Preflight Briefings- Nick Grove

Through 12 games this season, Brooklyn Aces defenseman Nick Grove has sparkled on both ends of the ice, scoring 10 points and manning the point on both the powerplay and the penalty kill. However, what is even more impressive is the fact that this season marks Grove’s return to professional hockey after a year and a half away from the sport. At 26, Grove is still a candidate to advance to higher levels, but at the same time is the consistent and reliable veteran the Aces will need in order to make the playoffs and perhaps even win a championship this season. Chatting with AcesOverBrooklyn.com, Grove talks about his game, his teammates and his favorite part of this young season.

Aces Over Brooklyn- You were out of hockey for a while, but it seems like you’ve just jumped right in and you haven’t missed a beat. How do you feel right now?

Nick Grove- I feel good right now. I think it took me a few games to get back into it. My skating is back and passing is back so that’s a good sign. I think whenever you jump right into hockey at his level it takes some time to get adjusted to the speed again.

AOB- In spite of losing a few key players, the Aces defense has still been exceptionally strong. That says a lot about the depth and skill you guys have back there. How do you guys feel as a unit right now?

Grove- I think everybody feels really good right now. We lost two defenseman, but we have Ian [McLaughlin] and Mike [Richards] coming in who can play well and Dougie [Hoffman], Rob [Miller] and myself are averaging close to a point a game. I think that it comes down to just keeping things simple and giving it up to the forwards so they can do their job. Even defensively though, we’re not getting a lot of goals scored on us. Right now, I think were playing cohesively well as a team and that always makes things easier.

AOB- I remember talking to you before the season started and you were very excited to get started. In spite of that, did you expect things to go as well as they have this season?

Grove- No. Not at all. I think it says something that we’ve played as well as we have this season. We don’t always start on the right foot either, but as soon as we get going, we blow teams away. I definitely didn’t expect that. As far as my own play goes, I didn’t expect to come out this early and play as well as I have. I knew it was going to take a couple of days, but I wasn’t expecting this many points after ten games.

AOB- Have you had to make any adjustments from the way you used to play before this season?

Grove- I don’t think I’ve had to make any adjustments, even though I know I play with more confidence now. Maybe that comes from being a little older. As a kid, you get kind of nervous and right now, even in tight situations, with a lot of pressure, I like it a lot more than I used to.

AOB- With McLaughlin and Richards still getting back in the thick of things, it looks like you’ll have some added responsibility over the next few games. Is that something you’re looking forward to?

Grove- Absolutely. I love pressure situations. I love playing the powerplay and penalty kill and it’s something I’ve been doing since th season started. I don’t think my playing time is going to change all that much though. We’ve been rotating five defensemen all season, so I really don’t think too much is going to change.

AOB- What’s been your favorite part of the season so far?

Grove- Just being here with these guys in the locker room. It’s been something that I really missed. Like every new job you get, there’s a feeling out process and I have to say that every guy on this team is great and they all want to be here. We’re all real loose and always playing jokes on each other; it’s been a lot of fun, but once we get on the ice, all of that stops and we’re all very serious about what happens out there.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

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