Ryan Gropp and the Seattle Thunderbirds anticipate big things this season.
“We’ve got a real good group of guys,” said Gropp, the T-Birds left winger. “We are all just a year older from last year. Anything short of the playoffs is not good enough for us. I think, for us, we want to make a run this year. We have the group and the personnel behind us, so it is going to be a big year for us.”
The T-Birds, who lost their Western Hockey League season opener at Vancouver last week, 3-2, open their home slate against Prince George on Saturday. Face-off is 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.
Gropp returns to Kent ice after getting a taste of the highest level of pro hockey this summer.
The 19-year-old Kamploops, British Columbia, native, was a second-round pick of the NHL’s New York Rangers in the 2015 draft. He attended the Rangers’ development camp in June and the team’s main camp last month.
“I couldn’t be happier to be drafted by a team like the Rangers,” Gropp said. “They are a first-class organization. It is exciting for the future.”
Gropp was one of nine Thunderbirds players to attend NHL training camps and one of five drafted to the NHL in 2015.
Gropp enjoyed the camp experience.
“It is good to see all those pro guys and how they work day in and day out,” he said. “You just want to take little things from them and try to take that to your game, so it is huge positive to be able to do that.”
The strength and size of the NHL players impressed Gropp.
“I think that is what I need to work on the most — getting stronger physically to be able to handle those guys,” he said.
Gropp looks to take the next step to the NHL by making the Rangers’ American League team in Hartford, Conn., but right now he is focused on playing well this season.
“I think me being a little bit of an older guy, I am just trying to lead by example on and off the ice, and hopefully this year lead more of an offensive role and try to score goals for the team,” he said. “That is my main focus.”
Gropp has enjoyed his time with the T-Birds.
“We have always had a good team and good teammates to play with,” he said. “The coaching staff here has been great. My three years here have been awesome.”
Gropp has grown and improved during the last couple of seasons.
“You definitely learn more and more as you get older and learn more about yourself as a person and as a player on the ice and what you need to get better at to be successful,” he said.
Tickets are available at seattlethunderbirds.com, and at the ShoWare Center box office, 625 W. James St. The box office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
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