The 2008-09 Ontario Hockey League season was a grind for Barrie goalies Michael Hutchinson and Peter Di Salvo.  With a pair of capable number one goalies splitting the starts for Barrie, it left rookie, third-stringer Dalton McGrath by the weigh side.

68 games, 38 appearances by Hutchinson, 34 by Di Salvo, and 15 wins apiece.  Dalton McGrath dressed in only a few regular season games at the start of the

season while Hutchinson was away at Boston Bruins training camp.

€œI kind of knew that when I came into camp last year that it would be tough to get that number two spot,€ said McGrath.  €œThings didn’t work out for me with those two goalies so I just went to Junior A and did my best there to prove that I could play at this level, and I guess I did it,€ McGrath said modestly.

McGrath persevered through the long season getting 21 starts for the Couchiching Terriers, Barrie’s OJHL affiliate.  McGrath won 16 times for the Terriers with only a pair of shoot-out losses beside his name, he turned away the opposition with a goals against average of 1.65 and was named the Rookie of the Year.

€œWell it was great, I still got to practice with these guys which was nice, and we had a great team up there so it was enjoyable.€

After the Colts couldn’t rely on one hot goalie to get them through the first round of the playoffs, many assumed a trade was bound to happen.  Di Salvo and Barrie resident Hutchinson both waited patiently, as the Colts brass decided who, if any goalie would be shipped elsewhere.

For McGrath this decision proved to be a monumental one.

€œYeah I was definitely hoping for a trade, I’ll be honest,€ said McGrath with a grin.  

McGrath didn’t want to spend another season as the third option, and knew that if a trade involved a goalie it could make the young Brampton native expendable.

On June 30th, 2009 the Colts traded Michael Hutchinson to the London Knights in exchange for four draft picks and no players.

€œWell I was pretty excited when I heard about the trade, I mean Michael is a great guy and teammate but I knew that this was a great opportunity for me.€

As training camp arrived McGrath suddenly had some newfound competition to be Peter Di Salvo’s backup.  Barrie had drafted 6’4€ Clint Windsor in the 4th round of the OHL Priority Selection, however the Hamilton product would lose out in the battle with McGrath.

€œWell the first thing I’ve always told him was that you can only control what’s within your control,€ said Colts goalie coach Piero Greco.  €œYou can’t worry about being behind good goalies, you just have to be ready because you never know what can happen.€

This season McGrath is ready, poor play or an injury and he is the man.  No longer does he have to get through two prolific backstops before he sees the ice.

€œWell last season if somebody got hurt than I got to move up to the back-up position,€ said McGrath.  €œThis season I’m right there and I’ve just got to be ready for whatever comes my way.€

On October 8th, with McGrath patiently awaiting his first chance to step on the ice in an OHL game, the Oshawa Generals made their first stop to the BMC and were trouncing the Colts.  The Gens’ had scored four goals on Peter Di Salvo by the midway point of the game and led 4-1.  

With 9:58 remaining in the second period Dalton McGrath stepped on to the ice for the first time.

€œWell it was nerve-racking, but I was very excited, that was a big moment for me and I felt like I was able to shake off the early jitters,€ stated the six-foot, 180-pound McGrath.

McGrath was greeted by a Jeff Hayes goal just 84 seconds in to his Ontario Hockey League career.  He would then settle down and make a handful of saves, while a Barrie goal cut the lead to 5-2 heading into the third.

The life of a back-up isn’t glamorous, come in when your team is trailing and you are expected to keep things where they are and if you don’t-nobody is surprised, as you are after all, just the back-up.  

McGrath shook the early cobwebs off and came out in the third ready to play, just as a brand new game, and the Colts were full of confidence after a rookie guaranteed on live TV a four-goal third period.

Barrie would miraculously score three times in the third to tie the game at five and with eight seconds left in regulation Alexander Burmistrov scored his second of the period to give Barrie the improbable come from behind win.

While the team and fans celebrate the four-goal outburst, the players flock to Dean Pawlaczyk who made the incredible prediction.  Left to gather his thoughts of his first career game and first career win is Dalton McGrath.

€œThat was just one of the most amazing games I have ever been a part of,€ said Dalton.  €œIt was so exciting to see that comeback and to get that first win was amazing.€

McGrath made 8 stops in the third period and led his team to the win; his first career win comes in a game that he didn’t start.

The very next game, just two nights later, McGrath made his first career OHL start against the Erie Otters.

€œWell they were both great games for me but I think I value my second game a little more just because I got the start.€

Dalton allowed four goals, but made 42 saves as he led his Colts to their second straight win, a 7-4 decision over Erie.

McGrath’s confidence was starting to build.

€œWell to know that your coach has confidence in you is great, and I’m thankful for any opportunities I get out there.€

The confidence that he had found in himself was growing contagious, his coaching staff and teammates were feeling more and more comfortable with #31 in goal.

McGrath just received his third start of the season last Friday night in Brampton.  He once again proved to be a reliable goalie, as Barrie proved they can win games other than blowouts, edging the Batallion 3-2 in overtime.

McGrath made several key saves, especially in the third period, leading the Colts to their tenth straight win and McGrath’s fourth win in four games.

€œYou know everybody in this locker room wants to make it to the Memorial Cup and to be on a team like this, no matter what my role is, is just a great thrill and a great opportunity for me.€

McGrath was huge in extending the Colts winning streak to ten games, one night later Barrie would set an all-time franchise record with their 11th consecutive win.  They will look to make it 14 straight by wrapping up the month of November with three games in three nights.  

They face Owen Sound on Thursday, travel to Mississauga on Friday and return home on Saturday to play Sudbury.  McGrath most likely will see some playing time this weekend as the Colts try to go 10-0 in the month of November.