• Slug: Sports-ASU hockey, 970 words
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By JACOB JANOWER
Cronkite News

TEMPE – If Arizona State hockey players were lined up from shortest to tallest, Brett Gruber would anchor one end.

The sophomore forward is the shortest player on the team — standing at just 5-feet-8 — and is far from the most intimidating presence on a squad that features players up to 10 inches taller.

“It’s something that I have had to deal with my whole life,” Gruber said. “I just have to work harder than everyone else and move faster than everyone else and that’s the only way.”

He hasn’t let his height hold him back in his career and, due to his skill, has quickly evolved into one of the most feared players on a Sun Devils team that is 7-13-4 and preparing for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday against Quinnipiac.

Gruber is currently second on the team with 15 points, including 11 assists, and has already surpassed his point total (14) from his freshman season. He has maintained his strong season through consistency, and hasn’t gone more than three consecutive games without recording a point. He credited the rotation of linemates that have accompanied him on the ice with his breakout.

In ASU’s most recent series against UMass-Lowell, Gruber appeared as the second line center with wings Anthony Croston and Johnny Walker on either side of him and assisted on a goal from junior defenseman Joey Raats.

“I think just the other guys I have been playing with give me a lot of confidence and it’s a little different than last year,” Gruber said. “They play a lot of the same ways that I do so I have just been feeding off of them and playing the same way as they are and we are just having a lot of success right now.”

The offseason between his 2016-17 campaign was crucial in aiding Gruber’s progression. He spent most of that time working out in his home state of Wisconsin alongside his trainer, a few pros, and a few other college athletes. He mentioned that those exercises, along with the ones he did with Sun Devils trainer Garnet Exelby when he came back, helped accelerate his development.

“I think working in those smaller groups and being here over the summer, working with our trainer really helped, too,” Gruber said. “I have just gotten a lot stronger and learned a lot.”

From the perspective of coach Greg Powers, the confidence possessed by Gruber has coincided with his talent and attitude more than it has in the past, allowing him to put it all together on the ice.

“He is a good hockey player, he is an even better kid,” Powers said. “Usually as kids progress through their careers in college, if they take care of everything away from the rink, they are good students, they are good people, they do things the right way, it all translates out on the ice and that is what is starting to happen for Brett.”

Growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin, a town of about 75,000 people that is located southwest of Green Bay, Gruber was essentially grandfathered in to the sport of hockey. His father, Chris, played four years of college hockey at Yale, and his uncle, Patrick, played at St. Norbert College. As a result, Gruber was skating as a child before he could even walk.

“I loved it when I was a kid and my uncle played and my grandpa was a coach so hockey runs deep in my family history,” Gruber said. “I love the game, I love showing up everyday and I can’t thank my dad enough for getting me into those skates when I was young.”

Off of the ice, Gruber is well-liked in the ASU locker room. His roommate, sophomore forward Tyler Busch, described him as a fun person to be around and someone who is always in a good mood.

Busch also took note of the way Gruber complements his linemates on the ice and seems to always know what he is doing.

“He’s a really smart kid, he sees the ice well and what I like about (Gruber) is he really controls the play when he has the puck on his stick,” Busch said. “He has a calm demeanor to him that whenever he has the puck he settles things down and doesn’t really panic and he has a lot of poise to him to be able to make plays.”

Busch and Gruber, along with sophomores Brinson and Steen Pasichnuk and Riley Simpson, all share a close relationship. Among their favorite things to do are play Call of Duty on Xbox and go to the movies. However, Gruber admitted that getting rest is what they find themselves doing most often.

“Whenever we get off time we are usually napping,” Gruber said. “We don’t really get much of it.”

Coming from Wisconsin, a new program like ASU that was located halfway across the country wouldn’t always come to mind as the first choice, but Gruber was attracted to the weather and the unique experience of getting to show up to practice in sandals.

“I thought I could play in a big role right away, which I did,” Gruber said. “I’m very fortunate to do so. I think I’m getting an experience that nobody else has ever gotten and I’m very appreciative for that.”

Playing a big role right away is exactly what Gruber has done, and if his progression continues, he could leave as large of an impact as anyone during the program’s short existence.

“I think he can develop into a point-per-game guy at this level,” Powers said. “He does everything right. That’s how we judge character. What are you doing when nobody is watching? Are you doing all the right things? And he does all the right things all the time and he is a great teammate.”

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