Groovy Dood, the best two-way winger of his time

[Daniel Janser 2,159]

 

Position: Left Wing

Born: Ontario, Canada 

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 190 lbs.

VHL Drafted: 1st OA, by the D.C. Dragons

VHLM Drafted: 28th OA, by the Minnesota Storm

Played for: Halifax 21st, Minnesota Storm, D.C. Dragons

 

 

Preface

(edited from the player's own Junior Review)

 

Dood grew up in a hippy commune somewhere far enough north that he became an expert in rocks and trees, but far enough south that his family had a viable farm. Groovy spent his winters playing shinny on the frozen pond behind the hemp field, and spent his summer mastering his hand-eye coordination as a competitive hackey-sacker. From an early age, Groovy was identified as being a special athlete.

 

Dood learned to fend for himself in his late teens, as the Hippy commune he and his parents were living in was raided by the RCMP. Apparently some of the 'agricultural produce' this community cultivated, were not exactly of a legal nature.

 

 

🎖 Career Awards 🎖

S72 | Prime Minister Cup

S75 | Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy

S76 | World Cup (Mercenaries)

S77 | Scott Boulet Trophy

S78 | Scott Boulet Trophy

S79 | Scott Boulet Trophy

S80 | World Cup (Team Canada)

 

 The VHLM 

 

Dood started his career as a waiver for the Halifax 21st in S71, with only two games left in the regular season.

 

He did not appear on the score board during said two games.

 

The 21st just barely made the post-season in S71 and were swept in the first round by the Ottawa Lynx. Dood contributed one apple to his team's tally. Not exactly a promising start into a HOF career. In the offseason, he was picked at 28th OA by the (now derelict) Minnesota Storm.

 

His second season was more auspicious, as Minnesota stormed to the top of the league in the regular season, winning the Prime Minister Cup in the process. Dood was pitching in with the score but stayed clearly below a point per game with 57 points in 72 games. In the playoffs, his team was eliminated in the second round against the Mexico City Kings. In that shortened campaign the left winger contributed two goals and one assist.

 

The D.C. Dragons, a relatively young franchise at this point, saw potential in the young Ontarion and despite higher scoring players available, they elected Dood as the 1st overall pick in the S73 draft, ahead of future HOFer in Camus (7th OA) and Lamb (10th OA).

 

Regular Season Stats

S71 (HFX), 2 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assists, 1 Point, -1 Plus/Minus, 2 Shots, 2 PIM, 1 Hits

S72 (MIN), 72 Games Played, 9 Goals, 48 Assist, 57 Points, +28Plus/Minus, 136 Shots, 43 PIM, 88 Hits, 3 Shots Blocked, 0 Game Winning Goals, 6 Powerplay Goals

 

Playoffs Stats

S71 (HFX), 4 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point, +0 Plus/Minus, 3 Shots, 3 Hits

S72 (MIN),  13 Games Played, 2 Goals, 1 Assists, 3 Points, -11 Plus/Minus, 10 Shots, 4 PIM, 19 Hits, 3 Shots Blocked, 0 Game Winning Goals, 1 Powerplay Goals

 

 

Rookie and Sophomore Seasons 

 

The expectations were high with Groovy entering the VHL as a 1st overall pick. For the first time in his life, the winger felt the outside pressure to perform and it blocked him. He had a mediocre rookie year with 30 points in total in the regular season and five points in the post season campaign. The Dragons missed the direct run into the playoffs and only qualified by a 3-2 series win over the Vancouver Wolves in the Wildcard games. Just to be eliminated in the first round against the later Champion Seattle Bears. After this underwhelming season the long time captain Mikko Aaltonen retired and Benny Graves took over the 'C'.

 

In his sophomore season, Dood showed improved overall statistics but most obvious was his newfound scoring prowess, which helped him to more than double his offensive output. He ended the regular season with 67 points to his name. Groovy had arrived in the big show after a season of adjustment to the higher level. DC made the post season, by sweeping the Calgary Wranglers in the Wildcard games. Dood scored the series winning goal in that matchup. In the first round they had to concede again to the later Cup winner, this time the Vancouver Wolves.

 

Regular Season Stats

S73 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 14 Goals, 16 Assists, 30 Points, +5 Plus/Minus, 116 Shots, 25 PIM, 81 Hits, 18 Shots Blocked, 0 Game Winning Goals, 3 Powerplay Goals, 1 Short Handed Goal

S74 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 27 Goals, 40 Assists, 67 Points, +6 Plus/Minus, 305 Shots, 90 PIM, 190 Hits, 27 Shots Blocked, 4 Game Winning Goals, 5 Powerplay Goals

 

Playoffs Stats

S73 (DCD), 11 Games Played, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 5 Points, -3 Plus/Minus, 20 Shots, 5 PIM, 12 Hits, 3 Shots Blocked, 1 Game Winning Goals, 1 Powerplay Goals

S74 (DCD), 9 Games Played, 4 Goals, 7 Assists, 11 Points, -3 Plus/Minus, 34 Shots, 13 PIM, 24 Hits, 3 Shots Blocked, 2 Game Winning Goals, 1 Powerplay Goals

 

 

The Road to the best two-way forward in the league

 

In S75 Dood came to his own and lived up to the expectation a franchise (and more so fans) have in a top pick. He showed heavily improved scoring and set new personal records in almost every category. The gritty winger ended the regular season with a whopping 95 points. He lead his team in scoring and to a third place in the NA conference. But it got even better: the Dragons' went to the final, where their campaign was ended for the third time in a row by the Champions-to-be, this time the Malmo Nighthawks. In the 20 games playoff run, Dood amassed 15 points.

 

The S76 season Groovy showed a little dip in his production, but was still around the same level defensively as in the previous year, with the exception of the +/- stat. However, the Dragons still managed to grasp the third place in the NA conference, just to be eliminated by the Vancouver Wolves in the first round. Dood scored a point per game in the series, but to no avail. Benny Graves hung up his skates for good and Groovy was elected to replace him as captain for the S77 campaign.

 

Alas, his work in that season was not done yet. Groovy dressed in the off-season for Team Mercenary at the World Cup and scored the game (and Cup) winning goal in over time in the final match against Team Canada.

 

Dood entered the S77 season as World Cup medalist and Captain and he intended to bring the cup to DC. He achieved a three digit point score for the first time and set some new personal records in defensive numbers as well. Which lead ultimately for him to be chosen as the best two way forward in the league. However, his team suffered and ended rock bottom in the NA conference and indeed the league. This would be the first and only time in his illustrous career, that Dood would miss the post season. 

 

Regular Season Stats

S75 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 42 Goals, 53 Assists, 95 Points, +28 Plus/Minus, 445 Shots, 112 PIM, 267 Hits, 44 Shots Blocked, 2 Game Winning Goals, 12 Powerplay Goals

S76 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 36 Goals, 48 Assists, 84 Points, -1 Plus/Minus, 445 Shots, 125 PIM, 305 Hits, 38 Shots Blocked, 5 Game Winning Goals, 4 Powerplay Goals, 1 Short Handed Goal

S77(DCD), 72 Games Played, 46 Goals, 60 Assist, 106 Points, -4 Plus/Minus, 450 Shots, 119 PIM, 341 Hits, 43 Shots Blocked, 7 Game Winning Goals, 10 Powerplay Goals, 2 Short Handed Goals

 

Playoffs Stats

75 (DCD), 20 Games Played, 7 Goal, 8 Assists, 15 Points, +0 Plus/Minus, 132 Shots, 10 PIM, 43 Hits, 9 Shots Blocked, 2 Game Winning Goals, 3 Powerplay Goal

76 (DCD), 5 Games Played, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 5 Points, -6 Plus/Minus, 30 Shots, 8 PIM, 20 Hits, 4 Shots Blocked, 0 Game Winning Goals, 0 Powerplay Goals

 

 

The Autumnal Days

 

After the ill fated S77, Dood was more determined than ever to bring the elusive Cup to D.C. The Dragons made the playoffs via a detour through the Wildcard games. Dood contributed 96 points on the way to the post season. The New York Americans were eliminated in four games but the first round meant game over, when Chicago won the series 4-2. The D.C .Captain recorded 18 points in the 10 post-season games and it is clear, that it was not for him lacking that the Dragons did not proceed further. There was a consolation price in the shape of the second consecutive Scott Boulet Award for the Canadian.

 

For the S78 World Cup, he was called to arms again, but this time for his native Canada. He added a Bronze Medal to his resumee, while scoring 8 points in 10 games.

 

S79 came around and so did the autumn in Dood's career. The Dragons and him exercised the mutual option on his expiring contract for the S79 campaign, and in Dood's mind there was never an option to quit the team who believed in him on that far away draft day. The Captain scored 102 points on D.C.'s run for the fifth seed in the NA Conference. For the upteenth time the Dragons had to go via the Wildcard games and for the upteenth time they prevailed, by beating the Calgary Wranglers in a tight 3-2 series. Alas, the first round of the playoffs was the final destination for the Dood's team, conceding to the Seattle Bears in a 4-1 series. Groovy scored impressive 13 points in 10 games and was yet again awarded the Scott Boulet for his efforts.

 

It appears, that Dood never heard of the word 'regression' as in his final season, he would set a new personal scoring record with 120 points and personal goal record with 61. An example for his longevity and dedication to the game that he found ways to compensate for the toll his body had to pay through all the years as professional hockey player. He lead his beloved Dragons to the third seed in the NA Conference. The first round went over seven games against Chicago Phoenix, but the Dragons were swept by the later champion, the Vancouver Wolves. Dood scored 11 points in 11 games. The Scott Boulet this year went unanimously to Duncan Idaho, with Dood being one of the six finalists in the voting.

 

Regular Season Stats

S78 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 42 Goals, 54 Assists, 96 Points, +22 Plus/Minus, 496 Shots, 177 PIM, 337 Hits, 34 Shots Blocked, 9 Game Winning Goals, 10 Powerplay Goals, 3 Short Handed Goals

S79 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 45 Goals, 57 Assist, 102 Points, +4 Plus/Minus, 527 Shots, 140 PIM, 391 Hits, 35 Shots Blocked, 7 Game Winning Goals, 10 Powerplay Goals, 1 Short Handed Goal

S80 (DCD), 72 Games Played, 61 Goals, 59 Assist, 120 Points, +41 Plus/Minus, 597 Shots, 107 PIM, 279 Hits, 28 Shots Blocked, 3 Game Winning Goals, 16 Powerplay Goals, 1 Short  Handed Goal

 

Playoffs Stats

S78 (DCD), 10 Games Played, 9 Goals, 9 Assists, 18 Points, +4 Plus/Minus, 60 Shots, 14 PIM, 44 Hits, 4 Shots Blocked, 0 Game Winning Goals, 1 Powerplay Goal

S79 (DCD), 10 Games Played, 4 Goals, 9 Assists, 13 Points, -8 Plus/Minus, 71 Shots, 12 PIM, 42 Hits, 4 Shots Blocked, 0 Game Winning Goals, 1 Powerplay Goal

S80 (DCD), 11 Games Played, 5 Goals, 6 Assists, 11 Points, +0 Plus/Minus, 67 Shots, 28 PIM, 59 Hits, 5 Shots Blocked, 1 Game Winning Goal, 1 Powerplay Goal

 

There was one thing to do though, as his country relied once more on his skills and leadership to present them in the S80 World Cup. And Dood delivered. He scored 17 points in 10 games and lead Canada to gold.

 

A very nice end to a remarkable career. Dood holds several records for D.C., amongst others games played (576, tied with Valentino and Graves), goals (313, 50 more than the second placed Graves), assists (387, 17 more than Valentino), points (700, 102 points ahead of Graves), +/- (101, 31 ahead of Strong Jr), PIM (895, 35 more than Dyrdahl), Hits (2191, more than 600 ahead of Graves) and Shots (3381, more than 400 more than Graves)

 

Epilogue

 

Groovy Dood's career started slow and fans of the D.C. Dragons used the word 'bust' during his first two years of his stint. Little did they know they were talking about a franchise player and face of the Dragons for years to come.

 

The only stain on his career, if there is any at all, is that he was not able to win a Continental Cup with the Dragons, despite coming close in S75. For a time, the name 'Dood' was synonymous for 'Two-way Forward' and there is a reason, why his number 42 hangs proudly under the rafters alongside Aaltonen and Graves.

 

He will be fondly remembered by fans and peers alike, for the dude who never gave up and for whom 'no' was simply no acceptable answer. He gave his all in every shift, in every game, in every season and lead his team from the front. Never expecting his team mates to do something, he was not willing to do himself.

 

VHL Career Totals

 

Regular Season: 576 Games Played, 313 Goals, 387 Assists, 700 Points, +101 +/-, 2191 Hits, 895 PIM, 37 Game Winning Goals

Playoffs: 76 Games Played, 31 Goals, 47 Assists, 78 Points, -16 +/-, 244 Hits, 90 PIM, 9 Game Winning Goals

Edited September 17, 2022 by Daniel Janser