Grieco family has WHL roots

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This article was published 09/06/2022 (1364 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Brandon Wheat Kings prospect Dominic Grieco, the appeal of hockey is simple.

Brandon picked the five-foot-10, 152-pound product of Lethbridge, Alta., 144th overall in the seventh round of the Western Hockey League draft last month.

“You can always learn something new and it’s just fun to play with your friends,” Grieco said during the team’s prospects camp. “It’s always a good time because it’s really competitive and you’re always getting better at it if you put in the work.”

Grieco comes by his abilities honestly. His father Scott played 207 regular season and playoff games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes over four WHL seasons, and his 12-year-old brother Matteo skates in the U13 division in Olds.

The elder Grieco spent his overage season with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s St. Albert Saints and capped his career with five seasons with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns from 1997 to 2002.

His game is built on his ability to get places quickly.

“Most of all it’s my speed,” said Dominic Grieco, whose family also includes mother Renee. “My speed can create offensive chances but I can use it in the defensive zone. I have a really good shot and good hands so that helps me get to the net and create chances.”

He started skating at age four and began playing immediately. Grieco played every position, settling in on the wing when he was still fairly young.

Grieco, who also plays badminton at school, said he’s targeting every aspect of his game as he tries to become a more complete player.

“There is room for improvement in everything,” Grieco said. “I’m just trying to improve at everything I’m doing.”

A lower back injury restricted Grieco to just 22 games last season with the under-15 AAA Lethbridge Golden Hawks, but he contributed 18 goals and 11 assists with 44 penalty minutes when he was on the ice. He added three points in four playoff games, and in one outing with the U16 AAA Hurricanes, he had a goal and two assists.

“My team struggled and I was injured for a lot of it but the games I was healthy were pretty good,” Grieco said. “I made the most of it.”

He admits it wasn’t easy knowing that scouts were picking apart his game every night, especially after missing 12 games. On draft day, he wasn’t sure what to expect.

“I was kind of nervous,” Grieco said. “I kind of knew it was going to happen but I wasn’t fully expecting Brandon but I’m happy they picked me.”

After the draft, Wheat Kings director of player personnel Chris Moulton said Grieco has a lot of talent.

“Dominic is an elite-level skater who creates offence through his speed, but he also has a tenacious streak in him that keeps the opposition on edge all the time,” Moulton said. “He is a dynamic player every time he touches the puck.”

He said a Brandon scout contacted him early in the year, so he knew they were looking at him. Regardless of where he went, he said just getting chosen was a huge thrill.

“It was pretty cool seeing my name because you dream of being picked your whole hockey career,” said Grieco, who shoots from the left side. “For that to happen is a pretty cool experience.”

At prospects camp, Grieco admitted he was a little nervous, especially because he was nursing a leg injury. He added that it was a high level of competition but that pushed everyone to get better.

He’s hoping his game continues to improve and that one day he’ll find a spot in Brandon. He certainly enjoyed his first visit to the city.

“It’s pretty cool,” Grieco said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a nicer room than the one in Brandon. The town is great.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @PerryBergson