BLOG: Veteran Presence
Veterans provide leadership, presence and possess invaluable experience. Veterans rely on those attributes and intangibles to be difference makers for their teams.
Moncton Wildcats goaltender, Mark Grametbauer, epitomizes the very essence of a veteran.
Despite the fact that the 19-year-old Halifax, Nova Scotia, product is playing with his fourth team in three years, he is using his unique QMJHL experiences to courageously backstop and carry the rebuilding Moncton Wildcats.
Grametbauer has no regrets when reflecting on his personal journey in the league, but does admit that having to move around so much has taken its toll.
“It’s always difficult to leave a team, because you build great relationships with all the guys”, Grametbauer mentioned. “I have some experience that most guys don’t have [from] travelling to different teams and cities. I think every team gave me something over that time. From [having] different coaches and points of perspective, it’s truly amazing.”
As of this year though, it appears that Grametbauer has finally found a permanent residence with the Wildcats.
“When you come to a new team you don’t know as many guys”, he admitted. “But everyone here welcomed me with open arms, and I think I clicked pretty quickly with the team.”
Grametbauer has arguably been the Moncton Wildcats most valuable player this season, and currently leads the QMJHL in games played with 51. The goaltender strongly believes that maturity and changes he’s made off the ice have paid dividends this season.
“The biggest change that I had to personally make was paying more attention to my diet, and really making sure that I take care of my body after practices and games,” Grametbauer said.
“I knew when [Matthew] Waite got hurt, I was going to see most of the games”, he stressed. “So, I definitely know taking care of my body was a big part. And always staying positive, even though you’re tired, and coming to practice with a good mind set.”
Over Grametbauer’s career, he’s obviously had to work with a plethora of goalie coaches, but he welcomed the opportunity to work with Joey Perricone in Moncton.
“As soon as I found out that Joey was going to be the goalie coach here, I was really excited. Working with him has been amazing”, said Grametbauer. “He did such a great job in Rouyn-Noranda with Harvey and Marchand.”
“Joey is such a great guy on the ice. He’s always smiling and always there to push you a little further and give you the right advice”, he added.
Grametbauer is known to bring tremendous compete level and intensity to the position, and undoubtedly practices what he preaches.
“You definitely have to practice like you play. I think the more you practice competitiveness, and making athletic saves, the more your body will get used to it”, said the veteran netminder. “When it comes time to applying that in a game, you are ready to make that type of save. You always have to battle for those extra saves and extra pucks, because you never know if it’s going to be a difference maker in a game.”
Grametbauer currently holds a 22-25 record with a 3.56 GAA and 0.886 save percentage, good enough to help the Wildcats hold on to the 14th spot in the standings and clinch a playoff berth.
With all the wear and tear of the position, and despite logging that much playing time, Grametbauer still isn’t worried about fatigue becoming a factor come the post-season.
“I wouldn’t really say I’m tired out, it’s definitely a long process and season,” confessed Grametbauer. “But it’s not my first season in the league, I kind of knew what to expect by looking up to older goalies through the years, and watched what they were doing to stay sharp every game.”
Grametbauer understands the impact he has had on the Wildcats this season and is embracing his role as a veteran leader moving forward.
“Honestly, it means a lot. You always want a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the more enjoyable it is”, he says. “Trying to be that guy, to make a difference on the ice and having the opportunity to do that night in night out, is just great.”
