Gruffud Theofylaktos Junior Review

[JigglyGumballs 1,056]

Gruffud Theofylaktos: The Greek Menace

 

      Born in Heraklion located on the island of Crete, the young Greek's hockey dreams would begin when Gruff's family moved to Athens when he was four. It was in Athens where Gruff gained interest in the winter sport when the winter olympics were being broadcasted. As a child, he quickly fell in love. With Gruff describing it in his own words, it was "love at first sight." Though because ice hockey was not a prominent sport in the country, there were very few ice rinks available that can facilitate such a hockey dream. Because of that, Gruff had spent most of his early childhood playing his next best choice soccer. However, his fate would soon change when his family would move again. This time, his family would immigrate to the US.

 

      Gruff's family would move to the city of Denver in Colorado. He had extended family already living there, so the adjustment period to a new country and culture was less challenging. For the young Greek, this was a dream come true. The US's hockey market was huge, and they were in Denver too. The Colorado Avalanche of the NHL would be a big influence for the 10 year old Gruff. It reactivated his dreams of playing hockey, and soon after immigrating, he would take up the skates and play for a local team. Gruff was not exactly the fastest skater in his team, heck he barely knew how to skate, yet it was easy to tell that the kid had potential. Placed on defense due to his lack of speed, his first indicator of potential was a talented physical prowess. While Gruff was still pretty small, he could out muscle players on the boards. When he finally could properly skate, he was considered a physical monster that can shut down an opposing team's defense. By high school, scouts have taken note of Gruff's potential, and while playing in AAA hockey, Gruff would soon commit to the US National Team Development Program's U17 team.

 

     Gruff's physical prowess would continue to dominate, as while he didn't put up as many points compared to the more dynamic defensemen he had as teammates, he was a shut down defender. Standing at a tall 6'4'' at 17, and just weighing in at 212lbs. Gruff could lay out the body, grind out the boards, and had a heavy slapshot. He became a sort of enforcer figure for the team. No one wanted to fight if he was on the ice. Someone tried running over the goalie? Gruff would beat them to a pulp. He became known as the Greek Menace during this time, as he still had a Greek accent while he spoke fluent English.

 

     Heading towards the end of his U18 season, Gruff decided that he wasn't going to get drafted. Instead committing to the University of Michigan. It was a promise he made to his parents. To finish college and get a degree. While he had dreams of playing for a professional team, he knew that his play style, unless there was a new dimension to it, would not bring him far at a professional level. So that's what he did at college. He began producing more on the offensive side, and all the while he worked on his degree. Once he played his last season in the NCAA, he spent another two years in college. Though even if his hockey career seemed over, there were still teams looking to sign him as a free agent. Notably in the VHLM. With that in mind, Gruff would be given a contract by the Las Vegas Aces of the VHLM, and his hockey dreams would continue...

 

611 words

Edited April 23, 2022 by JigglyGumballs