly presents and intriguing package for the coaches to work with in terms of size, speed, skill and all of those intangibles.”
Last year he scored 21 goals and 45 points with Comox Valley. His play earned him a spot in the VIJHL’s prospects game on all-star weekend.
Fioretti, also a ’93 born forward, had a standout camp a year ago and hasn’t disappointed so far this year.
“Sam brings a real solid game, great hockey sense and can play a lot of roles,” said Millar.
Fioretti had 21 points in 24 games with the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes last season. After his season was over he skated with the Warriors during the playoffs when they were in Calgary.
“It was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about the next step in playing in this league,” said Fioretti. “Practicing with them in the playoffs, at that high tempo, really helped me a lot.”
The next step in making the team is Wednesday night when the Warriors host the Swift Current Broncos (7 p.m., Civic Centre). The game will feature mostly prospects from both teams.
For more please see Tuesday's Times-Herald.
